"This guidelines and procedures manual is intended to be used by the staff of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and Arizona's regional transportation planning agencies, which include Councils of Governments (COGs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Transportation Management Areas (TMAs). In addition to outlining the guidelines and procedures for regional transportation planning functions, this manual provides an overview of the programs administered by the ADOT Multimodal Planning Division (MPD)."--Introduction, Page 1-1

Located in northwest Arizona, the Hualapai Indian Reservation is comprised of five separate areas totaling more than 1 million acres and includes portions of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The reservation has a tribal enrollment of approximately 2,269 persons, and nearly half of the enrolled members reside in Peach Springs. Located along Historic Route 66, Peach Springs is the capital of the Hualapai Nation and home to the Peach Springs School District, tourist facilities and numerous tribal government facilities. The Hualapai Indian Tribe maintains approximately 50 miles of paved roadways in various conditions and more than 600 miles of unpaved roadways. Major routes within the study area include State Route 66, Diamond Bar Road, Diamond Creek Road, Indian Route 18 and Buck and Doe Road.

Located along the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon and Historic Route 66, tourism is the leading economic generator for the Hualapai Indian Tribe. Opened in 2007, the Grand Canyon Skywalk received approximately 800,000 visitors last year and Hualapai tribal staff have estimated a 20 percent increase in tourists if roadway improvements are made to Diamond Bar Road. To encourage additional tourism and development, it is vital that the tribe's multimodal transportation infrastructure is capable of supporting new economic endeavors.

With the ultimate goal of enhancing safety, accessibility, mobility and economic growth, the primary purpose of this study will be to develop a multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to serve as a guiding document for the tribe to implement transportation improvements. The study will identify current and future transportation deficiencies; provide transportation improvement recommendations over the next five-, 10- and 20-year horizon periods; identify potential funding sources; and provide the tribe with a phased transportation implementation plan.

The study will accomplish these goals:

    Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of major roadways within the Hualapai Indian Reservation.
    Evaluate vehicular traffic congestion and circulation issues.
    Identify pedestrian and bicycle needs.
    Develop roadway design standards.
    Identify methods to preserve existing transportation infrastructure.
    Identify specific improvement strategies to address the needs of the study area.
    Prepare a maintenance plan.
    Develop a three-phased Improvement Plan that promotes safety and mobility, supports economic development and improves community livability.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) completed a comprehensive customer satisfaction assessment in July 2009. ADOT commissioned the assessment to acquire statistically valid data from residents and community leaders to help it identify short-term and long-term transportation priorities. The survey found that state residents feel: Safe on the state's highways; ADOT keeps the roads clean; ADOT keeps the landscaping well maintained; Satisfied with the Motor Vehicle Division; ADOT is moving in the right direction; Dissatisfied with condition of highway shoulders (should be improved); Dissatisfied with nighttime visibility of highway striping; Dissatisfied with the frequency of public transit where they live; and Dissatisfied with traffic flow on highways during rush hour. Both residents and community leaders said the transportation issues with the highest priorities were: Repairing and maintaining existing highways; Enhancing highway safety; and Relieving congestion on highways.