We are working with the Arizona State Land Department to acquire some leasing on Idaho Road, specifically in the area between where the library is and where the Boys and Girls Club is and a small little section north of the (Four Peaks Elementary) school before we get to the Maricopa County flood control restriction there.”

Project Engineer Raquel Schatz

By Richard Dyer
Twitter: @RHDyer

Construction could begin in 2021 adding bicycle lanes and filling in pedestrian sidewalks on Idaho Road, between Superstition and McKellips boulevards.

An intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Transportation for the project --- which includes a mid-block crossing for the public library plus curbs and gutters --- was discussed at a recent Apache Junction City Council meeting. The agreement will be put up for a vote in a consent agenda at the council’s March 17 meeting. It begins at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.

The project would be funded with $328,544 from the City of Apache Junction and $803,097 in unobligated congestion mitigation and air quality funds from ADOT, Project Engineer Raquel Schatz told the City Council at a March 3 meeting.

Some right-of-way needs to be acquired, Ms. Schatz said to the council.

“We are working with the Arizona State Land Department to acquire some leasing on Idaho Road, specifically in the area between where the library is and where the Boys and Girls Club is and a small little section north of the (Four Peaks Elementary) school before we get to the Maricopa County flood control restriction there,” she said.

The project’s plans have been designed to 15%. After the final design is completed, construction could begin in 2021, she said.

Councilmember Jeff Struble asked if sewer or other utilities would need to be involved.

“According to the design assistance that we went through, there was a list of some of the utilities that were going to be involved. It didn’t look that there were too many conflicts,” Ms. Schatz said.

According to the proposed agreement with ADOT, the project includes:

• The installation of five-foot-wide sidewalks, and curb and gutter along the west side of Idaho Road between Superstition Boulevard and Foothill Street.
• The installation of five-foot-wide asphalt bike lanes on the west side of Idaho Road between Superstition Boulevard and McKellips Boulevard.
• The installation of lighting and a crosswalk in front of the public library.

Prior to performing or authorizing any work, ADOT is to invoice the city for the initial project development administration costs, estimated at $30,000; and the initial scoping/design costs, estimated at $250,000, according to the proposed agreement with ADOT.

Also, after completion of scoping/design and prior to bid advertisement, ADOT is to invoice the city for the actual project development administration costs and the city’s share of the project construction costs, estimated at $48,544.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.