Lane separator posts being added along westbound US 60 HOV lane

delineatorpostsadotsept2016a2_cropPHOENIX — To deter unsafe lane changes that can result in crashes, Arizona Department of Transportation crews installed a series of lane separator posts by this weekend along the westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) HOV lane between Kyrene Road and Interstate 10 in Tempe.

The white polyurethane posts, also known as lane delineators, are being installed to discourage westbound US 60 drivers using the HOV lane from making sudden lane changes as they approach the I-10 interchange.

Sudden lane changes from the westbound HOV lane have contributed to crashes along this section of US 60 in recent years. While most have been minor, non-injury crashes, some have been serious. The crashes can cause significant delays for drivers on the westbound Superstition Freeway.

Share your priorities for ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan

capture_cropPHOENIX — Planning Arizona’s transportation future requires setting priorities and making sometimes-difficult choices given limited resources.

As the Arizona Department of Transportation updates its Long-Range Transportation Plan, a blueprint looking from now through 2040, an interactive online survey allows you to help shape this vision by walking through scenarios similar to those facing planners and policymakers.

The survey, developed by ADOT and MetroQuest, is available until November 11 at whatmovesyouarizona.metroquest.com. It gives you the opportunity to rank six transportation priorities: preservation, expansion, safety, technology, accessibility, and maintenance and operations. You’ll get a budget and determine how much of it you’d allocate for each priority. Then you’ll decide tradeoff scenarios that further define your priorities.

It takes just a few minutes and can be completed on a personal computer, smartphone or tablet. A Spanish-language version of the survey is also available via the link.

ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan is updated every five years. While it isn’t project-specific, it identifies investment priorities based on current and projected transportation funding over the next 25 years.

It’s up to the public, policymakers and communities to tell ADOT what’s important to them throughout the long-range planning process and to prioritize projects and funding.

Visit azdot.gov/WhatMovesYouArizona for more information on ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan and to leave a comment. The website also lists study milestones, including a full summary of 12 workshops held earlier this year around the state.

The final version of the plan is expected to be complete in early 2017.

Half of child car seats are installed incorrectly; learn how yours works

Did you know more than half of all car seats are installed incorrectly? Do you feel an urge to check the buckles, straps, bases and LATCH of your child’s seat?

Go ahead. We can wait. But if you want a refresher in addition to reading the manual that came with your car seat, this video provides general car seat safety tips about installation, fit and when your child should move up to a new seat.

The proper use of car seats is important because every day around the country more than 2,600 kids younger than 13 are involved a car crashes. While vehicle seats are designed for taller and larger adults, car seats keep kids safe.

With Governor Doug Ducey proclaiming this Child Passenger Safety Week, ADOT will display car seat-related safety messages on overhead freeways signs and share information on social media from agencies and organizations that are leaders in promoting car seat safety, such as the Arizona Department of Health Services’ “A Safe Ride Home” and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety’s “Children Are Priceless Passengers.”

Child Passenger Safety Week culminates with National Seat Check Saturday. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Phoenix Fire Department and other agencies will install and perform car seat checks from 8-11 a.m. at North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix.

More information about child safety seats:

  • Check here to see if your child’s safety seat has been recalled by the manufacturer.
  • No matter where you live in Arizona, use this web page to find the nearest child passenger safety technician.

Get our incredible mapping app for just $20!

mapapp2One of the best deals around just got better.

For a limited time, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering an annual “I Support Wildlife” program membership for just $20 – a $5 savings. A membership provides access to the amazing premium version of the Recreational Access Arizona mapping application.

Whether you’re a hunter planning an upcoming hunt, or someone who just enjoys getting out in the great outdoors, you’ll find this to be an incredible value.

View the video!

What does the premium Recreational Access Arizona app offer?

  • Works on all mobile devices with an active cell service.
  • Shows your current location in relation to different data layers, including game management units, land ownership, wildlife waters, AZGFD wildlife areas, U.S. Forest Service ranger districts, areas with AZGFD recreational access agreements or landowner compact agreements, federal wildlife refuges, wilderness boundaries and more. You’ll be accessing the same data used by AZGFD biologists!
  • Allows you to mark your own waypoint locations and automatically save and sync that data to all of your devices. Mark your favorite hunting spots, areas you’ve scouted, camp areas, water holes, fishing spots, wildlife viewing areas and more.
  • Offers three different base maps, one of which is a detailed ESRI USA Topographic map (USGS 24k Topo).

You could pay $100 or more for other online mapping apps and not get the special features offered in this application. But that’s not all you get for your $20 “I Support Wildlife” program membership. You’ll also receive:

  • A one-year subscription to Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. This award-winning, bi-monthly magazine is loaded with spectacular photos and compelling stories about wildlife and outdoor recreation. As part of your subscription, you’ll receive the popular November/December calendar edition.
  • Up-to-date fish stocking reports. Ready to head out for your next angling adventure? These reports will provide same-day information on where fish are being stocked in Arizona.
  • An I Support Wildlife window decal. It shows everyone that you are a supporter of Arizona’s wildlife.
  • Best of all, your annual membership helps support on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts in Arizona.

TO PURCHASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP:
To purchase an “I Support Wildlife” program membership, you’ll need to have or create a free Arizona Game and Fish Department Customer Portal account, filling in all of the required fields (those with an asterisk). Once you have created and/or logged in to your Portal account, select “Sign Up” under the “I Support Wildlife Membership” box. A new screen will appear – click on the orange “Join Now” button and you’ll be directed to a payment page.

Act now — buy your annual “I Support Wildlife” program membership by Oct. 16 to take advantage of this special $5 discount. The price goes up to $25 after Oct. 16. All sales are final.

For more information, visit the “I Support Wildlife” page on the AZGFD Portal.