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| Red Rock Crossing (circa 1994) |
Sedona seeks alternate route to "Y"...again
by Carl Jackson
The idea of an alternate route has been around for more than 25
years, with the most commonly discussed solution being a bridge at Red Rock Crossing
connecting West Sedona to the Village of Oak Creek. Proponents say
a new route would relieve traffic congestion and lead to improved
response times for emergency vehicles. Those against an
alternate route cite the negative impact on the environment and
neighborhoods.
Prior to moving forward, the city will need the support of Yavapai
County and request permission for a right-of-way from the U.S. Forest Service under the
National Environmental Policy Act that
demonstrates, via an environmental impact statement, that there is
clear purpose and need for an alternate route.
As background, in 1978, Oak Creek floods washed out a water
level concrete slab at Red Rock Crossing, and in 1993 the Citizens
for an Alternate Route (CFAR) organized to promote a
new bridge to replace the slab. A study done in the mid 90's indicated that the
cost to build a bridge at the Red Rock Crossing would be approximately $28 million (not inflation
adjusted).
In 1997, Yavapai County submitted an environmental
impact statement to the Environmental Protection Agency that proposed
the following: "...4-span concrete bridge designed for 2-lane
traffic (2 twelve foot wide travel lanes) [that would require
a]...realignment of both the Verde Valley School and Upper Red Rock
Loop roads..."
The proposal never moved forward because in 1998
Yavapai County, led by Yavapai County Supervisor, Chip Davis, withdrew its support, citing escalating costs.
The Citizens for an Alternate Route sued Yavapai County but lost because the presiding judge ruled
that Yavapai County couldn't be forced to build a bridge.
In March 2006, the Sedona Fire District issued a
position statement "in strong support of an additional passageway
between West Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek...at or near Red
Rock Crossing...This new passageway will save lives by bringing the
Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona closer together, considering
that the safe, rapid, and reliable emergency response is what the
Sedona Fire District feels is the best for transporting patients,
this is the shortest and more direct route preferred."
In July 2006, the city council placed
"circulation, traffic flow, and public safety" as a top
city priority and hired
EDAW
to study alternative route solutions.
In its March 2008 study entitled, "Sedona Transportation Feasibility
Study" (the "Study"), EDAW evaluated five possible alternative
routes, including the greater use of public transportation, and
concludes that a route at Red Rock Crossing "presents the fewest
constraints."
According to the Study, the traffic volumes collected in August 2003
ranged from roughly 14,000 vehicles per day (vpd) in the Village of
Oak Creek to 21,000 vpd near the "Y." The overall daily volumes on
SR 179 increase roughly 5 percent on Saturday from an average
weekday, and the daily traffic volumes along SR 179 are anticipated
to increase from 20 percent to 45 percent by year 2030.
The Study goes on to say, "The future Saturday peak hour travel
delays at the intersection of SR 179 and SR 89A are expected to be
85 seconds with an average number of 76 vehicles queued at the
intersection (sum of all approaches). The consequences of these
delays may include greater driver frustrations, increased travel
times for regional and local traffic destined to points north and
west, and potential impacts to emergency services."
According to the Sedona Fire District, emergency response times are
5:46 minutes for the Village “proper,” 7:13 for Sedona, and 10:34
for the midpoint area between the two (4 to 8 minutes is considered
standard).
Consequently, the Study concludes that improved
emergency response times should not be a principle rationale for an
alternate route, unless others issues, like the 11 new roundabouts
along SR179, increase response times further.
For a history of the proposed bridge, visit:
http://redrockcrossing.info/
Sedona, AZ - At the March 25, 2008 Sedona city council
meeting, design firm EDAW will present
the results of its
study of alternative solutions to the existing route in
Sedona at the "Y" intersection of Hwy 179 and Hwy 89A.
source: Sedona Transportation
Feasibility Study
Oak Creek at the location of the potential bridge crossing showing
outcropped sandstone (looking northwest).
source: Sedona Transportation
Feasibility Study
Preferred
alternate route as determined by EDAW in its "Sedona
Transportation Feasibility Study."
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