City of Tucson Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project: Scott Avenue

City of Tucson, Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project, project started August, 2008, designed and built by May 2009.

Client Program / Project Description. The overall goal for Scott Avenue was to create a safer, more pedestrian-friendly and inviting “strolling street” that leads people from the planned modern streetcar facilities and existing parking garages to landmarks such as the Temple of Music and Art, Royal Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast, Scottish Rite Mason’s Cathedral, and the Children’s Museum (Carnegie Library).  The streetscape was to be interesting and inviting not only during the day, but also at night, and be able to function for existing businesses as well as accommodate for future development.  Interestingly enough, redevelopment in the area has already begun since the streetscape construction began.

This particular project is Phase 1 of a larger plan to revitalize downtown Tucson, with the addition of a modern streetcar and associated streetscape improvements.  Three blocks (approximately ¼ mile) of Scott Avenue, a historic and present-day arts and cultural district of downtown, received streetscape and infrastructure improvements on the order of:

1. A narrowed roadway section – from 55’ curb to curb (including angled parking and wide travel lanes) to 22’-31’ curb to curb (2-11’ travel lanes and intermittent parallel parking bays).
2. Wider sidewalks (8’ minimum) and ample planting areas on either side of the sidewalk to achieve a tree-lined effect.  The narrowing of the roadway afforded us this larger pedestrian space.
3. New, more comprehensive and energy efficient street and pedestrian lighting, fitted with white lighting for better color rendition.
4. Native or drought tolerant tree, shrub, cactus and agave plantings along the entire street.  Signature Sonoran desert species were utilized to showcase the diversity of the flora and fauna in this region of the United States.
5. Water harvesting/storm-water mitigation through curb openings that lead into recessed planting basins.
6. New site furnishings with benches, bicycle racks, trash/recycling receptacles, drinking fountains (with a separate pet bowl) and solar powered gateway features at the entrance to Scott Avenue.  The gateway features illustrate through pictures and text the historic and cultural significance of Scott Avenue.
7. Public art that relates to the history of the street and adds an interesting twist to the story of Scott Avenue.
8. Upgraded “Presidio Trail” markings with glass aggregate pavers and solar powered paver lights.  The Presidio Trail is an existing historic walking trail through downtown, a part of which runs through the project limits.
9. Existing sidewalks were demolished and much of that concrete was crushed and reused within the planting areas as a granite cover.

Project Team

• Client: City of Tucson
• Design Team:
  • Archer Western Contractors
  • Stantec Consulting, Lead
  • WSA, Landscape Architecture
  • Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Inc., Landscape Architecture
  • Kittelson & Associates, Signing & Marking
  • Hines Irrigation Consultants, Inc., Irrigation Design
• Construction contractor and delivery method: Design Build