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ADOT seeking public comment on regional transportation plan
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| ADOT members hosted a public meeting last week to seek public input on the ongoing regional transportation study. (Photo by Thelma Grimes) |
Thelma Grimes
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
After gathering input from area developers and emergency response crews, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) hosted a public hearing last week to seek residential input for a regional transportation study.
ADOT has hired outside consultant URS Consulting to do the research for the regional transportation study that will focus on the needs of the San Pedro Valley and region from now until the year 2040.
ADOT began working on the plan in January. Linda Ritter, an ADOT spokeswoman, said the purpose of the $160,000 study is to determine the need for new roads, identify improvements to existing roads and other transportation infrastructure and consider strategies to address future needs.
During last Tuesday's meeting, the more than 45 people in attendance expressed concern over the information presented by URS Consulting.
Ron Ross, URS project manager, said the maps lining the walls of the community center were created based on the information they have already gathered from past studies, interviews with developers and area law enforcement and emergency services.
One map had several residents concerned, as it showed plans for several frontage roads to be built between State Route 90 (SR-90) and J-Six and Mescal.
Ross said these frontage roads are being considered because emergency crews have asked for them, stating detouring traffic off Interstate 10 has become tough when an accident occurs, and getting to emergencies takes time without the added roads along the highway.
Several residents were skeptical of the reasoning behind the frontage roads, asking Ross if they are being considered to cater to the needs of incoming developers.
"The maps represent my thinking from the common thoughts I've heard," Ross said. "Your geography around here is fabulous, but it's prohibitive in planning transportation routes."
Marty Tapia, of the Arizona Department of Public Safety in Benson, agreed that there is a need for more frontage roads. Without a bypass, Tapia said I-10 does become backed up, and getting to accidents can be a problem at times.
ADOT officials also discussed the need for a better bypass to I-10. Bill Harmon, the ADOT engineer for the Safford district, said when I-10 shuts down, traffic is rerouted onto area highways down near Sierra Vista and then back north.
Harmon stressed to the residents that ADOT's job is to get highway traffic from one point to another as quickly as possible.
Benson City Manager Glenn Nichols said the city's input to the study has been minimal, but they did talk to the state agency about extending Jennella to SR-90.
Other things being discussed are installing bike routes, extending SR-90 to the Benson Municipal Airport and addressing parking and encroachment issues in downtown. The city's main street is currently owned by ADOT.
Addressing congestion between 4th Street and the Turquoise Hills Family Golf Center on State Route 80 is also a priority in the study.
Harmon said ADOT needs to know if residents agree with what they have already deemed priorities in the area, and to see if they have more suggestions. Comments and suggestions will be collected through July 15. To see maps already created, comments put in and make suggestions, log on to the Web site at http://mpd/azdot.gov/planning/nw_cochise_co.php.
"The reason we are here is to listen and get input from you," Harmon said. "Everyone has come to the conclusion that this part of the world will keep growing. We are going to grow, but we need to look at how we are going to deal with it."
Harmon said early predictions are that the Arizona population will double over the next 20 years, and the U.S. population will increase by 100 million in the next 50 years.
Harmon stressed to residents that all the information provided to date in the study are just suggestions. Nothing has been approved for funding, and that study is just a blueprint to plan for the future.
The only project currently being funded is the I-10, SR-90 interchange reconstruction, which has not yet gone out to bid.
In the near future, Harmon said one of his top priorities is Texas Canyon between Benson and Willcox. The district engineer said the next time he requests funds from the state, he plans to say that stretch of I-10 is dangerous and needs work.
SAN PEDRO VALLEY NEWS-Sun
After gathering input from area developers and emergency response crews, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) hosted a public hearing last week to seek residential input for a regional transportation study.
ADOT has hired outside consultant URS Consulting to do the research for the regional transportation study that will focus on the needs of the San Pedro Valley and region from now until the year 2040.
ADOT began working on the plan in January. Linda Ritter, an ADOT spokeswoman, said the purpose of the $160,000 study is to determine the need for new roads, identify improvements to existing roads and other transportation infrastructure and consider strategies to address future needs.
During last Tuesday's meeting, the more than 45 people in attendance expressed concern over the information presented by URS Consulting.
Ron Ross, URS project manager, said the maps lining the walls of the community center were created based on the information they have already gathered from past studies, interviews with developers and area law enforcement and emergency services.
One map had several residents concerned, as it showed plans for several frontage roads to be built between State Route 90 (SR-90) and J-Six and Mescal.
Ross said these frontage roads are being considered because emergency crews have asked for them, stating detouring traffic off Interstate 10 has become tough when an accident occurs, and getting to emergencies takes time without the added roads along the highway.
Several residents were skeptical of the reasoning behind the frontage roads, asking Ross if they are being considered to cater to the needs of incoming developers.
"The maps represent my thinking from the common thoughts I've heard," Ross said. "Your geography around here is fabulous, but it's prohibitive in planning transportation routes."
Marty Tapia, of the Arizona Department of Public Safety in Benson, agreed that there is a need for more frontage roads. Without a bypass, Tapia said I-10 does become backed up, and getting to accidents can be a problem at times.
ADOT officials also discussed the need for a better bypass to I-10. Bill Harmon, the ADOT engineer for the Safford district, said when I-10 shuts down, traffic is rerouted onto area highways down near Sierra Vista and then back north.
Harmon stressed to the residents that ADOT's job is to get highway traffic from one point to another as quickly as possible.
Benson City Manager Glenn Nichols said the city's input to the study has been minimal, but they did talk to the state agency about extending Jennella to SR-90.
Other things being discussed are installing bike routes, extending SR-90 to the Benson Municipal Airport and addressing parking and encroachment issues in downtown. The city's main street is currently owned by ADOT.
Addressing congestion between 4th Street and the Turquoise Hills Family Golf Center on State Route 80 is also a priority in the study.
Harmon said ADOT needs to know if residents agree with what they have already deemed priorities in the area, and to see if they have more suggestions. Comments and suggestions will be collected through July 15. To see maps already created, comments put in and make suggestions, log on to the Web site at http://mpd/azdot.gov/planning/nw_cochise_co.php.
"The reason we are here is to listen and get input from you," Harmon said. "Everyone has come to the conclusion that this part of the world will keep growing. We are going to grow, but we need to look at how we are going to deal with it."
Harmon said early predictions are that the Arizona population will double over the next 20 years, and the U.S. population will increase by 100 million in the next 50 years.
Harmon stressed to residents that all the information provided to date in the study are just suggestions. Nothing has been approved for funding, and that study is just a blueprint to plan for the future.
The only project currently being funded is the I-10, SR-90 interchange reconstruction, which has not yet gone out to bid.
In the near future, Harmon said one of his top priorities is Texas Canyon between Benson and Willcox. The district engineer said the next time he requests funds from the state, he plans to say that stretch of I-10 is dangerous and needs work.
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