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Wickenburg Bypass
Opinion Survey
Report, May 1999
INTRODUCTIONThis study was commissioned by Sverdrup Civil, Inc. on behalf of its
client the Arizona Department of Transportation. The primary purpose of this research was
to determine the attitudes of Wickenburg residents, business operators and visitors about
the proposed Wickenburg realignment of US 60 and US 93. More specifically, this project
addressed the following issues:
- Knowledge of and general attitudes about the proposed bypass;
- Attitudes about ADOT's handling of the bypass planning effort;
- Methods of gathering public input and disseminating information on
the bypass issue;
- Importance of selected considerations during the planning effort;
- Preferred location of the proposed bypass;
- Reaction to a short-term solution to downtown traffic; and
- Wickenburg business patterns
The information contained in this report is
based on three individual research efforts:
1) A Wickenburg Resident Survey consisting of 226
in-depth telephone interviews conducted with Wickenburg heads of household.
2) A Wickenburg Business Survey consisting of 145
in-depth telephone interviews conducted with Wickenburg business owners and managers.
3) A Wickenburg Visitor Survey consisting of 199
intercept interviews conducted with Wickenburg visitors.
All of the interviewing on this project was
conducted in February, 1999 by professional interviewers of the Behavior Research Center.
For a detailed description of the procedures followed during the conducting of the
project, please refer to the methodology section of this report.
The Behavior Research Center has presented all of
the data germane to the basic research objectives of this project. However, if Sverdrup or
ADOT management requires additional data retrieval or analysis, we stand ready to provide
such input.
BEHAVIOR RESEARCH CENTER
OVERVIEW
Knowledge of and General Attitudes About Proposed
Bypass (tables 1-6)
- Six out of ten residents (60%) and nearly eight out of ten businesses
(77%) indicate they know either a lot or some about the proposed bypass.
- Better than nine out of ten (94%) residents and businesses believe
the bypass issue is important to Wickenburg.
- Eighty-two percent of residents and 67 percent of businesses believe
building a bypass around Wickenburg is a good idea. The primary reason that both residents
and businesses view the bypass as a good idea is a belief that it will reduce downtown
Wickenburg traffic. On the flip side, a perceived negative economic impact on the
Wickenburg economy is viewed as the main reason for believing the bypass is a bad idea.
- Both residents (77%) and businesses (75%) express a strong desire for
a lot more information on the pros and cons of the various bypass routes being considered.
- A majority of both residents (74%) and businesses (65%) do not
believe a bypass will have a major negative impact on local business over the long-term
(10 - 15 years). The two groups disagree, however, on the short-term (1 - 5 years) impact
of a bypass on local business with a majority of residents (52%) believing it will not
have a negative impact compared to only 42 percent of businesses who believe it will not
(53% believe it will).
- Both residents (62%) and businesses (70%) agree with the position
that a bypass will affect them even is it is not built for 10 to 12 years.
- A majority of both residents (63%) and businesses (67%) agree with
the position that there should not be a rush to build a bypass.
Attitudes About ADOT's Handling of Bypass Planning
Effort (Tables 7-9)
- By roughly a two to one ratio, both residents and businesses give
ADOT a satisfactory rating in terms of the job it is doing handling bypass planning
efforts B residents 65 percent, businesses 70 percent.
- Six out of ten residents (59%) and businesses (60%) give ADOT a
positive evaluation (excellent, good) regarding its efforts to gather public input on
where to locate a bypass.
- A plurality of residents (42%) and a majority of businesses (53%)
believe the decision on where to locate the bypass has already been made and that
residents and businesses are not being allowed to play a role in the process.
Methods of Gathering Public Input and
Disseminating Information on The Bypass Issue (Tables 10-11)
When residents and businesses were probed on the effectiveness of
several methods by which ADOT can keep the public informed on the bypass planning process,
two of the methods tested received very effective readings from a majority of both
residents and businesses: 1) print articles in the Wickenburg Sun updating residents on
how the planning process is proceeding (71% residents, 67% businesses), and; 2) holding
public information meetings to update residents on how the planning process is proceeding
and allow them to offer their input on the issues (53% residents, 61% businesses). Two
additional methods tested, broadcasting briefing sessions on local public access
television and providing an Internet Web Page, are deemed very effective by only about
one-quarter or less of residents and businesses.
When residents and businesses were asked the likelihood they would
personally utilize each of the four methods, disseminating information on the issue via
articles in the Wickenburg Sun is by far and away the most popular method with 80 percent
of residents and 70 percent of businesses indicating they would definitely read such
articles.
Importance of Selected Considerations During
Planning Effort (Table 12)
- Residents and businesses concur on the top four issues (out of 11)
which should be considered during the bypass planning effort.
- The impact of a bypass route on local traffic
congestion (1st among residents and businesses).
- The impact of a bypass route on local driving
safety (2nd among residents, 3rd among businesses).
- The impact of a bypass on the quality of life in
the Wickenburg area (3rd among residents, 4th among businesses).
- The ease of access to downtown Wickenburg from a
bypass route (4th among residents, 2nd among businesses).
- The seven remaining issues tested also received a
7-10 rating from a majority of both residents and businesses. Further, in only two cases
are there major variations in the responses of residents and businesses. Specifically,
businesses tend to rate the economic impact of a bypass route on local business and the
impact of a bypass on long-term area growth of more importance than do residents.
Preferred Location of Proposed Bypass (Tables 13-16)
- Residents and businesses had mixed views on whether a bypass should
be located close to town or well away from town, with residents split on the issue (48%
close in, 47% well away) and businesses strongly in favor of the close in option B 62
percent vs. 34 percent.
- Both residents and businesses preferred the southwest corridor over
the northeast corridor with residents expressing a particularly strong preference for the
southwest corridor B residents 54 percent southwest vs 27 percent northeast; businesses 48
percent southwest vs. 33 percent northeast.
- A majority of both residents and businesses indicated they are
satisfied with the proposed distance of each of the two proposed bypass corridors from
downtown Wickenburg. However, roughly one-third of the businesses expressed a preference
for moving each corridor closer to town.
Reaction To Short-Term Solution To Downtown Traffic
(Table 17)
- Better than seven out of ten residents and businesses believe it is
good idea to consider a short-term solution to address downtown traffic congestion. The
primary reasons both residents and businesses believe a short-term solution may be a bad
idea is the cost involved and the possibility it may become a permanent solution.
Wickenburg Business Patterns (Tables 18-23)
Eighty-four percent of local retailers1 indicated that at
least a portion of their business revenues came from pass through traffic compared to a
reading of only 46 percent among non-retail businesses.
Retail businesses who reported pass through revenues indicated they
would expect to lose roughly 20 percent of their pass through traffic and non-retailers,
ten percent of their pass through traffic if either bypass route were built.
Seventy-seven percent of local retailers and 57 percent of
non-retailers indicated that at least some of their customers who do not live in or near
Wickenburg travel to the town specifically to visit their establishment.
Fifty-nine percent of local retailers and 65 percent of non-retailers
believe the proposed southwest bypass route would have only a minor or no negative
economic impact on Wickenburg businesses. The readings are nearly identical for the
northeast route with retailers offering a minor/no impact reading of 61 percent and
non-retailers 64 percent.
Thirty-four percent of retailers and 29 percent of non-retailers
indicted they would close or sell their business if either of the bypasses were built in
ten to twelve years and their revenues dropped 50 percent. In comparison, 23 percent of
retailers and 33 percent of non-retailers indicate they would relocate.
Visitation Patterns Among Wickenburg Visitors
(Tables 24-30)
- Forty-two percent of visitor trips to Wickenburg originate in metro
Phoenix while 20 percent originate in other areas of Arizona and 38 percent out of state.
Conversely, 54 percent end in metro Phoenix, 18 percent other areas of Arizona and 28
percent out of state.
- The primary reasons visitors gave for stopping in Wickenburg are
sight seeing (47%) and to eat a meal (20%).
- The most frequently visited businesses by visitors are
restaurants/bars (48%), antique shops (22%), gas stations (13%) and museums/galleries
(10%).
- Eighty-three percent of visitors indicated Wickenburg was a planned
stop on their trip while only 17 percent indicated it was a spur of the moment decision.
- Forty-five percent of visitors were making their first visit to
Wickenburg.
- The typical visitor to Wickenburg spends $37 while in town with
roughly one out of four (27%) spending $100 or more.
- Nearly six out of ten visitors (58%) indicated they would still have
visited Wickenburg on their trip even if it would have taken them an extra 20 minutes to
exit a bypass in order to reach the town.
1 Retailers sell merchandise generally in small
quantities to the general public. Approximately one-half of Wickenburg businesses are
retailers.
SUMMARY
OF THE FINDINGS - - RESIDENT AND BUSINESS SURVEYS
Knowledge of and General Attitudes About Proposed
Bypass
Six out of ten residents (60%) indicated they know
either a lot (24%) or some (36%) about the proposed bypass while 33 percent indicated they
know only a little and seven percent nothing at all. Knowledge of the bypass is higher
among the business community with nearly eight out of ten (77%) indicating they know
either a lot (34%) or some (43%) about the proposed bypass.
TABLE 1: KNOWLEDGE OF PROPOSED BYPASS
"To begin, over the past year or so there has
been discussion about realigning US 60-US 93 so that traffic bypasses Wickenburg. Two
primary corridors have been suggested for this bypass, one running southwest and the other
running northeast around downtown Wickenburg. Would you say you know a lot, some, only a
little or nothing at all about this proposed Wickenburg bypass?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| A lot |
24% |
34% |
| Some |
36 |
43 |
| Only a little |
33 |
16 |
| Nothing |
7 |
7 |
| |
100% |
100% |
Continuing with this line of questioning, Table 2
reveals the bypass issue is viewed as either very important or important to Wickenburg by
better than nine out of ten residents (94%) and businesses (94%). This pattern is
consistent across all resident and business subgroups.
TABLE 2: IMPORTANCE OF BYPASS ISSUE
"How important of an issue do you feel this
bypass is to Wickenburg B very important, important, not very important or not at all
important?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Very important |
69% |
72% |
| Important |
25 |
22 |
| Not very important |
3 |
1 |
| Not at all important |
2 |
3 |
| Not sure |
1 |
2 |
| |
100% |
100% |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When residents and businesses were asked to indicate
if they felt building a bypass around Wickenburg is a good or bad idea, we found that
support for a bypass is somewhat stronger among residents than businesses. Thus, 82
percent of residents stated the bypass is a good idea compared to 67 percent of
businesses. Further, only eight percent of residents and 18 percent of businesses viewed
the bypass as a bad idea.
TABLE 3: ATTITUDE ABOUT BYPASS
"And do you feel building such a bypass around
Wickenburg is a good idea or a bad idea?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Good idea |
82% |
67% |
| Bad idea |
8 |
18 |
| Some of each |
6 |
11 |
| Not sure |
4 |
4 |
| |
100% |
100% |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While the number of residents and businesses
who believe the bypass is a good idea does not drop below a majority within any subgroups,
the following variations are revealed in Table 4:
Residents: Support tends to be highest among
older residents, home owners and residents who have a high level of knowledge about the
bypass.
Businesses: Support tends to be highest among
businesses located closer to the proposed northeast route, non-retail businesses and
businesses who have a higher level of knowledge about the bypass.
TABLE 4: ATTITUDE ABOUT BYPASS -- DETAIL
Residents |
|
Business |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Good
Idea |
Bad
Idea |
|
|
Good
Idea |
Bad
Idea |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
82% |
8% |
|
Total |
67% |
18% |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Age |
|
|
|
*Location |
|
|
| Under 35 |
56 |
25 |
|
Northeast |
72 |
16 |
| 35 to 54 |
82 |
8 |
|
Southwest |
57 |
21 |
| 55 or over |
88 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home |
|
|
|
Type Business |
|
|
| Own |
85 |
6 |
|
Retail |
61 |
18 |
| Rent |
69 |
14 |
|
Other |
73 |
18 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge Level |
|
|
|
Knowledge Level |
|
|
| Lot/Some |
88 |
7 |
|
Lot/Some |
71 |
13 |
| Little/Nothing |
73 |
10 |
|
Little/Nothing |
53 |
36 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| * Indicates which proposed route
business is located closest to. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The primary reason that both residents and
businesses view the bypass as a good idea is a belief that it will reduce downtown
Wickenburg traffic. On the flip side, a perceived negative economic impact on the
Wickenburg economy is viewed as the main reason for believing the bypass is a bad idea.
TABLE 5: REASONS BELIEVE BYPASS GOOD/BAD IDEA
"Why do you feel that way?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Good Idea |
|
|
|
|
|
| Less traffic (Net) |
77% |
71% |
Less pollution/Environ-
mental issues (Net) |
9 |
11 |
| Safety (Net) |
6 |
11 |
| |
|
|
| Bad Idea |
|
|
|
|
|
| Economy (Net) |
9 |
24 |
Reduce tourism/Isolate
the town
|
3 |
6 |
| |
|
|
| No comment/Neutral |
2 |
1 |
| Not sure |
5 |
2 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The final question in this section asked residents
and businesses a series of agree/disagree questions regarding various bypass issues. This
line of inquiry revealed the following patterns:
- Both residents (77%) and businesses (75%) express a strong desire for
a lot more information on the pros and cons of the various bypass routes being considered.
- A majority of both residents (74%) and businesses (65%) do not
believe a bypass will have a major negative impact on local business over the long-term
(10 - 15 years). The two groups disagree, however, on the short-term (1 - 5 years) impact
of a bypass on local business with a majority of residents (52%) believing it will not
have a negative impact compared to only 42 percent of businesses who believe it will not
(53% believe it will).
- Both residents (62%) and businesses (70%) agree with the position
that a bypass will affect them even is it is not built for 10 to 12 years.
- A majority of both residents (63%) and businesses (67%) agree with
the position that there should not be a rush to build a bypass, regardless of location.
TABLE 6: REACTION TO AGREE/DISAGREE
STATEMENTS
"Next, I'd like to read you some statements
that have been made about the bypass. As I do, please just tell me if you strongly agree,
agree, disagree or strongly disagree with each one."
| |
Residents |
Businesses |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Agree |
Disagree |
1 Net
Agree/
(Disagree) |
Agree |
Disagree |
1 Net
Agree/
(Disagree) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Need More Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I would
like to have a lot more information on the pros and cons of the various bypass routes
being considered. |
77% |
20% |
57 |
75% |
23% |
52 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Business Impact |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A bypass
will have a major negative impact on local businesses over the short term, say 1 to 5
years after it is built. |
42 |
52 |
(10) |
53 |
42 |
11 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A bypass
will have a major negative impact on local businesses over the long term, say 10 to 15
years after it is built. |
18 |
74 |
(56) |
28 |
65 |
(37) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Affect On Me |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any
bypass that's built won't be open for another 10 or 12 years so it doesn't really affect
me. |
35 |
62 |
(27) |
29 |
70 |
(41) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Just Do It |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't
really care where they put a bypass, I just wish they'd hurry up and build one. |
34 |
63 |
(29) |
31 |
67 |
(36) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 Total agree minus
total disagree. |
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attitudes About ADOT's Handling of Bypass Planning
Effort
Wickenburg residents and businesses were asked
several questions regarding the job ADOT is doing handling the bypass planning effort and
whether or not the public is being afforded an adequate opportunity to participate in the
process. This line of inquiry revealed the following attitudes among Wickenburg residents
and businesses:
- By roughly a two to one ratio, both residents and businesses gave
ADOT a satisfactory rating in terms of the job it is doing handling bypass planning
efforts. Thus we found 65 percent of residents and 70 percent of businesses with an
opinion, giving ADOT positive marks (very satisfied, satisfied) compared to 35 percent of
residents and 30 percent of businesses who offer negative marks (not very satisfied, not
at all satisfied).
TABLE 7: SATISFACTION WITH ADOT'S
HANDLING OF BYPASS PLANNING
(Among those with an opinion)
"Next, the Arizona Department of Transportation
has planning responsibility for the proposed Wickenburg bypass. Would you say you are very
satisfied, satisfied, not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the job the
department is doing handling the issue?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Very satisfied |
7% |
20% |
| Satisfied |
58 |
50 |
| Not very satisfied |
24 |
25 |
| Not at all satisfied |
11 |
5 |
| |
100% |
100% |
| |
|
|
| Note: 25% of residents and 23% of
businesses had no opinion. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Roughly six out of ten residents (59%) and businesses (60%) gave ADOT
a positive evaluation (excellent, good) regarding its efforts to gather public input on
where to locate a bypass. Conversely, 41 percent of residents and 40 percent of businesses
offered a negative evaluation (only fair, poor).
TABLE 8: EVALUATION OF ADOT'S EFFORTS
IN GATHERING PUBLIC INPUT
(Among those with an opinion)
"And would you say the Department has done an
excellent, good, only fair, or poor job of gathering public input on where the bypass
should be located?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Excellent |
12% |
12% |
| Good |
47 |
48 |
| Only fair |
27 |
31 |
| Poor |
14 |
9 |
| |
100% |
100% |
| |
|
|
| Note: 11% of residents and 12% of
businesses had no opinion. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- A plurality of residents (42%) and a majority of businesses (53%)
believed the decision on where to locate the bypass has already been made and that
residents and businesses are not being allowed to play a role in the process.
TABLE 9: ATTITUDES ABOUT PUBLIC'S
ROLE IN BYPASS LOCATION DECISION
(Among those with an opinion)
"Do you feel that Wickenburg
(residents/business people) such as yourself are being allowed to play a meaningful role
in determining where the bypass should be located, only a limited role in determining
where the bypass should be located, or do you feel the decision on where the bypass should
be located has already been made?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Allowed meaningful role |
17% |
16% |
| Only limited role |
41 |
31 |
| Decision already made |
42 |
53 |
| |
100% |
100% |
| |
|
|
| Note: 11% of residents and 10% of
businesses had no opinion. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Methods of Gathering Public Input and Disseminating
Information on The Bypass Issue
When residents and businesses are probed on the
effectiveness of several methods by which ADOT can keep the public informed on the bypass
planning process, two of the methods tested received very effective readings from a
majority of both residents and businesses.
- Print articles in the Wickenburg Sun updating residents on how the
planning process is proceeding (71% residents, 67% businesses).
- Hold public information meetings to update residents on how the
planning process is proceeding and allow them to offer their input on the issues (53%
residents, 61% businesses).
Two additional methods tested, broadcasting briefing
sessions on local public access television and providing an Internet Web Page, are deemed
very effective by only about one-quarter or less of residents and businesses.
TABLE 10: EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS METHODS
OF GATHERING PUBLIC INPUT
"Next, there are a variety of ways the
Arizona Department of Transportation can keep the public informed on the bypass planning
process and gather public input on the issue. I'd like to read you several of the ways,
and as I do, please just tell me if you feel each is a very effective, somewhat effective
or not very effective way to keep the public involved in the bypass planning effort."
| |
Among
Residents |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Very |
Some-
what |
Not
Very |
Not
Sure |
Print articles in the
Wickenburg Sun updating residents on how the planning process is proceeding |
71% |
26% |
3% |
*% |
Hold public information
meetings to update residents on how the planningprocess is proceeding and allowthem to
offer their input on the issue |
53 |
36 |
11 |
0 |
Broadcast briefing
sessions on the local public access television channel updating residents on how
theplanning process is proceeding |
26 |
34 |
33 |
7 |
Provide an Internet web
page where residents can review bypass information and send comment messages |
18 |
35 |
36 |
11 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Among
Businesses |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Very |
Some-
what |
Not
Very |
Not
Sure |
Print articles in the
Wickenburg Sun updating residents on how the planning process is proceeding |
67% |
26% |
6% |
1% |
Hold public information
meetings to update residents on how the planning process is proceeding and allow them to
offer their input on the issue |
61 |
30 |
7 |
2 |
Broadcast briefing
sessions on the local public access television channel updating residents on how the
planning process is proceeding |
22 |
34 |
39 |
5 |
Provide an Internet web
page where residents can review bypass information and send comment messages |
22 |
33 |
38 |
7 |
| |
|
|
|
|
*Indicates
% less than .5 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a follow-up to the previous question, residents
and businesses were asked the likelihood they would personally utilize each of the four
methods under discussion. Here we find that disseminating information on the issue via
articles in the Wickenburg Sun is by far and away the most popular method with 80 percent
of residents and 70 percent of business indicating they would definitely read such
articles.
TABLE 11: PERSONAL USE OF VARIOUS
PUBLIC INPUT METHODS
"Now let's go through the list again, but this
time tell me if you personally would definitely, probably or probably not do each?"
| |
Among
Residents |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Defi-
nitely |
Prob-
ably |
Prob-
ably
Not |
Not
Sure |
| |
|
|
|
|
Read articles in The
Wickenburg Sun on the issue |
80% |
15% |
5% |
0% |
Attend public meetings
on the issue |
27 |
34 |
37 |
2 |
Watch broadcasts on
local public access television channel on the issue |
23 |
24 |
49 |
4 |
Visit an Internet web
page where you could review bypass information and send comment messages |
17 |
12 |
67 |
4 |
| |
Among
Businesses |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Defi-
nitely |
Prob-
ably |
Prob-
ably
Not |
Not
Sure |
| |
|
|
|
|
Read articles in The
Wickenburg Sun on the issue |
70% |
17% |
13% |
0% |
Attend public meetings
on the issue |
33 |
31 |
36 |
0 |
Visit an Internet web
page where you could review bypass information and send comment messages |
23 |
17 |
59 |
1 |
Watch broadcasts on
local public access television channel on the issue |
15 |
23 |
61 |
1 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Importance of Selected Considerations During
Planning Effort
Residents and businesses were asked to rate the
importance of considering 11 specific issues during the bypass planning effort. As may be
seen on Table 12, residents and businesses concur on the top four issues to be considered,
however, in varying rank order:
- The impact of a bypass route on local traffic congestion (1st
among residents and businesses).
- The impact of a bypass route on local driving safety (2nd
residents, 3rd businesses).
- The impact of a bypass on the quality of life in the Wickenburg area
(3rd residents, 4th businesses).
- The ease of access to downtown Wickenburg from a bypass route (4th
residents, 2nd businesses).
While the above four issues rank highest among both
residents and businesses, the table also reveals that in no case do any of the seven
remaining issues receive a 7-10 rating from less than a majority of either residents or
businesses.
Also notice in Table 12, that in only two cases are
there major variations in the responses of residents and businesses. Specifically,
businesses tend to rate the economic impact of a bypass route on local businesses and the
impact of a bypass on long-term area growth of more importance than do residents.
TABLE 12: IMPORTANCE OF SELECTED
CONSIDERATIONS DURING PLANNING EFFORT
"Next, on a scale of 1 to 10,where 1 means not
at all important and 10 means very important, how important do you feel it is to consider
each of the following issues during the bypass planning effort"
| |
Resident |
|
Business |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
7-10
Rating |
Mean
Rating |
|
7-10
Rating |
Mean
Rating |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| The impact of a bypass route on local
traffic congestion |
93% |
9.1 |
|
92% |
9.2 |
| The impact of a bypass route on local
driving safety |
88 |
8.7 |
|
87 |
8.6 |
| The impact of a bypass on the quality of
life in the Wickenburg area |
82 |
8.3 |
|
77 |
8.2 |
| The ease of access to downtown Wickenburg
from a bypass route |
74 |
7.8 |
|
86 |
8.8 |
| The ease of access to a bypass route for
Wickenburg area residents |
69 |
7.7 |
|
72 |
7.9 |
| The impact of a bypass route on local air
pollution |
68 |
7.7 |
|
68 |
7.3 |
| The impact of a bypass route on local
noise pollution |
72 |
7.6 |
|
66 |
7.4 |
| The impact of a bypass on the long term
growth of the Wickenburg area |
69 |
7.5 |
|
77 |
8.1 |
| The impact of a bypass route on the loss
of private property |
59 |
7.0 |
|
57 |
6.8 |
| The visual look or attractiveness of a
bypass route |
58 |
6.8 |
|
61 |
7.1 |
| The economic impact of a bypass route on
local business |
53 |
6.5 |
|
71 |
8.0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Note: The higher the mean, the
higher the consideration |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When residents were asked if there are any other
issues besides the 11 mentioned which should receive consideration, no meaningful
suggestions were offered.
Preferred Location of Proposed Bypass
Residents and businesses were next asked several
questions on where they would prefer the bypass to be located. Looking first at the issue
of whether a bypass should be located close to town or well away from town, we find mixed
views among residents and businesses. Thus, we find residents split on the issue (48%
close in, 47% well away) and businesses strongly in favor of the close in option, 62
percent vs. 34 percent.
TABLE 13: PREFERRED BYPASS LOCATION B
CLOSE IN VS. FAR OUT
"Next, which one of the following two
statements is closest to your feeling about the proposed bypass?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Any bypass that is built needs to be
located close to town so that travelers on the bypass can have easy access to Wickenburg
businesses |
48% |
62% |
| Any bypass that is built needs to be
located well away from town so that it has minimal impact on Wickenburg residents |
47 |
34 |
| Not sure |
5 |
4 |
| |
100% |
100% |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When residents were asked about their preferred
bypass corridor, both residents and businesses selected the southwest corridor over the
northeast corridor with residents having a particularly strong preference for the
southwest corridor B residents 54 percent southwest vs. 27 percent northeast; businesses
48 percent southwest vs. 33 percent northeast.
TABLE 14: PREFERRED BYPASS CORRIDOR B
SOUTHWEST VS. NORTHEAST
"As mentioned earlier, two primary corridors
are being considered for the route of a Wickenburg bypass that would be built in the next
10 to 12 years. Both corridors start south of town near the junction of US 60 and State
Route 74. The southwest corridor would swing west around town crossing the Hassayampa
River, Vulture Mine Road and US 60 and then connect to US 93 north of town. The northeast
corridor would swing east around town, crossing Constellation Road, Rincon Road, the
Hassayampa River and then connect to US 93 north of town. Would you prefer to see the
bypass built on the southwest route or the northeast route I just described, or doesn't it
matter to you one way or the other?"
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Southwest |
54% |
48% |
| Northeast |
27 |
33 |
| Doesn't matter |
12 |
12 |
| Don't want any bypass |
5 |
2 |
| Not sure |
2 |
5 |
| |
100% |
100% |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When corridor preference is analyzed by subgroups,
the following patterns are revealed:
Residents: Preference for the southwest
corridor tends to increase with age and is highest among homeowners and residents who have
a higher level of knowledge about the bypass.
Businesses: Preference for the southwest
corridor is highest among businesses located closer to the northeast corridor, non-retail
businesses and businesses who have a higher level of knowledge about the bypass.
TABLE 15: PREFERRED BYPASS CORRIDOR -- DETAIL
Residents |
|
Business |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Southwest |
Northeast |
|
|
Southwest |
Northeast |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
54% |
27% |
|
Total |
48% |
33% |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| *Location |
|
|
|
*Location |
|
|
| Northeast |
54 |
29 |
|
Northeast |
51 |
33 |
| Southwest |
56 |
25 |
|
Southwest |
41 |
34 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Home |
|
|
|
Type Business |
|
|
| Own |
57 |
26 |
|
Retail |
42 |
38 |
| Rent |
38 |
33 |
|
Other |
55 |
29 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Knowledge Level |
|
|
|
Knowledge Level |
|
|
| Lot/Some |
61 |
29 |
|
Lot/Some |
56 |
30 |
| Little/Nothing |
44 |
25 |
|
Little/Nothing |
22 |
44 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Age |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Under 35 |
31 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
| 35 to 54 |
42 |
33 |
|
|
|
|
| 55 or over |
65 |
23 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| * Indicates which proposed route
home/business is located closest to. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After residents and businesses had selected their
preferred bypass corridor, they were asked if they would prefer to see their selected
corridor located closer in or farther away than currently proposed. As may be seen in
Table 16, a majority of both residents and businesses are satisfied with the proposed
distance of each of the two corridors from downtown Wickenburg. Note, however, that
roughly one-third of businesses indicated a preference for moving each corridor closer to
town.
TABLE 16: PREFERRED LOCATION OF SELECTED
BYPASS CORRIDOR
| |
Resident |
Business |
| |
|
|
| Among Those Preferring Southwest
Corridor |
|
|
| |
|
|
"The southwest
route of the bypass being considered would come within approximately five miles of
downtown Wickenburg at the point where it crossed US 60. Would you prefer to see the
bypass located closer than five miles or farther than five miles from downtown Wickenburg
at the point where it crosses US 60, or do you feel the five mile distance is
appropriate?" |
|
|
| |
|
|
Closer than five
|
18% |
30% |
Farther than five
|
16 |
15 |
Five appropriate
|
63 |
54 |
Not sure
|
3 |
1 |
| |
100% |
100% |
| |
|
|
| Among Those Preferring Northeast
Corridor |
|
|
| |
|
|
"The northeast
route of the bypass would come within approximately two miles of downtown Wickenburg at
the point where it crosses Constellation Road. Would you prefer to see the bypass located
closer than two miles or farther than two miles from downtown Wickenburg at the point
where it crosses constellation Road, or do you feel the two mile distance is
appropriate?" |
|
|
| |
|
|
Closer than two
|
15% |
36% |
Farther than two
|
12 |
11 |
Two appropriate
|
71 |
51 |
Not sure
|
2 |
2 |
| |
100 |
100 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reaction To Short-Term Solution To Downtown Traffic
Better than seven out of ten residents (74%) and
businesses (73%) believe it is a good idea to consider a short-term solution to address
downtown traffic congestion. The primary reasons both residents and businesses believe a
short-term solution may be a bad idea is the cost involved and the possibility it may
become a permanent solution.
TABLE 17: ATTITUDE ABOUT SHORT-TERM
SOLUTION
TO DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC
"Next, since it would be 10 to 12 years before
either of the two bypass routes we just discussed could be built, some people have
suggested that an interim, short-term solution to downtown traffic congestion be
considered. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?"
|