Mockingbird Lane design deliberations continue at Paradise Valley Town Council
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Paradise Valley Town Council Thursday, June 27. are expected to hear a final update at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive, on myriad street improvements along Mockingbird Lane between 56th Street and Invergordon Road.
Paradise Valley Town Council meets 3 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at Town Hall in an anticipated discussion of final plans for Mockingbird Lane improvements.
The scope of improvements along Mockingbird Lane include:
- Installation of new storm drain system along Mockingbird Road,
- Full-width asphalt mill and overlay & restriping with bike lanes, and
- Traffic calming measures including the installation of chicane(s).
Earlier this year, Town Council awarded a contract to the tune of $50,000 to Kimley-Horn for the design and professional services for the Mockingbird Lane traffic calming measures whereas Town Council has now provided the transportation engineering firm a total of $200,000 for all work done, including sewer and drainage work along Invergordon, according to Town Manager Andrew Ching.
Of Note: See the latest Town Hall presentation HERE
The capital improvement project was first introduced in fiscal year 2018 and entails several construction measures, according to Jason Harris at Paradise Valley public works.
Total cost of the interconnected CIP projects — Mockingbird Lane and Invergordon Road improvements and drainage — is $12.308 million, of which the Town of Paradise Valley is responsible for $6.87 million through shared cost at Maricopa County, Digital Free Press archives show.
Here is a breakdown of the proposed cost-share plan between the town and Maricopa County:
Mockingbird Lane design deliberations continue at Paradise Valley Town Council
Members of Paradise Valley Town Council have expressed frustration regarding the timeline, design and concept of traffic calming measures, which costs the municipality $3.876 million — contemplated along Mockingbird Lane.
“We are at currently 60% designed,” said Chris Chill, a traffic engineer at Kimley-Horn, during a June 13 work session discussion. “We are looking at the potential for public input and the CMAR designation approval with construction set to begin in May 2026.”
Paradise Valley Town Council debated the proposed design aesthetics as well as the updated design for proposed traffic-calming measures along Mockingbird Lane between 56th Street and Invergordon Road during a June 13 work session discussion.
“Although we have had meeting meetings with direction, we don’t have them here,” said Paradise Valley Councilman Scott Moore. “I know for sure that we didn’t want to design similar to what we see on 52nd Street — I think we all had that conversation but here we are getting something we have all said we don’t want.”
Councilman Moore says he is looking for details and plans more attune to the direction of Town Council.
“Your time is expensive and your time is money and when keep going through stuff it costs money,” Councilman Moore said pointing out safety concerns. “That is a real frustration for me.”
While a system of traffic-calming chicanes were proposed earlier this month — the term, ‘chagrin’ might best articulate how Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner feels about the ongoing design proceedings.
“The chicanes, in all respect — these are not the preferred design option,” Mayor Bien-Willner said while expressing similar frustrations expressed by Councilman Moore. “Part of our plans is to create uniformity with our streets and I am hoping this design is not representative of what we plan on doing. It may sound like a small point but at this stage of the game we need to see every detail.”
