Town staff outlines candidate transportation projects and bond timing after safety-action plan
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Summary
Staff briefed council on top transportation projects drawn from a safety action plan (2014–2023 crash data), including Robert Road widening (estimated $11.6M) and sidewalk priorities; combined grant application for several corridors totals about $11.7M and town staff urged early council input for budgeting and potential bond timing.
Town staff presented a preliminary list of candidate transportation projects and discussed timing options for a potential street bond.
Parker Murphy, the town’s traffic engineer, said the proposals derive from the safety action plan, which analyzed crash data from 2014–2023. He said the town applied for a federal grant covering a package of corridors (projects identified as 2, 4, 6 and 7) totaling about $11.7 million. The highest-ranked safety project was Robert Road (Tranquil to Roundup), an estimated $11.6 million widening to a three-lane section including intersection improvements; Murphy said that segment recorded 74 crashes over the analysis period, including one fatality and two serious injuries.
Murphy also described pedestrian-focused projects such as sidewalks on Florentine (between Yavapai and Navajo) and a downtown pathway between Glassford and Lake Valley; staff noted an estimated construction unit cost of approximately $7 million per mile for reconstruction-type improvements and said the town has approximately 128 miles of similar roadway sections that could eventually be addressed.
On Jasper Parkway, Murphy said coordination with ADOT will be necessary for any improvements that touch SR 69; he described a $5–8 million range for certain intersection and widening options and said the town has not yet heard back from FHWA on the $11.7 million grant application.
Staff framed the list as preliminary and intended to inform budget study sessions; they proposed returning with more detail in late January when the council will review budget priorities and potential timing for bond issuance once existing debt is paid off.
Council members urged attention to east–west connections across town and prioritizing projects that maximize benefits by vehicle trips per day; staff noted staffing constraints in public works and emphasized the need for design concept reports (DCRs) and engineering before advancing projects.
No bond authorization or formal council action occurred at the session; staff requested direction and early feedback to guide future budget and grant work.
