Cholla District Weekly Update

Dear Cholla Residents,

I am pleased to share that the City of Glendale has achieved a AAA bond rating on its excise tax debt from S&P Global ratings. This is the highest possible rating that S&P gives and reflects years of strong fiscal discipline, strategic planning, and economic growth that have strengthened Glendale's financial position. This upgrade also validates the City Council's conservative and forward-thinking approach to budgeting and underscores how much progress Glendale has made in improving its financial condition and reserves over the past decade. The new AAA rating will allow Glendale to borrow at lower interest rates and further strengthen investor confidence.

In other news, the Transportation Department recently provided information at the Oct. 28 Council Workshop meeting about updating the Glendale Transportation Plan to ensure it aligns with Council priorities and community values. The plan is typically updated every 5-7 years and was last updated in 2017. It is important to update this plan to accommodate the dynamic growth Glendale has experienced over the past decade, changing travel patterns, emerging technologies impacting the way we drive, and new information inputs from studies of safety plans, airport plans, etc.

Public involvement is a crucial part of developing the plan to ensure voices of the community and other stakeholders are heard and that the plan reflects the needs, concerns, and priorities of the people and businesses who will be impacted by transportation investments. The City will provide means for the community to learn more and provide input at a variety of community engagement events over the next several months. This will include booths at Glendale Glitters, Glendale Family Bike Ride and other major events within the City. Transportation Department staff will also be on hand at our upcoming Cholla Holiday Mixer on Dec. 4, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Of course, you are always welcome to reach out to my office to provide individual input as well.

Speaking of transportation, we have all been impacted by the Arizona Department of Transportation Loop 101 Improvement Project. I have been receiving updates weekly from ADOT and providing you with information on current and upcoming traffic closures and restrictions in the weekly newsletter. It is important to note that if you see something that doesn't make sense, let us know, as we can work to partner with ADOT to research the issue. For example, about a week ago, there was quite a bottleneck of traffic on the frontage road between 67th and 75th Avenues with lane restrictions in addition to the ramp closures. During at least some of that period, it didn't appear those lane restrictions were needed. I reached out to staff in our Glendale Transportation Department that already has a working relationship with ADOT, and they facilitated communication to remove those lane restrictions to ease the bottleneck.

Warm Regards,

Lauren Tolmachoff

Glendale City Council, Cholla District

623-930-2249, Option 7 for Cholla

LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com

CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

Cholla District residents are warmly invited to RSVP for the 9th annual Cholla District Holiday Mixer on Thursday, December 4, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Coyote Room at the Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center. Come enjoy refreshments, interact with city staff, and mingle with other neighbors in the district. Don't forget to wear your ugliest holiday sweater for a chance to win 1st, 2nd or 3rd place prizes with voting done by your fellow neighbors in the district. There will also be chances to win other prizes, including tickets to Glendale events. You must be a resident in the Cholla district to participate. Simply register online, or if you are unable to use the online form, contact Council Assistant Terri King for assistance. I look forward to celebrating the season with you!

Coffee with a Cop Foothills Division: Nov. 12, 2025, 9 AM - 10 AM

Join representatives from the Glendale Police Department for coffee on the greens on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, 9 AM - 10 AM at the Legend at Arrowhead Golf Course, 21027 N. 67th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85308. For more information, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Barbara Garcia at 623-930-2571 or visit the web site.

Great Arizona Puppet Theater - A Monkey Christmas at Foothills Library: Nov. 17, 6-7 PM

Join in for a family evening full of cute and funny comedy about Christmas monkey madness! Seating will be first-come, first-served until the room reaches capacity. Tickets will be distributed 15 minutes prior to the start of the performance. Visit the web site for more information.

Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center

This full-service facility is located at 5600 W. Union Hills Drive within the Cholla District and provides educational, recreational, fitness, and social opportunities for the Glendale community. For gym, aerobics, and swim schedules, visit the web site.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC ALERTS

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 on the west half of the Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center parking lot. Construction is scheduled to begin next week on Nov. 10 and to accommodate this work, the west half of the parking lot (area in red in the graphic below) will be closed to vehicles beginning Nov. 10 through Jan. 30, 2026. Thank you for your patience during this work. Project Hotline: 602-532-6250

Cholla District Upcoming Pavement Work Scheduled - Click Here for the Map

• Lone Cactus Drive, just west of Arrowhead Loop Road and 61st Avenue, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road – Concrete repairs are currently taking place in advance of a mill and overlay to take place in January.
• Rose Garden Lane, Lone Cactus Drive and 61st Drive, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road - Concrete repairs are currently taking place in advance of a mill and overlay to take place in January.
• Streets north of Beardsley Road to south of Thunderbird Conservation Park, between 59th Avenue and 67th Avenue (excluding streets recently resurfaced or currently scheduled for mill and overlay) – Crack sealing and Slurry Seal applications are currently taking place.
• Streets between Union Hills Drive and Beardsley Road, and between 75th Avenue and the Loop 101 – Crack sealing to begin in early January to prepare for a Latex Modified Surface Seal (LMSS) application to take place later in the program.

Cholla Traffic Restrictions Due to City Landscape Restoration Activities in Medians

• Traffic will be restricted to the outside lane in the westbound direction of Union Hills Drive from 67th Avenue to 70th Avenue starting Oct. 20 through Jan. 2, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
• Traffic will be restricted to the outside lane in the eastbound direction of Union Hills Drive from 70th Avenue to 67th Avenue starting Oct. 20 through Jan. 2, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Additionally, the work on the proposed bus pullout project at the northwest corner of 75th Avenue and Union Hills is ongoing, with roughly two more weeks of work remaining. The Contractor's goal is to be out of the area before Thanksgiving week. There will be a police officer onsite from 6 AM to 6 PM for the duration of the project.

Project Info: 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 Scheduled:

• 31st Avenue at Loop 101 will be closed in both directions nightly from 10 PM to 5 AM beginning Tuesday, Nov. 11, ending Friday, Nov. 14.
• The eastbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 35th Avenue will be closed from 10 PM Thursday, Nov. 13 to 5 AM Friday, Nov. 14.
• The southbound right-turn lane on 67th Avenue at Loop 101 will be closed from 11:30 PM Thursday, Nov. 13 to 5 AM Wednesday, Nov. 24. NOTE: The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 67th Avenue is currently closed for reconstruction. The westbound frontage road will remain open during this time.
• The eastbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 27th Avenue will be closed from 6 AM to 6 PM Saturday, Nov. 15.

Long-Term Ramp Closures:

• The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 51st Avenue will be closed for approximately 60 days from Oct. 13.
• DETOUR: Drivers may consider using Union Hills Drive to 59th Avenue to access westbound Loop 101 on-ramp or traveling on the westbound frontage road (Beardsley) then travel south to eastbound Union Hills Drive to reach 51st Avenue.
• The westbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 59th Avenue will be closed for approximately 60 days from Oct. 20.
• DETOUR: Drivers may use either the 51st Avenue or 67th Avenue off-ramps to exit westbound Loop 101.
• The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 67th Avenue will be closed for approximately 60 days from Oct. 20.
• DETOUR: Drivers may use the eastbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 59th Ave. to reach eastbound Loop 101.

Current Frontage Road Closures & 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.
• Lane restrictions are ongoing at the following locations for bridge work and frontage road improvements:
• At the 51st & 35th Avenue interchanges: All on and off ramps will be narrowed to one lane. The left-turn lane for both east and westbound on-ramps will be narrowed to one lane. 51st and 35th Avenues will be narrowed to one lane under Loop 101.
• At the 31st Avenue interchange: The 31st Avenue shoulders will be closed under Loop 101. Pedestrian access is still available.

Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.

CITYWIDE HIGHLIGHTS & CALENDAR

Valley Metro is seeking to redesign the region's bus network and needs your help to determine your preferences and how it can improve service. Take the survey to share your ideas! The survey is available until Nov. 30.

Watch Council Meetings Live on the City's Facebook, YouTube, or on Glendale Channel 11.