Arizona State Transportation Board holds work session to study 89A lights proposal

by Steve DeVol

Phoenix, AZ - (February 3, 2010) – As previously reported by Sedona.biz, The Arizona State Transportation Board met in Phoenix Wednesday to study ADOT's continuous roadway lighting proposal on Highway 89A in West Sedona. No action was taken and the matter will be heard as an agenda action item at its February 19th meeting in Bisbee, Arizona.

Bobbie Surber, Pud Colquitt, Ron Matinez, Marc DiNunzio and Ron Volkman spoke on behalf of the proposal. Doug Blackwell, Marlene Rayner, Bob Carabell, Ron Veach, Juliette Colangelo, Barbara Litrell and Stephen DeVol spoke in opposition.

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) District Engineer John Harper made a presentation stating ADOT has complied with or is in the process of complying with all the 89A Safety Panel recommendations.

Opponents raised the issue of a 2007 Intergovernmental Agreement between Sedona and ADOT that set forth what each party‘s area of responsibility would be on the contested stretch of highway: Sedona would be responsible for light installation and maintenance and ADOT would install strategically located medians.

Doug Blackwell questioned why ADOT is now responsible for lights and the city is responsible for medians. Cost restraints are cited for the city’s inability to install medians.

In a letter dated January 28, 2010 from ADOT Director John Halikowski to Sedona Mayor Rob Adams, ADOT stated if the lights are not installed they will seek a turn back agreement with the city. A source at the city said they would not consider a turn back without all the safety measures addressed.

Related article:  Arizona State Transportation Board nixes motion to fund 89A lights