Readers' comments

#1 Installing lights:
I talked directly with John Harper, the ADOT District Engineer at the Library event and asked him to save the trees by putting the trench in the street adjacent to the curb, using "suicide lane" for traffic during that time. He said he considered that but was favoring putting trench under the sidewalks, then replacing walks. I asked if the City of Sedona had to pay for the walk replacaement, he said, NO, ADOT would.
Bill Eich

#2 Tom,

Thanks for factual information.

Kathy Howe

#3 Thank you for commenting on the proposed street lighting. Councilman Hamilton presents a realistic portrayal of events should ADOT ever install continuous roadway lighting on Highway 89a in West Sedona.

Look carefully at the photos ADOT provided showing various light pole configurations. You will notice all the existing vegetation in those examples is mature. ADOT will cut an 8 foot wide construction swath parallel to the road and in the process remove all the mature vegetation (and everything else) and replace the mature trees with new, young, smaller trees. Digging and cutting the roots of trees will destroy them, even if one trenches around the trunk. Take a close look at the landscaped businesses along the corridor. Does one really think the beautiful, manicured gardens can be so easily replaced?

And don't forget the TCE's (Temporary Construction Easements) where materials are stored, trenchers are parked, and other construction activities are conducted.

The entire corridor will be forever changed, not to mention the look of the city at night. Time to seriously consider proven solutions to the safety issue on Highway 89a than old, antiquated street lights that will clutter and destroy the unique beauty of Sedona forever, and forever is a long, long time. Context Sensitive Design is appropriate in this case and remember, contrary to what you may have heard, no lights is an option.

#4 Public officials have a responsibility to the people they serve to present factual information when asked. Thank you, Tom, for pointing out the errors. By the way, no one can tell me that lights do not help me to see better in the dark. Dark sky compliant lighting, as presented by ADOT, is not antiquated or destructive as pointed out in this article, it is common sense and it saves lives.