The Arizona Department of Transportation didn’t meet a deadline Wednesday, July 16, on its decision regarding lighting and safety on Highway 89A.

The Arizona Department of Transportation didn’t meet a deadline Wednesday, July 16, on its decision regarding lighting and safety on Highway 89A.
Before Sedona City Council spends any more time discussing safety on Highway 89A, it wants answers from ADOT — which it asked for by July 16 at 5 p.m.
A special meeting was tentatively scheduled for Monday, July 21, if ADOT guaranteed a representative would attend and if ADOT provided the city with what it is willing to do and at what costs by the July 16 deadline.
Around 4:30 p.m. July 16, Alison Zelms, assistant city manager, received an e-mail from ADOT Flagstaff District Engineer John Harper stating ADOT didn’t have anything to present at a special meeting and, therefore, would not attend.
ADOT’s internal meeting was canceled Monday, July 14, and therefore no decisions were made regarding Highway 89A, according to Harper.
The issue is now in the hands of ADOT’s director, Public Information Officer Rod Wigman said.
The issue has been going back and forth and a couple of letters have been drafted, but no decisions made, he said.
“It is a safety issue, so I know they want it done quickly,” he said.
Since ADOT wasn’t ready for a meeting July 21, the city will put the item on the agenda for Tuesday, Aug. 12, or hold a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 13.
ADOT plans to be ready by then, according to Wigman.
Council waits for ADOT’s response after opening the issue for the second time.
In June 2007, council unanimously approved ADOT’s recommendation for 76 streetlights along Highway 89A, but opened the issue for reconsideration in August 2007.
A year later, on June 10, council approved six short-term options and a traffic light at Andante Drive recommended by the Highway 89A Pedestrian Safety Committee, but reopened the issue for reconsideration a second time June 24.
Before it reconsiders the motion — more than a year since its original approval — council wants to know from ADOT what it is willing to do and at what cost.
“Essentially, we’re waiting for ADOT to hear what they’re OK with,” Zelms said.
“We want an agreement that the city and ADOT want. So it’d be helpful to know what ADOT is willing to do and what they’re not willing to do,” she said.
Council reopened the issue for reconsideration, 7-0, after Councilman Dan Surber, who originally voted in favor for the solutions, asked for more answers.
There were too many unanswered questions, Surber said. His colleagues on council agreed.
On June 24, Councilman Marc Sterling asked to get ADOT’s proposal in writing, with costs and time lines included before council votes again.
Councilman Ramon Gomez also recognized that more information was needed to come to a decision.
“We need that information,” Gomez said. “We need to understand what we’re doing.”

Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com