Flagstaff, Arizona
Reducing traffic lanes and speeding with art
The Project
Cheshire is an intergenerational, residential neighborhood in Flagstaff, Arizona. It is home to Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy (FALA) and a vibrant park, which are separated from one another by the busy four-lane roadway, Fremont Boulevard. The Cheshire Slow Streets Asphalt Art project addressed the community’s roadway safety concerns by restructuring the roadway to lower vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, especially as children crossed the street to access the school and park. Local artists conducted neighborhood focus groups and worked with FALA art students to develop three designs for the roadway mural. The community voted for the wetlands theme, and the mural was installed by residents during a community block party.
- 40% decrease in excessively speeding vehicles (traveling above 30 mph)
- 68% decrease in people with safety concerns about the road
The Fremont Boulevard asphalt art represents a real win-win-win solution. It’s a win for the children trying to cross the busy intersection to access our park; it’s a win for the FALA high school students, who played a major role in the design, planning, and installation of the art; and, it’s a big win for MetroPlan, Flagstaff, Coconino County, and their partners, who demonstrated that low-cost, innovative solutions are possible to make our streets safer and more bike and pedestrian friendly.
-Audrey Kruse, Cheshire resident
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
Gallery: Cheshire community picks up brushes to help in the slow street asphalt art project. (Arizona Daily Sun, May 23, 2024)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
