Tag Archives: News

Restrictions begin Oct. 31 on State Route 260 to accommodate roundabout construction near Interstate 17

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Travel restrictions and lane closures will begin Monday, Oct. 31, for both east- and westbound travel on State Route 260 as construction begins on the SR 260 roundabout at Industrial Drive in Camp Verde (milepost 218 to 219) just east of the Interstate 17 junction.

Lane and travel restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day and will be maintained until late February, 2017. A 10-foot-wide load restriction will also be in place during operations.

The completed roundabout will keep traffic flowing smoothly in all directions as well as in and out of businesses. At present, traffic on Industrial Drive can only make right turns onto SR 260, while those on SR 260 can wait in long left-turn bays to get to businesses or turn around.

‘Terrifying’ traffic can occur during afternoon commute on Halloween

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halloween_cropPHOENIX — Halloween brings out more than ghosts and goblins. When the spooky celebration falls on a weekday – this year it’s on Monday – many commuters adjust their routines, leaving work early to get home for trick-or-treating and parties. The result is often a wicked commute.

Given the potential for a cursed commute, the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends the following:

  • If possible, try to make an earlier start in the afternoon to avoid the scariest traffic. Freeway traffic builds between 4-6 p.m. in what has come to be known as the “witching hour.”
  • Be patient and recognize that it may take longer to get home. Take your time.
  • Don’t let down your guard when you’re nearing home. Remember: superheroes, princesses and too-old-to-be-trick-or-treating teenagers will be crossing streets in your neighborhood and might not be paying attention.

Beginning Saturday morning and lasting through Halloween, ADOT’s overhead message boards statewide will display this safety message:

MUMMY KNOWS BEST
WRAP YOURSELF
IN A SEAT BELT

Failure to wear a seat belt is one of the leading factors in traffic deaths on Arizona’s state highways, county roads and city streets. In 2015, 29 percent of the 895 people killed in vehicle crashes in Arizona weren’t wearing seat belts.

MVD specialty plate raises $2 million for breast cancer awareness and screening

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bca-2m_cropPHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey announced this week that Arizona drivers who have ordered the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plate have helped raise $2 million for cancer screening and treatment in the past decade. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division has issued nearly 110,000 Pink Ribbon plates since 2006 when legislation authorizing the plates took effect.

A portion of the funds from the Pink Ribbon plates is allocated for the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Well Woman HealthCheck Program, which helps pay for screening and treatment of breast and cervical cancer for uninsured women in Arizona. Over the last 10 years, the Well Woman HealthCheck Program has received $1.9 million from the Pink Ribbon program.

“Cancer is a physically, emotionally and financially devastating disease for families,” said Governor Ducey. “When drivers in Arizona choose to put one of the Pink Ribbon license plates on their vehicles, they’re doing their part to help thousands of women beat breast and cervical cancer, and to ease the burden the diseases have on our families and friends. The millions of dollars raised proves once again that Arizona citizens will step up to help others. I commend everyone who has participated in this special program.”

In 2015 the Well Woman HealthCheck Program provided services to more than 5,500 women. Of those women screened, 81 were diagnosed with breast cancer, two were diagnosed with cervical cancer and 25 had pre-cancerous cervical lesions that were removed.

“Early detection of breast and cervical cancer gives women who are diagnosed with the disease the best chance to recover and live longer, cancer-free lives,” said Dr. Cara Christ, ADHS director. “It takes several diagnostic steps to confirm a cancer diagnosis, which can be costly for women who are uninsured. Thanks in part to the funding from the Pink Ribbon license plate program we provided 11,984 breast cancer screenings and 7,560 cervical cancer procedures in 2015.”

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means it’s a great time to highlight the Pink Ribbon vehicle plate that has been so successful in raising money and awareness to combat this disease,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “We’re proud to see Arizonans respond so enthusiastically to the Pink Ribbon campaign.”

Specialty plates can be ordered online through ServiceArizona.com for a $25 fee. Seventeen dollars from each Pink Ribbon license plate goes to the Well Woman HealthCheck Program. The remaining cost is used for the production and shipping of the plates.

Roundabout will improve safety, traffic flow in Camp Verde near I-17

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CAMP VERDE – A roundabout project on State Route 260 just east of Interstate 17 will enhance safety, and help visitors and residents better navigate a busy commercial area in Camp Verde.

The roundabout will be where SR 260 intersects with Industrial Drive, in an area where many travelers pull over for gasoline, a bite to eat or a cup of coffee.

The improvement will keep traffic flowing smoothly in all directions, as well as in and out of businesses. At present, traffic on Industrial Drive can only make right turns onto SR 260, while those on SR 260 can wait in long left-turn bays to get to businesses or turn around.

The Arizona Department of Transportation project, which will begin in the coming weeks and is set for completion in the spring, also will add sidewalks on the north side of SR 260 between Cliffs Parkway and Main Street, and on the south side of SR 260 between Seventh Street and Main Street.

While there will be traffic restrictions throughout the project, access to local businesses and properties will be maintained throughout.

Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit Solves 22-Year-Old Missing Persons Case

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has solved the missing persons case of Brian Nez. Nez, a 19-year-old Native American male from Flagstaff, had been reported missing by his family on October 25, 1994.

The information from the initial investigation found that Nez was believed to have last been seen at a party in Winslow, AZ in August or September of 1994. The case went cold after several people were interviewed and no information developed as to his whereabouts. Nez was entered as missing in the national computer database used by law enforcement.

In Spring 2015, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit brought on volunteer Jana White, retired from NAU Police and Flagstaff Police Departments, to review unsolved missing person cases. Nez’s case was re-opened in March 2016. Investigator Jana White entered Nez into a new database called NamUS (http://namus.gov/about.htm), a website that has developed largely over the last ten years to improve information sharing on missing and unidentified persons throughout the United States. NamUS responded with information that an unidentified victim of a fatal vehicle-pedestrian traffic accident had a similar description to our missing person case. The vehicle-pedestrian accident had occurred in Navajo County about 2 miles north of Winslow, AZ in August 1994. Based on this, further investigation by the Cold Case Unit found that the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office had performed the autopsy on the unidentified pedestrian victim for Navajo County.
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Kaibab National Forest and Arizona Game and Fish Department invite public to workshop on locating and reporting noxious weeds

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WILLIAMS — Members of the public are invited to attend a training hosted by the Kaibab National Forest and Arizona Game and Fish Department on an exciting phone application that allows citizen scientists to assist land managers in locating noxious weeds.

The free workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 5 at the Williams Ranger District office of the Kaibab National Forest, 742 S. Clover Rd. in Williams. Jami Clark, a data specialist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department out of Phoenix, will lead the informational and training session on the use of iMapInvasives and iNaturalist for reporting noxious and invasive weeds on lands within Arizona.

iMapInvasives is an online data management tool that stores invasive species information and facilitates data sharing and utilization by land managers, the public and other organizations. Within the past decade, iMapInvasives has become a vital decision-making tool for several states, organizations and agencies in the battle against some of the most threatening invasive species infestations.

At its most basic level, this database supports data management of simple species location information. In addition, it supports advanced information management including the capability to input treatment records, survey records, track infestations over time, create collaborative projects, and even track hours and volunteer efforts spent on projects. This tool has provided a standardized, central location in which to store invasive species information and has aided in data sharing across local and state boundaries on both regional and national scales.

iMapInvasives has two major user groups: (1) citizen scientists collecting point observation data while in the field, (2) land managers tracking the status of infestations over time. In order to support the first group and provide a user-friendly, offline-capable phone app, iMapInvasives Arizona has established a project in the online platform iNaturalist.org.

To contribute data by using a phone app, follow these steps:

  1. Request an account from iMapInvasives.
  2. Once you hear back from Jami Clark with your account information, set up an account with iNaturalist. Try to make your iNaturalist username identical to or as similar as possible to your iMapInvasives username.
  3. Logon to iNaturalist and join the Arizona iMapInvasives Project.
  4. Prepare your phone to start collecting and contributing data by downloading the iNaturalist app from either the iTunes Store or Google Play.

AZGFD brings boating safety to State Fair on Saturday, Sunday

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department and its Boating Safety Education program will help bring the Arizona State Fair to a close this weekend by teaching visitors how to safely have fun on the state’s lakes.

The Fair is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 1826 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix. AZGFD law enforcement and the Boating Safety Education will be on hand to answer any boating-related questions as well as provide games and giveaways for adults and children as part of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Public Safety Days.

“Arizona’s lakes often bring families and friends together for a fun day on the water,” said Boating Law Administrator Tim Baumgarten. “Unfortunately, every time someone heads out to the lake uneducated and unprepared, they’re placing themselves, their loved ones and others enjoying the lake in harm’s way.”

One of the simplest things people can do to protect themselves is to always wear a life jacket while on the water.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in approximately 76 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2015 and that approximately 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Just as important as wearing a life jacket is ensuring it is the correct size and fit. Users should refer to the manufacturer’s label on the life jacket, which should include a recommendation for the user’s size and weight.

All boats in Arizona must have a life jacket aboard for every passenger and those 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times, under state law.

Those also utilizing paddle boards, kayaks and canoes are reminded that each are considered watercraft and users are legally required to have a wearable personal flotation device on board and to follow all navigation rules while on the water.

For more information on boating in Arizona or to sign up for a safety course, visit www.azgfd.gov/boating.

FCC Requesting Public Comments on amateur vanity call signs

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ARLB039 Rule Making Petition to FCC Calls for Vanity Call Sign Rule Changes

The FCC is inviting comments on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11775) from a Nevada radio amateur that seeks changes to the rules governing the Amateur Radio Vanity Call Sign Program. Christopher LaRue, W4ADL, of North Las Vegas, is proposing that any licensee obtaining a vanity call sign be required to keep it for the full license term. LaRue contends in his petition that excessive and frequent vanity call sign filings are hampering the ability of other qualified licensees to obtain vanity call signs in one of the more desirable 1 x 2 or 2 x 1 formats. LaRue said that since the FCC dropped the fee to file for a vanity call sign, some applicants are taking advantage by regularly obtaining new call signs, thereby keeping them out of circulation.

The petition can be found on the web in PDF format at, https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1004220986407/Petition%20.pdf.

“Some are changing call signs almost monthly, just to keep the newer code-free Extra class operators from obtaining a shorter call sign,” he said in his petition. “I even saw an older operator that said he does it all the time and has not even owned a radio in over 6 years. When I looked him up, he has had 16 different [call signs] in 18 months.”

LaRue said his proposed minor rule change would require any licensee applying for and obtaining an Amateur Radio vanity call sign “be required to keep it for the duration of the license, which is currently 10 years.”

He said this would “alleviate a lot of the stress on the ULS system and manpower requirements” at the FCC. “It will also keep inactive amateurs from changing call signs regularly, thereby tying up call signs for 2 years after dismissal of said call.”

Interested parties may comment using the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at, https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Comments are due within 30 days of the October 26 posting date.

Got five minutes? You can help shape ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan

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PHOENIX — In transportation, we are constantly looking ahead. What needs will emerge over the next 25 years? What new technologies will influence how our transportation system operates? How will we fund necessary improvements?

One of the ways the Arizona Department of Transportation looks to the future is “What Moves You Arizona,” the Long-Range Transportation Plan we update every five years. And we need your input to do that.

ADOT has developed an interactive online survey that’s easy and engaging. It gives you the opportunity to rank six transportation priorities: preservation, expansion, safety, technology, accessibility, and maintenance and operations. You get a budget and determine how much of it you’d allocate for each priority. Then you decide tradeoff scenarios that further define your priorities.

This survey lets you experience what we face as transportation planners: setting priorities and making difficult choices with limited resources.

Those who’ve participated so far have ranked safety and expansion highly. And when it comes to managing funds, preservation and expansion get the most dollars for transportation investments.

But we want to hear from more of you! The survey is available until Nov. 11 at whatmovesyouarizona.metroquest.com. It only takes a few minutes and can be completed on a computer, smartphone or tablet. A Spanish-language version of the survey is also available via the link.

While ADOT’s Long-Range Transportation Plan isn’t project-specific, it does identify 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.

Maintenance scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 26, on southbound Interstate 17 near Table Mesa Road and New River

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will perform routine pavement maintenance between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, on southbound I-17 in two locations:

Between mileposts 237 and 236, near Table Mesa Road; and
Between mileposts 233 and 232 near New River

Minimal delays are expected during work hours. The speed limit through the work zones will be reduced to 45 mph during work hours. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction equipment and personnel.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but it’s possible that unscheduled closures or restrictions might occur because of weather or other factors. For the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 511, except while driving.