In a statement on its website late Tuesday, July 16, Verde Connect has announced it has selected its preferred alternative for the route, Route B2.
According to the announcement, titled “Preferred Alternative Selected,” Verde Connect stated, “Over the past several months, the project team has developed and screened the ‘universe of alternatives’ for the Verde Connect project. From the ‘universe of alternatives,’ seven potential build alternatives were identified and subsequently screened to identify the preferred alternative to move forward into the [National Environmental Policy Act] analysis along with the No Build Alternative.
“The seven build alternatives were evaluated based on the level to which they performed in five categories:
- Regional mobility
- Environmental elements
- Engineering feasibility
- Social and economic considerations
- Construction and maintenance.
“Each of these five categories was then broken into specific criteria that compared the alternatives based on 37 different performance measures. The evaluation was based on available datasets and geographic information system analysis, coordination with agencies, aerial photography, public input, and preliminary field investigation. The performance measures for each alternative were given a score of highly performing/low impact, medium performing/moderate impact, or low performing/high impact.
“Once all the build alternatives were rated, Alternative B2 was identified as the highest performing build alternative and is recommended to be fully evaluated in the EA with the No Build Alternative.”
The 9.4-mile route would start at State Route 260 and Coury Drive, cross the Verde River and continue to Cornville Road at the Beaverhead Flat Road intersection.
Under Regional Mobility, B2 provides
- Shortest connection to Middle Verde Rd. & connects to existing intersections at SR260 & Cornville Rd.
- Fewer vehicle miles of travel per day (compared to “no build”): 6,000 fewer miles
- Fewer vehicle hours of travel per day (compared to the no build): 4,000 fewer hours
- Provides regional connectivity
- Provides additional routes for vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles and buses.
- Shortest Middle Verde Road Connection
Under Environmental Elements, B2 provides
- Acres of potential disturbance to riparian, open water, and wetland fringe within the Verde River: 1.1 acres
- Acres of potential disturbance to threatened and endangered species, and critical habitat areas: 3.9 acres
- Potential impact to Forest Sensitive Species: Moderate
- Acres within a wildlife movement corridor: 87.61
- Potential for cultural resource impacts based on USFS predictive model: Moderate potential for cultural resources
- Number of known eligible/listed cultural sites present: 2 Gen. Crook Trail, Power line
- Number of Section 4(f) resources the alternative crosses: 2 (Gen. Crook Trail & OHV trail)
- Acres of disturbance to prime or unique farmlands: 0
- Approximate length in feet of high cuts and fills over 20 feet: 6,400
- Acres identified by the USFS with high Scenic Integrity Objectives: 32
- Visibility of the Verde Connector roadway from residential areas: Low visibility
- Acres of range allotments: 98
Under Engineering Feasibility, B2 provides
- Acres of private land required: 7
- Acres of State Land: 55
- Acres of forest land required: 198
- Utility conflicts Potential for utility conflicts: Moderate
- Acres within 100 year floodplain: 2.4
Under Social and Economic Considerations, B2 provides:
- Number of structural residential/commercial displacements: 0
- Improved access to existing or planned development: Yes
- Alignment traverses areas with a high minority population: No
- Alignment traverses areas with high rate of poverty: No
- Improved access to recreation opportunities: New roadway provides access to recreational facilities and trails within forest boundaries
- Level of expressed agency support for alignment: Moderate support from cooperating and local agencies
- Level of expressed public support for alignment: Moderate public support
Under Construction and Maintenance, B2 provides:
- Planning cost estimate of right-of-way acquisition (includes private and State land): $2 million
- Impact to existing traffic operations during construction: Connects to existing intersections
- Planning cost estimate for mitigation measures: Potential moderate cost related to cultural and biological (shortest river crossing), range and trail impacts
- Planning cost estimate for total construction: Moderate cost
With the score for each route assigned a numerical value, the routes were evaluated as:
- Alternative A1 (north): 91
- Alternative A2 (south): 103
- Alternative B1 (north): 129
- Alternative B2 (south): 135
- Alternative C1 (north): 123
- Alternative C2 (middle); 125
- Alternative C3 (South): 103
- The “no build” option was not assigned a score
