Category Archives: Arizona Department of Transportation

List of vehicles for the ‘Clean Air Blue Skies’ plates expanded

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energy-efficient-license-platePHOENIX — On May 20, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division created another opportunity for specific hybrid vehicle owners to obtain one of the “Clean Air – Blue Skies” Energy Efficient license plates. At the time of the release of the latest series of plates, there were six initial vehicles on the qualifying list and now three additional vehicles have since been added.

The federal program, which began in 2007 as a pilot, is designed to test the impact of allowing 10,000 hybrid vehicles to have access to the HOV lanes in Arizona during peak travel times without occupancy restrictions. The maximum limit of 10,000 plates is still part of program stipulations; there are 1,800 of the special plates now available as a result of non-renewed or canceled registrations.

Until Sept. 30, 2017, states may allow low emission vehicles, and those certified and labeled as low emission and energy-efficient vehicles (including alternative fuel vehicles) that do not meet the established occupancy requirements to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes so long as the state establishes procedures to enforce the restrictions on the use by these vehicles.

The program requirements for qualifying vehicles remain the same as announced on May 20, limited to only plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the federal authority that establishes the certification and labeling requirements for low emission and energy-efficient vehicles. When vehicles are added to the qualifying list, ADOT will immediately update Arizona’s qualifying list.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may be driven for a longer period of time on solely electric power, reducing both the amount of fuel consumed and tailpipe emissions released compared to normal hybrid vehicles. Reduced vehicle pollution supports the purpose of the “Clean Air – Blue Skies” program by encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles to improve the air quality in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

To qualify for the Energy Efficient plate, a customer must own one of the following plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from specific model years, which must be currently registered at the time of application: Chevrolet Volt (2011-2014), Fisker Automotive Karma (2012), Ford C-MAX Energi (2013-2014), Ford Fusion Energi (2013-2014), Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid (2014), and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (2012-2014). The following vehicles have been added to the qualifying list: BMW i3 Range Extender (2014), Cadillac ELR (2014) and the Porsche Panamera S E Hybrid (2014).

If qualified, the vehicle owner must complete the online Energy Efficient plate application process located only on ServiceArizona.com and submit a payment of $8 (initial application fee) plus postage and handling. Plates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Energy Efficient plates will not be distributed at Motor Vehicle Division or Authorized Third-Party offices. The standard Arizona vehicle license tax applies to all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Those with a temporary registration paper plate or permit are not eligible until the owner actually receives an issued license plate.

After completing the Energy-Efficient license plate application and the customer chooses to have the disability emblem added, the customer must complete a Disability-Hearing Impaired Plate/Placard Application found at the MVD forms library. The completed application form must be mailed to: Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division-Special Plates Unit; P.O. Box 2100-Mail Drop 801Z; Phoenix 85001-2100.

Customers with a vehicle that qualified under the previous program (Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight and non-plug-in Toyota Prius) and is currently registered with an Energy Efficient plate will be allowed to continue to use their plate on that vehicle and drive in the HOV lane until they sell/transfer the vehicle. The Energy Efficient issued plate may only be transferred to a qualifying plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that is owned or leased by the same registered owner.

Drivers are reminded that this is a federal- and state-approved program that could be changed or ended at any time. For more information on the Energy Efficient Plate Program, application process and qualifying vehicles, please visit the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division website at azdot.gov/mvd.

Delays on US 89 north of Cameron as paving continues

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adot-logo-03aThe Arizona Department of Transportation is currently paving an eight-mile section of US 89 near US 160, between mileposts 477 and 485, about 15 miles north of Cameron.

Drivers can expect heavy delays during the paving operation, which must take place during the day because the asphalt must be applied within in certain temperature range that cannot be reached overnight.

Flaggers will guide vehicles through the construction zone during work hours. Paving takes place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Thursday, Aug. 7 this week and Monday, Aug. 11 and Tuesday, Aug. 12 next week. During work hours, delays could range between 45 minutes to one hour.

Motorists traveling from Flagstaff to Kingman should plan ahead, expect delays

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adot-logo-03aPARKS – Motorists traveling along Interstate 40 from Flagstaff to Kingman need to plan ahead and allow extra travel time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues a rockfall containment project approximately 15 miles west of Flagstaff that will require weekly 30-minute rolling closures due to blasting operations.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, a rolling closure for up to 30 minutes will be necessary in both directions of I-40 near Parks (mileposts 180-181) to allow crews to perform blasting rock cuts along the highway and clear debris from the roadway. In preparation for the blasting work, westbound I-40 is currently narrowed to one lane through the work zone until the restriction is lifted on Friday afternoon.

A weekly 30-minute rolling closure is scheduled to occur at 9 a.m. during mid-week until the project is completed. ADOT will notify the public in advance of the weekly rolling closures until the project is completed.

The $1.6 million safety improvement project is necessary to protect motorists and prevent damage to the highway from falling rocks, particularly during monsoon storms and heavy rains, while reducing the frequency of closures due to falling rocks. Work includes rock excavation and scaling, installing rockfall netting and constructing a wider rock ditch.

This is one of four current I-40 projects between Flagstaff and Kingman. ADOT recently started a $13.6 million project to upgrade a 15-mile segment between Rattlesnake Wash, five miles east of Kingman, and the US 93 junction (mileposts 57-72). The paving project is expected to be completed this fall.

ADOT is nearly complete with a resurfacing project from Ash Fork to Williams (mileposts 146-161). The $10.5 million project started last summer, and following a winter shutdown, the project will be completed this year. In the same vicinity, ADOT is also working on bridge rehabilitation projects from Ash Fork to West Ash Fork (mileposts 143-147).

SR 89A reduced to one lane through switchbacks

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Drivers can expect minimal delays as crews finish striping SR 89A through the switchbacks from Pine Flats Campground to the Vista Point Overlook. One lane will be closed during operations, with flaggers allowing alternating access for traffic. Striping is expected to be completed by Friday, and will be underway daily from 6 am to 6pm during operations.

Traffic delays may occur during construction with traffic reduced to one lane. There will be directional signage and flaggers present during construction. ADOT advises motorists to be alert for construction equipment and personnel, and to proceed through the work zone with caution.

ADOT’s Loop 303 project between Glendale and Peoria avenues wins regional award for budget savings

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640px-303PHOENIX – One of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Phoenix-area freeway projects has won an award for being completed under budget, according to a major transportation association.

ADOT’s Loop 303 expansion project between Peoria and Glendale avenues was $8.5 million under its $80 million budget and earned one of the “America’s Transportation Awards” from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) during the group’s western region conference in Albuquerque.

“We’re very proud of this recognition because it reflects our commitment as a steward of the taxpayers’ investment in our transportation system,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “We strive to save funds that can be used on additional freeway improvements.”

The Loop 303 improvements between Peoria and Glendale avenues are part of a series of five major projects ADOT began in 2011 to reconstruct more than 12 miles of Loop 303 north of Interstate 10. Construction crews have changed an outdated two-lane highway into a modern six-lane freeway with on- and off-ramps at major cross-street interchanges.

The award-winning project includes ramps connecting with the new east-west Northern Parkway, a smooth and durable rubberized asphalt pavement and bridges taking Loop 303 over local railroad tracks.

In pointing out ongoing uncertainty about transportation funding in the U.S., AASHTO President Mike Hancock said awards like the one given to ADOT “not only give state departments of transportation recognition for their hard work and incredible results, but also highlight the need for stability as the federal Highway Trust Fund continues its decline toward critical levels.”

ADOT is preparing to complete its series of Loop 303 expansion projects between I-10 and Grand Avenue (US 60) in the West Valley in September, when the freeway-to-freeway interchange linking I-10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear is due to open to traffic.

The America’s Transportation Awards competition is sponsored by AAA, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AASHTO.

Salt River Canyon rest area to reopen before Thanksgiving holiday

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4c212e6614554.preview-300PHOENIX – Travelers along US 60 between Globe and Show Low will once again have a place to stop and rest by this fall. The Arizona Department of Transportation is renovating the Salt River Canyon rest area, which has been closed for the past several years.

The project will include restroom building renovations, replacement of the composting toilet system, water well work, new parking lot pavement and new signage.

Construction work should not interfere with traffic on US 60 through the Salt River Canyon, but the work zone will be signed and drivers are advised to proceed through the area with caution.

The Salt River Canyon rest area has been closed for the last several years due to extensive repair needs for which there was no funding. In 2011, ADOT started a $17.4 million rest area rehabilitation program that prioritized rest area repair projects and began to include them in ADOT’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. With funding now available, the Salt River Canyon rest area is receiving the upgrades it needs.

Sunset Point, Bouse Wash, McGuireville and Hassayampa rest areas have all been refurbished through the rest area rehabilitation program. ADOT will make repairs to 12 remaining rest areas over the next few years.

Once the Salt River Canyon rest area reopens, it will be maintained by Infrastructure Corporation of America, the private entity which manages the operation and maintenance of the rest areas through a public-private partnership with ADOT.

Lane restrictions on I-17 next week for guardrail repair

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adot-logo3The Arizona Department of Transportation will begin guardrail repair on Monday, July 21 on Interstate 17 from Table Mesa Road to just south of State Route 169, and will continue through Wednesday, July 23.

The work between mileposts 235 and 274 requires alternating lane restrictions in both directions and intermittent shoulder closures from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. No delays are expected.

The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours. Arizona Revised Statute 28-710 §B. provides for double the fine for speeding through a marked highway work zone.

SR 89A south of JW Powell to expect hauling activity

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Drivers traveling north- and south-bound on SR 89A just south of the JW Powell intersection can expect short delays as flaggers allow trucks and heavy equipment to cross over the roadway near milepost 399.

Crossing operations are required to allow the equipment to travel over SR 89A via a haul road. The trucks will be carrying fill material to construct the southbound on-ramp to I-17 as part of an improvement project, which includes installation of a roundabout.

Construction hours are between 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Drivers can expect short delays during equipment crossings and hauling activity can be anticipated for the next two weeks during on-ramp construction.

I-40 Rockfall underway west of Parks Rest Area

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adot-logo-03aPARKS – Drivers traveling westbound on I-40 at milepost 180 to 181 just west of the Parks rest area can expect up to 30 minutes waiting times as part of a rolling closure to allow ADOT maintenance to clear the roadway during rockfall containment operations. This operation is part of a $1.6M rockfall containment project which includes rock excavation and scaling, installing rock-fall netting and constructing a wider rock ditch.

This westbound closure will be intermittent during rockfall excavation and scaling operations currently underway Monday through Friday from 5 am to 5 pm, and is expected to continue until the first week of August.

Drivers are advised to allow for extra travel time to allow for periodic closures. DPS and flaggers will be present to alert travelers when the closures are in effect, and communicate to drivers once the roadway has been reopened. Both westbound travel lanes will be open during the traffic clearing process following the temporary closure. Once the roadway is fully cleared and traffic can allow for another rockfall treatment, the road will temporarily be closed again to continue operations. Drivers should anticipate potential temporary closures at times during hours of operation.

US 89 landslide repairs to begin later this month

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ADOT-sr89-photo

ADOT Photo

PHOENIX — The reconstruction of US 89 between Bitter Springs and Page will begin later this month after the State Transportation Board approved a $25 million project to repair the landslide-damaged highway at Friday’s board meeting in Cottonwood, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The roadway, which suffered catastrophic damage following a landslide on the early morning of Feb. 20, 2013, has remained closed after a 500-foot section of roadway buckled in Echo Cliffs, approximately 25 miles south of Page.

The repair will include moving the roadway approximately 60 feet away from the landslide area toward Echo Cliffs and using rock material removed for the roadway realignment to construct a downslope buttress to stabilize the area.

The closed section of roadway is scheduled to reopen prior to next summer’s busy travel season. The construction contract will also include a monetary incentive for the contractor if it is able to complete the project ahead of schedule.

Work on the project will begin in a couple of weeks, but major work is expected to start in late August when crews begin drilling and blasting operations to build the rock buttress. Nearly 1 million cubic yards of rock material is expected to be removed and a 1,500-foot section of US 89 will be realigned with new pavement.

The ultimate repair of US 89 is the final step in fulfilling ADOT’s three-pronged approach to the US 89 landslide incident, which included providing immediate emergency access, conducting a geotechnical investigation and restoring essential traffic to the area.
Last summer ADOT paved Navajo Route 20 (Temporary US 89), which was a mostly dirt road stretching from Bodaway-Gap to LeChee.

“Once a long-term solution was identified, ADOT worked diligently to complete all the federally required clearances needed prior to construction,” said Steve Boschen, ADOT deputy state engineer of project delivery. “This process can sometimes take years, but with help from many of our Navajo Nation partners, the Federal Highway Administration and other regulatory stakeholders, we are ready to begin the US 89 landslide repair.”

Prior to breaking ground on the project later this month, ADOT had to clear several hurdles. After an extensive geotechnical investigation identified the necessary repairs last summer, ADOT retained an engineering design firm and developed plans for the eventual repair.

Following that, the team finalized all federally required environmental reviews that include cultural, biological and water quality measures, completed the plans for the required right-of-way easements, and finalized negotiations with the contractor.

The final step prior to Friday’s board approval was completing negotiations on a guaranteed maximum price for the project construction with FNF Construction, the same contractor that completed the paving of US 89T.

The US 89 landslide repair project is eligible for reimbursement through the Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief program, which provides funding to state and local agencies for the repair or reconstruction of highways, roads and bridges that are damaged in natural disasters and catastrophic failures.