While its Sedona in Motion counterparts are being touted as ways to reduce traffic and congestion, the big selling point for the Forest Road connector is a bit different — safety.
The Sedona City Council gave direction to staff to pursue the connector road with six of the seven agreeing upon one of two options during their May 29 meeting.
Once the design phase of the project is complete, it will come back before council for approval.
All but Vice Mayor John Martinez chose Option 1, which is a 1,636-foot-long, S-shaped roadway that carries a price tag of $2,772,047. This includes sidewalks on both sides or a multi-use pathway on one side, as well as an estimated $400,000 for land costs through acquisition or condemnation. Eight parcels are impacted of varying degrees.
Option 2 is a C-shaped roadway, 1,863 feet in length, costs $3,658,727 and would impact nine parcels. The acquisition/condemnation portion of the cost is estimated at around $600,000.
Staff had eliminated a third option, which went through the Hyatt’s Piñon Pointe’s tennis course and employee parking lot.
Currently, the public portion of Forest Road ends near the Hyatt tennis courts. This strategy would entail extending Forest Road from that point, through private property, down to State Route 89A at a point several hundred feet west of the post office, Engineering Supervisor Stephen Craver said. The new intersection at State Route 89A would not allow for left turns off Forest Road, but all other movements would be permitted.
Craver said the recognized benefits and needs of the project include:
- Alternate route between Uptown neighborhoods and West Sedona
- Opportunity for expanded multi-modal opportunities
- Increased accessibility both for emergency response and evacuation
- Reduced traffic volumes on State Route 89A in the Uptown area and the “Y” roundabout.
Impacts of the project include:
- Some affected property owners have expressed strong opposition, citing impacts to views, additional traffic, noise, etc.
- Portions of private property [not homes] will need to be acquired, some likely through condemnation
- Potential viewshed impacts to the hillside
A survey sent from the city to residents in Uptown sought input on whether or not the connector was something they would like to see. About 78% of survey takers were supportive of this project and 18% were not.
“The purpose of the survey was to understand the level of support in the Uptown area among residents who would potentially use the connection,” Craver said.
A handful of residents, whose land will be impacted, have been very vocal in terms of their opposition. While they will be paid for the portion of their land affected, they have said they are opposed because of decreased property values, excessive noise and the amount of anticipated vehicles going by their homes.
Each council member said prior to their thoughts on the project that they appreciate those concerns but in the end it comes down to the needs of many outweigh the desires of the few, especially when concerning the safety issues.
On those lines, Jayson Coil, acting chief of the Sedona Fire District, and Sedona Police Chief Charles Husted discussed the importance of having alternative routes within the city. Coil pointed out the need for a connector while referencing fires that devastated California communities last year. Coil said Station 4, which is on Forest Road, is the hub of the district. Engines and medical personnel often respond to calls not only in Uptown but Oak Creek Canyon, Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona. Because of that, he said SFD is in favor of having another option when responding to calls or in the event of an evacuation due to a wildfire.
“If we can get a second way to get past choke points, we’ll take it,” he said.
Like Coil, Husted said he’s in favor or a secondary route in and out of Uptown.
“When it gets really busy in Uptown, our officers struggle to get to calls in Uptown,” he said. “Even with lights and sirens, it’s hard for people to get out of the way when they’re in a roundabout. So adding that extra option in order to get to calls would be huge.”
Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com
