Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts - street closures and transit impacts

Event: Friday - Sunday, March 8 - 10, 2024

Closures: Thursday – Monday, March 7 - 11, 2024

Traffic Impacts

Several Tempe streets will be closed or restricted and transit routes detoured BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the Tempe Festival of the Arts, March 8 – 10, 2024. Traffic impacts will be in place March 7 – 11, 2024.

Transit Service Options

Avoid traffic and parking hassles by taking transit to and from downtown Tempe. Tempe has 13 local bus routes, six free Orbit circulators, the Streetcar and nine light rail stops. Passengers are encouraged to park at one of the following park-and-ride locations to ride light rail:

• Dorsey and Apache
• McClintock and Apache
• Price and Apache

Download the Valley Metro app or visit valleymetro.org to plan your trip. 

Multi-Use Paths

No bike or muti-use path is expected to be closed during the event.

Street Closures and Restrictions

The following street restrictions and closures have been identified; however, others could be put in place to address public safety concerns that arise during the event. 

Thursday, March 7 at 7 a.m. until Monday, March 11 at 5 a.m.:

Seventh Street will be closed in both directions from Mill Avenue to Maple Avenue/Tower Drive. Local traffic only will be permitted west of Myrtle Avenue.

Maple Avenue will be closed in both directions from Fifth to Sixth streets.

Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. until Monday, March 11 at 5 a.m.:

Sixth Street will be closed in both directions from Mill Avenue to Maple/Tower Drive. 

Sixth Street will be closed in both directions from Mill to Myrtle avenues. 

Fourth Street will be closed in both directions from Mill to Maple avenues.

Thursday, March 7 at 5 p.m. until Monday, March 11 at 5 a.m.:

Fifth Street will be closed in both directions between Ash and Myrtle avenues.

Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. until Monday, March 11 at 5 a.m.:

Mill Avenue will be closed in both directions between University Drive and Third Street.

To find the best parking and access options for any individual business on Mill Avenue, please call the business.

Transit Impacts

The following impacts have been identified; however, others could be put in place to address public safety concerns that occur during the event. Please note, buses traveling in downtown Tempe may experience delays due to traffic.

Thursday, March 7 at 3 p.m. until Sunday, March 10 end of service:

Streetcar

Service will be limited to operate between Dorsey Ln./Apache Blvd. and Ninth St./Mill Ave.

Thursday, March 7 at 5 p.m. until Sunday, March 10 end of service:

Bus Routes

48 Northbound – Regular route south on Ash Ave. to 5th St.; continue south on Ash Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to College Ave.; north on College Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center; resume regular route.

48 Southbound – Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; west on University Dr. to Ash Ave.; north on Ash Ave. to 5th St.; resume regular route.

62 Northbound – Regular route south on Ash Ave. to 5th St.; continue south on Ash Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to College Ave.; north on College Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center; resume regular route.

62 Southbound – Regular route to Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; west on University Dr. to Ash Ave.; north on Ash Ave. to 5th St.; resume regular route.

66 Northbound – Regular route north on Mill Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to College Ave.; north on College Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center.

66 Southbound – From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; west on University Dr. to Mill Ave.; south on Mill Ave. to resume regular route.

Earth East – From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St./Veterans Way to 6th St.; northeast on 6th St. to Packard Dr.; north on Packard Dr. to Rio Salado Pkwy.; east on Rio Salado Pkwy. to resume regular route.

Earth West – Regular route to Rio Salado Pkwy. / Packard Dr.; south on Packard Dr. to 6th St.; west on 6th St. to Veterans Way; west on Veterans Way/5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center.

Jupiter North – Regular route north on Mill Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to College Ave.; north on College Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center.

Jupiter South – From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; west on University Dr. to Mill Ave.; south on Mill Ave. to resume regular route.

Mercury East – From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to resume regular route.

Venus Back – From Tempe Transportation Center; east on 5th St. to College Ave.; south on College Ave. to University Dr.; west on University Dr. to Ash Ave.; north on Ash Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to resume regular route.

Venus Forward – Regular route east on 5th St. to Ash Ave.; south on Ash Ave. to University Dr.; east on University Dr. to College Ave.; north on College Ave. to 5th St.; west on 5th St. to Tempe Transportation Center to resume regular route.