| Ajo/Kinney Improvement Project | ||||||
Inquiries to Date During the community outreach process, the Ajo Way/Kinney Road Design-Build
Team |
||||||
| Answered = Plain Under Review = Bold | ||||||
| Discipline | Date | Origin | Issue | Status | Team Member | |
| 1 | Design | 5/30/2007 | Comment form | What are the plans for Pima County to widen the rest of Kinney Road to Western Way. There have been many near accidents due to the road widening/narrowing three times. Answered 5/30/07: See the response from Mr. Goff in item #2. Currently there are no funds budgeted for this additional segment of Kinney Road. | answered | Ben Goff |
| 2 | Design | 5/30/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Is there any plan to improve the Kinney Road segment north of Bopp Road through the Tucson Mountain Sanctuary subdivision. Recommended that the road improvements include a center turn lane, so the residents of the Tucson Mountain Sanctuary subdivision could make safe left turns into their development. The NAC member also asked for suggestions of what the public could do to either encourage road improvements or to influence the timing of construction in that area. Answered 5/30/07: Mr. Ben Goff, Deputy Director PCDOT, said that there are road improvement plans for the Kinney Road segment north of Bopp Road through the Tucson Mountain Sanctuary subdivision, but there is no funding for those road improvements. He also said that the construction of the road improvements for the Ajo/Kinney project may help free up dollars and help move up the start date for the improvements planned for the segment of Kinney Road north of Bopp Road. He also said that he could make no promises. As to citizen participation, Mr. Goff suggested communication with Supervisor Sharon Bronson. | answered | Ben Goff |
| 3 | Developer | 6/25/2007 | Comment form | Will Wal-Mart still be opening its store, even though there is a question about Wal-Mart Corporations overall financial status? Answered 6/27/07:Yes Wal-Mart is still coming. They own the land now. The remaining shopping center can't commit until they have an opening date. | answered | Keri Silvyn |
| 5 | Design | 6/27/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Are there service or utility outages expected during construction? Answered 6/27/07: Not planned, and Sundt will do what it can to prevent. | answered | Sundt |
| 6 | Design | 6/27/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Will utilities be buried? Answered 6/27/07: Power lines are on poles and other utilities are buried. | answered | Pima County/ Sundt |
| 7 | Design | 6/27/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Where are the turn lanes into the shopping center off of Kinney and Ajo? Answered 6/27/07: There are three shopping center entrances off of Kinney Road - One is for full turning movements and a stoplight (the northern most), two are right in/right out. There are two entrances off of Ajo Way and one will have full turning, but no light. | answered | URS/Pima County |
| 8 | Design | 6/27/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | How far north on Kinney are the three lanes (I.e., a center turn lane) proposed? Answered 6/27/07: Just north of the new Bopp/Sarasota alignment. | answered | URS/Pima County |
| 9 | Design | 6/27/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Where can neighbors go in the County to lobby for a center turn lane north of the currently planned improvements to Western Way? Answered 6/27/07: The county knows this is a concern. The Pima County Department of Transportation is looking at that and trying to procure funds, but this particular improvement will not be part of this project. NAC/CAC members can make sure that Supervisor Bronson is aware that this is an issue. Lauren Harmon of Supervisor Bronson's office confirmed that she is aware of the matter. | answered | Pima County |
| 10 | Design | 6/27/2007-6/28/2007 | e-mail / NAC/CAC Meeting | It would be nice to have golf cart access to the new mall? (email question) What is the timing construction of Ajo Way, west of the shopping center? (NAC/CAC meeting question) Answered 6/27/07: There will be no separate golf cart access provided. This is an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) project that is occurring separately. ADOT is currently in the design phase and are scheduled for 2012 construction. | answered | Bob Lutgendorf |
| 11 | Design | 6/27/2007 | phone | Will the existing connecting road intersection at Bopp and Kinney remain? Also will there be a signal? Answered 7/9/07: No, the existing Bopp/Kinney intersection will not remain open. There will be a traffic signal installed at the new intersection. | answered | Angela Stith |
| 12 | Design | 6/28/2007 | phone | Is it true that Wal-Mart will be where Tiny's is? What's the schedule? Answered 6/28/07: 1.) No Wal-Mart is at the northwest corner of Ajo/Kinney. 2.) We are hopeful that utility work will begin in the fall/winter of 2007. | answered | Angela Stith |
| 13 | Design | 7/9/2007 | phone | Is Bopp Road going to be relocated into Sarasota and if so will there be a light? Should not close off Bopp access to Kinney. Will create a.m. left turn traffic, must use Bopp to Kinney to Ajo. You are forcing people to go further North to go South, why is this being done? Answered 7/9/07: Confirmed that Bopp access to Kinney will be cut off. Encouraged him to come to the open house. Also added him to the interested parties email list. | answered | Angela Stith |
| 14 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Will there be bike racks at the new shopping center? Will we be allowed to drive unlicensed golf carts on the 10' shoulder? Or will there be a gravel path What kind of lighting (low watt) will be provided for pedestrians, bikers, golf carts on Kinney Rd? For security and safety? Answered 7/24/07 & 9/12/07: Pursuant to Pima County code regulation, there will be bike racks at the new shopping center. This project will provide a wider multi-use path as part of the roadway to accommodate licensed carts. Unlicensed golf carts will not be allowed on the shoulder. For information on licensing golf carts, please check your local Motor Vehicle Department. Lighting will be provided at the intersection. | answered | Keri Silvyn/ Bob Lutgendorf |
| 15 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Bus Stops and future tram system? It would be good to see bus stops incorporated into the design. Park and ride? It would be good to see a park and ride public transport system included in the design. Answered 9/12/07: A bus stop will be included as part of the Shopping Center development. At this time, no Park and Ride is projected at the Shopping Center. | answered | Pima County |
| 16 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Who will be the mechanical contractor for the new shopping center? Are there any future plans for widening Bopp Rd. further west? Answered 9/12/07: A Mechanical Contractor has not been selected yet for the Shopping Center. There are not plans to widen Bopp to the west at this time. | answered | Louie Aguilar/Ben Goff |
| 17 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Why is Bopp being widened? What companies/businesses have inquired about retail/office space in the Mountain Vista Shopping Center? How long is the road construction project expected to take? Answered 9/12/07: Bopp is being modified to flow to Sarasota from its current route. No commitments have been made on the Shopping Center site for tenants. The intent is to provide a retail center with uses such as restaurants, banks, coffee shop, and other retail users. The project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete once started. | answered | Pima County/Keri Silvyn/ Louie Aguilar |
| 18 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | What landscaping will take place along Kinney Rd. north west of the shopping center? I would like to see detailed plans for the plants currently in place and the proposed design for the landscaping. What about the Bufflegrass in the right of way of Kinney Rd? Are there plans to properly remove and dispose of this weed? Answered 9/12/07: Landscape plans have not been finalized yet. Detailed plans will be available for review upon completion through your Neighborhood Advisory Committee member. Bufflegrass is a county-wide problem and there are areas beyond the Kinney Road right of way that are affected. Areas within the right of way that are disturbed by construction will have Bufflegrass removed. | answered | Keri Silvyn/Louie Aguilar/Pima County |
| 19 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | 1. What type of accommodations will be done
for the wild life that crosses Kinney and Bopp on a daily basis to get to the
CAP canal? We normally see them at dawn and dusk. There are a vast variety of
animals crossing and they consider this their only source of water. 2. Will
there be accommodations made for the daily drivers to enter and exit Bopp
from Donald Ave. or Camino Verde from Ajo to avoid all the construction and
congestion. Answered 9/14/07: 1.Wildlife generally travels within the existing washes. This project includes wildlife accessible drainage culverts at the washes that will accommodate smaller animals. Larger animals will continue crossing over the roadway as they do now. Additional roadway signage will also be considered as part of the project. 2. Routing of traffic during widening of Kinney Road will be studied by the design/build team. We'll make every effort to minimize inconvenience to the public. A Traffic light at Donald Ave. or Camino Verde is not within the scope of this project. |
answered | URS/Pima County/ ADOT |
| 20 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | 1. What impact is the new water flow going to
have on the Ajo and Tucson Estates Parkway and Camino Verde intersections?
2. What is the reason for closing
Bopp and Kinney? Is it going to cost drivers hundreds of dollars a year to
make that extra turn up to Sarasota and back past Bopp? Answered 9/13/07: 1. The drainage calculations for the project show that all storm water from Ajo and the new shopping center will be conveyed under Ajo through an existing box culvert located east of Sheridan Avenue. The water will then flow in the existing natural channel in a southwesterly direction. No additional stormwater from this project should continue west or impact these intersections. 2. Moving Bopp Road so that it connects with Kinney Road at Sarasota will improve safety and convenience to the public since this intersection will have a traffic light. The additional driving distance due to this change is approximately 1/10th of a mile. Improved traffic safety will more than offset the small increase in driving distance. |
answered | Pima County |
| 21 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Speed limit enforcement on Kinney Road? Where is the semi-tuck entrance for Wal-Mart on Kinney! Drainage issues around the back of Wal-Mart? Construction dust assessment? Work hours? Weekends? Quiet times? Answered 9/12/07: Pima County Department of Transportation will review the level of adherence to the 45mph and coordinate with the Sheriff's Department. The main access for trucks for the Shopping Center off of Kinney Road will be the northernmost, signalized entrance. Drainage at the rear of the Wal-Mart will drain via an approved drainage plan with the County. Drainage on the 100-foot buffer area will be according to approved County standards. Construction dust will be controlled pursuant to the County construction mitigation standards. | answered | URS/Pima County/ Sundt |
| The Development Agreement with Pima County restricts hours of operation and truck idling/trash pick-up as follows: Hours of operation for retail uses (not including security) is 6:00 a.m. until midnight. Deliveries permitted 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Continuous operation of trucks and refrigerator units, parking of delivery and other trucks in areas not designated for loading and unloading, or any other operation that would generate loud noises are prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Trash removal only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. No amplified music. | ||||||
| 22 | Design | 7/11/2007 | Open House comment form | Will Sarasota eventually join Tucson Estates Blvd. And if so, will it continue through the mountain valley pass to Gates Pass Road? Will South Forty remain? Answered 9/12/07: No, there will be no additional roads through Tucson Mountain Park. There are no plans to extend Tucson Estates Blvd. to Sarasota. South Forty will not remain. | answered | Pima County |
| 23 | Design | 7/12/2007 | phone | 1.) Will there be a signal at Kinney and Sarasota? 2.) How far west on Kinney will widening go? Answered 7/12/07: 1.) Yes. 2.) Kinney will be widened from just south of Ajo Way to just north of Sarasota Blvd with this project. | answered | Angela Stith |
| 24 | Design | 7/12/2007 | phone | Are there any shopping center site design plans I can view? Answered 9/12/07: The current Shopping Center plans are available from your Neighborhood Advisory Committee representative. | answered | Pima County |
| 25 | Design | 7/12/2007 | The
barriers in the median on Kinney cause people to make u-turns and will limit
access to school and businesses. Who can I call about this concern? Answered 9/12/07: Traffic on Kinney
Road is expected to increase as the area grows. The raised medians running
down the center of widened four lane Kinney Road are designed to improve
safety by separating oncoming traffic and eliminating unrestricted left
turns. The design/build team will be working with adjacent property owners in
an effort to accommodate their needs while preserving public safety. Please
call Bob Lutgendorf, Pima County's Project Manager for the project at
243-7167 if you have any questions. |
answered | URS/Pima County | |
| 26 | Design | 7/17/2007 | phone | Constituent call regarding the realignment of Bopp and Sarasota. She also had some questions about the South 40 Restaurant and the "small trailer park" that's behind there. Answered 7/19/07: 1. We are currently scheduled to start construction this fall pending receipt of permits. 2. Widening of Kinney Road will reduce access and parking at the center significantly. 3. All trailers located on the South Forty property will be removed once the County acquires the property. | answered | Bob Lutgendorf |
| 27 | Design | 7/18/2007 | phone | Was the original project shortened to provide funding to accommodate the shopping center. Answered 7/18/07: The project was not shortened to provide funding to accommodate Mountain Vista Shopping Center. The length of the current Kinney Road plans closely matches the original. No public funds are being spent on the shopping center project, and Kinney Road improvements that are necessary to accommodate the shopping center are being paid for by the developer. | answered | Bob Lutgendorf |
| 28 | Design | 7/31/2007 | Open House comment form | Are there any plans for traffic control at the Ajo/Tucson Estates intersection? This intersection comes up fast when west bound on Ajo. Reduced speed limits on Ajo will help. Answered 8/24/07: Lowering the speed limit on Ajo Highway in the vicinity of Tucson Estates is being considered by the Arizona Department of Transportation. | answered | ADOT/ Steve Wilson |
| 29 | Design | 7/31/2007 | phone | Why is Pima County rerouting Bopp Road through a residential neighborhood? The County should reconsider its plans and smooth out the curve at existing Bopp/Kinney and put in a traffic signal there since Sarasota does not need a light. Will this project extend Kinney Road south to Irvington? Answered 7/31/07: Bopp Road is being routed to meet Sarasota with a traffic signal in order to improve safety and traffic flow through the year 2030 since we expect an increased use of Sarasota due to growth in the area. Bopp Road is not being routed through a neighborhood, but south of an existing subdivision. No, Kinney Road will not extend south to Irvington. | answered | Bob Lutgendorf |
| 30 | Design | 9/18/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | Which County overlay ordinances apply to the Shopping Center site? What County zoning code provision permitted an adjacent neighborhood association representative to sit on the Development Review Committee? Answered 9/21/07: The Mountain Vista Commercial shopping center was subject to the Gateway Overlay Zone, Buffer Overlay Zone and Scenic Corridor Zone. The text to teach of these overlay zones can be found in the Pima County Zoning Code. The Gateway Overlay Zone requires the Development Review Committee to review the project for compliance to Gateway standards . The Design Review Committee section of the Pima County zoning code states that one person representing all affected homeowners' associations of a specific development proposal, as approved by such associations, may be a voting member of the Committee to review that particular proposal. | answered | Keri Silvyn |
| 31 | Design | 9/18/2007 | NAC/CAC Meeting | When will the pre-emption sensor at Ajo and Kinney be installed and working? Answered 9/20/07: We do not expect a gap in time when the pre-emption sensor will not be working at Ajo/Kinney. The new sensor will go in when the new signal goes in. There may be a day, or so gap, as we install the new signal. | answered | Sundt |