It was standing room only in the Sedona Heritage Museum as residents came out to hear updated information about work that will be done in Uptown.
About 125 people turned out for the open house on Monday, March 18, as city officials and contractors were on hand to discuss the first phase of the city’s Sedona In Motion transportation plan.
“The meeting went very well,” City Engineer Andy Dickey said the next day. “The turnout was great. We have conducted a lot of outreach through the two-plus years of SIM planning and, for this meeting in particular, and I think that was reflected in the turnout for the meeting.”
In its entirety, the Uptown project includes a combination of street, hardscape and landscape work designed to control and improve traffic flow and mitigate a variety of causes of delays. The project includes:
- Additional southbound lane on State Route 89A from the north end of Uptown to Forest Road.
- Roundabouts at Jordan Road and north of La Petite Hotel that will include public art.
- Connection between southbound 89A and parking on Schnebly Road.
- Landscaped, decorative median on 89A through Uptown that will include art elements.
- Decorative median on Forest Road between 89A and Wilson Road, extended sidewalk on the north side of Forest Road between 89A and Wilson Road and new crosswalk across Forest Road at Wilson Road.
- Removal of the crosswalk at the southwest corner of Forest Road and 89A and creation of additional pedestrian space at the northwest corner crosswalk.
These projects carry an estimated price tag of $3.6 million.
“I did get a sense that a few folks had not been plugged into our communication previously,” Dickey said. “This was surprising to me considering the amount of communication we’ve had. But, again, I think that’s the minority because most people have made it very clear that they support the idea of improving traffic flow and we had great participation in our meetings and open houses throughout the entire planning and design process.”
The Uptown improvements are among many elements of a citywide transportation master plan developed over the course of two years of study, planning, public meetings and discussions.
Dickey gave a brief overview of the Uptown work to be completed, noting that 90 percent of the design work is finished. He then took some questions from the audience, which included when the work will begin and be finished. He said it’s set to begin after Memorial Day and the plan is for it to be completed next spring, with work taking place during daytime hours. Dickey reminded the audience that council approved a half-cent sales tax that was put into place a year ago to fund SIM. Funds from the Uptown parking meters will not be used for SIM projects.
“Not one of these projects that we’re pursuing is going to solve our traffic issues on their own,” Dickey said to the audience. “We need to look at it holistically and make multiple improvements, which are all part of the SIM program.”
