Council sends petition for high‑visibility crosswalks and stop bars to TIP subcommittee after strong public push
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Summary
Phoenix residents and road‑safety advocates urged the City Council on Wednesday to require high‑visibility crosswalk markings and vehicle stop bars; the council referred the petition to its TIP subcommittee for study and planning.
Phoenix residents and road‑safety advocates on Wednesday urged the City Council to require high‑visibility crosswalk markings and stop bars at signalized and unsignalized intersections across the city. Following several hours of public testimony, the council referred the citizen petition to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning (TIP) subcommittee for further study and implementation planning.
The petition, filed by neighborhood activist Nicole Rodriguez, calls on the city to upgrade existing two‑line crosswalk markings to federally recommended ladder or zebra markings and to install stop bars to improve pedestrian visibility and reduce crashes. Supporters cited federal evidence that high‑visibility crosswalks can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 40 percent.
“Paint isn't perfect, but after I flagged a problematic crosswalk on Fortieth Street ... the street department installed new signs and added a high‑visibility crosswalk. These changes made it much easier for me to get across this busy street,” one resident testified. The Vision Zero Community Advisory Committee chair also urged adoption of the committee’s December 2024 recommendation to upgrade markings as corridors are repaved.
Streets Department staff said some high‑visibility crosswalks have already been installed on arterials and at school zones, and staff noted funding constraints and a phased approach tied to repaving and resurfacing schedules. The department estimated a citywide conversion of marked signalized intersections (about 1,200 signals) to four‑way high‑visibility markings would cost roughly $19 million; stop‑bar installation costs were discussed in the meeting as well.
Councilwoman Pastors’s motion to refer the petition to TIP — including a staff presentation on costs, prioritization (high‑injury network and schools), and an outreach plan — passed by voice vote; a subsequent motion to formally refer the petition to TIP with staff direction passed by unanimous roll call.
The referral preserves an avenue to convert crosswalk striping more broadly as part of ongoing pavement and safety projects. Staff told the council they will include community input and Vision Zero committee recommendations in the TIP process.
Quotes in this article come from the official meeting transcript of the May 21, 2025 Phoenix City Council meeting.
