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Site Index General Plan | General Plan Home | Credits | Vision | Table of Contents | Ch 1-Introduction | Ch 2-Land Use | Ch 3-Circulation | Ch 4-Parks, Open Space, Trails | Ch 5-Public Facilities and Services | Ch 6-Community Design | Ch 7-Environmental Planning | Ch 8-Neighborhood | Ch 9-Economic Development | Ch 10-Character Areas | All Maps

Chapter 3 - Circulation Element

The Circulation Element of the Gilbert General Plan provides the policy framework for a comprehensive transportation and transit system, supporting and coordinated with the Land Use element. The Circulation Element is presented in the following sections:

• Existing Conditions
• Issues
• Vision, Goals and Policies
• Implementation Strategies

The Circulation Element balances development and land use with future transportation and transit demands. This element presents existing transportation conditions and identifies a variety of issues and problems the community is directing efforts to resolve. An examination of future conditions correlates the future development with transportation system needs, and provides an approach for dealing with those needs in a manner that is both financially feasible and generally acceptable to the community.

Circulation Map

Existing Conditions

A) Street System Inventory

1. Freeways

Freeways are high-speed limited access roads that provide inter- and intra-regional access. Gilbert has one-half mile of existing freeway frontage on US 60 at Higley Road. Eight miles of the planned Santan Freeway will cross the Town from its western limits at Gilbert Road to its eastern limits at Power Road. Freeway access is limited to arterial interchanges.

2. Arterial Streets

Arterial streets are the highest classification of surface streets. Arterial streets carry heavy traffic and are generally not used for access to individual properties. Gilbert’s arterial system is based on the agricultural mile grid.

The north-south arterials consist of Arizona Avenue, McQueen, Cooper, Gilbert, Lindsay, Val Vista, Greenfield, Higley, Recker and Power Roads. Arizona Avenue is a state highway and functions as a major arterial. The east-west arterials are Baseline, Guadalupe, Elliot, Warner, Ray, Williams Field, Pecos, Germann, Queen Creek, Ocotillo, Chandler Heights and Riggs Roads. Hunt Highway, on the county line, forms the southern boundary of the Gilbert planning area.

Baseline, Warner, Germann, and Riggs Roads, as well as Hunt Highway are designated as major arterials over their entire length in Gilbert. Guadalupe, Queen Creek, Ocotillo and Lindsay Roads are designated as minor arterials over their entire length. Elliot, Ray, and Pecos Roads carry both major and minor arterial designations in Gilbert. Recker Road has sections designated as major collectors and is discontinuous south of Pecos Road.

In the Gateway Character Area that portion of Williams Field Road from Higley to Power Roads is designated as a minor arterial with a unique street section and design.

3. Roads of Regional Significance

The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has designated certain streets as Roads of Regional Significance (RRS). The RRS concept was developed to complement the MAG Freeway system by providing a three to six mile grid of roads built to a high level of design.

The currently designated Roads of Regional Significance in Gilbert are:

Gilbert Road, Power Road, Riggs Road, Warner Road , and Germann Road

The proposed design guidelines for RRS will not be interpreted rigidly in Gilbert as implementation is not fully feasible. This is particularly true in the Heritage District where implementation of the right-of-way and access requirements on Gilbert Road would conflict with plans to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown.

4. Collector Streets

The collector street system provides linkages between arterial roadways and residential, employment and commercial areas. They are intended to connect neighborhoods with commercial and service areas as well as employment centers, strengthen the continuity of the street network and establish an interconnected street pattern between the mile arterial grid. An interconnected collector street pattern provides multiple routes, diffuses automobile traffic and shortens walking distances.

5. Local Streets

Local streets are designed primarily to provide access to property, and secondarily to move traffic. The Circulation map does not identify local streets.

B) Alternative Modes

The existing systems for alternate modes of transportation within Gilbert include the following:

1. Public Transit

Valley Metro provides bus service to Gilbert under contract with the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA). Daily express and local bus service is available in the northern and western areas of Town. Commuter and/or Light Rail may become feasible in the future. Two future rail transit station sites are identified—one west of Gilbert Road in the Heritage District, and one south of Williams Field Road in the Gateway Character Area. Land has been acquired for a park-and-ride lot in the Heritage District downtown area. This land could serve as a future downtown rail transit station site.

The Town participated in a long range transit study for the east valley regional area. After considerable public involvement and study, the Town adopted the Gilbert/East Valley Long-Range Transit Plan for the Gilbert Planning Area. The Final System Plan and Final Regional System Plan are attached in this section to note proposed transit corridors and facilities. Williams Field Road is designated as a high capacity corridor to link destinations in Chandler, through destinations in Gilbert, to ASU Polytechnic campus and the Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa. A Park and Ride facility is currently under construction at Page and Ash Streets in downtown Gilbert, and a future Park and Ride facilities are proposed at Val Vista and Germann, and Williams Field and Greenfield Road. Proposed local and express bus routes are noted on the Final System Plan.

2. Bicycle

Street sections for arterial and collector roads include bicycle lanes. An extensive network of off-street bicycle and multi-use exist within planned communities, along canals and utility corridors, railroad lines and are planned for the Santan Freeway corridor. Goals and policies to address additional trails and linkages are contained in the Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation element.

3. Pedestrian

External pedestrian facilities exist along the majority of the street system except in very low density residential areas and some industrial areas. Extensive off-street pedestrian trail linkages are addressed in detail in the Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation element.

4. Equestrian

A number of equestrian corridors exist in the Gilbert planning area. The network is not fully developed, and the increasing degree of urbanization poses problems for equestrian trail users. Policies in the Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation element require the connection of equestrian trails/corridors in new development to allow older large lot subdivisions with horse privileges to connect to parks and other equestrian facilities.

5. Multi-Use Corridors

Multi-use corridors combining two or more alternative modes of transportation will be incorporated into the town wide circulation and trails system. The planned trails network is shown in the Parks, Open Space, Trails and Recreation element.

C) Level of Service

Level of service is a means of objectively measuring congestion levels. It is expressed as a letter grade, with A being the best and F the worst. Currently Gilbert has a peak hour Level of Service (LOS) of "E" or "F" at most arterial road intersections. A LOS of "E" or "F" means that there are significant delays experienced by traffic. Significant delays can be experienced during off-peak hours due to a variety of conditions such as scalloped streets, at-grade railroad crossings, accidents, utility and street construction. The Town is improving street capacity in locations near interchanges with the planned Santan Freeway, and is widening “scalloped” streets left by development in unincorporated areas.

Private development constructs the majority of new streets in Gilbert during subdivision development or construction of new commercial projects. The Town installs street signals using funds paid by system development fees, and planned according to traffic volumes and accident frequency.

Issues

Current and potential transportation issues expected to be of concern over the next twenty years (not necessarily listed in priority order) include:

• Traffic congestion, especially at peak periods.
• Providing safe routes to school.
• Enhancing the existing bike/pedestrian route system.
• Needs for improved regional transportation/transit service and park-and-ride facilities.
• Arterial and collector street system capacity and continuity.
• Aesthetic landscape treatments of arterial streets.
• Connections between neighborhoods and commercial areas.
• Ensuring adequate funding to maintain and reconstruct roadways.
• Bike/Pedestrian and equestrian system continuity.
• Scalloped streets.
• Access disruption due to Santan Freeway construction.
• Traffic signal synchronization.
• Speed enforcement and accident prevention.
• Traffic on Gilbert Road through the Heritage District

Vision, Goals, and Policies

Vision: Provide a safe, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing circulation network that considers all modes of vehicular and non-vehicular movement, and does so in an environmentally sensitive manner.

GOAL 1.0 Create safe and efficient patterns of circulation.

Policy 1.1 Insure the safety of turning lanes and driveway curb cuts.

Policy 1.2 Continually assess accident experience to determine the need for traffic control measures.

Policy 1.3 Annually review plans for safe routes to and from schools.

Policy 1.4 Utilize traffic calming devices and techniques to reduce speeds and minimize cut-through traffic in neighborhoods. Design new local streets to avoid excessive speed.

Policy 1.5 Design roadways and intersections to be pedestrian, equestrian and non-motorized vehicle friendly.

Policy 1.6 Require developers of residential, commercial, industrial and employment uses 20 acres or more in size, to extend or establish an interconnected collector street system with adjacent properties.

Policy 1.7 Require that gated neighborhoods do not interrupt the natural flow of traffic from arterial and collector roads and remain accessible to pedestrian traffic.

Policy 1.8 Ensure that the Santan Freeway does not create barriers to other modes of transportation and that its design accommodates pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian movements, both along and across the right-of-way.

Policy 1.9 Ensure that bridges over the Santan Freeway accommodate minimum Town standard street cross-sections and contain protected sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

GOAL 2.0 Provide aesthetically pleasing circulation systems.

Policy 2.1 Enforce roadway right-of-way design standards and streetscape standards that generate attractive landscaped areas and accommodate pedestrian/equestrian/bicycle activity

Policy 2.2 Recognize sight distance limitations in street and median landscape planting.

Policy 2.3 Update the Streetscape Theme plan for the Gateway Character Area to reflect water conservation goals and planting limitations.

Policy 2.4 Require the installation of utility and cable equipment in locations where they can be screened from street view.

Policy 2.5 Require new development to underground overhead utilities in accordance with Town code requirements.

Policy 2.6 Provide extensively landscaped entry features in all major new developments.

Policy 2.7 Continue to require “Welcome to Gilbert” signs at arterial street gateways to the Town.

GOAL 3.0 Provide for and encourage use of non-vehicular modes of circulation.

Policy 3.1 Ensure that new developments provide pedestrian, equestrian, multi-use and/or bike paths.

Policy 3.2 Connect neighborhoods, school sites, activity centers, and recreational sites with sidewalks, trails and bikeways.

Policy 3.3 Require dedication of public access easements and rights of way through the development process to create connected public trails, paths and bicycle routes.

Policy 3.4 Provide opportunities for equestrian movement between equestrian neighborhoods, and from equestrian neighborhoods to public parks.

Policy 3.5 Encourage vehicular crossings, with integral equestrian/equestrian/bike facilities, over the Santan Freeway at ½ mile intervals.

Policy 3.6 Develop agreements with the RWCD, SRP and Maricopa County Flood Control District to secure easements and rights-of-way for trails and paths.

GOAL 4.0 Continue to provide regional public transportation service to Gilbert residents and employers.

Policy 4.1 Consider the needs of the general public, and the special needs of the elderly and individuals with impaired mobility in the planning and operation of transit services.

Policy 4.2 Provide park-and-ride facilities in several locations for carpooling and commuter bus service.

Policy 4.3 Provide shaded, safe, well lighted and aesthetically pleasing bus stops for regional and local bus users. Provide trail and bicycle connections to express and local bus stops. Insure pedestrian access from bus stops to adjacent commercial and residential projects.

Policy 4.4 Continue to plan for future linkages to regional commuter and/or light rail transit.

GOAL 5.0 Integrate transportation and land use.

Policy 5.1 Design projects to permit choice of transportation modes. Emphasize transit use, bicycling and pedestrianism.

Policy 5.2 Continue to provide Valley Metro bus routes through Gilbert. Expand frequency of service and add additional routes as funds and demand dictate.

Policy 5.3 Develop mixed-use in activity centers, including support services, shops, employment, residential and entertainment uses.

Policy 5.4 Include park-and-ride facilities in activity centers to encourage drivers to utilize alternative methods of transportation.

GOAL 6.0 Insure all modes of transportation connect efficiently both within the Town and to similar facilities in adjacent jurisdictions.

Policy 6.1 Coordinate with adjacent communities to provide an interconnected system of pedestrian ways, equestrian trails, bikeways, multi-use trails and transit routes across jurisdictional lines.

Policy 6.2 Coordinate with adjacent communities to provide similar street cross-sections for continuous major and minor arterials.

Policy 6.3 Work with the Maricopa County Department of Transportation to encourage the provision of bike lanes on County arterial and collector streets in the planning area.

Policy 6.4 Provide a north-south bike route within the Heritage District.

Policy 6.5 Use regional transportation corridors, including the major northwest-southeast railroad tracks, the south side of the Santan Freeway, across the Santan Freeway, the abandoned Rittenhouse Road right-of-way and underpass grade-separated crossings for multi-use trails and where canals intersect with arterial streets for non-motorized trail routes and community connections.

Policy 6.6 Provide on-street bicycle lanes along selected arterial and collector streets as identified by Town Standards.

Policy 6.7 Require all new development to build the segment of the Gilbert Trail System that is adjacent to the development, if no trail exists. Provide public access easements on the trail.

Policy 6.8 Ensure that the Santan Freeway includes grade separated crossings to prevent barriers to the Town’s bicycle, pedestrian and equestrian trail system and ensure that all bridge widths are sufficient to allow for bicycle lanes.

Policy 6.9 Work with Maricopa County to develop unincorporated arterial street segments within the Town planning area. Use Town and County funds to improve scalloped street segments throughout the Town.

GOAL 7.0 Insure accessibility throughout the circulation system.

Policy 7.1 Reduce physical barriers between neighborhoods, such as fences, walls and large-scale gated communities.

Policy 7.2 Enhance inter-modal access for people with impaired mobility. Ensure that people with disabilities are provided with equal access to work, home and community destinations.

Policy 7.3 Continue to enforce applicable state and federal accessibility laws.

GOAL 8.0 Provide reasonable levels of service on all arterial roads.

Policy 8.1 Maintain a Level of Service C on all arterial roadways during off-peak traffic periods.

Policy 8.2 Maintain a Level of Service D through the Heritage District during off-peak traffic periods.

Policy 8.3 Attain and maintain a Level of Service D on all arterials roadways during peak traffic periods.

Policy 8.4 Signalize intersections when traffic volumes and safety warrants are met. Interconnect traffic signals and manage traffic flows with computerized traffic management systems.

Policy 8.5 Plan street facilities with adequate rights-of-way. Require the following minimum rights-of-way and lanes for Town streets, based on their classification:

Implementation Strategies

Implementation Table

Implementation Strategies	Responsible Entity:	Complete By:
Require Traffic Impact Analysis of significant new residential, industrial and commercial development. Depending on the scale of the project, Traffic Impact Analyses will require different levels of evaluation. These different levels are: 1) Access Analysis: to review curb cut requests and assist with site plan approval, 2) Traffic Impact Study: to analyze impacts to adjacent streets as a result of major projects and to identify mitigation measures; and 3) Transportation Plan: major projects require special analysis and design related to the roadway network traffic flow and mitigation of impacts.	Planning Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Maintain the functional integrity and safety of the arterial system through access control on arterial streets	Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Maintain the ongoing Transportation System Management (TSM) Short-Range Improvement Program, including the following improvements to enhance safety and traffic operations: 1) Speed limit evaluations, 2) Upgrading of signing, 3) Installation of left turn arrows, 4) Installation of turn restrictions, 5) Upgrading of pavement markings, 6) Installation of raised pavement markers, 7) Spot geometric improvements to eliminate hazardous conditions, 8) Installation of safety lighting at major intersections, 9) Closing of selected curb cuts, 10) Maintaining intersection sight triangles, 11) Installation of raised medians, 12) Traffic signal synchronization and integration of signal timing with adjacent communities.	Traffic Engineering Engineering	Ongoing
Conduct a Community Transit Needs/ Feasibility Study, considering both the need for improved regional connections to adjacent communities; and the need for intra-community service, possibly in the form of fixed route local bus. It should also evaluate future park-and-ride facility needs. The existing RPTA regional transit plan, which encompasses all of Maricopa County, could be used as a foundation.	Traffic Engineering Town Manager’s Office	2005
Improve collector streets as required by increasing traffic volumes within the community. The Town shall look at all available public and private funding sources to finance these improvements.	Traffic Engineering Public Works	Ongoing
Conduct periodic community-wide Traffic Volume Counts as a basis for future planning as new roadways are constructed. Average daily traffic and manual turning movement counts should be conducted periodically at key intersections, particularly at those with high accident rates or rapidly increasing traffic volumes.	Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Continue to eliminate scalloped streets and build these streets to their ultimate section design. Coordinate with Maricopa County Department of Transportation to eliminate scalloped streets located within County islands. The Town shall look at all available public and private funding sources to finance these improvements.	Traffic Engineering Public Works	Ongoing
Implement an identification and mitigation program for high accident locations. The Town Traffic Engineer should regularly review police data on traffic accidents, flag high accident locations, and implement appropriate mitigation where technically and financially feasible. Many high accident locations can be mitigated using one or more of the TSM measures enumerated in Section C.	Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Develop neighborhood traffic control plans to deter visitor through traffic from using local streets as "short cuts" through residential neighborhoods. Appropriate steps vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, but may include improved guide signage, turn regulations, "speed humps"; and, in extreme cases, physically closing off streets or creating cul-de-sacs. It is important that such measures preserve adequate access for legitimate local traffic, especially emergency vehicles.	Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Develop standards for neo-traditional development, including new street cross-section standards, which utilize narrower streets with detached sidewalks. Develop transit oriented design criteria for neo-traditional development, which utilizes alternative forms of transportation and non-vehicular connections.	Planning Traffic Engineering	Completed 2003
Develop guidelines for Urban Heat Island mitigation by developing criteria for the use of "cool pavement" technology and engineered green spaces when developing new road and renovating existing roads. Develop a Town sponsored pilot project to explore the uses of "cool" technologies in new development/ redevelopment.	Planning Engineering	2008
Develop design standards for transit facilities including shelter design and location, bus pullouts and major transit centers. Develop ordinance to address transit policies.	Traffic Town Manager’s Office	2008
Develop standards for on-road and off-road bikeway systems.	Town Manager’s Office	Completed 2005
Evaluate all planned road projects for bicycle, pedestrian and transit components.	Planning Traffic Engineering	Ongoing
Maintain compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act for pedestrian movement along Town sidewalks, paths, trails and pedestrian crossings within Town right-of-way.	Planning Traffic Engineering	Ongoing