The Arts and Culture Department, in collaboration with the Street Transportation Department, seeks to commission pedestrian-scale artworks as part of the Dobbins Road Improvement Project. Currently in the planning and pre-design phase, the project focuses on widening approximately 4.3 miles of Dobbins Road from State Route 202 (LOOP 202) to 27th Avenue. This project aims to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety, improve public transit access, and address drainage and flooding concerns. The Dobbins Road Improvement Project will develop a consistent corridor that increases the traffic capacity along Dobbins Road. Key features include connecting the Laveen community with multi-use paths, transit improvements, and enhancements such as landscaping, lighting upgrades, drainage solutions, bus stops, shade structures, and utility relocations. The artworks should complement these new amenities, some of which could be artist-designed (ie: shade structures). The Dobbins Road Improvement Public Art Project will be a collaboration between the artist, or artist team, the project design team, city departments, local stakeholders, and community groups. The selected artist(s) will design, fabricate, and install integrated public art along Dobbins Road. The project design team will be selected through a separate RFQ process by the Street Transportation Department. As part of this project, the selected artist(s) will be expected to develop and implement community engagement activities during the design phase of the project. Implementation of the community engagement strategies may be supported by a public outreach firm hired as part of the project design team. The artworks should enrich the area’s visual identity and further enhance the pedestrian experience along Dobbins Rd. Artwork must be suitable for public display, avoid political statements, and be crafted from durable materials designed to withstand the desert environment. Locations for the artwork will be determined through a collaborative design process.
