Cornville Rd. Letter Reply to Chris Moran March 21st, 2011

Dear Mr. Moran,

Thank you for your response to my letter concerning the Cornville road widening project. I cannot adequately express my fear and concern from the information that you sent me. "In the switchbacks area, there will be a 2’ wide paved shoulder on the south side only – there will be no paved shoulder provided on the north side." I do not understand this logic. If you only have room for a 2' shoulder, why on earth would you put this shoulder on the south side of the road? As a cyclist I do not need a shoulder on the south side. This would be a descent and I can travel at the same rate of speed as the motorized traffic. Very few, if any, cars will need or attempt to pass me on my bike on the south (east bound) side of the roadway. It is the north (west bound) side of the roadway that MUST have a shoulder. As a cyclist, I can only travel at speeds from 5-10 mph on the west bound side of the roadway. Depending on the traffic and speed of my ascent, I may be passed by 18-40 vehicles. On one occasion I counted no less than 22 vehicles (one was a commercial tractor trailer, and another was a dually truck pulling a fifth wheel horse trailer) that passed me while ascending this short section of Cornville Rd., and this was not a heavy traffic day. To add to my fears, my route up the north side of the roadway is currently hindered by guard rails to keep traffic from going down into a steep canyon, while at the same time giving me NO way to avoid colliding with those vehicles who are not providing me with enough room to travel.

Your suggestion of the use of the park and ride facility and/or existing "trails" is impractical for someone using a road bike. A road bicycle is not designed for trail riding, and using the park and ride defeats the purpose of using a bike at all as a means of transportation. While those solutions may work for others, they do not address my specific concerns.

Please... I am asking for a meeting with you and/or Supervisor Davis to talk about this. It is imperative that the Cornville road widening project provide a shoulder on the north side of the roadway through the switchbacks!

Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this matter in person. Perhaps a meeting could be arranged with representatives of the local cycling community via the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition. I look forward to your reply.

Kevin Dix

Teacher/Cyclist

(928) 202-1338

kevinadix@yahoo.com

Cornville Rd. Letter Responce from Chris Moran 3/21/11

Dear Mr. Dix,

The Cornville Road Widening Project will have 4’ wide paved shoulders on both sides for the first 1.58 miles of the project – approximately east of Tissaw Road to the top of the switchbacks area. In the switchbacks area, there will be a 2’ wide paved shoulder on the south side only – there will be no paved shoulder provided on the north side. In the main town Cornville area, there will be 5’ wide paved shoulders on both sides up to Windmill Park. East of the Oak Creek Bridge, 4’ wide pave shoulders will be provided up to the end of project (east of Aspaas Road).

Note – the Cornville Multi-Use Path will be installed between the intersection of SR 89A and Cornville Road to east of Verde Santa Fe subdivision. There will be a park-and-ride facility constructed in the Forest Service land east of Verde Santa Fe subdivision. This park-and-ride facility will connect to the existing trails in the area – these existing trails will provide safe access for bicyclists to enter the Cornville area so they can avoid using the switchbacks area.

Hope this information is useful.

Chris Moran on behalf of Supervisor A.G. “Chip” Davis

Board of Supervisors, District 3

928-639-8110

Chris.moran@co.yavapai.az.us

Cornville Rd. Letter to Chip Davis 3/16/11

Supervisor Chip Davis,

My name is Kevin Dix. I am a teacher for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and an avid cyclist who rides throughout the Verde Valley. The latter is the reason I am writing you today. It has been brought to my attention that a road improvement project has been scheduled to improve a section of Cornville Road from Tissaw Road, past Windmill Park to Aspaas Road. It has also been brought to my attention that this road improvement project will not include a bicycle lane. I cannot express the disappointment I experienced when I heard this news.

Cornville Road is the only road that connects Cottonwood to Rimrock and the Village of Oak Creek without using the freeway. Cornville Road is a very busy road with vehicles traveling at high speeds, many surpassing the speed limit. I personally have had many drivers come too close to me (much closer than the 3-5 feet legally required separation) as I’ve ridden my bike down this road. On several occasions I have had drivers yell expletives to me because they were forced to slow down and wait for a safe place to pass. On several occasions many drivers have given me too much room when passing, putting them in danger of oncoming traffic. Two separate times I have had to stop my bike and lean against the guardrail for fear of getting caught up in a head-on collision between two automobiles. Not having an adequate shoulder or bike lane puts both drivers and cyclists in danger.

I am writing you to ask that you please add an amendment to the contract that would include widening the shoulders and/or adding a bike lane for the sake of public safety. Another option would be to table the bidding process until a meeting with local cyclists could be arranged. I should be able to ride my bike to visit family on a safe roadway. I know in the past you have been an advocate for cycling. I am asking for your support in this very important issue.

I would love to meet with you in person. Please feel free to contact me for any further discussion on this or any other cycling issue.

Thank you for you time,

Kevin Dix

Teacher/Cyclist

(928) 202-1338

kevinadix@yahoo.com