9/11/2006 4:00:00 AM Studies recommend new roads, widenings for Chino Valley
By KEN HEDLER The Daily Courier
CHINO VALLEY An extension of Glassford Hill Road to Chino and the widening of existing roads within Chino Valley are in the works of a regional transportation study that is nearing completion.
However, Patrizia Gonella, senior associate of Lima & Associates in Phoenix, explained that she did not prioritize the list of projects for the regional study, which deals with transportation needs through 2030.
Gonella, who is working on the study as a consultant to the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization, discussed her study during a meeting Thursday of the Chino Valley Planning and Zoning Commission. Both she and Town Engineer Ron Grittman gave similar presentations Aug. 3 during a study session of the Town Council.
Her study evaluates existing roadways and whether they will be widened to cope with a regional population growth of 273 percent from 2004 through 2030, Gonella said.
The list of potential six-lane roads includes Highway 89 from Highway 89A in north Prescott to Center Street in Chino Valley, she said. A potential four-lane road is the Chino Valley bypass from Outer Loop Road to a future Road 7 North.
Gonella said a new road might stretch from Williamson Valley Road to Center Street.
Responding to a question from Commissioner Ron Romley, she said, "This is merely a list, not priorities."
Gonella said that the CYMPO board, which Chino Valley Mayor Karen Fann heads, plans to consider her report in a month.
"I'm on track with the report," Gonella told the Daily Courier.
The small-area transportation study will be ready by December or January, Grittman said. The town hired HDR to conduct a small-area transportation study on Chino Valley.
Grittman told the commission that the extension of Glassford Hill Road to Chino Valley could convert Outer Loop into Road 5 South, a future alignment. He displayed maps with population and employment density projections. He disagreed with some of the projections, such as 18,000 vehicles a day on Reed Road in 2030.
The transportation plans drew praise from Gerry Grunberg, who moved to Chino Valley from the outskirts of San Diego two years ago. However, he said transportation planning needs to focus on existing traffic problems.
Grunberg cited heavy truck traffic on Road 1 West near his residence.
"Those trucks go through there and they sound like a railcar," he said. "They rip through" at 50 to 60 mph in a 25 mph zone.
