Latest Developments of the Bisbee Bikeways Project
Current Update 2024:
- Project Update October 2024: We have raised $34,599 for the cash match of the final design of the west segment of the path.
- June 2024, Bisbee City Council passes the Intergovernmental Agreement with Arizona Department of Transportation which allows the feasibility study for the overall network of pathways from Bisbee to Naco to move forward.
- April: The Project Director presented at the Arizona Bicycling Summit in Mesa. This was a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals working on innovative projects around the state and country. The Bisbee Bikeways Project received a good bit of attention. To see the Summit click here.
- March 2024: Bisbee City Council passes the IGA with ADOT for the east segment of the Lavender Pit path; the contract with Kimley Horn to start the final design of the east segment; the joint grant project agreement with Bisbee Bikeways.
Highlights from 2023:
- The Bisbee City Council unanimously passed the Bisbee Area Mobility Master Plan. Scroll down to upload the Plan.
- Updated the Scope of the Lavender Pit project so that it's split into two projects. One is funded by the EDA, the other is funded by Congressional Directed Spending.
- Notified that we are receiving a grant from ADOT for $641,000 to fund a feasibility study for the network of pathways from Bisbee to Naco.
Highlights from 2022:
- We raised $41,335 from a community fundraising campaign and got 32 small businesses to sign forms stating 233 jobs can be created, 92 jobs retained and $2.8 million in private investment could be generated from the implementation of the Lavender Pit pathway in 15 days
- We were notified that a grant we submitted to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for $4.5 Million is being awarded to the City of Bisbee for the final design and implementation of the Lavender Pit pathway thanks to ARPA funding made available by the Biden Administration. Thank you EDA!
- We are part of a statewide coalition to improve bike and pedestrian access across the state of Arizona especially for rural Arizonans. We signed a letter to Governor Ducey requesting that the state use the funds distributed through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) to implement “Complete Streets that are safe for all users and achieve safe, connected, and equitable on-and off-road networks”. The letter states that "Arizona ranks as the fourth most dangerous state in the nation for pedestrians... and has consistently ranked as one of the 10 most dangerous states for walking since 1994." The work we've done on this project has served to inform this movement, and has revealed the arduous challenges one must overcome if they want to create a bike/pedestrian pathway on a state highway in a rural area. Geographically, the majority of state land falls into a rural area and it's estimated that 7,174,064 people live in rural areas (Rural health information hub) likely all moving from one part of their town to another on state highways. To find out more about complete streets click here.
- We were notified that a community project request we submitted to Congresswoman Kirkpatrick for $4 Million is being awarded to the City of Bisbee for the construction of the Lavender Pit path. Thank you Congresswoman Kirkpatrick!
Highlights from 2021
- July, 2021: The Bisbee City Council voted to move forward to get funding for the Lavender Pit shared use path Option B on July 8th at a Special Session meeting. You can see the meeting, the vote, and the presentation on the shared use path that preceded it by Kimley Horne here.
- The Bisbee Area Mobility Master Plan was passed unanimously by the Bisbee Planning and Zoning Commission and was sent back to the County Planner for revisions after going to Council. The main concern is that the hiking trails in Old Bisbee be removed from the Plan. This is a plan that will connect the entire City of Bisbee through a network of shared use paths and connect this network to the Sun Corridor Trail. See the Plan below.
- The Lavender Pit Feasibility Study Community Presentation can be seen here https://youtu.be/DUnQaQncrBc and an abbreviated version of the study can be seen below. Please make sure to take the survey after you review the study. Or click on the PDF below "Simplified Lavender Pit Study" to see a simplified version that addresses common concerns