FHWA Home | Feedback

White Mountain Apache Tribe

Background

The White Mountain Apache Tribe has approximately 15,000 members that live on the 1.4 million acre reservation in Arizona. Total population on the reservation is approximately 20,000.

Back to the top

Transportation System

There are approximately 1000 miles of roadways on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation. There are also about 128 miles of state highways including State Route 73 in the northern part of the reservation that goes through the communities of Fort Apache and White Mountain. US 60/SR 77 runs from the Salt River Canyon and border with the San Carlos Indian Reservation to the intersection with SR 260, just north of the reservation border.

SR 260 is an east west route in the northeast corner of the reservation that goes through Hon Dah and McNary.

Back to the top

Program Administration

The BIA Agency Roads engineer works closely with the tribe on transportation. The BIA has staff on the reservation and is responsible for the roads program and maintenance.

photo of BLA office

The tribal government has a Transportation Committee made up of tribal employees from different departments and one tribal council member. The Tribal government also employs one individual as a Tribal Transportation Coordinator in the tribal Planning Office. This individual is responsible for all transportation initiatives for the tribe.

BIA Ft. Apache Agency Road Office is responsible for maintenance and receives $450,000 for road maintenance. This office has a 6 person maintenance staff and equipment for maintenance of reservation roads.

The BIA Western Regional Office is responsible for the construction/reconstruction of BIA roads on the Reservation. The Tribe received, under TEA-21, an average of $3,000,000 per fiscal year. Under the Tribe's authorization, the BIA contracts commercially for the roads that are constructed/reconstructed on the Reservation.

photo of parked trucks
Maintenance Yard

photo of water trucks
Water Trucks at Maintenance Yard

Planning and Proposed Projects

The BIA has a consultant contract to develop the long-range transportation plan for the tribe. The tribe has also proposed to use IRR planning funds for the planning of a bicycle and pedestrian project on the reservation. Transit is to be included in the 20 year plan for the tribe.

The Tribal Transportation Coordinator attend the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) meetings. The tribe and BIA indicated that they would like to increase and enhance the relationship with Arizona DOT.

BIA 690

BIA 690 is scheduled for reconstruction in the Spring of 2004.

photo of a road
BIA 690

McNary Project

The project in McNary will construct several dirt and gravel roads in residential areas. The project amount will be $1.3 million.

photo of a road

phtoto of a car on a road
Residential Streets in McNary

Projects Underway

BIA Road 69

BIA has a project underway to reprocess and stabilize the existing material on BIA 69, and chip seal the project. The project includes also includes design and survey work. The 8-mile project serves a fish hatchery and recreation areas.

photo of a road
BIA 69

Cooperative Projects with ADOT

SR 73 and SR 260

ADOT and the tribe worked together on a cooperative project on the intersection of two State routes. A Hotel, Casino, and restaurant, RV Park, and Gas Station are at the intersection of SR 73 and SR 260.

photo of cars in a left turn lane at an intersection
SR 73 at SR 260

Turn Lanes

ADOT and the tribe have worked cooperatively on several projects on SR 73 and SR 260 for installing turn lanes.

photo of a two lane road with a left turn lane
SR 260 Turn Lane Project

photo of a two lane road with a turn lane
SR 73 Turn Lane Project

Other Roadways

Several other highway, residential, and secondary roadways were visited on this review. Following are photos and descriptions of the roadway sections.

BIA 70

BIA 70 was noted for the recessed pavement markers on the centerline and edgelines of the roadway.

photo of a two lane road
Recessed Markers on BIA 70

Low Water Crossing

IRR funds were used to construct a project for a low water crossing and gabion walls.

photo of a road with signs of low water crossing
Low Water Crossing

photo of gabions
Gabions at Low Water Crossing

Residential Roads - Curb and Gutter

Projects done as a consolidated BIA project.

photo of a street
Curb and Gutter Section in Residential Area

photo of a street
Mountable Curb Section

BIA Road 1 and secondary roads

photo of a two lane road
BIA Road 1

photo of a secondary road
Typical Secondary Road

BIA Road 55

BIA has been working with ADOT on a project to collect and share safety data on BIA Road 55.

photo of a two lane road
BIA 55

Several roadways were visited at the reservation and some good quality roads were observed. There were also areas that reflect the needs of the tribes.

photo of Jersey barriers by a roadside
Drainage and erosion area

photo of jersey barriers
Erosion behind barrier

photo of cracked pavement
Failed pavement section at curb and gutter

photo of a guardrail
Guardrail with substandard end treatment on BIA 55

photo of a two lane road with guardrail
Substandard guardrail end treatment

Back to the top

State Highways

SR 73

photo of a two lane road with a partial guardrail
SR 73

photo of a two lane road
SR 73

photo of a four lane road with a center turn lane
SR 73 - 5-Lane Section

Back to the top

Airport

photo of airport entrance sign
Airport Entrance

photo of an airport runway
Airport Runway

Back to the top

Issues and Needs

As part of the visit to the White Mountain Apache tribe, a meeting was held with a council member concerning transportation on the reservation.

The tribe currently has a transportation coordinator. The tribe would like to have a transportation director and additional staff for transportation and thinks that a tribal DOT could be a pathway for the future for the tribe. Training on developing a DOT and staff was suggested.

The tribe would like to maintain safer roadways and ensure safety is a priority. The tribe needs to develop data for crashes on the reservation.

Transportation program on the reservation need to look at the goals of the White Mountain tribe and include planning for a transit system. The tribe would also like to look at brining in projects from ADOT and other agencies.

Back to the top

To provide Feedback, Suggestions or Comments for this page contact Tim Penney at tim.penney@dot.gov.