A once-flaming sizzling situation apparently has been placed on ice.

This time final 12 months, debates raged over so-called “highway diets.”

Scores of drivers begged Scottsdale Metropolis Council to not eliminate motorcar lanes – whereas cyclists and others passionately pleaded for metropolis leaders to slim down motorized visitors to permit for bike lanes.

The difficulty continues to be on the minds of these like Mason Gates. 

On the Feb. 20 Metropolis Council assembly’s public feedback part, Gates, who has filed to run for council, gave a quick oration titled, “We should overcome the activists and misguided councilmembers searching for to implement highway diets in Scottsdale.”

Gates could have wasted three minutes of his time, as metropolis transportation officers say no tasks for “full streets” – the phrase they like to “highway diets” – are imminent.

Such was hardly the case within the spring of 2023. 

First got here impassioned outcries from each factors of view when Metropolis Council thought of buying and selling automobile lanes for bike paths on 68th Avenue.

Council members Tom Durham, Tammy Caputi and Solange Whitehead and Mayor David Ortega voted for the 68th Avenue nip-and-tuck; Barry Graham, Kathy Littlefield and Betty Janik opposed it. 

Throats had been nonetheless sore from screaming over that when town unveiled the same plan for a 2-mile size of Thomas Highway between 73rd and 56th streets.

Probably the most emotion-lighting a part of the plan:

“Elimination of 1 east certain journey lane to make room for flip lanes, bike lanes and to match the variety of journey lanes (two in every path) on both facet of the undertaking.”

After an April open home, the Thomas Highway undertaking got here earlier than Metropolis Council two months later.

However the agenda merchandise centered on property that wanted to be bought to facilitate the undertaking – and Ortega shut down those that wished to talk in opposition to highway diets.

Although it appeared Thomas Highway was teed up for funding, Mark Melnychenko, town’s Transportation and Streets director, has but to carry it again to Metropolis Council.

The difficulty got here up in a January Transportation Fee assembly.

Based on the minutes of the assembly, “In response to a commissioner query, Mr. Melnychenko addressed the Thomas Highway Full Streets undertaking. The situation of the prevailing roadway is even worse than beforehand identified. A portion will must be rebuilt … Right now, will probably be restriped again to its current configuration.”

The Progress requested Melnychenko for extra clarification on the undertaking.

“Workers has decided that the urgent want for pavement enhancements and a complete strategy to this part of minor arterial roadway in Scottsdale is required,” he responded.

Melnychenko mentioned a revised Thomas Highway plan can be proposed  “to incorporate a full resolution to handle the upkeep wants of the roadway and change and/or improve water and sewer infrastructure underneath the highway.”

He mentioned the undertaking nonetheless will embody repaving, changing visitors indicators and changing pedestrian ramps.

However, he famous, “The lane striping can be restored to the present configuration.”

The Progress requested if language relating to the elimination of a motorized vehicle lane and addition of motorbike lanes will stay within the proposed plan.

“The brand new plan doesn’t embody elimination of an eastbound journey lane, further flip lanes or further bike lanes on the roadway,” Cristina Lenko, a metropolis Transportation and Streets Division spokeswoman, responded.