Category Archives: Arizona Department of Transportation

Williams to host next public workshop for Grand Canyon National Park Airport Master Plan

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WILLIAMS – The master plan study process for Grand Canyon National Park Airport, owned and operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation, continues with a public information workshop Wednesday, February 15, in Williams.

Those attending the open house, to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Williams Unified School District, 636 S. Seventh Street, can review and comment on the study team’s forecast of aviation demand, assessment of current airport facility capabilities and suggested facility improvements to meet anticipated demand over the next 20 years.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to update master plans every 10 years.

The Grand Canyon Nation Park Airport Master Plan Study began in fall 2015. The current phase of the study is evaluating two alternatives for enhancing the safety and efficiency of the airport, along with a no-build alternative. The next phase, anticipated to launch in the spring, will present a preferred development concept for the airport.

In addition to public meetings, comments and questions can be provided to the study team online at azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan, by phone at 800.574.6334 or by mail to Grand Canyon Airport Master Plan Study, c/o Coffman Associates, 4835 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 235, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

For more information on the Grand Canyon Airport and the master plan study, please visit azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan.

Tree trimming work on northbound State Route 89 in Chino Valley next week

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CHINO VALLEY –Maintenance crews will be trimming tree branches within the state right-of-way on northbound State Route 89 in Chino Valley between Center Street and Perkinsville Road (mileposts 327 to 329), weather permitting. Work is scheduled to last from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 14.

The work is necessary to keep tree branches from falling into the roadway, presenting a safety hazard to drivers. The right lane will be closed during work hours. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Parade route for Gold Rush Days in Wickenburg requires closure of US 60 on Saturday

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WICKENBURG – Due to this weekend’s 69th annual Gold Rush Days celebration, US 60 in downtown Wickenburg (mileposts 107-110) will be closed in both directions on Saturday (February 11) from 9:30 a.m. to noon, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Drivers should expect delays or adjust travel plans accordingly. Traffic will be rerouted through a clearly marked detour.

Eastbound traffic on US 60 will be detoured to Vulture Mine Road to US 93 and US 93 southbound to reconnect to US 60.

Westbound traffic on US 60 will be rerouted to the US 93 bypass northbound, US 93 to Vulture Mine Road and Vulture Mine Road back to US 60.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions and closures, but it’s possible that unscheduled impacts might occur because of weather or other factors. For the most current information about highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving.

Pony Express re-enactment will travel along state highways this week

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PHOENIX – Motorists traveling between Holbrook and the East Valley may see Pony Express re-enactment riders carrying mail along state highways from Wednesday, Feb. 8, through Friday, Feb. 10, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Departing from Holbrook at 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Hashknife Pony Express riders will stop at post offices in Heber-Overgaard, Payson and Fountain Hills en route to their final destination in downtown Scottsdale. The Navajo County Sheriff’s Posse has been staging this 200-mile ride for nearly 60 years.

Law enforcement officers will provide a safety escort for the riders, who hand off the mail bags every mile of the relay route. The riders travel along the edge of the highway or shoulder.

Motorists should not stop along the highway to photograph riders.

The Pony Express will travel along State Route 77, SR 377 and SR 277 to reach the Heber-Overgaard post office around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. They will take SR 260 from Heber to Payson, with a scheduled arrival at the post office about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Pony Express will take SR 87 to reach the Fountain Hills post office about 3 p.m. The final leg on Friday, from Fort McDowell to downtown Scottsdale, takes them south on SR 87 to the Arizona Canal, where riders will head west.

More information on this event is available at HashknifePonyExpress.com.

Your turn to write clever highway safety messages

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PHOENIX – Arizona, show us your creativity. It might save a life.

You’ve seen the quirky safety messages the Arizona Department of Transportation displays on overhead signs – remember “Hello from the other side, buckle up and stay alive” and “New year, new you, use your blinker”?

Now, ADOT is kicking off its Safety Message Contest, and the winning safety slogan will appear on signs statewide. Beginning today, safety messages can be submitted at azdot.gov/signcontest until Feb. 19.

ADOT began placing unconventional safety messages on overhead signs more than a year ago in an effort to kick-start a change in social acceptance of impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving and other dangerous driving behaviors.

“At ADOT, we bring up the example of imagining someone walking into a preschool and lighting up a cigarette,” said Kevin Biesty, ADOT Deputy Director for Policy. “Forget that it’s illegal; it’s completely socially unacceptable. No one would ever even think to do that and if they did they’d be ostracized. That’s what we want to see happen to drivers that choose to make roads less safe for all of us. Tell them it’s not OK and it can’t happen anymore. We want to get to a point where impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and aggressive driving are socially unacceptable and the messages ADOT displays on signs are a good way to start those conversations.”

Many of the messages ADOT displays on overhead boards relate to driver behaviors, which are among the leading factors in crashes that result in fatalities and serious injuries. Other messages remind motorists to “Move Over,” wear seat belts, look out for motorcycles and more.

When creating your messages – submit as many as you like! – follow these guidelines:

· Signs accommodate three lines and 18 characters, including spaces, per line

· #Hashtags, phone numbers and website addresses are not allowed

· Signs can’t accommodate emoji

After Feb. 19, ADOT will review submissions and select 15 messages to advance to the next round. In March, we’ll post the finalists on our website and let the public decide the winner.

The winning message will appear on Dynamic Message Signs for two days in April.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with. Have fun and good luck!

Two ADOT snowplows damaged by vehicles in January storms

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PHOENIX ‒ Three Arizona Department of Transportation employees working to keep highways open in recent storms avoided serious injury when vehicles struck two ADOT snowplows in separate crashes. The drivers of the other vehicles came out fine as well.

One of the plows wasn’t so lucky, however, when a semi rear-ended and severely damaged it Jan. 21 on Interstate 40 near Seligman. In addition to sending the two ADOT employees aboard to the hospital with minor injuries, the crash hindered ADOT’s efforts to clear snow and ice along that route.

In the other crash, an SUV suffered serious damage Jan. 19 when it hit a snowplow clearing State Route 89A between Prescott Valley and Jerome. The plow and its operator were able to continue working, but only after losing precious time dealing with the crash.

“During storms, drivers need to slow down and give plows plenty of space,” said Alvin Stump, district engineer in ADOT’s Northwest District, where both of the incidents occurred. “Plows require a large work area to remove snow.”

It isn’t easy driving a snowplow on slippery roads with limited visibility, and other drivers make that job dangerous when they don’t give ADOT’s operators plenty of room to work. So respect the plow! It starts with staying at least four car lengths behind and never passing a working plow until the operator pulls over to let traffic by.

Gabriel Alvarado, who has plowed Interstate 40 for 13 years out of ADOT’s Seligman operation, said he likes seeing a line of vehicles making the sensible decision to follow his snowplow.

“It’s the best possible scenario to have a plow right in front of you,” he said.

But several times during a 12-hour shift a passenger vehicle or semi will make the ill-advised decision to pass Alvarado’s snowplow in an unplowed lane, raising the potential for a collision.

“Sometimes it gets really, really close,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado said it isn’t uncommon for him to later come upon those who’ve passed him stuck in the snow after sliding off the roadway.

Other tips from ADOT’s snowplow drivers:

· Never assume a snowplow operator knows you are nearby. If you can’t see the plow driver, there is a good chance the driver can’t see you.

· Plowed snow can create a cloud that reduces visibility, and spreaders on trucks throw de-icing agents or sand that can damage vehicles, so stay back.

· Leave space when stopping behind a snowplow. The driver might need to back up.

· If approaching an oncoming snowplow, slow down and give the plow extra room.

· Just because a plow has been through the area, drivers shouldn’t assume the roadway is completely clear of snow and ice.

Don’t let GPS, navigation apps replace common sense when you pick a route

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PHOENIX – When a highway closes or you’re just looking for possible routes, it’s natural to consult a navigation app or GPS unit. But drivers need to apply common sense to a computer’s suggestions, starting with not taking buses and other vehicles that aren’t up to the task down unpaved roads.

Since State Route 64 closed due to heavy snow between Grand Canyon Village and Grand Canyon National Park’s east entrance, a large bus, a smaller bus and at least two passenger vehicles carrying tourists have gotten stuck on a forest road heading east from US 180 between Valle and Flagstaff toward US 89.

While tow trucks were able to free the other vehicles free and get them headed back to US 180, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, with help from an Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow, had to rescue 45 people from the tour bus as Monday’s snowstorm moved in. The driver of the bus, which was bound for Page, said his GPS unit recommended taking the forest road.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office receives many calls throughout the year from motorists who get stuck following suggested alternate routes onto unpaved roads. It’s a big concern for ADOT during the winter, when snowstorms can cause sudden and prolonged highway closures.

“Sticking to the main highways is a driver’s best bet, especially during snowstorms,” said Audra Merrick, district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “Our snowplow crews are out clearing these roads around the clock along with patrols from the Department of Public Safety and ADOT’s motor-assist vehicles. Don’t follow an alternate route that’s not regularly plowed during winter storms.”

Earlier this winter, a Pennsylvania family wanting to see Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim got stranded following forest roads suggested as an alternate route to State Route 67, which closes for the winter along with park facilities. A woman suffered frostbite walking 26 miles trying to get help, while her husband eventually was able to call rescuers by climbing high enough to get a cellphone signal.

Sgt. Aaron Dick, search-and-rescue coordinator for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, said if a suggested road becomes rough or difficult to navigate the best thing to do is turn around. Motorists also can prevent problems by understanding the settings on their GPS units or navigation apps, starting with making sure they are ranking alternate routes by “shortest time” rather than “shortest distance.”

“The shortest-distance setting will connect roads in the GPS unit’s inventory to create the shortest route without knowing the status or condition of the roads,” he said. “The shortest-time setting will generally keep the driver on paved or well-maintained roads.

Drivers heading to northern Arizona should do their research on road conditions by checking az511.gov and ADOT’s social media accounts on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) and Facebook (facebook.com/AZDOT). They also should consult ADOT’s tips for winter driving at azdot.gov/KnowSnow, including:

  • Tell someone where you are going, your intended route and your expected arrival time.
  • Bring extra clothing and gloves, make sure the gas tank is half to three-quarters full at all times, keep cellphones charged, and pack extra drinking water, snacks and all necessary medications.
  • Pack an emergency kit that includes blankets, a flashlight with extra batteries, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a container of sand or cat litter for traction and warning lights or reflectors.

New verification method means veteran specialty plates may now be ordered online

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PHOENIX – Ordering a veteran specialty license plate no longer requires standing in line at an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office. With the introduction of a new electronic affidavit system to verify a veteran’s status, plates may now be ordered at ServiceArizona.com, skipping the office visit.

“As MVD continues to be ahead of the curve by improving customer service, this is one of the more gratifying changes we’ve made,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “MVD is proud to provide these plates to honor our veterans, and it’s very important to make it as easy as possible for our customers get out of line and safely on the road.”

Under state law, only veterans and their immediate family members may apply for a veteran plate. Until now, this plate could only be ordered in person at an MVD or Authorized Third Party location where the applicant would have to show veteran status documentation.

To allow for online ordering, MVD developed an electronic affidavit system that the applicant must initial before the transaction can be completed. MVD has also established an auditing compliance system to review applications to ensure that only those who are legally eligible receive the plate.

Each month, more than 1,200 applications for these plates are processed at MVD offices. Allowing this transaction to be done online will not only allow customers to order the plate at their convenience, but will reduce the amount of customer traffic at MVD offices.

In fiscal year 2016, veteran plates generated just over $1.2 million for a special veterans fund administered by the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services.

For more information on specialty plates, please visit azdot.gov/mvd.

ADOT begins updating goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun the process of updating its goal for the percentage value of federal-aid contract dollars won by firms certified for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program.

To do so, the agency has retained Keen Independent Research to develop a draft study on the availability of disadvantaged business enterprises in Arizona. This availability study will be completed in May and released for public review and comment along with ADOT’s proposed participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises.

Every three years, ADOT must submit to the Federal Highway Administration an overall annual participation goal for disadvantaged business enterprises, expressed as a percentage of dollars going to certified firms from contracts using U.S. Department of Transportation funds.

Two public meetings on the proposed goal will be held in June, with public comments to be accepted through the end of June. The new goal, which must be submitted this summer, will go into effect on Oct. 1.

As part of this process, ADOT will seek comments on the proposed participation goal, the draft availability study, the conditions for minority- and women-owned firms in the Arizona transportation contracting marketplace, and other topics. All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits its final goal request to the Federal Highway Administration.

Through federal fiscal year 2017, ADOT has an overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goal of 8.9 percent for contracts using Federal Highway Administration funds, setting contract-specific goals on some of its federally funded contracts to help meet the goal. During the past two fiscal years, ADOT has exceeded its goal.

ADOT will also use results of the availability study results to develop new overall disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals for its contracts funded by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration.

ADOT is briefing industry groups about the availability study and the goal-setting process and will provide regular updates on the process through the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance website, azdot.gov/BECO.

A year later, it’s happily fur-ever after for Dottie the dog

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A year ago today, an ADOT traffic camera found a precious little dog holding onto a freeway median wall for dear life.

Today, life is good for Dottie – and her six puppies.

Arizona Department of Transportation operators watched as the pooch ran through rush hour traffic on northbound State Route 51 near Shea Boulevard, jumped onto the median wall and sat there, seemingly too scared to move.

Gil Estrada, a traffic reporter working at the Traffic Operations Center, drove to SR 51 and Shea Boulevard, rescued Dottie and drove her back to the TOC. Jayson Winter, a TOC operator, took her to a vet to check for a microchip, then took her home for the night.

After a search failed to find her owners, the Arizona Equine Rescue Organization offered to help find the dog, by that time named Dottie, a new fur-ever home. She’s been a happy part of Marci and Denis O‘Shaughnessy’s family ever since.

“Dottie has been a wonderful dog,” Marci said. “She just lights up the entire house. She’s so lovable.”

Denis, recently retired, says Dottie and her adopted brother, Fella, keep him busy. “I was worried that I would have all this free time. Dottie and Fella take care of that. They want attention all the time, and I give it to them.”

It turned out that Dottie was expecting at the time of her rescue. Her puppies – five males, one female – live on the same street in north Phoenix, some with an O’Shaughnessy daughter’s family and some with a neighbor. One remains with Dottie at the O’Shaughnessy home.

Dottie’s story has a happy ending. Sadly, that’s not always the case when an animal wanders among fast-moving cars and trucks. Here are some ideas for keeping your pet safely out of the roadway.

If you see a dog on the highway, call 911. Don’t get out of your vehicle to capture it. You may mean well, but getting out of a vehicle on the freeway is dangerous for you, the animal and other drivers. Let professionals handle the rescue.