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| Ambria
Hammel photo |
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Desert Hills resident Debbie Joy (right)
talks with Dianne Kresich at Maricopa County Department
of Transportation about connecting the northbound I
17 access road from Cloud Road to Pioneer Road, one
of the projects she would like to see included in MCDOT's
Transportation System Update Plan 2006. MCDOT held an
open house March 6 at New River Elementary School to
solicit resident input on the types of projects and
priorities the department should undertake when it revises
the county's long range plan for transportation. |
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MCDOT
seeks input to drive road, bikeway projects
by
Ambria Hammel
NORTH VALLEY - More than a dozen residents from throughout
the North Valley attended an open house hosted by the Maricopa
County Department of Transportation to provide input on the
types of projects and urgency they say merit attention as
the county updates both its Transportation System Plan and
Bike Plan.
The March 6 open house was the first of nine the department
will host throughout the county to collect public input for
transportation projects in unincorporated areas. MCDOT will
host additional meetings addressing bicycle facility needs.
The open house also provided an opportunity for residents
to look at large posterboard displays stating program goals,
outlining the process and showing aerial maps where MCDOT
has already identified roadways that will need widening by
2015 and 2030.
Currently, more than 2,700 miles of roadway, 250 bridged crossings
and more than 150 traffic signals fall within MCDOT's jurisdiction.
All of the roadways in Anthem will eventually be added to
that list once Pulte Homes/Del Webb Corp., the master planned
community's developer, turns Anthem over to residents. This
is expected in the next two and a half years, said Mark Sirota,
assistant manager for Anthem Community Management.
According to Roberta Crowe, MCDOT spokesperson, the department
updates its plan every five years to re evaluate its goals
and objectives to ensure the transportation needs of each
community continue to be met. By 2015, MCDOT has draft plans
for new or improved existing roadways near I 17 north of Carefree
Highway to the county line and also northeast of the town
of Cave Creek. The majority of the projects involve widening,
but additional specifics such as nearest cross streets, a
time line and how many lanes will be added or constructed
are not yet available. |
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The
department is already planning one project in New River, and staff
addressed the same issue New River resident Bill Jordan brought
up at the open house. Jordan expressed concerns about needed road
improvements at Coyote Pass switchbacks from New River Road to Old
Stage Road. He said the existing switchbacks are so narrow enough
that it is cumbersome to navigate them in his pickup truck.
Crowe responded by saying, "We are in the process of obtaining
the right of way (from adjacent property owners) to make the necessary
widening improvements." Once MCDOT obtains all necessary rights
of way, the department hopes to complete the widening by July 1.
The majority of residents present had specific questions and concerns
about roadways in their areas. Debbie Joy, a Desert Hills resident,
inquired about an access road from Cloud Road north to Pioneer Road
that could lead to Anthem, saying she feels a connection would deter
traffic going through Tramonto to access Carefree Highway or I 17.
Staff told her that Maricopa County Supervisor Andy Kunasek has
sped up the plan to begin that project, but again a specific time
frame is unavailable.
Aside from connecting a frontage road, Joy favors improvements of
existing roadways over construction of new ones. "You don't
really need more roads," she said. "You just need less
traffic on them."
North Valley residents who were unable to attend the open house,
but would like to express their priorities for future roadway projects,
can fill out the MCDOT questionnaire online. For more info, go to
www.mcdot.maricopa.gov/tsp/input.htm. The Transportation Advisory
Board, consisting of one resident from each county district, will
make final recommendations to the Board of Supervisors in June after
one final round of public input in May and June.
In addition to roadway improvements, Jordan indicated the desire
to provide additional bike lanes and walkways in New River. Specifically,
he would like a continuous bike path along the riverbed from Thunderbird
Road up to New River. Of the more than 2,700 miles of roadway that
Maricopa County is responsible for, nearly 2,000 miles are paved
and potential routes for bicyclists. The updated plan will identify
a connected bicycle network throughout the county that complements
municipal bicycle plans.
The transportatoin board should receive recommendations for the
bike plan by July. To complete the Bike Use Survey, go to www.mcdot.maricopa.gov/bicycle/bike.htm.
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