Category Archives: State Government

ADOT, Arizona benefit from armed forces Transition Assistance Program

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PHOENIX — With more than 300 employees having served in the U.S. armed forces, the Arizona Department of Transportation is an active participant in the federal Transition Assistance Program connecting those leaving military service with jobs.

“Thank you to all veterans whose sacrifice allows all of us the privilege of living in a free country,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “If you are preparing and looking forward to continuing your public service, we invite you to help create and maintain a transportation system that meets today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.”

The Transition Assistance Program, created by a 2011 law and administered by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, helps service members develop comprehensive plans to pursue education, search for jobs or start businesses after their military careers. Its training program, known as Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success), includes a mandatory five-day workshop and additional days of optional training depending on an individual’s chosen career path.

ADOT is a fixture at employment fairs organized by the Transition Assistance Program at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale. As part of that, ADOT created a step-by-step guide for military personnel interested in applying for employment with state agencies.

As of June, 334 ADOT employees identified themselves as veterans.

“The skills and accountability that come with military experience allow ADOT to better provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective transportation system that improves the quality of life in this state,” Halikowski said.

For more information about the Transition Assistance Program administered by the U.S. Air Force, please visit www.afpc.af.mil/lifeandcareer/transition.asp.

Utility work scheduled tomorrow on State Route 89 in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY — State Route 89, at milepost 329, near Perkinsville Road in Chino Valley will be restricted to one lane in both directions tomorrow (Nov. 10) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for utility work.

Drivers can expect minimal delays during work hours.

The closures will provide a safe work zone for utility relocations as part of an upcoming ADOT project.

ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Law enforcement personnel will be present to enforce the closures as they occur.

Lane restrictions scheduled next week as part of statewide project to install digital message boards

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Motorists travelling across the state on Interstate 40 and State Route 260 should prepare for one lane restrictions and intermittent delays, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. Work is scheduled to be completed as follows:

  • Crews are scheduled to work on westbound I-40 in Ash Fork (milepost 148) from 5 a.m. to noon on Monday, (Nov. 9). Drivers should expect a lane restriction and delays as traffic will be stopped intermittently to install an overhead sign structure.
  • Crews are also scheduled to work on westbound I -40 in Flagstaff (milepost 197) from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, (Nov. 10). Drivers should expect a lane restriction and delays as traffic will be stopped intermittently to install an overhead sign structure.
  • Additionally, crews are scheduled to work on eastbound SR 260 in Show Low (milepost 335) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, (Nov. 12). Drivers should expect a lane restriction and delays as traffic will be stopped intermittently to install an overhead sign structure.

Drivers are advised to merge safely to one lane and be prepared to stop as crews complete overhead sign installation work.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

Arizona Highways comes up big in prestigious magazine awards

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11737953_10153070228646852_4089567091217152843_nPHOENIX — Arizona Highways (Facebook) was a big winner in the International Regional Magazine Association awards for 2014. The magazine, produced by the Arizona Department of Transportation, picked up 16 awards, including seven top honors, at a recent ceremony in San Diego.

John Burcham’s “Long Exposure,” a September 2014 portfolio for which Burcham photographed Bismarck Lake near Flagstaff for an entire year, won gold in the Photo Series category. Editor Robert Stieve took home a gold award for that portfolio’s headline, and Burcham won silver in the Photographer of the Year competition.

Other 2014 gold winners were for the magazine’s January cover, which featured a shot from the Vermilion Cliffs; Jack Unruh’s illustration of a jaguar (April); Charles Bowden’s “Counting Sheep” (February), an essay about bighorn reintroductions in the Santa Catalina Mountains; Joel Grimes’ portrait of a rodeo announcer (August); and Matt Jaffe’s “Two Men and a Truck” (November), a travelogue from the Navajo Nation.

Arizona Highways’ 16 total awards were the second-most in the competition, behind only Texas Highways’ 17. The seven golds were tied for the most with Down East: The Magazine of Maine.

In addition, Arizona Highways Publisher Win Holden received the Kenneth L. Gibbs Award for Merit, the association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Arizona Highways captures the essence of this state’s exquisite landscapes and byways while promoting Arizona’s brand around the world,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “While we are proud of the individuals who earned these awards, we’re even more proud of Arizona Highways’ role in this agency’s mission of moving Arizona and its economy forward.”

The International Regional Magazine Association was founded in 1960 to support and promote regional magazines in the United States and elsewhere.

Founded in 1925, Arizona Highways is dedicated to promoting travel to and through the state of Arizona. In addition to the world-renowned magazine known for spectacular landscape photography, Arizona Highways publishes travel guide books, calendars and other products to promote travel in Arizona. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states and more than 110 countries.

For more information about Arizona Highways please visit arizonahighways.com.

Gold Awards

‒ Nature & Environment: “Counting Sheep,” Charles Bowden, February 2014
‒ Travel Feature: “Two Men and a Truck,” Matt Jaffe, November 2014
‒ Head and Deck: “Long Exposure,” Robert Stieve, September 2014
‒ Photo Series: “Long Exposure,” John Burcham, September 2014
‒ Portrait Photo: Rodeo announcer (The Journal), Joel Grimes, August 2014
‒ Illustration: Jaguar (Spotted in Southern Arizona), Jack Unruh, April 2014
‒ Cover: Vermilion Cliffs, Barbara Glynn Denney, January 2014

Silver Awards

‒ Public Issues: The Verde, Terry Greene Sterling, March 2014
‒ Single Photo: Monument Valley (A Picture’s Worth … Eh, Let’s Skip the Words), Enio Lanaro, April 2014
‒ Magazine Photographer of the Year: John Burcham
‒ Department: The Journal, Arizona Highways Staff
‒ Special Focus: Winter issue, December 2014
‒ Companion Website: Arizona Highways Staff

Awards of Merit

‒ Service Article: “On the Edge,” Robert Stieve, July 2014
‒ Essay: “A Winter’s Walk,” Craig Childs, January 2014
‒ Art Direction of a Single Story: “French Impressions,” Barbara Glynn Denney, Keith Whitney and Jeff Kida, August 2014

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Nov. 10 and 12

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Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require four separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

> Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
> Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (date corrected from Nov. 11 to Nov. 12)

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barrier prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.

ADOT kicks off master plan study for Grand Canyon airport

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, owner and operator of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, is starting a two-year process to update the airport’s master plan, a document that guides its development.

Arizonans are welcome to be part of this process by providing questions, concerns and other comments to ADOT’s study team.

Airport master plans, required by the Federal Aviation Administration, set the short-, intermediate- and long-term development goals. The update for Grand Canyon National Park Airport will evaluate the facility’s capabilities and role, forecast future aviation demand and plan facility improvements to meet that demand over the next 20 years.

“Our plan will focus specifically on maintaining safety and security for the airport and planning for incremental development that meets future aviation demand and helps the airport be self-sufficient while remaining flexible as things change,” Grand Canyon Airport Manager Michael Thomas said.

The master plan will also evaluate environmental requirements and ways to remain environmentally sustainable.

Those wishing to provide questions, concerns and other comments for the study team to address can do so in three ways:

  • Online at azdot.gov/gcnairportmasterplan
  • Mail to Grand Canyon Airport Master Plan Study, c/o Coffman Associates, 4835 E. Cactus Rd., Ste. 235, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
  • Over the phone at 1-800-574-6334

Public workshops will also be held throughout the study period. Those begin next year.

Invasive Plant Grant program for the Arizona State Forestry Department

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Arizona State Forestry with funding provided by the USDA Forest Service is soliciting proposals from $10,000 to $20,000 to treat invasive and noxious plant invasions that threaten forested or woodland areas.

  • Funds are awarded on a cost matching-basis, and this program requires 50% (1:1) match from a non-federal source.
  • Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate partnerships (especially with a Cooperative Weed Management Area) and projects adjacent to National Forest System (NFS) lands or that will compliment NFS projects.
  • Applications are due November 13, 2015.

Attached for your information, use and distribution are the grant Information and Guidelines, Q&A sheet and Application Form. The documents have also been posted on our website at https://azsf.az.gov/grants/forest-health/ipg.

This program is directed to units of local government, non-profit organizations 501(c)3, and public educational institutions. Individuals working in partnership with their neighborhood association may also apply if they work with one of the previously stated groups.

For questions regarding this grant program, please contact John Richardson at 602-771-1420.

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program – 2016 Request for Proposals is Open

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On November 3, 2015 the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced an RFP for this public-private partnership, funded in part by EPA’s Wetlands and Urban Waters Programs and the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service and in conjunction with the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

Approximately $2.1 million in combined total funding will be available to support projects such as stormwater management, addressing water scarcity, source water protection as well as wetlands, riparian, forest and water quality protection and restoration projects in local communities especially underserved communities across the country. In 2016, the Urban Waters Federal Partnership will give special consideration to projects which directly advance priorities of the 19 Urban Water Federal Partnership designated locations. For more information the priorities of the 19 designated locations, go to: http://www2.epa.gov/urbanwaterspartners/news-about-urban-waters#projectbackgrounds.

The geographic boundaries of the designated locations can be found in the RFP on the NFWF website.

NFWF will host a webinar for potential applicants on November 18, 2015. This RFP closes February 3, 2016.

For more information go to www.nfwf.org/fivestar.

ADOT demonstrates ingenuity at iShare Innovation Showcase

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PHOENIX — ­ With technology and innovation transforming how the Arizona Department of Transportation operates, the agency has launched an employee showcase highlighting projects and processes that improve safety and customer service ­­‒ and save time and money.

“There are simple things we are already doing that can be repurposed in a completely innovative way,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said.

Presentations featured at ADOT’s first iShare Innovation Showcase, held recently in Phoenix, included:

‒ Maintenance crews in northwestern Arizona are recycling pavement to make cost-efficient, long-lasting repairs to road surfaces.

‒ In the Phoenix metro area, ADOT employees have developed a retrofit kit to upgrade overhead digital message boards, improving energy efficiency and greatly extending the life of the signs.

The showcase examined other ways the agency is innovating, ranging from an online index of right-of-way documents for external customers to an anti-icing solution that crews handling winter road treatment and snow removal around Globe and the White Mountains developed as a readily available and cost-efficient alternative to a compound purchased from vendors.

“This showcase has shown the ingenuity of ADOT employees,” said Dr. Jean Nehme, director of performance management and research for ADOT.

Representatives from ADOT’s Northwest District shared how personnel based in Seligman championed the use of a pavement recycler. Experimenting with different types of oil to bind recycled pavement particles, they developed a way to repair large areas of pavement. The result: faster repairs and long-lasting patches that have greatly reduced the number of pavement repairs performed there.

In the Central District, serving the Phoenix metro area, ADOT personnel developed a kit to retrofit overhead message boards, many of them two decades old and having different specifications. In the past year, the kit has allowed maintenance crews to replace key parts of more than 20 message boards with components that are energy-efficient and easier to maintain. That’s extended the useful life of each sign by 15 to 20 years.

Halikowski said innovation is how business is done at ADOT.

“By looking at every process, every challenge, every opportunity, we find new ways to get our work done – saving time and conserving the taxpayers’ dollars,” he said.

US 60 east of Superior to close briefly for blasting operations Nov. 3-5

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Motorists traveling along US 60 between Phoenix and Globe next week need to plan ahead or allow extra time as the Arizona Department of Transportation continues blasting work as part of an improvement project to build a new passing lane and widen roadway shoulders east of Superior, approximately 65 miles east of downtown Phoenix.

The construction of the two-mile-long climbing lane from Devil’s Canyon to Oak Flat (mileposts 231-233) will require three separate full closures of US 60 for up to 90 minutes:

Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Traffic on eastbound US 60 will be stopped east of Superior (milepost 227) and westbound US 60 will be stopped at the Top of the World, west of Miami (milepost 235) until the blasting work is completed and the roadway is reopened after all debris is cleared. Law enforcement officers will be stationed at each closure to assist with traffic control.

Approximately 30 minutes prior to each blast, motorists should be prepared for possible delays and lane closures as crews set concrete barrier prior to each scheduled closure.

Motorists seeking an alternate route can consider state routes 77 and 177, which is approximately 68 miles long. Motorists headed to the White Mountains region, including Show Low and Springerville, can also take State Route 87 through Payson and travel east on State Route 260 as an alternative.

ADOT will work to minimize the traffic impacts as much as possible, including scheduling some nighttime work.

There will be narrow traffic lanes, wide-load restrictions and a reduced speed limit through the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used at different times throughout the project.

Drivers are asked to use caution, watch for construction equipment and personnel, and allow extra time for your commute.