Are you curious about what’s going in at the Sandario Road/Marana Main Street traffic circle?
The Town of Marana is installing “Spirit of Marana”, a public art piece featuring a cowboy driving a steer while on horseback that will welcome visitors to downtown Marana.
“Spirit of Marana” was made possible by a grant from the Transportation Art by Youth Program, which is funded by the Pima Association of Governments. The art piece, welded by artist Trevor O’Tool and assisted by Marana High School students Gabrial Kilbarger and Joseph Wagner under the supervision of former Marana High School Teacher Ken Webb, will welcome visitors in a nod to the area’s heritage while also helping to establish a sense of community in the downtown area. The completion of the installation and full reveal of “Spirit of Marana” is scheduled for mid-June.
TRANSPORTATION ART BY YOUTH
New public art installed along transportation improvements not only beautifies the region’s landscape, it also offers an opportunity for youth artists to showcase their skills and gain valuable work ethic through Pima Association of Governments’ Transportation Art by Youth program.
The program, which PAG initiated in 1995 through its Transportation Improvement Program, offers paid summer employment for youth artists. Proposed projects must be submitted by a sponsoring jurisdiction, which manages the approved project and is reimbursed for budgeted project expenses. The sponsoring jurisdiction is required to recruit youth artists from economically disadvantaged areas.
Artwork, signage, or landscaping projects may be eligible. The students’ concepts and techniques are aimed at humanizing the roadway system, enhancing urban gateway features, and helping define the unique identity of their respective communities. Major benefits of the program include both the quick and effective implementation time frame as well as the high visibility of resulting artwork along major transportation corridors.
PAG annually seeks applications in the fall for implementation the following year. PAG’s Transportation Planning Committee approves eligible projects and funding. A project size is based on available funding or accrued TABY funding by jurisdiction.
IS PUBLIC ART IN TRAFFIC CIRCLES SAFE?
Yes. Modern traffic circles improve safety and traffic flow, and landscape features help make the central island a more focal element while also promoting slower speeds. When entering a traffic circle, drivers are required to look left and yield to any vehicles already in the traffic circle or in the process of entering the traffic circle. Sight visibility across the traffic circle, unlike a four-way intersection, is not required to ensure safety.
Original source can be found here.
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