Sedona's Red Rock Crossing Route Included Among Nation's Worst
For the second year in a row, a coalition of Washington-based watchdog organizations, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Friends of the Earth and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, have included Sedona's proposed Red Rock Crossing Alternate Route in their nationwide list of wasteful highway projects.
The report targets 37 proposed highways they believe are unnecessary, harmful to local communities and damaging to the environment.
The Red Rock Crossing Alternate Route goes through residential areas in the Village of Oak Creek, past three schools --- and right in front of Cathedral Rock. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 vehicles a day would use it.
Although Yavapai County officials stress that they want no federal funding, former Yavapai County Supervisor Carlton Camp asked the Sedona City Council to help seek federal funding as far back as April 23, 1991. And as recently as March 3, 1996, he announced that he still might lobby Congress for a little money to help build the bridge at Red Rock Crossing. The combined cost of building a bridge at Red Rock Crossing and providing necessary route improvements would be up to $28 million.
On April 11, 1997, newly-elected Yavapai County Supervisor A. G. "Chip" Davis announced a less expensive route which he stated would also be effective in helping to solve the area's traffic and safety problems. Called the West Airport Mesa Corridor, its price tag is estimated at $18.6 million.
In addition to saving taxpayer money, Supervisor Davis' route avoids existing neighborhoods and schools, eliminating negative traffic impacts on residential areas, playgrounds and pedestrian walkways. The route also bypasses Red Rock Crossing and would not harm the peaceful ambiance and world-renowned scenic beauty of the Crossing and Cathedral Rock.
Davis has declared his goal of funding the route from local and state revenue sources, but faces strong opposition.
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