Sonoran Boulevard Update: City Moves up Schedule

In 2004, Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Neely established The East Sonoran Parkway Alignment (ESPA) Committee to study the alignment of the eastern portion of the proposed Sonoran Parkway.

In April, 2006, the ESPA Committee completed its work and released its recommendations. Click here to view a PDF file (271 KB) containing their report. This diagram from the report shows the alignment recommended by the committee:

recommended alignment, Sonoran Blvd.

The committee further recommended that the City of Phoenix consider the following:

  1. Coordinate with State Land to encourage phasing of development so that the Sonoran Parkway and Black Mountain Parkway connect to one another first, followed by simultaneous connections to Lone Mountain Road and Tatum Blvd.
  2. Consider scenic designation for the Sonoran Parkway, consistent with the 2004 Sonoran Parkway Design Concept Report.
  3. Post the Sonoran Parkway for a 45 mph speed limit
  4. Build four lanes immediately when constructing the Sonoran Parkway, as opposed to an interim two-lane configuration.
  5. Maintain the four-lane configuration of Tatum Blvd. as shown on the map.
  6. Use rubberized asphalt for noise protection.
  7. Move forward with land acquisition to protect the Sonoran Preserve.
  8. Consider community involvement in developing the alignment of the Black Mountain Parkway south of Jomax Road.
  9. Consider connectivity (especially to the north) and community involvement to design the street network as new development occurs to the west of the ESPA study area.
  10. Downgrade the street classification of the segment of Black Mountain Parkway between 40th St. and Carefree Highway from arterial to collector status and rename the segment.

At its meeting on June 27, 2006, the Phoenix City Council voted to approve the recommended alignment, and to approve the "refinements" recommended by the ESPA committee.

At its meeting on June 13, 2007, the Council further voted to authorize the City Manager to rename Sonoran Parkway to Sonoran Boulevard, and to rename Black Mountain Parkway to Black Mountain Boulevard, "to more accurately reflect the intended design and use of these roadways."

In April, 2008, the City of Phoenix announced that the construction of Sonoran Boulevard would be moved up to begin in 2010, so an initial two-lane roadway from the 15th Ave. alignment to Cave Creek Rd. might be completed as soon as 2011. The new plans were outlined in an article in the Arizona Republic, May 2, 2008. In response to queries from Tatum Village Board President Richard Barbie and Tatum Ranch Board President Virgel Cain, representatives of the City have said that funds are not available to complete the portion of Black Mountain Blvd. to which Sonoran Blvd. would connect as shown in the diagram, so initially eastbound traffic on Sonoran Blvd. will proceed either north- or southbound on Cave Creek Rd., depending on its ultimate destination. As this is being written, it is not clear how much delay there will be in connecting Sonoran Blvd. to Dynamite Blvd., Lone Mountain Rd. and Tatum Blvd.

More details will be posted here as they become available.

Thanks and regards,
Ron Donnell, Webmaster, Tatum Ranch Parcel 24A H.O.A.

Updated May 4, 2008