Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail thinks the Arizona Department of Transportation should have a plan in place to expand Highway 64 to four lanes. After all, Highway 64 is the road to the Grand Canyon, but most of the  road between Williams and the Canyon is only two lanes wide with only a handful of passing lanes. At best, travelling on Highway 64 is a scenic but slow process. At its worst the drive can be a dangerous proposition as anyone who has ever seen a car passing an RV  dart into the oncoming lane.

Ironically, the road to Las Vegas, a tourist community in another state, is getting expanded to four lanes in a project that will see ADOT spend hundreds of millions in tax dollars as explained in an ADOT news release. 

And while Tusayan is getting some funds for repaving, as seen in page 70 of ADOT’s proposed five year plan (Follow the link ), Mayor Vail thinks ADOT can do better.

That’s why she sent a letter to ADOT politely pointing out the ADOT’s problematic priorities.
Here is a link to the letter.

Here is what she requested for Highway 64 as well as Highway 180:

HWY 64 has been headlight HWY for approximately 30 years.  The town, local people and I personally have been making comments to various ADOT plans for many, many years. (With just two passing lanes added in that time and one of which was put in a place that took away one of the few places to pass for the north bound lanes for many miles.)

HWY 64 from Williams to GCNP should be split 4 lanes with shoulders, 2 lanes in each direction. ADOT has the right of way to do it. (I don’t think passing lanes are the answer anymore for certain busy times of the day and year.)  

HWY 180 should continue to be improved and develop more shoulders that would allow for vehicles to pull over without impeding traffic. (Bicycles on HWY 180 can be scary for all parties.)

The letter also notes that it’s time for ADOT to focus on more local priorities, “HWY 93 to Las Vegas has somehow has gotten split 4 lanes when most tax money, for the visitors on it, go to Las Vegas/Nevada.  Please invest in the many local economies of The Grand Canyon National Parks only entrance that is open 365 days a year.  We need equitable access to state plans and funds to this national park and wonder of the world that supports our entire state's economy.”

Mayor Vail told the Watchdog improving Highway 64 goes beyond keeping traffic flowing, “I think it could save so many lives. A lot of locals and tourists have been hit and killed on Highway 64…and it’s really been proven that four lanes reduces those types of wrecks versus a two-lane highway.”

Vail’s proposal appears realistic when you consider ADOT’s 2050 long term transportation plan states as a goal, “Improve transportation connectivity to established and emerging activity centers and tourist destinations.” And a suggests a strategy, “Collaborate with AZ Office of Tourism to identify and promote travel, maintenance priorities, and overall connectivity to established and emerging activity centers and tourist destinations.”

Here is a link to the entire plan.

Vail also believes additional lanes on Highway 64 would improve local tourism, “Pre-Covid we had six million visitors a year and we hope to get those numbers again and on two lanes that makes for a very busy road.  I think it would create the opportunity to increase visitation by having a larger road that can get more people here accident free.”