A Public & Tourist Transport System Creating Opportunities for Recreation, Exploration, Learning & Economic Development in Arizona's Verde Valley

1. Verde Valley SkyTram
1

2. Verde Valley SkyTram
A Public and Tourist Transport System
Creating Opportunities for Recreation, Exploration, Learning & Economic Development
For illustration - Portland AERIAL TRAM logo
*
* !2

3. Central Arizona
!3

4. Stations
!4

5. !5

6. !6

7. !7

8. Routes
!8

9. !9

10. !10

11. ~14,300'
2.71miles
Main Station
Cottonwood Station
Jerome Tram from Old Town Cottonwood to Clarkdale
Lat: 34.74650
Lon: -112.02988
Elev: 3,363 ft
!11

12. !12
8,200''
6,450'
4,300'
TOTAL DISTANCE: 3.6 miles
Alternate Route between Cottonwood &
Clarkdale with Station at Tuzigoot

13. !13
Equipment

14. Station & Eight-Person Gondolas
!14

15. Gondola Mountain Bike Carriers
!15

16. !16

17. !17

18. !18
Roof-mounted Maxwell Technologies
ultra capacitor modules provide high-
efficiency energy management that
powers multimedia entertainment,
lighting and air conditioning systems
in the Emirates Air Line cable car line
carrying passengers across London’s
River Thames.
Air Conditioning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puEIN7uLi6Y

19. Concluding Remarks
!19

20. When Considering the Proposal
• Focus on the Big Picture. Don’t sweat the details at this stage.
• The SkyTram will become an integral part of the Verde Valley’s local public transportation system.
Certain groups (i.e., those living below the poverty level, with a disability, no-vehicle households,
and older adults) need assistance in getting to work, meetings, and daily shopping. The SkyTram
can provide this support, helping foster a greater sense of community.
• The tram creates opportunities for entertainment and recreation. Visitors will be transported
directly to the heart of the communities at the upper end of the valley. The businesses in these
towns will see growth in their consumer numbers.
• If the plan succeeds as a public and tourism transport system, it will integrate and directly bolster
the economies of Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Jerome. As each town benefits, so will the others,
creating a single, “Tri-City” economy.
• As found in other communities with trams, the Verde Valley SkyTram will become a destination
point for tourists, strengthening the region’s already impressive tourism economy by offering its
own unique recreational and entertainment activities to the valley’s many natural and historical
wonders. By attracting more visitors to the valley, the tram will strengthen businesses throughout
the region.
!20

21. Next Steps
1. Share the plan among likely stakeholders, i.e., County and City officials, Yavapai Apache Nation
leaders, Local Economic Development Officers, Chamber of Commerce members, valley
business leaders, and NACOG transportation council members and planners. <https://
nacog.org/departments/Regional-Planning/page/transportation-planning.html> Gauge the
likelihood of reaching a consensus for support.
2. While sharing the plans with stakeholders, begin exploring the formation of a company. Let’s call
it the Verde Valley Futures Group (VVFG). Another approach would be for the towns to consider
forming a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_powers_authority
3. This group is essential to promoting the plan and eventually taking over the operation of the
business. The SkyTram project could become a Public Private Partnership (P3). https://
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public–private_partnership
4. As consensus builds, pursue State, County, City and private sources of funding for an economic
viability study. Approximately $45,000 is required for these types of studies. We will need the
study’s findings to pursue federal and state funding. USDOT funds aerial trams <https://
www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/recovery/transit-program>, and there are many other
aspects of the proposed SkyTram project that would qualify for USDOT funds. <https://
www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/23%20C.F.R.%20771.117(c)(201).pdf>
5. See announcement of current USDOT funding - next slide.
!21

22. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces Availability of $900 Million in Infrastructure Grant Funds
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has formally announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to
apply for $900 million in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD)
Transportation Discretionary Grants program.
“These BUILD Transportation grants will provide needed infrastructure investment to better connect rural and urban communities
around our nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
Fiscal Year 2019 BUILD Transportation grants are for investments in surface transportation infrastructure and will be awarded on a
competitive basis to projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit,
rail, ports or intermodal transportation.
To reflect the Administration’s ongoing effort to rebalance past under-investment in rural America, DOT intends to award up to 50%
of BUILD Transportation grant funding to projects located in rural areas that align well with the selection criteria. The FY 2019
BUILD program’s selection criteria gives special consideration to projects that emphasize improved access to reliable, safe, and
affordable transportation for communities in rural areas. This includes projects that improve infrastructure condition, address public
health and safety, promote regional connectivity, facilitate economic growth or competitiveness, deploy broadband as part of an
eligible transportation project, or promote energy independence.
Selection criteria encompass safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, state of good repair, innovation and partnerships with
a broad range of stakeholders.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 made available $900 million for National Infrastructure Investments, otherwise known
as BUILD grants. For this round of BUILD grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, and no more than $90 million can be
awarded to a single State.
To provide technical assistance to a broad array of stakeholders, DOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY 2019 BUILD
grant application process. Details and registration information regarding these webinars will be made available at https://
www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants/outreach.
The deadline to submit an application for the FY 2019 BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants program is July 15, 2019.
To view the NOFO, click here.
Updated: Tuesday, April 23, 2019
https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants
Current USDOT Funding
!22

23. https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/planning/vvmtp-working-paper-2.pdf?sfvrsn=2
http://www.vvreo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Print-Ready_FINAL_Verde-Valley-Economic-
Development-Plan.pdf
https://tourism.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/
Verde%20Valley%20Visitor%20Survey%202014-2015.pdf
http://miamidadetpo.org/library/studies/aerial-cable-transit-feasbility-study-final-report-2016-02.pdf
https://www.eco-transit.com/gondola-projects/
http://gondolaproject.com/conceptual-cpt-designs/
https://www.telluride.com/activities/gondola
https://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/04/telluride-ski-resort-gondola/
https://www.transportation.gov/BUILDgrants
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/23%20C.F.R.
%20771.117%28c%29%28201%29.pdf
https://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/recovery/transit-program
Resources
!23

24. Concept & Design
Jerry W. Wicks Ph.D.
Senecio Corporation
500 Lehman Ave.
Bowling Green, OH 43402
jerrywicks@icloud.com
419-378-1161
5-30-19
!24