Buckeye community meeting on Monroe Avenue Streetscape Project phase 3: Here's what you need to know

This project is part of a strategy to support local businesses, and enhance downtown Buckeye.

PUBLISHED NOV 2, 2024

Three design options for the landscaping will be available for community feedback this fall.

Buckeye, Arizona: The city of Buckeye is hosting a community meeting to discuss phase three of the Monroe Avenue Streetscape Project, an initiative aimed at revitalizing downtown Buckeye.

The meeting, set for Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 5.30 to 7pm in the City Hall Council Chambers, will focus on landscape enhancements planned for the gray parklet zones along Monroe Avenue. This project is part of the city's broader strategy to foster community engagement, support local businesses, and enhance the appeal of downtown Buckeye.

With a focus on pedestrian-friendly design and enhanced parking availability, the Monroe Avenue Streetscape Project aims to make it easier and safer for residents and visitors to explore locally-owned businesses.

Rendering of Monroe Ave. with interim landscaping.

The project began on June 3, 2024, with phase one’s goal of calming traffic and improving accessibility along Monroe Avenue. This initial phase involved reducing Monroe Avenue from four lanes to two lanes between Miller Road and Narramore Avenue, adding designated left-turn lanes at traffic signals.

The space saved by reducing lanes was repurposed for parallel parking, adding parking spots close to local businesses while creating a pedestrian buffer. As part of this phase, the speed limit on Monroe Avenue was lowered from 30mph to 25mph, with a further reduction to 15mph in the Buckeye Elementary School zone. Phase one construction wrapped up in August 2024.

The image above depicts the new restriping. Crosswalks are marked in red, parklets are shaded in light gray, driveways are outlined in black and parking/roadway areas are represented by the darker gray.

The city then initiated phase two in October, featuring landscaping demonstrations between 5th and 6th Streets on Monroe Avenue. These displays showcase the planned interim landscaping, including a sample parklet, offering businesses, residents, and visitors a glimpse of the new aesthetic for the downtown area. Set to be fully implemented in 2025, these parklets will offer outdoor seating platforms that repurpose parking spaces as inviting community areas.

Phase three of the Streetscape Project will emphasize infrastructure upgrades and public feedback, expected to commence in 2025. As part of this phase, the city will replace storm drains and install fiber along Monroe Avenue, aiming to ensure the infrastructure can support the city’s growing population and economic needs. Additional improvements include wider sidewalks, underground utilities, and enriched landscaping.

Three design options for the landscaping will be available for community feedback this fall, with the final selection set to be announced at a public meeting this winter.