Context-Sensitive Solution for Arizona State Route 179: Needs-Based Implementation Plan

Abstract

The Arizona Department of Transportation (DOT) is following an innovative approach called a needs-based implementation plan (NBIP) to improve State Route 179, in Sedona, Arizona. The NBIP process consists of a coordinated, collaborative team effort to assess needs and develop solutions for this corridor. Throughout the process, Arizona DOT has solicited input and involvement from the community by using a variety of methods, such as advisory panels, focus groups, workshops, a website, and charrettes (collaborative planning events with a specific goal and a limited time frame that harness the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a feasible outcome). The NBIP process takes a context-sensitive solutions approach by balancing safety, mobility, and the preservation of scenic, aesthetic, historic, environmental, and other community values. A key component of the approach is that citizens play an active role in the planning, design, and construction of the corridor. Working with Arizona DOT throughout the process are the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council, Yavapai County, Coconino National Forest, FHWA, city of Sedona, and Coconino County. The NBIP process is structured around a series of three charrettes: first, a planning charrette, in which the community articulated its core values and long-range vision for the corridor, and a second charrette, in which participants worked in small groups at gaming workshops to build their road. In addition, an evaluation program, which consisted of evaluation criteria and performance measures, was developed to screen planning concepts resulting from the gaming workshop. At two screening workshops and a third charrette, the community screened 12 planning concepts to produce a single preferred planning concept consisting of a greatly improved two-lane facility.