A Red Rock Crossing Fact Sheet

"Why anyone, with only half a mind, or no mind at all, could ever come up with building a highway so that a bridge could be built over one of the most beautiful spots in Arizona is absolutely beyond my ability to comprehend."

                                                                                                       Barry Goldwater

 About the Current Setting

·  Red Rock Crossing is a defining symbol of the American West.

·  Tourists from across the nation and around the world visit it daily.

·  Red Rock Crossing is a national treasure, a tranquil oasis in the desert.

·  It’s a unique and special place that must be saved for future generations to enjoy.

·  Red Rock Crossing is the most photographed spot in Arizona.

·  It’s a favorite place for artists and art classes to visit and paint.

·  Red Rock Crossing has been featured in more than 60 classic Hollywood films.

·  It’s been displayed on hundreds of postcards, posters, calendars and billboards.

·  Red Rock Crossing is an unsurpassed location for weddings and other special occasions.

 

·  Endangered and threatened plants and animals reside in the area.

 

·  Sacred Indian burial grounds and petroglyphs are located nearby.

 

The Impacts of a Bridge

·  The peaceful, rural ambiance would be replaced by traffic congestion, noise and pollution.

·  The world-renowned scenic beauty of Red Rock Crossing would be changed forever.

·  Visitor enjoyment of nearby Forest Service recreational facilities would be noticeably reduced.

·  The fragile riparian home of endangered and threatened species would be altered.

·  Red Rock Crossing and the surrounding area would be opened up to new development.

 

Other Possible Solutions

·  Upgrades are completed for SR 89A and Beaverhead Flat Road; in progress for SR 179.

·  Alternate modes of transportation are being considered, including public transit.

·  A new fire station, with full-time paramedics, is located in the Village of Oak Creek.

·  These actions will all help facilitate the flow of traffic and provide ample emergency response without negatively impacting the peace and beauty of Red Rock Crossing.

A Red Rock Crossing Timeline

1978 Oak Creek floods finally wash out the water-level concrete slab at Red Rock Crossing for the last time.

1993 Citizens for an Alternate Route (CFAR) organized to promote a new high bridge to replace the missing slab.

February 12, 1996 Yavapai County unveils its Red Rock Crossing bridge design for public review.

September 19, 1996 NEPA review begins with publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register.

October 21, 1996 Memorandum of Understanding signed by Yavapai County and Forest Service; Environmental Impact Study funding approved by Board of Supervisors.

November 20, 1996 Sierra Club submits 10,541 signatures opposing any bridge at Red Rock Crossing to the Forest Service.

June 19, 1997 Taxpayers for Common Sense and Friends of the Earth list the Red Rock Crossing route in their nationwide list of 37 unnecessary and harmful highway projects – for the second year in a row.

April 20, 1998 Yavapai County Board of Supervisors votes to withdraw from the bridge project, citing escalating costs.

April 24, 1998 CFAR sues Yavapai County, in Maricopa Superior Court, attempting to force the County to build the bridge.

October 23, 1998 CFAR’s lawsuit dismissed by Superior Court; CFAR files an appeal with the Arizona Court of Appeals.

November 26, 1999 Court of Appeals upholds Superior Court decision; CFAR files a petition for review with the Arizona Supreme Court.

April 18, 2000 Supreme Court denies CFAR’s petition for review, bringing to an end all of CFAR’s legal options.

September 12, 2000 CFAR’s candidate for the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors is defeated by the incumbent 2 to 1.  After this setback, CFAR is inactive for the next year and a half.

March 15, 2002 CFAR tries to resurrect interest in a Red Rock Crossing route by appealing to the public for support.

November 7, 2003 CFAR announces the results of its recent public opinion survey, claiming a sizeable majority of Sedona residents favor a Red Rock Crossing route.

January 26, 2004 CFAR appears before the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council’s Transportation Committee to promote Red Rock Crossing.

October 13, 2004 CFAR makes a presentation to the Sedona City Council appealing for its support in getting a Red Rock Crossing route built.

December 15, 2004 The Sedona City Council passes a resolution asking for an alternate route NEPA study, with Red Rock Crossing as the proposed action.

May 10, 2005 Following up on its December commitment, the Sedona City Council proposes an alternate route, extending Upper Red Rock Loop Road to a point near Mystic Hills and Poco Diablo Resort.

October 12, 2005 The Sedona City Council and Sedona Fire District Governing Board hold a joint work session to discuss combining forces to initiate a NEPA process to consider an alternate route.

October 26, 2005 The Sedona Fire District Board decides to become involved, passing a resolution supporting an alternate route NEPA.

November 30, 2005 The Fire Board approves spending up to $10,000 to see if it should get further involved in the NEPA process.

 

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