Category Archives: Phoenix

ADOT seeks public input on its Disparity Study and overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals for federally funded highway, transit and aviation contracts

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PHOENIX — Nearly every month, the Arizona Department of Transportation awards contracts to companies specializing in design, construction, transit and other components of transportation projects throughout the state. Some of these companies are federally certified as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), which are small businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals. ADOT operates a DBE program to assist these firms with securing contracts that use U.S. Department of Transportation funds, and ADOT is currently seeking public input on its proposed goals for DBE participation in contracts for the next three years, along with public input on the results of a draft Disparity Study Report.

Every three years, ADOT must set an overall annual goal for the participation of DBEs. For federal fiscal years 2015 through 2017, ADOT is proposing a final goal of 8.90 percent of the total dollars of Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts awarded to DBE firms, with 5.00 percent to be achieved through race and gender conscious-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and 3.90 percent to be achieved through race and gender-conscious means (contract goals). ADOT is also proposing overall DBE goals for Federal Transit Administration contracts of 7.25 percent for federal fiscal years 2016-2018 and Federal Aviation Administration contracts of 4.87 percent for federal fiscal years 2017-2019, both of which to be met through race and gender-neutral means.

Recently, ADOT completed a draft Disparity Study Report that provides the data to support the DBE goals. The draft study provides analysis and results of the utilization and availability of minority- and women-owned firms — by race, ethnic and gender group — to determine whether there are disparities in the past utilization of those firms in ADOT and local public agency contracts. In addition, the study includes analysis of in-depth interviews with business owners, trade associations and others about their experiences related to the transportation contracting industry in Arizona.

Business representatives and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to comment on the size of the proposed overall DBE goals, the means proposed to achieve the goals and the results of the Disparity Study. ADOT would also like to receive public input on experiences competing for or working on ADOT projects, suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses, and what ADOT and the transportation industry can do to enhance support of the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

Public Hearings 
Interested persons are encouraged to attend one of four public hearings in July. All public hearings will be held from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., with an ADOT presentation at 3:15. Time will be allotted to allow members of the public to provide comments.

July 8 – Flagstaff    
High Country Conference Center — 1899 Ballroom
201 W. Butler Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001

July 13 – Yuma 
Pivot Point Conference Center (near Hilton Garden Inn Yuma) — Anza/Redondo boardrooms
301 N. Madison Ave., Yuma, AZ 85364

July 14 – Tucson
Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center
1660 W. Ruthrauff Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705

July 16 – Phoenix
Arizona Department of Transportation Human Resources Development Center
1130 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

45-day Public Comment Period
All documents related to the proposed DBE goal, methodology and draft Disparity Study Report will be available for review from June 8 through July 23, 2015, online at adotdbestudy.com or at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1135 N. 22nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.

During the 45-day public comment period, comments may be provided in the following ways:

  • Verbal Testimony: At public hearings
  • Online: adotdbestudy.com
  • Email: info@adotdbestudy.com
  • Fax: 928-684-3021
  • Mail: Keen Independent Research, 172 N. Washington St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390

The public comment period will close on July 23, 2015. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits final DBE goal requests to the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration and Federal Aviation Administration.

ADEQ Awards $275,000 Environmental Stewardship Grant for Oak Creek

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ADEQ logo resizedPHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced today that a $275,000 grant has been awarded to the Oak Creek Watershed Council (OCWC) for continued educational outreach and cleanup efforts of the Water Quality Ambassadors program in Yavapai County.

ADEQ’s third grant in support of the ambassadors program has two goals in addressing polluted runoff to Oak Creek: measure the positive outcomes from the prior two grant awards and establish the foundation for a self-sustaining program. Oak Creek, from its headwaters to its confluence with Spring Creek in Oak Creek Canyon, is listed as impaired for E. coli.

“ADEQ’s role is not only to ensure compliance with environmental regulations but also to educate Arizona’s citizens and its visitors about how they can make a positive impact,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said. “The Water Quality Ambassadors program grant demonstrates our commitment to funding partnerships with local non-profit organizations to foster hands-on environmental education for Arizonans.”

With this grant, ADEQ will fund eight ambassadors who will continue face-to-face educational outreach in the area, waste removal and volunteer coordination to solidify the program for the future. To date, the ambassadors program has removed nearly three tons of trash from frequently visited Oak Creek recreational areas.

Chino Valley Woman claims last Lucky Life top prize

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PHOENIX (April 28, 2015) — The Arizona Lottery announces that the final $1.04 million Lucky Life $2 Scratchers® game top prize winning ticket has been claimed.

Chino Valley resident Patricia Murphy purchased the winning ticket at a Safeway located at 1031 N. Hwy 89 in Chino Valley. Patricia claimed the prize April 27 at the Arizona Lottery office in Phoenix and chose the annuity option which is $52,000 a year for 20 years before taxes.

After she scratched her winning ticket, Patricia had trouble believing what she saw, so she took the ticket back to the store to be checked. When the clerk handed her all of the paperwork, she knew for sure she’d won the top prize for the game. In fact, it was the last top prize for the game. Patricia, who is retired, is going to use the money as a supplement to her income.

“The entire community wins every time we sign a check for a winner,” said Tony Bouie, executive director of the Arizona Lottery. “It was wonderful to present the check to a winner like Patricia.”

This was the last of two $1.04 million top prizes to be claimed. The $2 Lucky Life Scratchers game ended Monday, April 27, 2015.

Players must be 21 years or older to purchase or redeem tickets. Winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize at an Arizona Lottery office or by mail. Overall odds vary by game. All sales are final. In accordance with the ADA, these materials may be made available in an alternative format. Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.NEXT STEP (1-800-639-8783). Please Play Responsibly™.

ADOT completes new surface of reconstructed northbound Interstate 15 bridge

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i17-virgin-ADOT

ADOT Photo

PHOENIX — At approximately 8:30 a.m. today, the Arizona Department of Transportation completed overnight work to pour a concrete deck on the newly reconstructed northbound Interstate 15 Virgin River Gorge Bridge No. 6 in the far northwestern corner of Arizona.

ADOT is urging motorists traveling through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15 to allow for extra travel time due to a reduced 25-mph speed limit that will remain in place for a 48-hour period as part of an ongoing bridge reconstruction project.

The reduced speed limit, which is expected to be lifted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, will allow for the fresh concrete to properly cure due to the reduced vibration from the lower-speed traffic.

Traffic delays up to an hour are possible.

The northbound bridge, located midway between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, at milepost 16, is closed for the reconstruction project and both directions of traffic are currently traveling on the two-lane southbound bridge, which will also be replaced when the new, wider northbound bridge is completed this summer.

The completion of the concrete deck pour is a significant milestone on the $27 million reconstruction project that began in 2014, and includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the gorge.

The highway is currently narrowed to one lane in each direction through the work zone until the Virgin River Bridge No. 6 project is completed in 2016.

With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, slow down and drive carefully through the work zone, and be alert for additional construction equipment, crews and law enforcement personnel.

Need a driver license? Save time at the MVD office by going online first

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250px-port-driver-licensePHOENIX — If you’re applying for a driver license, instructional permit or identification card, you can save time by submitting your application online before heading to a Motor Vehicle Division office.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division wants to remind people of the “Be Prepared” online service that began three years ago.

To begin, go to the ADOT MVD website at azdot.gov/mvd and click on “Driver License Information” under the Driver Services heading. From there, click on the link to complete the driver license/identification card application online and submit it. There is also a link to a list of acceptable proof of identification for applying for a credential.

Once the application has been submitted, print out the confirmation page containing a barcode and bring that along with appropriate identification documents to the MVD office or one of the 14 Authorized Third Party offices that offer driver license services. The printed barcode will allow staff to retrieve your online application from the computer system.

Online applications can be completed for an operator, commercial driver and motorcycle license, as well as an instructional permit and identification card. The applicant must pay the appropriate fee at the office and may be required to take the written or road skills test if necessary.

“This online service is one of several ways the Motor Vehicle Division is saving customers time when they visit an office,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this service and make their visit easier.”

Other tips for faster service in addition to utilizing the online application include:

  • The best days to visit an office are usually Wednesday and Thursday
  • The busiest days tend to be around the 15th and the last day of the month, which are vehicle registration renewal deadlines, as well as the day after a holiday or other office closure
  • If you have an out-of-state driver license or identification card, bring it with you to the office

For more information or questions about the driver license application process, please visit: azdot.gov/driverlicenseinfo.

MESA: Proposed Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Renewal Permit

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Pursuant to the Clean Water Act and in accordance with Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-9-A907, the Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) proposes to issue an Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Permit to discharge pollutants to Waters of the United States to the following applicant, subject to certain effluent limitations and special conditions:

Public Notice No. 15-58                                                      Published on May 21, 2015
Published in East Valley Tribune

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025241
City of Mesa Water Resources
Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant (GWRP)
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, Arizona 85211-1466

The City of Mesa applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 16 million gallons per day (mgd) of from the GWRP to the East Maricopa Floodway, tributary to the Gila River in the Middle Gila River Basin in Township 2 S, Range 6 E, Section 15, in Maricopa County, Arizona. The GWRP is a publicly owned treatment works that receives domestic wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial sources in the City of Mesa and the Towns of Queen Creek and Gilbert. Sludge is treated on-site and then either hauled by a licensed contractor to the Apache Junction Landfill or land applied as Class B Biosolids, with the back-up capability to pump and discharge to the Baseline Interceptor and send to the City of Phoenix 91st Avenue WWTP for treatment.

The permit and fact sheet may be viewed online at http://www.azdeq.gov/cgi-bin/vertical.pl by typing the permit number in the box left of “Search Event”. The public notice and related documentation also are available for public review, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the ADEQ Records Center, 1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85007. In Phoenix, please call (602) 771-4380 or e-mail recordscenter@azdeq.gov 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment to review the file.

Persons may submit comments or request a public hearing on the proposed action in writing, to Jacqueline Maye, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, 1110 W. Washington St., 5415B-3, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. All written comments received by ADEQ by the close of business on the date 30 days after publication of this notice will be considered in the final permit decision. A public hearing request must be in writing and must include the reasons for such request. If there is a significant degree of public interest, the Director will hold a hearing in accordance with A.A.C. R18-9-A908(B).

Middle Gila River selenium and boron draft TMDL comment extension announced

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PHOENIX — In response to several requests, ADEQ is allowing additional time to respond to the content of the Middle Gila River Selenium and Boron TMDLs. These draft TMDLs were released on April 23rd for public comment.

In recognizing that parts of the stakeholder population may not have had time to read, consider, or respond to the TMDLs, and in support of trying to engage the largest stakeholder population that we reasonably can, ADEQ is granting a one-week extension for the submission of written comments.

A TMDL is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that load among the various sources of that pollutant.

Formal comments must be in writing (email attachments are fine) and should be addressed to dm4@azdeq.gov or mailed to the attention of the project hydrologist Doug McCarty at ADEQ. The address is 1110 W. Washington St, Phoenix AZ 85007. Only written comments will be formally considered and responded to by the agency.

The deadline has been extended to 5:00 pm on May 29.

Public comment period for ADOT’s Tentative Five-Year Program ends next week

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PHOENIX — There is still time to add your voice to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. The public comment period is open until the end of the business day on May 26 to provide community members with a chance to submit their input about the plan for the state transportation system over the next five years.

The 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Program is available for public review and comment at azdot.gov/fiveyearplan. ADOT has developed a “how to read it” guide and welcomes feedback at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov. A phone number is also available for public comments at 1-855-712-8530.

The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 26. Public hearings have been held in Tucson, Phoenix and Chino Valley. The board is expected to adopt the final 2016-2020 Five-Year Program at its June 19 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Pinetop-Lakeside Town Hall, 1360 N. Niels Hansen Lane, Lakeside, AZ 85929.

The 2016-2020 Tentative Five-Year Program lays out proposed projects and improvements to the state highway system over the next five years, with a major focus on preserving existing infrastructure to ensure that it remains in good condition, while providing a reliable transportation network for drivers. It can be a tough balance, as constrained funding simply cannot meet all the transportation needs around the state.

The Five-Year Program is updated annually and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for projects. This includes highways, bridges, transit and aviation.

Limited funding amid growing statewide transportation needs continues to be the biggest challenge over the next five years. Fewer dollars dedicated to transportation is a result of less revenue from traditional sources of transportation funding, like the state gas tax and vehicle license tax, which support the Five-Year Program. The state gas tax is currently 18 cents per gallon and has not been increased for more than 20 years.

These transportation funding challenges have signaled a shift to a strong focus on the preservation of the state highway system, to protect a system valued at $19.7 billion. If ADOT did not invest in preservation, it would cost approximately $200 billion to replace our existing highway infrastructure, should it fall into disrepair. ADOT is committed to moving major expansion projects forward as well, but with less transportation dollars to stretch, fewer expansion projects make it into the Five-Year Program.

Good news for State Route 87 motorists traveling during Memorial Day weekend

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PHOENIX — Just in time for the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Arizona Department of Transportation lifted all traffic restrictions along State Route 87 today, Thursday, May 21 as the agency nears completion of a safety improvement project approximately 10 miles north of Sunflower near the Maricopa/Gila County line.

Since construction started in October, motorists traveling between Phoenix and Payson have encountered a series of traffic restrictions related to a $6.2 million project to reconstruct an existing curve to make it easier for vehicles to navigate through at milepost 227, as well as building a new northbound truck escape ramp at milepost 228.

In addition to all four lanes (two in each direction) being reopened through the work zone, all wide load restrictions were removed permanently as well.

The project also includes slope excavation and reconstruction, drainage improvements, new signage and new concrete barrier installation.

The new runaway truck escape ramp will offer an opportunity for out-of-control trucks, which may have inoperable brakes, to safely exit the highway and come to a controlled stop. The truck escape ramp is scheduled to open next month, but there will not be an impact to the traveling public as the remaining work on that project will be completed away from the four-lane highway.

Beginning Tuesday, May 26, drivers may encounter intermittent lane restrictions in both directions for miscellaneous work through the end of June.

ADOT responds to filing of legal action against South Mountain Freeway

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Loop_202_freeway_challenge_2963300000_18473589_ver1.0_640_480PHOENIX — While the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have not yet had an opportunity to review in detail the legal action filed against the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, the agencies are confident that any legal challenges will find that the law was followed in coming to a decision to construct this long-planned freeway.

Following an extensive environmental review process that encompassed more than a decade of comprehensive analysis, with various formal and informal opportunities for the public to learn about the project and provide comment, ADOT received a Record of Decision from the Federal Highway Administration in March 2015 to proceed with the project. Throughout the process, nearly 8,000 formal comments from community members were documented, responded to and considered by the study team in coming to the decision to construct the freeway.

The South Mountain Freeway has been a critical part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Freeway Program since it was first included in funding approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985. It was part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400, and this freeway is the last piece to complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system necessary for high-quality regional mobility. The South Mountain Freeway will significantly improve travel between the southeast and southwest areas of the Valley and help reduce congestion on Interstate 10. The freeway is also expected to promote economic development in the region.

The freeway will be constructed with four lanes in each direction – three general-use lanes and one HOV lane – and modern features that have made Arizona freeways stand apart from other states for a generation, including rubberized asphalt and aesthetics designed in partnership with the community. Construction of the $1.75 billion project is expected to take about four years under an innovative public-private partnership that will have a private developer design, construct and maintain the freeway for 30 years. This public-private partnership will reduce costs to taxpayers while accelerating construction.

For more information, or to review the extensive environmental documentation, visit www.azdot.gov/SouthMountainFreeway.