During the past two months, the first Flagstaff Pathways transportation survey invited the community to provide input on major transportation issues and priorities. This valuable helps direct the technical and policy focus of Flagstaff Pathways. Survey questions ranged from where and what types of development should be encouraged to how to deal with future traffic to and through the city of Flagstaff. A wide range of responses were received from people within the city as well as those living in outlying areas, with more than 450 participants taking the survey.

If you are interested in printing or viewing the OFFICIAL results in PDF format, they are available here. Interactive survey results can be accessed using the link below. The latest version of Adobe Flash Player, is required to view the interactive presentation below.

• The majority surveyed (51%) do not want major roads, such as Rt. 66, Milton, and Butler, to become higher speed roadways at the expense of the areas and neighborhoods they pass through. Additionally, 62% do not think that economic development was so dependent on fast traffic flow that negative neighborhood impacts would be acceptable. In fact, 52% agree or strongly agree that protecting the quality of and access to nature and recreation is more important than transportation convenience and minimal traffic delay.

• A substantial majority (79%) of participants value protecting the uniqueness, identity, and livability of neighborhoods as critical to the region’s long-term vitality.  In doing so, 62% agree or strongly agree with the concept of maintaining small-town character and natural landscapes by limiting “downtown-scale” urban development to downtown Flagstaff and limited locations along major corridors.

• Most participants (69%) believe that creating a more balanced transportation system by expanding non-auto travel choices are the best way to meet the region’s long-term transportation needs. Even so, 62% agree or strongly agree that creating more north/south corridors, particularly grade-separated railroad crossings, is the best way to meet long-term transportation needs even if such options are the most expensive.

• Survey participants expressed mixed feelings on how to address the potential impacts of affordable housing on existing neighborhoods.  Exactly half of the participants disagree or strongly disagree with the notion of locating affordable housing at the urban fringe to protect the character of existing neighborhoods.  However, 29% do agree with this strategy, while another 21% are either neutral or unsure.  However, when asked the most effective way to encourage viable travel options through sound land use planning, the most-supported strategy (46%) is to encourage mixed used and more housing types in existing and new neighborhoods to allow for greater and more balanced travel choices.