Grants Manager Connie Callaway, along with representatives from the Living Streets Alliance (LSA) team, presented an update on the Safe Streets for All demonstration project taking place on Broad Street during the Spet. 23 meeting.
The community engagement component of the project officially kicked off with a workshop earlier in the day where 22 participants joined city leadership and staff. The workshop surfaced priorities such as accessibility for older adults, enhancing existing mid-block crossings, and creating a cohesive look that fits Broad Street’s character.
LSA is a Tucson-based nonprofit whose mission is “to transform our streets into vibrant public places that bring people together and provide safe, accessible, and attractive transportation options.” The organization advocates for funding and policies to make streets safer, does demonstration projects to show what’s possible, and runs programs to provide safe routes to school for students, among other things.
Vanessa Cascio, LSA’s executive director, outlined the Safe Streets and Roads for All project, a federally funded, multi-year effort that runs through late 2027. The project includes a 10-month on-street demonstration to test low-cost, high-impact safety designs before any permanent investment.
Cascio described demonstration projects as a way to quickly pilot traffic-calming elements—such as paint, flex posts, planters, temporary striping, and signage. These low-cost, high-impact, research-backed strategies can help make space safer for everyone who is walking, wheeling, biking, or driving.
The Globe timeline includes three phases: envisioning (taking place from now through year-end), installation of the demonstration next year, and “before-during-after” data collection to evaluate the results and strengthen future grant applications.
Council members voiced support but raised practical considerations. Discussion touched on balancing angled parking with sightlines, the challenge of safely accommodating scooters, and the importance of checking with adjacent businesses and utilities at proposed locations.
Callaway noted that the data that comes from this demonstration project will position Globe for an implementation grant—potentially worth “millions of dollars”—to scale safety improvements citywide.
LSA plans to return on November 6-8 for a town hall, First Friday pop-up, and focused stakeholder conversations. An event for sharing preliminary findings is targeted for early January.
Chief Robinson discussed a little-known but important aspect of the Globe-Miami region’s system for safety and health—the Kearny Ambulance Service—and how CVRMC is proposing to change the use of that ambulance.
CVRMC acquired Kearny Ambulance Service in 2021, and the service has operated in the Kearny, Hayden, Winkelman, and Dudleyville area since then. This change would bring it into the Globe-Miami area with a strictly limited scope.
Chief Robinson explained that CVRMC is proposing to use the Kearny Ambulance Service for patient transfers to other facilities. The change would allow CVRMC to move stable patients to higher-level care when a bed opens in the Valley, Tucson, or Flagstaff—which often has to happen on tight timelines. Chief Robinson explained that if the transfer doesn’t happen when the bed is available, the bed can be reassigned. This also means a bed at CVRMC is tied up, and care for the next patient can be delayed.
Using the Kearny Ambulance Service for interfacility transfers would create greater flexibility for local safety resources. Chief Robinson explained that transfer runs can often take 4–6 hours. During that time, ambulances and personnel are pulled out of the community, and would not be available if there were a structure fire, multi-car crash, or overlapping medical calls hitting the system. By letting the hospital use Kearny Ambulance for hospital-to-hospital transports, emergency agencies in Globe can preserve other local resources and keep them available in case of need.
The state Department of Health Services has to review and approve CVRMC’s request, which could take about 180 days.
Tri-City Fire District currently supports both 911 and interfacility transports. Chief Bejarano said arrangements would have to be made between Tri-City and CVRMC to determine whether the hospital would also be able to use Tri-City for transports. This would also depend on DHS.
Both Chief Bejarano and Chief Robinson support the use of Kearny Ambulance for interfacility transfers out of CVRMC.
A letter making the proposal will go to DHS by October 3, kicking off the approximately 180-day review in which the state may approve, deny, or tailor the request.
Juliana Powers of the KIS*Met Foundation is proposing to donate and install eight dog waste stations throughout downtown Globe. KIS*Met is a nonprofit founded last year by three local women, including Daisy Flores, Erica Flores, and Sarah Alexander. The group focuses on community rejuvenation, education, animals, and underserved populations. This project ties together both animal welfare and downtown beautification, Powers said.
Each station would include a bag dispenser, a custom sign encouraging cleanup, and sponsor recognition. Rotary has already pledged to sponsor all eight stations, at a cost of about $300 each, and Sun Construction has committed to handle installation. KIS*Met will take on responsibility for maintenance and replacing bags. Powers said she hopes these eight stations are just the beginning.
Powers emphasized the importance of promoting responsible pet ownership, improving walkability, and enhancing the city’s image for both residents and visitors. She proposed a three-month timeline, contingent on approval from the City and agreement on locations.
Councilmembers expressed strong support, with Councilman Rios noting that retirees have complained about waste on sidewalks for over a year and welcoming a solution to “those landmines” on downtown walks. Councilman Pastor, an avid walker himself, agreed there’s a problem and called the project a “great idea,” although he pointed out the need to obtain permission from business owners where stations would be placed.
See the full report on our website, including all motions approved, by going to www.globemiamitimes.com.
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