89A Pedestrian Safety Advisory Panel
Recommendation Report

Introduction

In early 2006, the City of Sedona expressed a concern to ADOT regarding several fatal vehicle/pedestrian accidents along Highway 89A in West Sedona from approximately Airport Road to Dry Creek Road.  In June, 2006, ADOT presented the results of its Pedestrian Crossing Study to the City Council, recommending the installation of pedestrian warning signs and highway lighting in this area.  It was estimated that these types of crashes could be reduced by 45%.  A lighting project analysis was initiated in early 2007 and in August, ADOT presented a proposal to the Sedona City Council to install 76 street lights along 89A.   The project qualified for Federal Safety funds to be used to pay for the improvements.

  At the August, 2007 Council meeting, and at a subsequent meeting in September, several Sedona citizens expressed their concerns and displeasure with the lighting proposal.  They were worried the additional lighting would impinge upon the dark sky nature of the community, and the poles would detract from the aesthetics of the area.  They were also skeptical that lighting alone would have any real improvement effect.  Due to the significant negative response to the proposal, the Council requested the formation of an Advisory Panel to further study the problem and determine if there are other alternatives that could improve pedestrian and bicycle safety along 89A.

 89A Pedestrian Safety Advisory Panel

 The Advisory Panel was formed in October, 2007.  Its members are:

 City of Sedona

 Eric Levitt                                City Manager

John O’Brien                           Community Development Director

Charles Mosley                                    Director of Public Works

Joe Vernier                              Police Chief

 Sedona Fire District

 Matt Shobert                            Fire Chief

 Arizona Department of Transportation

 John Harper                             District Engineer, Flagstaff

Chuck Gillick                          Traffic Engineer, Flagstaff

Kohinoor Kar                          Manager, Safety Section

Richard Weeks                                    Traffic Engineer, Safety Section

 Sedona Public Representatives

 Jennifer Wesselhoff                President/CEO Sedona Chamber of Commerce

Doug Blackwell                       Douglas Blackwell Photography

Cliff Ochser                             Evening Sky Tours

K.B. Bren                                Citizens for Safety

 Technical Assistance

 David Crawford,

Scott Davis, &                         International Dark Sky Association

Pete Strasser                            

 Chris Luginbuhl                       Naval Observatory, Flagstaff

Terry Smiley                            Stanley Consultants (Consultant to ADOT)

Russ Hanson                            TransTech Consulting (Meeting facilitator, Panel coordination)

  The Panel met for the first time on November 7, 2007.  The meeting was used to agree on its mission, clarify the problem and generate pedestrian/bicycle safety alternatives.  The Mission Statement was:

 The SR 89A Pedestrian Safety Advisory Panel will evaluate potential solutions for improving pedestrian safety between Airport Road, MP 373, and Dry Creek Road, MP 371, in west Sedona.   The panel will proceed in a context sensitive manner, taking into account solution effectiveness, feasibility, the environment and the limitations of the stakeholder agencies involved. 

 Several members stressed the need for a comprehensive solution – one that would improve safety at all times, not just at night.  The Panel, along with input from members of the public that attended the meeting, generated a list of 43 safety improvement ideas.  The group also created a set of criteria by which to evaluate the alternatives.  These included:

• Does it work?
• Cost – installation, operation,  and other cost impacts
• Time to implement
• Community acceptance – character, vision, aesthetics
• Impact on Dark Sky Initiative
• Environmental Impact
• Flexibility – now and in future
• User friendliness
• Will it bring positive recognition to Sedona?

 Any recommended solution would have to be acceptable to ADOT, since it is the “owner” of the facility.  The group also agreed that any recommendations to ADOT/City of Sedona should be categorized in two ways:

1)  Immediate/Short Term – those actions that can or should be taken right away with low to moderate cost of implementation.

2)  Mid/Long Term – those actions that may have to wait because they involve major construction, have a higher cost, or would require a longer time for approval and implementation.

 By its next meeting on December 13^th, the Panel had evaluated the alternatives against the criteria and went on to identify the options that should be considered for recommendation.  Members studied those alternatives to gather efficacy information, cost estimates and review the literature on different types of pedestrian safety mitigation measures.

 At the third meeting, held January 23^rd, the Panel refined the list of alternatives to those that it wants to recommend for implementation.   The list includes improved lighting, roadway modifications, traffic signals/crosswalks, sidewalk improvements, traffic safety enforcement, and education. 

 The remainder of this report provides the detailed recommendations to the City Council and ADOT.

 Recommendations

Immediate / Short Term:

Immediate / Short Term:

 Mid-Long Term: