Sedona News – On March 24, 2022, the city of Sedona will launch the first phase of its transit implementation plan. The new transit system, the Sedona Shuttle, will begin with service to several of the area’s most popular trailheads, including Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek, and Little Horse.
In early 2020, the city of Sedona adopted the Sedona Area Transit Implementation Plan (which can be viewed at www.SedonaShuttle.com). The plan contemplates a network of public transit services within Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, and Oak Creek Canyon. Since that time, the city of Sedona has been working to implement this first phase of the plan with the support of the Red Rock Ranger District and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.
“The idea of public transit in Sedona has been considered several times over the past decade. However, it has now become a critical issue. The growth in traffic on Sedona’s roadways and public lands is not sustainable without providing an alternative to every person driving their own vehicle. Peak travel days often bring long delays for travelers coming to Sedona or leaving the area and for residents simply trying to get across town. Parking is a problem and safety concerns are mounting, not just in Uptown but at key recreation destinations throughout Red Rock Country,” said Sedona City Manager Karen Osburn.
Once fully implemented, the Sedona Shuttle will provide a mix of transit routes, trailhead shuttles and demand-response services which are designed to:
- Improve mobility for residents of Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek and Oak Creek Canyon.
- Improve access for the region’s hospitality employees.
- Enhance the visitor experience while reducing the negative environmental impacts of tourism.
Starting March 24, Sedona Shuttle’s free trailhead routes will connect two safe, convenient park-and-ride lots with four highly-utilized trailheads – Cathedral Rock, Soldier Pass, Dry Creek, and Little Horse. Mescal trailhead service will be added later in summer 2022 and other trailheads as demand grows.
The trailhead shuttles will run Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and seven days a week during peak visitation periods (including March 31-April 15, 2022). Complete information about the trailhead shuttles and park and rides is available at www.SedonaShuttle.com.
The free trailhead shuttles will create a variety of benefits for residents and visitors. These include:
- Excessive parking in neighborhoods near trailheads will be reduced, giving residents a much-requested break. Conversion of hikers to the trailhead shuttles will be aided by enforcement of parking regulations in neighborhoods and an extensive marketing campaign supported by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau and the Sedona Lodging Council.
- The reduced traffic and parking along roadways leading to trailheads will increase safety for those using the trails. Currently, hikers are often parking far from the trailhead and walking along congested roads without sidewalks.
- The reduction of parking along roadways will also help to safeguard the environment by reducing erosion and auto emissions in sensitive areas.
The second service to be implemented will be microtransit – a demand response, app-based transit service to enhance mobility throughout the community and allow visitors and residents to connect to the trailhead shuttles without driving. This service will be launched later in 2022.
Both services will be enhanced by the availability of real-time tracking information so users can see exactly when vehicles will arrive. This will be provided via the TransLoc app which can be accessed from www.SedonaShuttle.com or downloaded from Google Play or the App Store.