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Cholla District Weekly Update
January 9, 2026
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Dear Cholla Residents,
As we finish the first full week of the new year, I wanted to take the time to remind you of some important items happening in Glendale and ways you can become involved.
The City is seeking your input in updating the Glendale Transportation Plan. This plan is the City's roadmap for how people and goods move around Glendale over the next 25 years. It looks at how we travel today - by car, bus, bike, or on foot - and outlines strategies to make getting around safer, easier, and more efficient as our community grows.
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This plan helps guide where Glendale invests in streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and transit to best meet the needs of residents, business, and visitors. It also ensures future projects are well-coordinated, funded, and focused on creating a transportation system that works for everyone. Your feedback helps set priorities, identify problem areas, and compare different investment options. It also shows state and federal agencies that the plan reflects local needs, making Glendale more competitive for funding. By sharing your experiences and ideas, you help decide what projects rise to the top and how Glendale invests in its future transportation system. I encourage you to take the online survey and also add markers to map areas where it's difficult to get around Glendale.
Related to transportation, I recently shared that the Valley Metro's RideChoice program returned to Glendale. I was disappointed that some of the parameters that were on the pilot program for RideChoice in Glendale were rolled out with the program launch on December 1, specifically the guideline that trips must start in Glendale but end outside Glendale's city limits. I believe the program should also allow trips to end within the City of Glendale. At the December 9 Council Workshop, I requested a Council Item of Special Interest to reexamine the parameters of the program to align with offerings in other cities. I will keep you updated on the progress of this item.
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Registration is now open for Glendale University, a free program sponsored by Arizona State University that offers a behind the scenes look at how city government works. With 10 weeks of sessions on Wednesday evenings, attendees learn the inner workings of a variety of city services. Glendale residents ages 18+ and business owners whose businesses reside in the city are eligible to register now, and the program is limited to 40 participants.
The Cholla District currently needs a volunteer to serve on the City of Glendale Commission on Diverse Cultures. This commission makes recommendations to City Council on ways to encourage mutual respect and understanding among all people, to discourage prejudice and discrimination, and to support cultural awareness and unity of the community. This commission meets at 6 PM, the 2nd Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit the web site, contact the City Clerk's office at (623) 930-2252, and apply online.
Finally, I wanted to share that the City of Glendale was recently ranked in the top five Best Phoenix-Area Places to Work - Extra Large category by the Phoenix Business Journal. Click here to read more about this recognition. Thank you to retiring City Manager Kevin Phelps for his service over the past 10 years. Next week, we will welcome new City Manager Patrick Banger to the City.
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My office is always open and ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. I value your input and opinion.
Warm Regards,
Lauren Tolmachoff
Glendale City Council, Cholla District
623-930-2247
LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com
| | It was an honor to assist The Glendale Police Department with their Shop with a Cop event last month at Macy's in Arrowhead Mall. Shop with a Cop is a unique program that allows our Glendale Police to make a positive contribution to the community. | | CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS | | |
Intro to Birding at Foothills Library: Jan. 17, 9 AM - 11 AM
First, participate in a workshop where you'll learn about birds, birding, and birding resources. Then, take a walk outdoors and put your new knowledge to work as we tour around the library and through the park along Skunk Creek. Presented by Sonoran Audubon Society. Please note this program begins one hour before the library opens. Click here for more information.
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Arts & Crafts Supply Swap at Foothills Library: Jan. 25, 2 PM - 4 PM
Crafters, teachers, and art lovers, join us for this sustainable way to refresh your craft stash without spending a dime! Crafters who donate supplies to the swap can start "shopping" at 2 PM. At 3 PM, anyone can come and shop the swap, even if they don't have items to donate. Please bring usable craft supplies and tools that are not dried up, broken, stained, or odorous. Participants can drop off their craft supply donations starting one week before the event or bring them on the day of the event. Leftover supplies at the end of the swap will be donated to the library or the local Art Resource Center. Click here for more information.
| | ROAD CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC ALERTS | | |
Cholla District Upcoming Pavement Work Scheduled - Click Here for the Map
Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center Park-and-Ride Structure Construction
The City of Glendale has contracted with GCON to construct a park-and-ride parking structure in the west half of the Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center parking lot. Construction has begun and to accommodate this work, the west half of the parking lot will be closed to vehicles through Jan. 30, 2026. Thank you for your patience during this work.
City of Glendale Project Hotline: 602.532.6250
Loop 101 Current and Upcoming Closures & Restrictions
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 widening project:
Upcoming Traffic Control:
- North and southbound 51st Avenue will be closed nightly from 9 PM - 5 AM beginning Tuesday, Jan. 13 to the morning of Thursday, Jan. 15.
- DETOUR: Drivers may use the east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 35th or 59th Avenues to get around the closure.
- Median work on 75th Avenue between Loop 101 and Rose Garden Lane will begin on Jan. 26 and is expected to be in place roughly through April. Both north and southbound will be reduced to one lane. There may also be intermittent sidewalk restrictions as electronical work takes place also. The city Transportation team and ADOT's project team have discussed adjusting the traffic signal timing to allow more cars to travel through the area at a time. The signals will continue to be monitored and adjusted if needed, in an effort to keep traffic moving.
Long Term Ramp Closures:
- The eastbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 75th Avenue is closed for approximately 60 days from Jan. 5.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider using the frontage road (Beardsley) or Union Hills Drive to 59th Avenue to access eastbound Loop 101.
- The eastbound Loop 101 off ramp at 67th Avenue will close for approximately 60 days beginning 11:30 PM Monday, Jan. 12.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting at 75th Avenue and taking the frontage road (Beardsley) to 67th Avenue or exiting at 59th Avenue.
- The eastbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 51st will close for approximately 60 days beginning 11:30 PM Monday, Jan. 19.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider using the eastbound frontage road to access Loop 101 at 35th Avenue or using eastbound on-ramp at 59th Avenue.
- The eastbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 35th Avenue will close for approximately 60 days beginning 11:30 PM Monday, Jan. 26.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting at 51st or 27th Avenues.
Ongoing Lane Restrictions:
- The westbound frontage road (Beardsley) will continue to be reduced to one lane between 35th and 51st Avenues through 5 AM, Sat. Feb. 15.
Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.
| | CITYWIDE HIGHLIGHTS & CALENDAR | | | | |
Notice of Electric Bicycle &
Electric Standup Scooter Ordinance
New rules for electric bicycles and scooters go into effect in Glendale on January 9, 2026. The ordinance was adopted by the Glendale City Council on December 9, 2025.
The ordinance covers three classes of e-bikes and e-scooters:
- Class 1 and 2 e-bikes have a top speed of 20 mph and riders must be at least 14 years old.
- Class 3 e-bikes have a top speed of 28 mph and riders must be at least 16 years old.
- E-scooter riders must be at least 12 years old.
All e-bikes and e-scooters ridden at night must have proper lighting and reflectors, riders must follow traffic laws and helmets are required for anyone under 18. Reckless riding behaviors, including riding against traffic, are prohibited. The Glendale Police Department will begin enforcing the ordinance on January 9, 2026. Fines start at $50 and may increase up to $500 for repeated violations within a 12-month period. Click here for more information.
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