Tempe transportation plan wants to make shopping, schools accessible within 20-minute commute

Officials in Tempe are developing a new 25-year transportation plan with the goal of making basic essentials — like shopping, schools and healthcare services — accessible to all residents within a 20-minute walk, bike ride or by public transportation.

Tempe Transportation Plan 2050 is updating the city’s previous transportation plan, which brought transit improvements such as the streetcar and circulator bus.

Eric Iwersen, the transportation and sustainability director for Tempe, said a key factor is to make streets safer.

“Our bicycle program at the city, our bicycle infrastructure at the city has led us to be one of the biggest bike commute cities in the state,” Iwersen said. “We have (the) highest per capita transit ridership in the state.”

City officials are considering public feedback, as residents recommended increases in transit frequency, expanding shade coverage and filling in gaps in the transit network.

Lindsay Post from Tempe’s transportation planning team said the city received lots of public input about what is most important to residents.

“Primarily that safety, comfort and reliability are a recurring need and shade and protected separation matter for walking and biking,” Post said.

City planners will consider public feedback while preparing a final draft for the Tempe Transportation Plan 2050. The City Council could vote on the proposal later this year.