Grand-35 study receives final environmental clearance

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Grand-35 study receives final environmental clearance

Project will reconstruct the intersection of US 60 (Grand Avenue), 35th Avenue and Indian School Road to improve traffic flow and safety.

RailThe Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has released the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Design Concept Report (DCR) for the Grand-35 study, which identifies ADOT’s recommended project to reconstruct the intersection of US 60 (Grand Avenue), 35th Avenue and Indian School Road. Issuance of the EA/DCR, along with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), allows ADOT to move forward with project design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

The project will create a new raised intersection of 35th Avenue and Indian School Road above Grand Avenue and the BNSF Railway tracks. This will improve traffic flow and safety by eliminating the current six-legged crossing, allowing Grand Avenue traffic to flow freely and eliminating current vehicle-train conflicts. The intersection has a high crash rate - and in 2016 was rated by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as having the second highest number of vehicle-train incidents in the U.S. The project will also provide pedestrian improvements and will accommodate plans by the city of Phoenix for future high capacity transit along Indian School Road and 35th Avenue. 

The project is being conducted in coordination with the city of Phoenix and Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). Construction is expected to begin in spring 2026.  

ADOT prepared the Final EA and DCR in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires agencies to analyze, disclose, avoid, minimize or mitigate environmental impacts of a proposed project with federal involvement before determining whether to proceed with the project. The environmental review, consultation and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried out by ADOT pursuant to 23 USC 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated June 25, 2024 and executed by FHWA and ADOT. The FONSI represents ADOT’s final decision on the project. 

The Final EA documents represent updates to the Draft EA based on public and agency feedback, and include and respond to public comments received during the public comment period for the draft EA and DCR, which was released in October 2023 and included an in-person public hearing. Further outreach will be made as part of final design and details will be shared in advance. 

The Final EA and DCR document and associated appendices are available on the project website at: azdot.gov/Grand-35

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This simulation of the project design shows a new elevated intersection of 35th Avenue and Indian School Road over US 60/Grand Avenue.