It’s been 16 months since a consultant was given the green light by the Sedona City Council to look into a transit solution as part of the ongoing Sedona in Motion transportation plan.
Council will be updated on the final version of the plan during its Wednesday, Oct. 23, meeting beginning at 3 p.m. at Sedona City Hall.
In June 2018, a contract was awarded to LSC Transportation Consultants Inc. for the development of a visitor-focused transit system to serve the Sedona area including destinations throughout Oak Creek Canyon, a city report states. In April of this year, LSC presented a range of transit service options to the public and council, obtaining additional feedback and input.
The team has now completed the final draft implementation plan which includes a phased service plan; a draft implementation plan with fare options, capital needs, and operational requirements; and options and recommendations for governance, funding and marketing/branding.
“While every detail can’t possibly be worked out at this stage, this draft plan is comprehensive and pragmatic enough to give the city what it needs to move forward, with action steps, towards implementation,” Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Karen Osburn said.
The study was approximately $220,000, most of which was paid for by a federal transit planning grant.
The report states, “While the study began with a visitor focus, as identified and differentiated in the TMP, it was quickly determined that, for a system to be robust enough to be successful, it must incorporate the needs of both residents and visitors as they both overlap and need to work in tandem.”
Osburn said public input was critical to this planning effort. To obtain input they conducted a resident survey, focus groups and individual stakeholder interviews with a separate survey for businesses. In addition, there were three community meetings, a council work session and visitor interviews.
“This input and feedback was the basis for the final service recommendations,” she said.
The proposal consists of four phases over the next 10 years, Osburn said. At final implementation, annual operating costs are estimated at $6.7 million. Another $40 million is estimated for capital and other infrastructure costs for buses, a transit hub, and a maintenance/storage facility.
“The plan also identifies funding sources including federal transit funding, state and federal grants, partnerships with the surrounding jurisdictions that this system would serve, and fare revenue so that entire amount is not expected to be funded through Sedona tax dollars,” she said.
LSC’s report states that the city of Sedona is moving forward to provide effective transit services across multiple jurisdictions, focusing primarily on the needs of visitors and residents within the Sedona area and Oak Creek Canyon.
The goal is to design a transit system that will enhance visitor experiences while protecting the environment, and improve the mobility of visitors and locals. Reducing the number of vehicles on area roadways during the busiest tourist seasons when traffic delays can exceed one hour or more within Oak Creek Canyon is also a goal, as is reducing the number of vehicles parking at trailheads and other locations where capacity to accommodate vehicles is lacking.
“The intent of this study and implementation planning was to take what have been general concepts, created over many years of previous transit studies, to the point of actual implementation,” it states.
