Arizona DOT initiates first-ever charrettes

Public Roads, May-June, 2004

As part of the context-sensitive design process for the Red Rock Scenic Highway (S.R. 179) in Sedona, the Arizona DOT recently completed two of its first-ever charrettes. A type of community meeting, charrettes are part of collaborative planning processes that use public workshops and open houses to create and support buildable plans. Context-sensitive solutions aim to strike a balance between mobility, safety, and environmental concerns.

The department planned three charrettes to complement the Uptown Enhancement Project Design, an 18-month process to generate public input and dialogue to determine the best solutions for improving S.R. 179. Although the two-lane road is prone to congestion, extensive widening could have an adverse effect on Oak Creek, an ecologically and recreationally important waterway, and 28 sensitive species living along the corridor. The charrettes provide a forum for representatives from the Arizona DOT, Sedona residents, and community officials to collaborate and voice concerns regarding the impact of the project on regional scenery, area-specific lane requirements, and intersection modifications.

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The second meeting, held in January 2004, addressed the time frame for the project and road proportions. The event included a workshop to establish project priorities and discussions with local artists about how they might contribute to the project. A 3-hour design showcase provided an opportunity for community-based teams to review and critique the proposed designs.

Former Arizona DOT Deputy Director Tom Warne, the keynote speaker at the kickoff charrette, explained the value of community input. "This [charrette] provides you a significant opportunity along with a significant responsibility," he told the transportation officials and community members who gathered for the meeting. "The opportunity is for you to craft a solution that will serve your community for decades and generations."

For more information, visit www.scenic179.com.

Arizona DOT