Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Action Alert: Your Comments to Council Needed this Tuesday

by Community Contributor • January 24, 2022 • Comments Off

Your Comments Needed!
Advocate for a Smaller Lone Tree Overpass Intersection

Please comment at the Tues. Jan 25 Council Meeting

Looking north at the proposed “Full Build-out” intersection of Lone Tree and Butler

ACTION ALERT: Your comments at City Council needed!

This Tuesday, City Council will be selecting a design alternative for the intersection of Butler Ave. and Lone Tree in association with the planned Lone Tree Overpass road extension.
We need you to comment at the virtual City Council meeting on Jan. 25th.
The design alternatives for the intersection of Butler and Lone Tree prioritize vehicles over other modes of transportation such as walking and biking. The intersection designs are overbuilt, provide inadequate protection for bicyclists and pedestrians, and are in conflict with the City’s Carbon Neutrality Plan.

The voters approved the funding mechanism (Proposition 420) for the Lone Tree Overpass in 2018. Since that time, the city’s priorities have changed from that of moving vehicles quickly along local thoroughfares, to reducing the greenhouse gasses emitted by vehicles in order to meet our carbon neutrality goals, as well as providing a well-designed and vibrant grid of connected bikeways, FUTS trails, protected bike lanes, and public transit to allow convenient and safe multi-modal travel.
Here’s what F3 would like Council to consider in their selection of a design alternative for this intersection:

Was the intersection designed to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian movement, crossing, and safety?
Does the intersection design minimize the number of lanes pedestrians must cross?
Does the intersection design make use of design elements that are dangerous for bicycle and pedestrian movement such as slip lanes and channelized right turns?
Does available data indicate that the intersection design is safe for vehicles as well as multi-modal forms of movement?
Does the design play a role in reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) so that Flagstaff can make the “big shift” away from individual vehicles and meet the goals of our Carbon Neutrality Plan to not exceed 2019 levels of VMT?
Has the design considered “transformative transportation” metrics such as VMT, shared mobility, equity, accessibility, impacts to climate, and safety of multi-modal users including those who ride city buses?
Have the effects of “induced demand” been carefully considered and analyzed with an eye toward a future that will include much more infrastructure for multi-modal transportation including public buses?
Does the model used to analyze the traffic impacts in future years include a vibrant and well-supported multi-modal infrastructure such as that outlined in the draft Active Transportation Master Plan?
Has the model used to analyze traffic impacts been used as a support tool rather than a decision tool?
Has a thorough discussion of community values related to the intersection designs taken place?
Have the voices of the Southside neighborhood been heard in relation to design options that support neighborhood walkability, pedestrian safety, and overall social cohesiveness?

The design of the Butler and Lone Tree intersection must provide safe crossings for bicycles and pedestrians. Flagstaff citizens support efforts that reduce vehicle use and vehicle dependence and increase options for travel via bicycle and walking. This decision is a turning point and will help guide future transportation decisions.

Research shows that high volumes of traffic moving at high speeds through neighborhoods increases pedestrian injuries more than two-fold. And four-way intersections are responsible for 3.5 times more pedestrian injuries than are three-way intersections (reference).
Transportation of vehicles should not be prioritized over community efforts to reduce VMT and increase options for multi-modal transportation.

Take Action:

1) Check out the presentation PDF on the design schematics for the Lone Tree Overpass intersections included in the agenda packet for the January 25th City Council Work Session (the link is at bottom of that page);

2) Speak at this Tuesday’s virtual City Council meeting during the public comment period for Agenda Item #10. Use the talking points above and include your own thoughts and ideas. Join the Virtual Public Comment Waiting Room: https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/328/Meeting-Protocols-Information and speak when prompted during the designated time. The meeting starts at 3:00 pm, but agenda item #10 will not be discussed until later in the afternoon or early evening. Watch and follow the meeting by streaming it here: Access the Live Stream of the City Council Meetings.

3) If you’re not able to speak at Tuesday’s Council meeting, write and submit a letter to the Mayor & Council about your concerns prior to the January 25 Council meeting. Letters can be submitted by emailing them to this address: council@flagstaffaz.gov