This element describes the current transportation system for the Town of Eagar and contains the goals and objectives to assure efficient and adequate modes of transportation and to help provide an understanding of possible needs associated with future growth. The Growing Smarter legislation ties together land use and transportation planning to pro-actively address critical transportation issues. The legislation also requires communities to exchange plans with neighboring municipalities prior to their adoption, so that regional issues, which often include transportation corridors and modal connections, can be addressed.  Click here for a map of the Transportation Element.

A comprehensive planning approach for transportation and circulation within the community is critical to developing the type of community residents’ desire. Residents should play an important role in the development of the General Plan and in monitoring its implementation. In this way the vital transportation and circulation infrastructure needed to enhance the community will develop to support access to jobs, schools, and recreation areas as well as facilitate regional travel.

The local streets are constructed and maintained by the Town’s Department of Public Works, while the State of Arizona maintains the state highways in and adjacent to the Town of Eagar. Eagar’s street transportation network consists of the following:
· Arterial streets (major and minor) – Central Avenue and Main Street.
· Collector streets – School Bus Road, 4th Street, River Road,4th Avenue.
· Minor Streets (local) – 26 miles of minor streets, 18 miles of which are paved.

The existing and proposed streets are depicted in figure 7. Cross-sections of the types of streets are depicted in figures 8 through 11.

Traffic volumes on Central Avenue between SR 180 and Main Street should be expected to increase from 2500 to 3700 vpd, between Main Street and School Bus Road, the traffic volumes should increase from 2800 vpd to 6200 vpd.  With these increased volumes, Central Avenue should still operate at an acceptable level of service.

Currently, a 10-foot multi-use path exists on the north side of Central Avenue between Main Street and the fairgrounds. This multi-use path is for bicycles and pedestrians to safely travel east and west through Eagar. Plans are underway to extend this path farther west along Central Avenue to River Road.

Public transit does not currently exist in the Town of Eagar. However, as the community continues to grow and as the demand increases, the Town should explore options for implementing a public transit system.

The future will bring increased traffic volumes as the area continues to grow.  In order to maintain the safe and efficient circulation of this traffic, the Town should consider incorporating standards and right-of-way widths that allow for the transition to wider streets where necessary.

Downtown Eagar is located within 2 miles of the Springerville Municipal Airport. The airport operates two lighted asphalt runways. Runway 3/21 is 8,420 by 75 feet, and runway 11/29 is 4600 by 60 feet. There are 12 aircraft based there, and there is the capability to handle small jets and multi-engine propeller-driven aircraft. Access from Eagar to the airport is only available via Main Street or Coconino Street to Airport Road. Currently, traffic from the west side of Eagar must travel through downtown to access the airport.

· Future developments and improvements to Central Avenue could promote community activities, as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the downtown area. Bicycle lanes and wide sidewalks may be necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicycles.
· Many older minor streets are unpaved and lack roadway striping. Additionally, many of the the Town.
· Providing an access road from the west, possibly connecting Central Avenue with the Springerville Airport Road, could create a direct business route to the Springerville Airport. However, any road from Central Avenue to the airport must be carefully considered. There are serious concerns that such a road would result in potential tourist and other traffic bypassing Eagar's Main Street commercial area. These concerns warranted the omission of a road connecting the Airport to Central Avenue in this plan. However, the Town is most supportive of enabling access to any employment uses that may locate in the planned industrial area. Consequently, access and connections to this area should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
· Presently, very little parking is available on Main Street. Future improvements to the downtown area could increase the need for parking. On-street parking as well as new parking lots should be researched to alleviate this potential demand.
· There are areas that could benefit from the extension of existing streets and/or construction of There are some streets in the Town that experience flooding during storm events. The Town needs to adopt drainage and flood control regulations to prevent this from occurring with new streets to verify existing data. This will provide the Town with some of the information eliminate this problem in existing developed areas.
· The Little Colorado River passes within 2 miles of downtown Eagar; this area is a popular recreation destination for many tourists and residents. Currently a well-developed multi-use trail does not exist along the river. An established trail would promote activity in the area and improve the safety of its users.
· A transportation master plan could be developed to determine the measures necessary to establish an efficient cost-effective transportation system. In addition, the Town should consider updating their street standards to include those listed previously and reflect their anticipated future needs.

GOAL: MAINTAIN STREETS TO ENABLE SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRAVEL.
    Objective: Repair of older streets throughout the Town that require require maintenance. Continue the paving of all unpaved streets within the Town limits.

        Policy: Continue to fund the renovation of the older streets and paving projects.

GOAL: PROVIDE STREETS THAT MAINTAIN DRIVABLE LANES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS DURING STORM EVENTS.
    Objective: Prevent the flooding of streets during storm events.
        Policy: Adopt a drainage and flood control policy for new development.
        Policy: Implement flood control measures in developed areas.

GOAL: DESIGN STREET CAPACITY TO MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE DEMANDS WITHOUT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING ADJACENT EXISTING AND PLANNED LAND USE.

    Objective: Bring Town streets to minimum standards, as necessary, to improve traffic flow and increase the safety of their users.

        Policy: Enhance existing standards for street right-of-way and pavement widths.
        Policy: Develop a transportation master plan to identify road and street classifications and functions.
        Policy: Identify requirements and funding sources for road-widening projects.
        Policy: Develop a connecting road that will provide a loop from School Bus Road, at the southeast, north to Central Avenue.
        Policy: Develop a north to south connecting road that will connect Maricopa Drive to Central Avenue.

    Objective: Implement a street classification system.
        Policy: Design Major Arterial streets to include a 110-foot right-of-way, four vehicle travel lanes no less than 11 feet wide, a 13-foot striped median, two detached sidewalks no less than 6 feet wide, separated from the curb by landscaped areas at least 5 feet wide, and 2 bicycle lanes no less than 5½ feet wide (see figure 8).
        Policy: Design Minor Arterial streets to include an 80-foot right-of-way, two travel lanes no less than 11 feet wide, a 13-foot striped median, two detached sidewalks no less than 6 feet wide separated from the curb by landscaped areas no less than 5 feet wide, and 2 bicycle lanes no less than 5½ feet wide (see figure 10).
        Policy: Design Collector Streets to include a 60-foot right-of-way, two vehicle travel lanes no less than 11 feet wide, two detached sidewalks no less than 5 feet wide separated from the curb by a landscaped area no less than 5 feet wide, and 2 bicycle lanes no less than 5½ feet wide (see figure 11).
        Policy: Design Local Streets to include at least a 50-foot right-of-way, two travel lanes no less than 12 feet wide, and two detached sidewalks no less than 5 feet wide (see figure 11).

GOAL: ENABLE ACCESS TO GROWTH AREAS.
    Objective: Work with potential employers to encourage efficient access routes to the industrial area on the north side of Central Avenue on the western side of Town.

        Policy: Work with individual developers and approve, on a case-by-case basis, access connecting Central Avenue to the planned industrial area on the north side of Central Avenue.

GOAL: PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND RECREATION.
    Objective: Encourage safe, easily accessible bicycle and pedestrian travel throughout the Town.

        Policy: Incorporate bicycle lanes and widen sidewalks in the downtown area to allow additional circulation and ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
        Policy: Incorporate pedestrian and bicycle paths along the Little Colorado River and other areas that lend themselves to recreation use.
        Policy: Require non-motorized circulation plans as a part of all subdivision and development submittals.
    Objective: Provide, when appropriate, connections to the areas along the Little Colorado River floodplain.

       Policy: Provide peripheral access to parking areas along the Little Colorado River floodplain and 4th Avenue.

GOAL: PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO AND WITHIN THE TOWN OF EAGAR.
    Objective: Provide non-motorized transportation facilities within Eagar and along state roads.

        Policy: Continue to solicit funding from federal, state, and private groups for non-motorized transportation facilities.
        Policy: Develop and implement a non-motorized circulation plan.
        Policy: Work with Apache and Catron Counties, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Springerville to develop a regional non-motorized circulation plan.

Copyright © 2005 The Town of Eagar, Arizona
Updated 1-5-05
Site design by Creative Multimedia, Inc.