Driving in southeast Tucson

Driving home in southeast Tucson

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Southwestern Region Recreational Activities

For Arizona - October 15, 2008:

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests

• Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 60%-80%
• Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations of 7000 ft. and below.
• Recommended viewing routes: The lower elevations of the Alpine Ranger District as well as areas of the Clifton District are best for viewing color at this time.
• Estimated peak viewing period: This will likely be the last week for fall colors on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.

Coconino National Forest

• Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 85%-90% for the higher elevations and a 10%-20% for Oak Creek Canyon and lower
• Area with greatest amount of color: Lockett Meadow (Inner Basin), the northern and southern slopes of the San Francisco Peaks, the northern part of Oak Creek Canyon and along the West Fork Trail
• Recommended viewing routes: Great views of the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks from the Around the Peaks Loop scenic drive. In the line for the Scenic Skyride, and also along Snowbowl Rd (FR 516). Forest Road (FR) 552 to Lockett Meadow (Inner Basin). The trees are starting to change above Cave Springs Campground along Highway 89A. Also, along the Mogollon Rim and Forest Roads 300 and 321 are also great scenic drives.
• Estimated peak viewing period: In the higher elevations the color is excellent and color will move down to lower elevations (Sedona, Red Rock RD) in 2-3 weeks.
  • Coconino's fall colors web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/fall-colors/fall_colors.shtml.

Coronado National Forest (As of October 9, 2008)

• Estimated percentage of current fall foliage: 15%
• Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations above 6100’
• Recommended viewing routes: On the Safford District color can be seen in Wet Canyon in the Pinaleno Mountains. Some aspen on the south side of Mt. Graham along the highway are starting to change yellow. Other viewing spots include Soldier Creek, Cunningham and Riggs Flat Campgrounds. On the Santa Catalina District, color change has started around the Palisades Visitor Center, just before Milepost 20 on the Catalina Highway.
  

Kaibab National Forest

• Estimated percentage of current fall foliage:North Kaibab RD: 40% Williams RD: 35% Tusayan RD: 10%.
• Area with greatest amount of color: : The North Kaibab District is currently the most colorful area of the Kaibab NF. The Williams Ranger District is also showing a lot of color, especially on Bill Williams Mountain and Kendrick Mountain
• Recommended Viewing Routes:In Williams, take the drive up Bill Williams Mountain or hike in either Sycamore Canyon or up Kendrick Mountain. On the North Kaibab please visit the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center for a fall “Fall Color Tour” information packet.
• Estimated peak viewing period: Now is a great time to visit the North Kaibab and Williams Districts. Tusayan may show more color in a week or more.
  • See the Kaibab's fall color web page at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/recreation/fallcolors/.

Tonto National Forest (As of October 9, 2008)

• Area with greatest amount of color: Elevations of 3500’ and above and scattered in other areas.
• Recommended viewing routes: Color can be seen along 288, North of Young, AZ
• Estimated peak viewing period: October-November

There has been no color change reported for the Prescott National Forest

Dobermans head sticking out of sunroof

Barry and I were in a nearby city recently, on our way to Best Buy. When we were stopped at a red light at a huge intersection, I glanced out the window and saw this black car pull up in one of the left turning lanes. Imagine my surprise when I saw this huge Doberman sitting in the car with its head sticking out of the sunroof. I was so happy that I had my Centro with me! I quickly got it out and snapped this photo. You just never know what you're going to see when you're out and about.

http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/2089-1.htm

El camino driving in south Tucson

El Camino driving in south Tucson

El Camino 2

Driving I-10 south of Tucson in October

Driving east on I-10 south of Tucson in October

Grant Road Improvement

Recent Media Coverage

Grant Rd. widening alignment unveiled, Arizona Daily Star, October 07, 2008

Left-turn restrictions proposed for Grant Road widening, Tucson Citizen, October 07, 2008

Grant Road expansion plans unveiled, FOX11AZ.com, October 07, 2008

Proposal Announced to Widen Grant Road, KGUN 9 News, October 06, 2008

Arizona gets $1M grant for Phoenix-Tucson rail study

Phoenix Business Journal - by Jan Buchholz

Arizona was awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a planning study on the environmental impacts of passenger rail service between Phoenix and Tucson.

The grant would complete the environmental analysis necessary for project development, according to a written statement from the federal agency.

The proposed rail plan would operate trains at speeds up to 125 miles per hour with up to 15 rail stations between the two Arizona cities. Currently there is no daily service between Phoenix and Tucson. It’s estimated that daily rail service would attract 1.2 million passengers annually.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, the former director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, released data Tuesday showing that Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer miles in July 2008 compared with July 2007. At the same time, transit ridership increased 11 percent. Amtrak had its busiest month ever in July.

The $1 million grant Arizona received is a matching grant and is part of a $30 million grant program that will be shared with several other states, including California, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.