Phoenix, Arizona

====Roads and freeways====
{{Main|Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix}}

Phoenix auto traffic depends on both freeways and surface streets. Freeways fall under the auspices of the [[Arizona Department of Transportation]] (ADOT). Phoenix ranks first in the nation in the quality of its urban freeways, and the state as a whole ranks first in the nation in the quality of bridges.<ref>{{cite book |title=20th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems |publisher=Reason Foundation |date=July 2013 |first1=David T. |last1=Hartgen |first2=M. Gregory |last2=Fields |first3=Elizabeth |last3=San José}}</ref> While being the fifth most populous city in the nation, Phoenix's freeways do not suffer from the same type of congestion seen in other large cities. In fact, in a recent study, there is not a single stretch of freeway in Phoenix ranked in the 100 worst freeways for either congestion or unreliability.<ref>{{cite book |title=TTI's 2011 Congested Corridors Report |first1=Bill |last1=Eisele |first2=David |last2=Schrank |first3=Tim |last3=Lomax |publisher=Texas A&M-Texas Transportation Institute |date=November 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Interstate 10 and Interstate 17 Interchange at Night.2012.jpg|thumb|alt=photo showing the multiple levels of roadways at the interchange between Interstates ten and seventeen, called "the stack" in downtown Phoenix at night.|left|The Stack (Interstates 10 and 17) interchange at night in 2012]]Part of the reason for this is the extensive freeway system in the city, due to most of that system being funded by local, rather than federal funds, through a half-cent general sales tax measure approved by voters in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transportation-finance.org/pdf/featured_documents/nchrp_20_24_62_maricopa.pdf |publisher=Build America Transportation Investment Center |title=Maricopa County Sales Tax Referendum Case Study |access-date=March 22, 2016 |date=September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009123333/http://www.transportation-finance.org/pdf/featured_documents/nchrp_20_24_62_maricopa.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another offshoot of this local funding is that Phoenix is the largest city in the United States to have two Interstate Highways but no three-digit interstates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/table2.htm |title=Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002 |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]] |access-date=February 26, 2014}}</ref>

{{As of|2005}}, the metropolitan area of Phoenix contains one of the nation's largest and fastest growing freeway systems, consisting of over {{convert|1,405|mi|km|disp=preunit|lane }}.<ref name="aadt">{{cite news |url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/2008/09/07/20080907vip-lavsphx0907.html |title=Transformation into Big City has Benefits, Burdens |work=[[Arizona Republic]] |first1=Yuri |last1=Artibise |first2=Grady Jr. |last2=Gammage |first3=Nancy |last3=Welch |date=September 7, 2008 |access-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref> The freeway system is a mix of Interstate, U.S., and state highways which include [[Interstate 10 in Arizona|Interstate 10]], [[Interstate 17]], [[US 60 in Arizona|US 60]], [[Arizona State Route 101|Loop 101]], [[Arizona State Route 202|Loop 202]], [[Arizona State Route 51|SR 51]], [[Arizona State Route 143|SR 143]], and [[Arizona State Route 303|Loop 303]]. There are still major additions to routes 101, 202 and 303 underway, as well as several other smaller projects around the valley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azdot.gov/projects/phoenix-metro-area |title=Phoenix Metro Area Projects |publisher=ADOT |access-date=February 13, 2014}}</ref> State Routes [[Arizona State Route 87|87]], [[Arizona State Route 85|85]], and [[Arizona State Route 74|74]] connect Phoenix with other areas of the Valley and Arizona.<ref name=Discover>{{cite web |url=http://www.discoverphoenixarizona.com/phoenix-streets-and-freeways.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115072541/http://www.discoverphoenixarizona.com/phoenix-streets-and-freeways.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2014 |title=Phoenix Streets and Freeways |publisher=discoverphoenix.com |access-date=February 13, 2014 }}</ref>

The street system in Phoenix (and some of its suburbs) is laid out in a grid system, with most roads oriented either north–south or east–west, and the zero point of the grid being the intersection of Central Avenue and Washington Street.<ref name=Discover /> The one notable exception to this is the diagonal [[Grand Avenue (Phoenix)|Grand Avenue]], which runs northwest–southeast. The original plan was for the east–west streets to be named after U.S. Presidents, with the north–south streets named after Native Americans; but the north–south streets were quickly changed to numbers, with numbered Avenues running to the west of Central, and numbered Streets to its east.<ref name=Phxgov /> Major arterial streets are spaced {{convert|1|mile|spell=in}} apart, divided into smaller blocks approximately every {{convert|1/8|mi|m}}. For example, Scottsdale Road, being the 7200 block east, lies {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} to the east of Central Avenue (72 / 8).<ref name=Discover />

Freeways and state highways in Phoenix:<ref name=Discover />
{{div col|colwidth=11em}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|I|10}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|I|17}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|AZ|51}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|US|60}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|AZ|85}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|Loop|101}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|AZ|143}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|Loop|202}}
* {{jct|state=AZ|Loop|303}}
{{div col end}}