The question is: Do they go over, under or around?
The answer isn’t quite easy but it is one the Sedona City Council will soon have to make regarding the pedestrian crossing at Tlaquepaque. This is one of many ongoing projects that are part of the city’s Sedona in Motion transportation plan.
Consultants updated council on it and other projects during its March 27 meeting.
During busy times of the year, traffic often comes to a standstill near Tlaquepaque, as pedestrians cross State Rout 179 — both legally and illegally. To help with that, the city hired workers there to help control the flow of those crossing the street.
The overall project to find a solution is currently in the planning stage of development. Staff is working with the consulting firm of JE Fuller and its sub-consultant WSP to conduct an alternative analysis study of pedestrian crossing options.
The four options being considered are an underpass, an overpass, an indirect multi-use path beneath the existing Oak Creek bridge and maintaining the current at-grade crossing with additional pedestrian control. Tlaquepaque’s ownership is opposed to an overpass or underpass at the crossing’s current location, Engineer-ing Supervisor Stephen Craver said. But they are in favor of an underpass near the bridge.
The study currently stands at approximately 60% complete. Cost estimates for the various alternatives will be presented to council within the next two months with a decision expected by the end of June at the latest.
In terms of an underpass, Craver said crews would have to dig fairly deep to avoid utilities currently in place. There could also be potential floodplain issues. Because the pathway would be in a zig-zag pattern on either side of the roadway, the entire crossing would be 740 feet in length.
An overpass bridge would also have a zig-zag pattern on either side to make it Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. While it would avoid any current utilities, the viewshed would be impacted as would portions of Tlaquepaque’s existing exterior wall and parking. This would be 715 feet in length.
With the underpass near the bridge, there are some utilities and floodplain issues that have to be addressed. This alternative, which Craver later said staff is in favor of, is 635 feet long.
“We feel this one would provide kind of a different experience,” Craver said. “For years, we’ve been talking about a creek walk. This wouldn’t provide that entire experience, but it does change the general experience where you’re not just crossing a road.”
The final option would be to maintain the current crossing on State Route 179 but add additional measures to help with pedestrian flow, similar to the timed crossing in Uptown.
“A concern would be that when congested, compliance would still be an issue like we see in Uptown,” he said.
Craver pointed out that, regardless of which option is chosen, they would be used during busy times of the year or special events. The rest of the year, the current crossing would be used.
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
