The Arizona Department of Transportation awarded funding for the Wellton Transportation Long-Range Plan PARA Study through the Planning Assistance for Rural Areas program. The purpose of the PARA program is to assist rural counties, cities, towns, and tribal communities in addressing a broad range of multimodal transportation planning issues related to roadways, transit, and non-motorized modes of travel. The principal purpose of the Wellton PARA Study is to develop a multimodal transportation plan for a 44-square-mile planning area in the vicinity of the Town of Wellton. The study has resulted in a plan of improvements for short-term, mid-term, and long-term transportation planning horizons. The recommendations are multimodal, considering roadways, transit, and nonmotorized (i.e., bicycle and pedestrian) transportation modes. The executive summary provides a brief summary of current and future conditions, transportation needs and issues, recommended improvements, and the implementation plan.

This transportation plan includes an assessment of the City’s streets, bridges, sidewalks, public stairs, shared-use pathways, transit, public parking, airport, and transportation-related drainage facilities. The transportation plan also includes an implementation plan that sets forth a comprehensive capital improvement program to bring the transportation infrastructure up to current standards and to provide an acceptable level of service for current and forecast travel demands.

This circulation study has developed transportation improvements for all transportation modes including automobile, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian transportation. Although bicycle and equestrian travel is not common on the East Reservation, projects were developed to encourage future use of these modes of travel. The plan recommends transportation improvements for 5, 10, and 20 year planning horizons

This study focuses in the area surrounding the municipalities of: Town of Pima, City of Thatcher and City of Safford. The junction of the two major state routes, US 191 and US 70 is located in the heart of these communities and serves as major arterials for local travelers. Parsons Brinckerhoff has been commissioned by ADOT to perform this preliminary assessment for the development of an alternate route through the Thatcher/Safford/Pima area.

This Plan under the ADOT Planning Assistance for Rural Areas (PARA) will seek to define an optimal multi-modal transportation network that balances local and regional multi-modal transportation needs with available investment funds, while addressing environmental and area goals. This Plan will provide a common direction for the community, agencies and funding partners towards implementation of safe and efficient multi-modal mobility elements. Ultimately, this guiding document will provide direction for future infrastructure investments in both Snowflake and Taylor.