As the city of Sedona continues to move forward with a transit plan, a major step was taken that carries a price tag of nearly $1 million.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Sedona City Council approved the purchase of three parcels of land in Uptown. The item was on the consent portion of the agenda and council members did not discuss the matter.
After the meeting, Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Karen Osburn explained why council chose these properties.
“These parcels are strategically located for a possible future roadway connection and/or the future location of a transit hub, which will be needed to support the development of a transit program,” she said. “Council recently directed staff to pursue that implementation, and this acquisition is a necessary part of that.”
The parcels are located at 215 W. SR 89A, 65 Brewer Road and 121 Brewer Road, running parallel to Brewer Road southwest of the State Route 89A roundabout. In all, the city agreed to pay $947,500 to landowner Craig Curtis.
The purchase of this land for a possible transit hub, like possible bus station or bus parking area maintenance yard, is just one piece of a much larger transit puzzle. The proposed transit plan is broken into four phases. Not all four may be needed upon evaluation at that time.
• Phase I is the costliest, at nearly $31 million, because it includes a $15 million operations and maintenance facility as well as another $15 million for electric buses for core routes.
• Phase II would add additional trailhead stops, which would be decided with input from the U.S. Forest Service. This cost is estimated at $270,000.
• Phase III would add bus service to destinations in Oak Creek Canyon. This includes an “intercept” parking lot in the Village of Oak Creek and additional vehicles for the extended route to the Village. This phase is estimated at $7 million.
• The final phase will add express service from an intercept parking lot near VOC to Slide Rock State Park in Oak Creek canyon. This phase calls for a dozen additional vehicles for the Slide Rock route and a second VOC intercept parking lot, all of which carries a price tag of $13.5 million.
If all four phases were to be implemented, it could take upwards of a decade to complete. In order to oversee this project, council recently approved the hiring of a transit administrator, earning an annual salary and benefits worth between $130,000 to $140,000.
