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The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a meeting about the Oracle Road widening project, from Tangerine to the Pinal County Line, on Tuesday October 11, from 5:30-7pm at Coronado School, Wilds Road, Catalina. Only a handful of resident received notice of this meeting. The majority of Vistoso Vistas, Neighborhood 2 and Maravilla, did not.
Why is this meeting important important to those who live in Vistoso Vistas, Neighborhood 2 and Maravilla?
ADOT's Project Assessment, p7, paragraph 4 includes recommendations for noise barriers for the west side of Oracle Road, Mile 83-mile 84.3 and "the vicinity of M 86" without identifying specifics. Mile 83 is parallel to the office park's Keller Williams Real Estate office, south of Vistoso Vistas. Mile 84.3, just over the boundary in Catalina, at the unnamed road on the east side just before Mountainaire Drive. This means all of both subdivisions are involved. Whether a house is adjacent to Oracle, a street away from, both of these subdivisions hear highway noise. If a wall is constructed, mountain views will be blocked, compromising the quality of life and value of your residence. There are alternatives.
After Ram's Canyon wall appeared the residents expressed disappointment, anger, and complained. Not only did this wall not block the noise, to their horror, it amplified it! All the residents did not participate in the decision making. Were all invited? Many groups hold "public meetings" without publishing or inviting the interested parties. Attendance is critical unless residents want a repeat of the Rams' Canyon fiasco. If Rams' Canyon residents can participate and personally share their experiences, it would be very helpful.
Project Assessment, bottom of website's opening page, describes the study as "preliminary". On May 17, 2011, with a full house, attendees described the information so general that it was meaningless. Speakers danced the bureaucratic two step, avoid, inform, avoid answering specific questions, retract earlier information. Where's the truth?
Of note: The web page that describes this project does not, repeat does not have the October 11 meeting on the website. Why not? Why not publish this is meeting date if ADOT wants residents' input? They do refer to "small group meetings" but this designation is vague, meaningless. In addition, the map on the postcard from May inaccurately pictures Vistoso Vistas and Maravilla by minimizing the location, appearing like very little property is affected.
Let ADOT see your interest, hear your comments on Tuesday, October 10/11 5:30 pm.
Michelle Saxer
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2 comments:
Those who attended, please provide us your input.
27 housese in Vistoso Vistas and 33 in Marvilla are marked with "red roofs", those whose vote decides whether or not a 12 foot wall will be erected to block noise from Oracle. ADOT's Fred Garcia informed the group that these designated homes do not exceed the Federal decibel level limit of 67, nor the AZ limit of 64 but weigh in at 50. Because these homes are located in an upscale residential neighborhood, they decided to offer the wall for noise abatement.
Complex factors such as ground, elevation, profile of the highway, curves, tire to pavement interaction, Jake brakes all contribute to the noise level. Other representatives told residents this area was tested in 2007 and 2011. The 70 homeowners most impacted were notified and are the only ones to vote on this project.
ADOT's team committed to laying rubberized pavement, effective in reducing sound on Phoenix's roads, even if the wall is voted down. Some residents wanted ADOT to post a height marker to give a better sense of how the wall would impact. Many feared loss of mountain views would diminish home values. Others wanted the wall as they feared noise would lower home values. Some strongly argued for lower speeds to reduce traffic sounds. The question of whether a wall could be erected in one area and not another, ADOT said yes but qualified that might look unsettling. They did not clarify how that would be decided. ADOT adheres to federal guidelines(on their website) and acknowledged that all the subdivision is impacted by highway noise.
However, only the identified 70 with a 51% margin will decide the future for residents. With a crew working on road expansion, they can offer this addition now. The only way they can offer it later is if Oracle is widened more.
BALLOTS MUST BE RETURNED BY NOV. 1
Why? ADOT counts any unreturned ballot as a YES. This means if 13 vote NO, and 57 do not vote, the wall passes. If you don't want the wall erected, it is critical to mail in your ballot and keep a copy for your records in case the voting is questioned. EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
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