Sedona wants comprehensive 89A safety plan

By Tommy Acosta | Sedona Verde Valley Times

Sedona, AZ - The results are in from the HWY 89A Safety Survey: Community Survey for Improved Safety on 89A, published in the Sedona-Verde Valley Times Dec. 5 issue, with respondents indicating their preference for a comprehensive safety plan that includes cutting-edge lighting technology; the lowering of speed limits; enforcing jay-walking laws; installing safe-haven medians at designated crossings; and installing on-demand lighting at crosswalks.

On the current ADOT plan to install 76 streetlights from Airport Road to Dry Creek Road, 86.1 percent of the respondents indicated it was not important, with 4.8 percent of those responding stating it was necessary and 4.1 percent indicating it was very important.

The survey was sent to 11,000 households in Sedona, with 312 filled-out survey forms returned.

The use of cutting edge technology, economical and environmentally friendly lighting on 89A was supported by 84.1 percent of the respondents indicating it is necessary or very important, with 8.8 percent indicating it is not necessary.

On-demand lighting was supported by 66.9 percent of respondents who indicated it was very important or necessary.

Strict enforcement of posted speed limits was supported by 71.4 percent of respondents indicating it is very important or necessary.

Sidewalks along the entire 89A corridor were supported by 57.2 percent of the respondents indicating it is very important or necessary.

Roundabouts at selected intersections were deemed not important by 53.9 percent of the respondents, with 24.2 percent indicating they are necessary or very important.

The enforcement of the jaywalking ordinance was supported by 55.6 percent of the respondents indicating it was very important or necessary, with 32.8 percent of the respondents indicating it was somewhat important.

The installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of 89A and Andante was supported by 51.1 percent of respondents indicating it was necessary or very important, with 27.1 percent of the respondents indicating it was somewhat necessary.

Pedestrian/sidewalk lighting was supported by 23.9 percent of respondents indicating it was very important or necessary, with 38.8 percent indicating it was not important.

Of the respondents, 65.4 percent were from Sedona; 16.7 percent from the Village of Oak Creek; 10.3 percent from Verde Valley; 1 percent from the State of Arizona; and 6.7 percent listed as “other.”