Prescott Alternative Transportation (PAT) is a non-profit organization of members from across Arizona and across the country, with a dedicated Board of Directors. Formed in 1995 and incorporated as a (501)(c)(3) in 1997, PAT works with this area’s governmental agencies, citizen volunteers and many organizations towards a future Prescott area where our citizens have real choices in transportation, where developers and community leaders spend just as much time incorporating bicycle and pedestrian facilities as they do parking lots, and where public transit is a given.
In our mission statement, the most important word is “friendly” because it emphasizes the positive. Every step we take is in a positive direction with the belief that those who seem to work against our goals, simply do not understand the positive, community-wide effects of incorporating alternative modes of transportation. And we are here to help everyone reach that understanding.
Staff
Operations Manager: Bob McCarty
Bob worked professionally in the Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical industries from 1969 – 2005 during which time he held progressive responsible management positions from shift supervisor to Vice President of Operations. He has an AA degree from Phoenix Collage, a BS degree in business from The University of Phoenix, is a certified lead assessor of quality systems and a member of American Society of Safety Engineers. Bob is married to Reta and together they have five children; Shawn, John, Eunice, Shannon and Justin.
Safe Routes to School Coordinator: Tracy Kwit
Tracy is a lifelong biker and walker. Being able to get to work by feet rather than car has been a main motivator in her choice of where to live. Tracy comes to us with a background as a former Special Education teacher as well as a former ESL teacher. She is extremely excited to work with PAT and Prescott area schools to encourage more children to walk and bike to school. Tracy is using her background in education to teach children and parents about the benefits of walking and biking to school. She works with students, parents, teachers, and school staff to bring safety education and events to our schools.
Safe Routes to School Administrator: Greg Hull
Greg started out as a pedestrian early in life. Later, at about the age of 4, after acquiring his older brothers’ balloon tired Huffy, he immediately ran into a parked car. Undaunted, he remounted that bicycle and was soon riding almost everywhere. Between 3rd and 4th grade the parked cars came back to trouble Greg once again. These cars lept out and wrecked the front wheels on 2 bicycles and chipped a tooth.
Fortunately, since that disastrous summer, the parked cars have remained docile during Greg’s frequent rides. While attending the University of Illinois, Greg found a Yamaha Viscount road bike for the right price and discovered that farm roads really do ‘go on forever’. At the start of his computer career, Greg found work associates that were as enthusiastic as he was about bicycling. Soon the roads and trails of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin were the scene of hundred mile weekend rides. Eventually, the old road bike was replaced with a Trek MultiTrak to take advantage of the trails springing up in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Once relocated to Prescott, and properly acclimated to the elevation change, Greg was once again utilizing a bicycle as a primary mode of transportation. You can find Greg on his bicycle almost everyday riding to the store, to a restaurant, to meet friends or just to ride someplace and enjoy the great beauty of north central Arizona.
Director of Outreach and Development: Kristen Menger
As an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member, Kristen works to expand PAT’s outreach capabilities through her role as Director of Outreach and Development. She began walking and biking to school as soon as her parents would let her, even if that meant bringing her trumpet case along for the ride. The joy of getting to a destination on her own power has never ceased. Kristen hopes to extend that option to all members of the central Yavapai community.
Board
President: Jim Knaup
Jim’s first involvement with a bicycle organization was in 1973 when he took a “Schwinn Approved” bicycle mechanics course offered through the American Youth Hostel Association. He arrived at Prescott College in 1975 with a bike mounted to the front of his International pickup, and has called Prescott home ever since. He remembers a time when Prescott’s streets were smaller, slower, and friendlier. He is dedicated to his community, and keeping Prescott’s streets as safe and friendly as they can be. Though he would rather be bicycling, he can usually be found keeping watch at either Powersports Outlet or Ironclad Bicycles.
Vice President: George Sheats
An Arizona resident of 16 years, George has a background in 
planning, project management, and construction. He coordinates trail construction projects with the Over the Hill Gang, oversees residential construction at Prescott Lakes, and is a member of several City of Prescott Community Development committees and boards. George is an active member of Yavapai Trails Association, Open Space Alliance, and Prescott Mountain Biking Alliance.
Secretary: Greg Hull
A computer consultant by trade, Greg wears many hats (none of them without bike pins if he can help it). He is our Secretary, our Computer Guy, and helps to administer our Safe Routes to School program. See the “Staff” tab for more about Greg.
Treasurer: Bob McCarty
Bob is a retired businessman, musician, and a long time PAT supporter. Always up for a walk outside, Bob can often be seen hoofing around town on PAT business. More about Bob on the “Staff” tab.
Marianne Vaiana
Marianne Vaiana is a long time Prescott resident who originally came to town to go to Prescott College and stayed to raise two children. In her previous career working in the social welfare arena, Marianne was the Regional Director of Parents Anonymous, Inc., a local family support non-profit, and was the President of both The Children’s Counsel, Inc. and Childsafe, Inc. Additionally, Marianne sat on numerous non profit BODs throughout Yavapai County; staying active in the areas of social welfare for children and families. Having earned a BA in Arts & Letters from NAU, Marianne enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, located in San Diego, CA, when her youngest child was sixteen. Marianne was admitted to practice law in the state of Arizona in 2008, and currently has a practice working primarily in the areas of family law and estate planning. Marianne is dedicated to the mission of PAT in working toward a more bike and pedestrian-friendly community for all residents.
Accomplishments
- $500,000 for extension of Prescott Greenways trail
- $600,000 for 89/69 interchange path
- Over $1 million for the Peavine Trail
- $2.5 million for White Spar Road improvement project, Phases I, II, and III
- Over $1 million for Prescott Valley paths
- Over $600,000 for Prescott & Prescott Valley Safe Routes to Schools
- Our very first project, identified as our highest bike/ped priority in 1997.
- PAT brought together enthusiastic partners including the City of Prescott, Open Space Alliance, Yavapai Trails Association and Prescott Creeks Preservation Association.
- We coordinated a fundraiser auction with partners in 2000 and administered park bench fundraisers bringing nearly $20,000 to fund the first few miles of trail. We coordinated volunteer trail builders with the City to clear West Granite Creek Park and build the first few miles of trail and bridges before funding.
- From 1998-2001, we wrote and submitted 4 federal Transportation Enhancements applications before finally securing $500,000 in 2001 for trail extensions to White Spar Road, Miller Valley Road and the Peavine Trail; the newest section of trail (from Willis Street along Granite Creek to Leroux Street) was completed in June of 2009.
- We continue to help with trail maintenance, extension efforts, and coordination of committee; we are able to include certain elements of trail enhancements in Safe Routes to School funding requests.
- In 1999, we began our push for this 10-12’ wide paved path to serve bicyclists and pedestrians in all directions of the interchange.
- PAT staff walked the site many times with ADOT staff to identify the best alignments and design for the path, repeating these consultations throughout the years as the interchange design changed.
- We wrote and submitted 2 federal Transportation Enhancements applications in 2000 and 2001 before securing nearly $600,000 for the path.
- Once funding was secured, PAT representatives checked in regularly to ensure that the path was included in the design and was serving all directions.
- The 89/69 Interchange Bicycle & Pedestrian Path was completed in 2009.
- We have assisted the City of Prescott with 2 federal Transportation Enhancements grant applications for this trail.
- PAT staff and volunteers took part in the first trail building efforts, from clearing railroad ties to refining the trail amenities after it opened.
- We continue to offer our assistance for extensions into Prescott and Chino Valley, as well as connection to the Greenways Trail.
- In early 2000, PAT organized residents and business owners through petitions and expert letters to successfully convince the City of Prescott of the need for this light as an integral component of Prescott’s bicycle and pedestrian transportation system, which was installed in June of 2000.
- In 2000 PAT began discussions with the City of Prescott officials to include bike lanes and sidewalks in new road construction designs for these roads.
- We periodically revisited each road design with City officials until road construction was complete to ensure the bike lanes and sidewalks were indeed included.
- In 1998 PAT assisted the City of Prescott with state grant application for $5,000 to purchase the first signs.
- PAT representatives and partners worked to map priority routes and collaborated with City staff to identify best placements for the signs.
- PAT coordinated volunteers to install the first route signs throughout Prescott.
- In 2001 PAT began discussions with ADOT officials on ways to add bike lanes and sidewalks to this road starting at Copper Basin Road and extending as far south as funding would allow.
- In 2002 we wrote and submitted a federal Transportation Enhancements application for these bike lanes and sidewalks, but it was not funded.
- In 2003 we began working with Congress to secure federal transportation high priority funds.
- In 2008, PAT returned to working with ADOT officials on a new federal Transportation Enhancements application to fund Phase I of a four-phase project (bike lanes and sidewalks from Copper Basin Road to the Pine Cone Inn); the application was approved in fall of 2008!
- Summer 2009, a TE grant for Phase II of the White Spar improvement project was submitted in partnership with the local ADOT district office.
- In 2010, a TE grant for Phase III was approved, bringing the total awarded to $2.5 million.
- All 3 Phases will be built simultaneously, beginning in 2012. In the meanwhile, a grant for Phase IV is in the works and PAT monitors progress.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
- This program offers safety education, encouragement activities to walk/bike more often, parent education and health education. Specific activities and events include: Walk to School day events (October each year), Bike Rodeos, neighborhood forums, incentive-based contests like bike commuter challenges, and community projects like the outdoor student-driven mural at Mile High Middle School and Miller Valley Elementary School.
- Through this program, we have strengthened our credibility and reputation with City traffic engineers, the police department, and City Council.
- In 2007 PAT received our first official Safe Routes to School grants for Non-Infrastructure initiatives.
- In Spring 2009 we received our first Infrastructure grants for bike/ped improvements around four of our partner schools; total amount received on behalf of the City was about $470,000.
- As of 2011 we have 9 local partner schools in Prescott and Prescott Valley serving thousands of students, teachers and parents.
- PAT launched this annual event in 1998 with bike rides and events for all.
- Beginning in 2007, PAT moved to a full month of events for the celebration in a calendar format, which has garnered good media and increased awareness.
- Bike Month continues every year in April and May to coincide with National Bike Month.
- A FUNdraising auction and awards presentation banquet, first held in 2009. CYCLE awards are given to 4 categories (Government, Non-Government, Business, and Individual) for those who have demonstrated a commitment to a higher quality of life by supporting a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly community.
- Prescott’s 54-mile homegrown joyride through Prescott, Skull Valley, Kirkland and Wilhoit every September. Visit PrescottCycling.net for more information.
OTHER INITIATIVES:
- Bicycling and walking should be encouraged and provided for on all roads; our long-term goal is to see the adoption of a regional Complete Streets Policy.
- In March of 2009, PAT Hosted a successful Complete Streets Town Hall; 4 panelists presented varying views on the pros and cons of a Complete Streets Policy. The audience was afforded an hour for questions and comments; a report was published in late 2009.
- In the end, PAT is confident that a Complete Streets Policy offers this region a great many benefits that outweigh any concerns raised; we are continuing our pursuit of a regional policy.
- PAT wrote and submitted for approval Prescott’s first Bicycle Master Plan in 1998.
- We assisted with the rewrite of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan in 2003 and 2009.
- In 2000 we worked with City staff to identify priority spots and to place 12 racks.
- In 2007 we developed an art/bike-rack program with start-up money from the Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council.
- In 2000 PAT served on the Master Planning Committee to offer our bike/ped expertise.
- In 2000, we assisted neighborhood leaders with identifying priorities that included the Greenways trail, sidewalks, bike routes and bike/ped bridges.
- In 2008, we continued work with these leaders to ensure bike, trail and sidewalk successes are continued.
- PAT joined the neighborhood’s efforts to improve the crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- When the City’s traffic engineers rejected a specific request for a pedestrian-activated signal, PAT encouraged the City to see the larger problem – a dangerous crossing for peds/bikes and to look for another solution.
- PAT participated in all conversations between traffic engineers and the Transportation Coordinating Committee to arrive at a desirable solution, which was implemented in the summer of 2008.
- PAT representatives served on the General Plan Committee in 2002-2003 and 2011-2012, ensuring that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians are represented throughout the document.
- PAT has represented bicyclists and pedestrians at meetings of the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Committee (CYMPO) since 1998.
- We have offered our expertise for public transit since serious discussions began; we were represented on the committee advising the consultant hired by CYMPO to design the imminent transit implementation plan in 2008.
- In the summer of 2009, the PAT former Executive Director was asked to participate in a Mobility Management committee to continue pushing towards a regional transit system because CYMPO had put the effort on hold.
- PAT staff sat on the Transportation Committee of the Mayor’s Vision2050 planning process; comprehensive reports with specific recommendations were published by each committee. At a public open house, a great many votes were received for the committee’s recommendations to adopt a complete streets policy and to implement a regional transit system.