Transportation Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee Meeting

Date: June 18, 2025. The subcommittee, chaired by Councilwoman Stark, met to discuss routine approvals, a landfill operations update, and a citizen petition regarding high visibility crosswalk markings and stop bars. The meeting lasted approximately from 6:15 PM to an unknown end time.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The subcommittee approved the minutes from the May 21, 2025 meeting with a unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

• State Route 85 Landfill Update: Public Works Director Philippe Bamareno, Assistant Director Lori Zelda Steller, and Deputy Director Chris Fine presented on the SR85 landfill in Buckeye. The landfill, opened in 2006, serves 420,000 single-family residential customers and processes about 1 million tons of garbage annually. Key highlights included:

  • Environmental protections: gas collection (99% destruction efficiency), groundwater monitoring, dust control, and portable litter screens.
  • Operational efficiencies: A permit modification reduced cell development costs from $32 million to $16 million, doubling the landfill's life expectancy. GPS technology enabled operators to optimize compaction.
  • Team innovation: Staff captured 400,000 tons of additional airspace (40% of annual volume), saving $1.6 million and buying time until the next cell is complete.
  • Methane emissions: The landfill is a leader, with NASA satellite data showing no detectable emissions. A recent surprise county inspection found no methane.
  • Future projects: fire suppression for lithium-ion batteries, gas collection system, and cap installation.
  • Council members expressed strong support and appreciation for the team's work. Councilwoman Hodge Washington asked about testing frequency (monthly) and whether technology is used at closed landfills (yes). Councilwoman Pastor noted the $60 million in savings.

• High Visibility Crosswalk Markings and Stop Bars: Brandy Council and Brianna Valez from the Street Transportation Department presented in response to a May 2025 citizen petition. Current Phoenix standards use transverse markings for signalized intersections and ladder-style high visibility markings for mid-block crossings on arterials. For collector roads, high visibility markings are applied during repaving but only about 30% converted. A cost analysis showed converting all signalized intersections (1,200) to high visibility with stop bars would cost ~$33.6 million, plus additional repaving costs. The department proposed a path forward: continue current practices, and identify 16 locations for upgrades over the next year focused on school zones and high injury network. Public speakers (Ed Hermes, Vision Zero chair; Stacey Champion; Nicole Rodriguez) criticized the 16 locations as insufficient, citing research showing high visibility crosswalks reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 42% and the city's rising pedestrian fatalities. Council members debated, with Councilwoman Pastor making a motion: all new paving projects must include high visibility crosswalks and stop bars; currently paved streets are grandfathered until repaving; the Street Transportation Department shall develop a five-year plan with timeline, phasing, cost, community engagement, and involvement of the Vision Zero Committee; the plan to be presented to the subcommittee by November 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Hodge Washington and passed unanimously (3-0). Council member comments also stressed the need for objective criteria (scoring sheet), mapping of greatest needs, and neighborhood association input.

Public Comments

• Ed Hermes (Vision Zero Chair): Supported upgrading standards, criticized the 16-location proposal as too limited, and noted that repaving schedules offer opportunities for cost-effective upgrades.
• Stacey Champion: Read a list of 13 pedestrian fatalities in crosswalks, arguing that the cost of high visibility upgrades is far less than lawsuit settlements. Also criticized city’s public records response and being treated as an enemy.
• Nicole Rodriguez (Petitioner): Expressed frustration over slow progress since 2014, noted that high visibility markings and stop bars together have significant safety benefits, and called for using existing T2050 funding and community block watch grants.
• Jerry Van Gas (Call to the Public): Raised concerns about the 3PI fund being “plundered” and lack of independent audit; warned of legal action.
• Tim Sarakowski: Thanked parks staff for fixing a restroom door at Papago Park after a year, criticized poor communication and unanswered public records requests.
• Stacey Champion (second appearance): Reiterated frustration with stonewalling on public records and urged city to work with advocates, not treat them as enemies.

Key Outcomes

• Motion passed (unanimous): Direct the Street Transportation Department to develop a five-year plan for implementing high visibility crosswalks and stop bars (inclusive of new paving projects, phased approach, cost estimates, criteria based on data/litigation, and community engagement via Vision Zero Committee); return to subcommittee by November 2025.
• Approval of May 21, 2025 minutes.
• Future agenda items: Councilwoman Hodge Washington requested a parks item on aquatics and cancer prevention.