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The open, value-driven approach taken by the Grant Road Citizens Task Force and the Tucson Department of Transportation should be a model for future major projects in Tucson.

The task force was charged a year ago with deciding the alignment for a $166 million, six-lane Grant Road that was mandated by voters in the May 2006 Regional Transportation Authority election. It's a job that could be emotionally and politically tumultuous, but task-force members described their decision-making as almost Zen-like — serene, collegial, often unanimous.

And yet the alignment proposal that the task force proposed last week varies from a 137- to 160-foot right-of-way, including six traffic lanes, sidewalks, medians, bike lanes and local access roads. It runs about five miles, from Oracle Road to Swan Road, and along the way affects 335 businesses, including tenants in shopping centers, and 91 residences by taking all or part of their property.

We often have said that a transparent decision-making process that welcomes public involvement is the best approach to planning public works in our democratic society.

The task force and Transportation Department have proved us right: Openness and transparency are not merely the right things to do; so far, at least, they're more efficient and less wrenching for most involved.

The task force and Transportation Department didn't dictate to Grant Road-corridor commuters, residents and businesses; instead, they have chosen to be guided by them.

"Every decision was based on community input and research, and there are still opportunities for tweaking the plan," said Sarah Evans, a Jefferson Park resident who represents neighborhood interests on the task force.

P. Wayne Cullop, a bicycling activist who represents "alternate modes" on the task force, agreed.

"We looked at the public's comments and I think we did a really good job of satisfying most of the people," he said.

Michael Midkiff, who owns Designer's Craft, an antiques and architectural artifacts business at 3006 E. Grant, near Country Club, and represents business interests on the citizens task force, called the process "inspiring."

"I'm a longtime Tucsonan, since 1960, and I can't ever remember a situation where so much community input was asked for in a process like this," Midkiff said.

"At every meeting, the public was asked for input at the beginning and end," he said. "There also were community events where preliminary designs were shown and people would sit down on tables of 10. They were given markers and invited to draw on the plans, as well as fill out questionnaires."

Midkiff stands to lose his parking spaces along his Grant Road frontage to the proposed alignment. He recused himself when that section of road came up for discussion and a vote.

The loss of parking "could be the death knell for me," he said. "There's no way I could afford to move or get as good visibility — 60 feet on Grant. . . . I don't think I can regain that if I lose the building."

But Midkiff has no qualms about the task force's decision: "It's disheartening to sit there with a pen and decide who's going to come or go. We tried to make it fair. If you feel it personally, you're just one of hundreds of people affected, and you hope it's in the best interest of community at large."

The task force agreed up front on goals and values. This consensus seems to have helped insulate members from the political and emotional turmoil that normally accompanies such decisions.

Cullop didn't expect such a harmonious experience.

"When I was first named to the task force, I was afraid it would be really contentious," he said. "But after everybody decided on a set of values . . . there was no real part for emotion or politics in play. . . . In most cases, our votes very pretty unanimous."

As the preliminary alignment was released last week, the Transportation Department sent letters to each property owner whose property might be acquired in part or in full and to each tenant who might lose his site to the alignment. Postcards also were sent to property owners and tenants who wouldn't be affected. The letters included information on how to learn more, how to find out what their rights are and underscored a disclaimer saying that the alignment is not yet final.

Tenants and property owners should follow through. Everyone who is interested or may be affected by changes in an arterial road that cuts through the city's center should attend one of the public events later this week.

How Grant Road business, home and property owners will react to the proposed alignment that so many helped shape remains to be seen. They are invited to three task-force meetings this week to express their views.

Those involved in the plan are optimistic about its reception. Asked if the proposed design was the best possible one, Jim Glock, director of the Department of Transportation said, simply: "Yes."

"The task force is very eager to hear what the public says at the meetings," Jefferson Park's Evans said.

What's next is fine-tuning the alignment, based on feedback from the public.

Then, according to Glock, the final realignment route will be sent to the mayor and City Council. Assuming they sign off, land acquisition, planning and construction planning could begin. Construction is scheduled to start in 2013.

This appears to have been a model project so far, without rancor against all the odds. We hope the process will be used in future projects that affect our quality of life.