HALLOWEEN NIGHT
CONGRESS STREET TO CLOSE TO VEHICLES AS CITY PILOTS PEDESTRIAN-FOCUSED DOWNTOWN SPACE
After more than a decade of conversation and planning, Congress Street will close to vehicles on Halloween night, giving downtown Tucson its first real test of the street as a pedestrian space during its busiest hours.
From 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, to 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, Congress Street will be closed to vehicles from Toole Avenue to just west of Scott Avenue. The pilot will allow the City of Tucson and its partners to evaluate pedestrian movement, transportation access and public safety along roughly four blocks of downtown's entertainment district. (See map below.)
The idea has been around for years, but several pieces had to fall into place first. The biggest was completing Downtown Links, which now provides an alternative route for traffic traveling around downtown rather than through it. Downtown's late-night businesses have weighed in on how a closure would affect their staff and customers. New ride-hailing and taxi drop-off zones are in place, and Tucson Police and Tucson Fire will help ensure emergency services can access the area throughout the night.
"Downtown is the heart of Tucson, and for years, I’ve worked toward a downtown that is safer, more connected and economically vibrant for everyone. This pilot is an important step in that effort. With Downtown Links complete and strong collaboration among the city, Downtown Tucson Partnership, Pima County, downtown businesses, and Tucson Police Department, we’re ready to put this idea into practice. It’s an opportunity to support our local businesses, prioritize pedestrian safety, and learn what can help our downtown continue to thrive,” said City of Tucson’s Mayor Regina Romero.
“I was hit by a car in a crosswalk on Congress. I know what it costs when our streets are designed for cars instead of people. This pilot is a chance to show what downtown can feel like when we put safety first for the families who walk, bike and support our homegrown businesses,” said Tucson Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz.
Last Halloween, an estimated 24,000 people visited downtown Tucson during the evening, according to location analytics firm Placer.ai. With the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, organizers anticipate another busy Halloween weekend. The pilot will provide an opportunity to observe how pedestrians, vehicles and transit interact during one of downtown's busiest nights and help determine next steps, including the possibility of a future daytime pedestrian program.
"Walkable communities happen when places are designed for people to move, gather and connect," said Ward 6 Council Member Miranda Schubert. "This pilot lets us learn from how people experience Congress Street in a whole new way. I'm excited about what we'll learn at night and how those lessons could help us explore a daytime pilot and keep building a downtown that welcomes people walking, biking and riding transit."
"This pilot has been years in the making," said Crystal Moore, president and CEO of the Downtown Tucson Partnership. "With Downtown Links complete and our transportation and public safety partners aligned, we can finally put years of planning into practice. Our nighttime merchants have been instrumental in this effort, and their continued collaboration is helping us create a safer, more vibrant downtown for everyone."
Restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and cultural spaces in and around the pilot area will remain open and accessible during the closure. The pilot is intended to improve pedestrian safety and movement while maintaining access to downtown businesses and transportation services.
Parking
Park Tucson will begin hooding meters on Congress St. at 10 a.m. in an effort to clear vehicles from the roadway, ahead of the closure. Please see attached map for nearby parking garages and surface lots available.
Getting Around
- Drivers are encouraged to use the Maclovio-Barraza downtown bypass to get around the closure.
- Scott Avenue will remain open, as will eastbound Broadway.
- The Sun Link Streetcar will remain operational.
- The Ronstadt Transit Center will remain open, with Sun Tran access off Toole Avenue.
- There will be four designated rideshare access points available. (See map)
For more info on parking options, visit www.parktucson.com
For more info on Halloween night activities in the downtown area, visit https://downtowntucson.org/post/halloween-night-congress-street-closure
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