I-10 Twin Peaks Traffic Interchange, Environmental Assessment

Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts October 2005
could not be constructed in an area that would preferentially benefit this group. As
discussed in Chapter 3, Alternatives, an alternative corridor location north of the
preferred alternative was considered, but eliminated from further consideration
because this location did not serve the proposed project’s demonstrated purpose
and need.
Neighborhood Continuity
According to the Town of Marana’s General Plan Update, the Town is challenged
to provide a sense of unity and accessibility to all public and private services
because the Town boundaries are very widespread, development is irregularly
shaped, and the Town is bisected by I-10 and the Santa Cruz River. This project
would provide an additional connection between services east and west of I-10 and
the Santa Cruz River, which would improve the sense of unity that the Town seeks
to promote.
The preferred alternative would also provide important improvements to bicycle
and pedestrian facilities within the area of the Twin Peaks Road TI. In addition,
the preferred alternative would improve access for constituents on the east side of
I-10 to the Santa Cruz Shared Use Path and the De Anza National Historic Trail.
These facilities may result in improved community cohesion and continuity. The
project would also provide sidewalks and intersections within the project limits
that would be in compliance with the ADA and resulting regulations. These
improvements would provide enhanced access to those with mobility impairments,
and generally would improve accessibility for all pedestrians in the area.
Emergency Services
Two agencies, the Town of Marana Police Department and the Pima County
Sheriff’s Department, provide police services to the project area. Emergency
medical services are provided by Northwest Fire and Rescue, a private service
provider. Limited emergency services such as hospitals and other medical facilities
service the project area, but none of these facilities are located within the project
area. The hospital closest to the project area (Northwest Medical Center at Orange
Grove and La Cholla Roads) is located approximately 7 miles from the project
area. The new Northwest Medical Center near Tangerine Road and First Avenue is
approximately 10 miles from the project area.
Although these facilities would not be affected directly by the proposed
improvements, Northwest Medical Center, at an early public agency scoping
meeting for this project, stated that the at-grade crossings at El Camino de Mañana
and Cortaro Road may result in extended delays for emergency medical personnel
trying to transport individuals from the west side of I-10 to hospital facilities on
the east side of I-10. These delays may be critical to some patients. An additional
grade-separated crossing within the study area would improve the chances of
getting to critical patients from the west side of the interstate to medical facilities
on the east side of the interstate quickly and thereby improve the chances of
survival for these individuals.
Interstate 10 Traffic Interchange at
Twin Peaks/Linda Vista
4-82
Project No.: NH-010-D (AIW)
TRACS No.: 10 PM 236 H5838 01D