Arizona is at the forefront of addressing the conflicts between vehicles and wildlife in the Nation. A partnership between 0ur Arizona Dept. of Transportation and Arizona Game & Fish Dept. has resulted in roadway construction strategies that have reduced the cost of fatal and sever injuries in our State caused by collisions with wildlife. The new Federal Transportation Bill provides additional funding to States and Regions, like the SVMPO, to consider wildlife crossings in our roadway designs.
The Town of Huachuca City, in partnership with the SVMPO, undertook the first complete Inventory and Assessment of the roadway system in the small 2.7 square mile Town. This Study completed the Town’s 2017 General Plan goal of developing a Transportation Circulation Plan that considered multi-modal options, scenic routes and impacts of storm drainage. You may learn more about the Huachuca City’s existing transportation system, recommendations for improvements and prioritized projects in the 2021-2027 Huachuca City Transportation System Plan.
The Town of Huachuca City, in partnership with the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization, is conducting a comprehensive Roadway Inventory and Assessment of the greater Huachuca City area, including the Babocomari neighborhood area located northeast of the Town.
Rick Engineering was selected to provide professional consulting services to the Town for this effort. This Study was undertaken to provide baseline data to the community for planning future needed street system improvements.
Dennis Donovan, P.E. the Regional Civil Engineer for the SVMPO, stated that “this Study has provided a tremendous amount of valuable information for the Town’s operations and supporting potential growth in the area in and around Huachuca City’.
There are 14.7 miles of roadways within the 3 square mile Town limits with a 2.7-mile segment of Highway 90. The Town used a roadway assessment tool called RoadBoticsTM to collect and rate street pavement conditions and to photograph each roadway. Many of the streets showed evidence of extensive cracking, surface distresses, and are in need of surface treatment or replacement.
Unsurfaced roads in the area were also assessed and found to be in fair to poor condition. Information was also collected about street right of way widths, current traffic volume and speeds, presence and condition of sidewalks and the location of floodplains designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Twenty-two locations were identified that have drainage issues and twelve locations of traffic crashes that have occurred in the last five years.
The Study Team is currently working closely with the Town’s Public Works Dept. to identify the highest priority needs and funding to make improvements. Results of this study are expected to be discussed with Town Council on September 9, 2021.
Residents seeking additional information about this study effort may submit their questions on-line at www.svmpo.org, by e-mail to SVMPO@SierraVistaAZ.gov. To learn more about the Town of Huachuca City visit https://huachucacityaz.gov/home
Working closely with the City of Sierra Vista, the Vista Transit Short-Range Transit Plan was completed and adopted late this summer. This five-year plan sets out recommendations for improvements for the transit system and investments of Federal Transit Administration funds for the next five-years. Two of the recommendations: improved fare boxes and an update of the Public Transportation (Transit) Agency Safety Plan are being undertaken in 2021. You may view the 2021-2026 Short-Range Transit Plan here.
A review of existing transportation needs, identification of potential projects and an investment strategy for available transportation funds was completed for the Sierra Vista MPO region late this summer. This plan looks out to the horizon year of 2050 with prioritized projects identified for both near and long-term needs. Two high priority projects are being presented to the Arizona State Legislature for potential funding in 2022. The 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan will guide future investments in transportation improvements.
The five-year 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Plan, known as the TIP, has now been adopted by the SVMPO Board. There are no new construction projects in this year’s TIP; however, additional American Rescue Act Plan funds provided zero match for several needed transit improvements. You may view the completed TIP here.
The Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization (SVMPO) is seeking review comments on an update to its five-year Transportation Improvement Program.
The 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program describes how regional transportation funds might be spent to meet future transportation needs. This plan also ensures that federal funding is eligible for transit activities within the region and identifies potential projects for Vista Transit.
The SVMPO Board of Directors will consider adopting their next Transportation Improvement Program at its meeting on Thursday, June 24, 2021. The current regional transportation plan was adopted on June 18, 2020. This annual update does not include any new construction projects.
The draft 2022-2026 Transportation Improvement Program is available for review on the SVMPO website at www.svmpo.org.
Review comments, suggestions or questions may be submitted on-line at www.svmpo.org, by e-mail to SVMPO@SierraVistaAZ.gov, or by leaving a phone message at 520-515-8525. Any public comments will be shared with the SVMPO Board of Directors before they consider the annual Transportation Improvement Program for adoption.
To learn more about the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization and other regional transportation planning projects, including the 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan and the five-year Short-Range Transit Plan efforts, please visit www.svmpo.org.
The Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization (SVMPO) is updating the region’s Short- Range Transit Plan, their five-year Transportation Improvement Program and their Long-Range Transportation Plan. The SVMPO region includes the City of Sierra Vista, the Town of Huachuca City, Fort Huachuca, and the communities of Whetstone, Palominos, Hereford and other areas in Cochise County.
Comments from area residents are encouraged to help the SVMPO better understand what your transportation concerns are and to provide you and opportunity to share with us ideas for future improvements.
A website link, posted at www.svmpo.org, will provide you more information about the planning efforts that are underway. You can also link to a short survey, or to mark locations for possible improvements or areas of specific concern, on an interactive map.
Transportation improvements might include improving existing roads, developing new roadway corridors or connections, creating bicycle or pedestrian facilities, identifying public transit options, or ideas for other innovations for moving people or goods throughout the SVMPO region.
The online survey and interactive map will be available throughout the next two months of the planning process. The five-Year Transportation Improvement Plan and the Short -Range Transit Plan will be completed in June of this year. The Long-Range Transportation Plan Update looks out to the year 2050 and is scheduled to be completed the summer of 2021.
Visit www.svmpo.org to submit your comments on the SVMPO Long-Range Transportation Plan survey or to learn more about the SVMPO regional agency. To directly link to the survey and interactive map visit https://svmpo.com/transportation-plan.
Preliminary draft sections for both of the SVMPO regional plans currently underway, the Short-Range Transit Plan and the Long-Range Transportation Plan, have been posted for review and comment! Area residents and business owners are encouraged to submit their questions, concerns and ideas on the SVMPO Contact Us link. The Transit Plan may be considered for SVMPO Board adoption on June 24th and the Long-Range Transportation Plan will be reviewed by the SVMPO Board on August 26. Public comments will be collected, and considered, throughout the planning process.
The Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization (SVMPO) is updating the region’s Long- Range Transportation Plan. Comments from local residents are needed to help the Study Team better understand the region’s transportation issues and to provide ideas for future improvements.
The SVMPO region includes the City of Sierra Vista, the Town of Huachuca City, Fort Huachuca, and the communities of Whetstone, Palominos, Hereford and other areas in Cochise County.
A website link, posted at www.svmpo.org, provides an opportunity to fill out a survey, or to mark locations for possible improvements or areas of specific concern, on an interactive map.
Transportation improvements might include improving existing roads, developing new roadway corridors or connections, creating bicycle or pedestrian facilities, identifying public transit options, or ideas for other innovations for moving people or goods throughout the SVMPO region.
Public comments help regional decision makers better understand what residents, businesses, federal and state land agencies, and emergency services think the highest priorities are for improving the existing transportation system. Public feedback also helps to identify transportation improvements that may better help people travel where they need and want to go in the future.
The online survey and interactive map will be available throughout the next four months of the planning process. The Long-Range Transportation Plan Update looks out to the year 2050 and is scheduled to be completed the summer of 2021.
Visit www.svmpo.org to submit your comments on the SVMPO Long-Range Transportation Plan survey or to learn more about the SVMPO regional agency. To directly link to the survey and interactive map visit https://svmpo.com/transportation-plan.
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The Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization is an association of the City of Sierra Vista, the Town of Huachuca City and Cochise County in partnership with the Arizona State Department of Transportation. Its mission to build consensus among its members and the public on regional planning for transportation. The Sierra Vista MPO staff collect and analyze data, provide accurate information and coordinate an open and cooperative planning process to promote effective decision-making for the region. Please visit www.svmpo.org or contact Karen Lamberton, AICP, SVMPO Administrator at 520.515.8525 for more information.
