By Alexandra Hardle | Arizona Republic
The active transportation plan lays out projects over the span of more than 20 years to make the city more friendly for walking and biking, said Parks & Recreation Director Bryan Hughes, who presented the plan to the City Council in November.
The plan addresses problems such as the lack of sidewalks and bike lanes in Avondale. The plan, which was developed by the Parks & Recreation Department, is a sort of follow-up to the department’s Trails Master Plan, which maps out a plan to add more hiking and biking trails to the city. Unlike that project, the Active Transportation Plan will serve to fill in the gaps for on-street and off-street bicycle facilities and pedestrian paths.
Although Avondale has been rapidly expanding, 52.5% of the city’s land is predominantly open space, and 22% of the city’s land is vacant, according to the plan, leaving room for urban growth and development.
The majority of Avondale’s developable land is projected to go toward single family residential, which will more than triple the current number. That will increase the demand for safe and connected roads, according to the report.
