Houghton Road Corridor

As one of the projects identified by the voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan, Houghton Road will be widened to a multilane facility between Speedway Boulevard and Interstate 10. The improvements will include a wide median to separate traffic, upgraded drainage facilities to provide all-weather traffic, establishment of a greenway along the east side of Houghton Road and pedestrian improvements on the west side. Efforts will be made to identify key locations in which access control can be implemented to reduce congestion and increase safety for the traveling public.

Work is divided into three distinct segments:
One segment encompasses Speedway Boulevard to 22nd Street, another spans 22nd Street to Valencia Road, and a third extends from Valencia Road to the I-10 interchange. The design consultants chosen for each segment are, respectively, PB, Psomas and Castro Engineering.

The Design Concept Study for each segment is divided into three milestones:
During the first milestone, studies of existing conditions are conducted. These studies address roadway facilities, traffic volumes, environmental, social and economic issues, current land uses, and any concerns voiced by the public. In the second milestone, the project teams use existing and new information to estimate future traffic conditions and formulate workable and desired concepts for design of the roadway in each segment area. Once that comprehensive picture of the current and future roadway segment has been established, roadway design concepts are defined. These alternative concepts reflect input from residents, businesses, neighborhood associations and various stakeholders. In the third milestone, one concept is selected and further defined for full development.

Construction and funding:
Construction funding for Houghton Road as listed in the RTA plan extends to 2021. With this in mind, it is very important to identify the areas along Houghton Road that can best benefit from capacity and safety improvements, and make those areas our highest priority. This exercise is an important part of the public outreach effort for this project.

Houghton Road Corridor Study.
An important part of the history of the Houghton Road project is presented in the Houghton Road Corridor Study developed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. We are developing our design utilizing the concepts presented in this study. The full study is available for viewing at www.houghtonroad.com/study.htm.