Pima DOT director discusses trailhead

Posted on February 8th, 2010 by

**Update 2: Download the letter sent to Jean Gorman.

**Update 1: The TPCBAC has an agenda item about the trailhead. I plan on being there and will report back what they have to say about it, Additionally, I’ll be meeting with Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll on Thursday to talk about it. What buring questions do you have? Post ‘em in the comments.

Priscilla Cornelio, who is the Pima County Department of Transportation director, called this morning to clear up what she called misinformation about the Mt. Lemmon bicycle trailhead.

Cornelio said Chuck Huckelberry, the county administrator, told Jean Gorman she could meet with the homeowners in the area to discuss the trailhead, but did not say he would meet with them.

According to Cornelio, the original site is no longer being considered by Huckelberry or the DOT because of complaints from home owners in the area.

When asked about how complaints from people in the area affect projects on public land,  Cornelio said the county takes into account what the homeowners have to say, especially when they are adamant.

“In this case, people are adamantly opposed to it,” Cornelio said.

Cornelio said Huckelberry asked her department to look into alternative placement for the trailhead. The DOT had looked into placing the trailhead at the Bear Canyon library. But according to Cornelio, Huckelberry asked her look for something on Catalina Highway, possibly farther north.

Cornelio said she currently has traffic engineers looking for a suitable location.

I am waiting for the email Cornelio was going to send out about the project and will post that when I receive it. I’ll also contact Jean Gorman to get her take on the email.

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Posted on February 8th, 2010 by
  • Coghauler

    Oh,

    They were ‘adamant’…

    Gee whiz, OK, then…..

    Hey, Scott….they were “adamant’

  • Coghauler

    Oh,

    They were ‘adamant’…

    Gee whiz, OK, then…..

    Hey, Scott….they were “adamant’

  • Red Star

    Good followup so far.

    “Cornelio said she currently has traffic engineers looking for a suitable location.”

    What defines a “suitable location” from a simple workaday county planner/traffic engineer’s perspective in this kind of sport/recreational–*not* commuting cycling thing?

    What is the nature and degree of involvement, if any, of US Forest Service in this? Will there have to be endless EIS because some cyclists can’t bring their own hydration or know how and where and when to go to the bathroom?

  • Red Star

    Good followup so far.

    “Cornelio said she currently has traffic engineers looking for a suitable location.”

    What defines a “suitable location” from a simple workaday county planner/traffic engineer’s perspective in this kind of sport/recreational–*not* commuting cycling thing?

    What is the nature and degree of involvement, if any, of US Forest Service in this? Will there have to be endless EIS because some cyclists can’t bring their own hydration or know how and where and when to go to the bathroom?

  • Colby

    Adamant…I seem to recall the residents along La Canada were pretty adamant about getting sound walls and the County didn’t budge on that one.

  • Colby

    Adamant…I seem to recall the residents along La Canada were pretty adamant about getting sound walls and the County didn’t budge on that one.

  • Scott

    Adamant – that’s a polite “politician” way to describe them.

    Ok, I have to say it somewhere… I’ve been bashing the anti-Brad Gorman Trailhead NIMBYs here and anywhere else I see them pop up (I get the feeling that “they” consist of only a couple of people – possibly even from the same household – performing Google-searches to find discussion and posting under several names each to give the impression of greater numbers and support); and I really do believe that Tucson rec-riders need a safe place to park cars at the base of Mt Lemmon Highway.

    That said – I’m also pretty appalled at the proposed price tag for something that really just needs to be a small parking lot with maybe a “change your shoes” type bench and bike rack off to the side of the road. Not to mention the fact that since this is strictly parking for the enjoyment of National Forest, this goes directly under the purview of the Forest Service to be funded by that damn “double-dip tax” usage fee of theirs. A simple parking area just inside of National Forest jurisdiction at the base of the mountain – that’s what this should be if done right. Whiney NIMBYs still suck carp though, this coveted little patch of public land can serve a much better purpose – say as possibly a repository in which to Frisbee your old smoke detectors should the “test” button ever short out so that you can’t turn off the alarm? Or if that’s not green enough, maybe a place to recycle old eggs that have gone rotton and smelly? I’m just sayin’.

  • Scott

    Adamant – that’s a polite “politician” way to describe them.

    Ok, I have to say it somewhere… I’ve been bashing the anti-Brad Gorman Trailhead NIMBYs here and anywhere else I see them pop up (I get the feeling that “they” consist of only a couple of people – possibly even from the same household – performing Google-searches to find discussion and posting under several names each to give the impression of greater numbers and support); and I really do believe that Tucson rec-riders need a safe place to park cars at the base of Mt Lemmon Highway.

    That said – I’m also pretty appalled at the proposed price tag for something that really just needs to be a small parking lot with maybe a “change your shoes” type bench and bike rack off to the side of the road. Not to mention the fact that since this is strictly parking for the enjoyment of National Forest, this goes directly under the purview of the Forest Service to be funded by that damn “double-dip tax” usage fee of theirs. A simple parking area just inside of National Forest jurisdiction at the base of the mountain – that’s what this should be if done right. Whiney NIMBYs still suck carp though, this coveted little patch of public land can serve a much better purpose – say as possibly a repository in which to Frisbee your old smoke detectors should the “test” button ever short out so that you can’t turn off the alarm? Or if that’s not green enough, maybe a place to recycle old eggs that have gone rotton and smelly? I’m just sayin’.

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