1Retailers sell merchandise generally in small quantities to the general public. Approximately one-half of Wickenburg businesses are retailers.

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?"

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?"

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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?"

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 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

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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?"

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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."

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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?"

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• 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?"

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• 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?"

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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."

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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?"

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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 (1^st among residents and businesses).
• The impact of a bypass route on local driving safety (2^nd residents, 3^rd businesses).
• The impact of a bypass on the quality of life in the Wickenburg area (3^rd residents, 4^th businesses).
• The ease of access to downtown Wickenburg from a bypass route (4^th residents, 2^nd 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"

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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?"

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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?"

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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

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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

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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?"