Cholla District Weekly Update

Dear Cholla Residents,

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I am grateful to be able to share that residents will soon have more transportation options with the return of Valley Metro's RideChoice program on December 1. Many residents expressed concern when the pilot program ended this summer, and the City has worked to bring RideChoice back.

This convenient service is available to residents who are certified for paratransit under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides eligible riders with greater flexibility and improved access to reliable transportation across the community.

RideChoice is available for trips that start in Glendale and travel outside Glendale city limits. This will make it convenient, simple, and relatively inexpensive for these riders to go to doctors' appointments, grocery stores, restaurants, and other activities anytime.

This on-demand transportation service gives riders:

• Comfortable and easier access to a larger network of rideshare transportation providers, including Uber, taxicabs, and other wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
• Availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays.
• Independent rides without having to share a vehicle with other passengers.
• Reliable transportation without a 24-hour advance reservation.

The RideChoice program costs $3 for every one-way trip, up to eight miles. Each additional mile beyond that costs $2 per mile.

Residents who would like to apply for a RideChoice program may call Valley Metro at 602-716-2100. Those who want to book a RideChoice trip after their eligibility is verified should call Valley Metro at 602-716-2111. For more information about this service visit Valley Metro web site.

I hope to see many of you this Friday, Nov. 28, for the special lighting ceremony that takes place at 5:45 PM celebrating the opening of the Glendale Glitters light and holiday display in Downtown Glendale at the Glendale Civic Center (5750 W. Glenn Dr. Glendale, AZ 85301). I will be in attendance along with Mayor Weiers and other City Council Members. The city will come aglow with millions of twinkling lights for the 2025 season. There will be over 20 unique vendors in attendance, offering a wide variety of treats, crafts, and local favorites.

My office is 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.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Warm Regards,

Lauren Tolmachoff

Glendale City Council, Cholla District

623-930-2249, Option 7 for Cholla

LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com

CITY OF GLENDALE THANKSGIVING CHANGES & CLOSURES

The city of Glendale offices will be closed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and on Nov. 28, but some services will still be operating for residents. City offices will reopen on Dec. 1

There will be no residential garbage, recycling and bulk trash collection services on Nov. 27 due to the holiday. On Friday, Nov. 28, these services will operate on a Thursday schedule. Then residential garbage, recycling and bulk trash pick-up will take place on a Friday schedule on Saturday, Nov. 29. The Glendale Municipal Landfill will be closed on Nov. 27 for the holiday but reopen for regular business hours on Nov. 28. Visit Trash and Recycling | City of Glendale, AZ or call 623-930-2660 for more information.

Some public transportation options will be available on Thanksgiving and the day after the holiday. The Glendale OnBoard microtransit service, formerly known as Dial-A-Ride, will be available on Thanksgiving and Nov. 28. Riders must make reservations for Nov. 27 and 28 no later than noon on Nov. 26. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) services will be provided both days, Nov. 27 and 28, as usual. GUS Bus 1 will run on a Sunday schedule on Nov. 27 and will operate on a Saturday schedule on Nov. 28. Neither GUS Bus 2 or GUS Bus 3 will be in service on Thanksgiving or Nov. 28. Visit Valley Metro to plan your next trip or contact Customer Service at 602-253-5000.

Glendale Public Libraries will be closed on Thanksgiving and Nov. 28 and will reopen at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29.

Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center, Rose Lane Community Center, O’Neil Recreation Center and Glendale Community Center will be closed Thanksgiving and Friday, Nov. 28. They will re-open on Nov. 29 for regular hours. Glendale Adult Center will also be closed on Nov. 27 and 28, and will reopen at its usual time on Monday, Dec. 1, as it is always closed on weekends. Glendale’s REC on Wheels program also will not be operating on Thanksgiving or on Nov. 28. For more information about Parks and Recreation services and programs, call 623-930-2820.

The Glendale Municipal Airport will remain open, as it always is, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, the airport’s administrative office will be closed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28. The terminal building will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 28.

And the Glendale Convention & Visitors Bureau be closed on Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving.

For additional information about the City of Glendale’s programs and services, visit www.glendaleaz.gov.

CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

Cholla District Meeting - Holiday Mixer: Dec. 4, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

I look forward to seeing residents in the Cholla District at our District Meeting/Holiday Mixer event on Thursday, Dec. 4 at Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center. Thank you to all who signed up to attend by the deadline this past Monday. We will have many City Staff in attendance to learn more about services and ask questions about the City. Don't forget to wear your ugliest sweater for a chance to win a prize! If you have questions, please contact Council Assistant Terri King at tking2@glendaleaz.com or (623) 930-2247.

Jam-Boree's Holly Follies at Foothills Library: Dec. 1, 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM

Come and enjoy a festive holiday performance featuring members of Foothills Jam-Boree Acoustic Jam in the Roadrunner Room. Visit the web site for more information.

Adult Craft - Fused Glass Candle Ornament at Foothills Library: Dec. 2, 2 PM - 4 PM

Adults (ages 18+) can come make unique ornaments out of glass. Registration is required for this event. Visit the web site for more information.

LIBCON West at Foothills Library: Dec. 6, 10 AM - 3 PM

Everyone is invited to LIBCON West, a free, all-ages event about embracing fandom of all kinds! Meet talented authors and artists, enjoy cosplay, explore vendor booths, and dive into crafts and activities. 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

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

• 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) – Due to cooler daytime temperatures setting in, the remainder of the slurry seal application has been postponed to Spring 2026 when warmer weather returns.
• Lone Cactus Drive, just west of Arrowhead Loop Road and 61st Avenue, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road – Mill and overlay to take place in mid-January.
• Rose Garden Lane, Lone Cactus Drive and 61st Drive, just east of Arrowhead Loop Road - Mill and overlay to take place in mid-January.
• 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.

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. Project Hotline: 602-532-6250

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 Scheduled:

• The southbound right-turn lane on 67th Avenue at Loop 101 will be closed from 5 AM Monday, Nov. 24 to 5 PM, Thursday, Nov. 27. 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.
• North and southbound 51st Avenue will be closed at Loop 101 nightly from 10 PM to 5 AM beginning Monday, Dec. 1, ending the morning of Dec. 3.
• DETOUR: Drivers may consider using east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 59th or 35th Avenues to get around the closure.
• North and southbound 31st Avenue will be closed at Loop 101 from 10 PM Tuesday, Dec. 2 to 5 AM Wednesday, Dec. 3.
• DETOUR: Drivers may use the east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 35th or 43rd Avenues to get around the closure.
• The system interchange ramps from north and southbound I-17 to westbound Loop 101 will be closed from 9 PM Friday, Dec. 5 to 5 AM, Saturday, Dec. 6.

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 BUS NETWORK SURVEY

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.