Tag Archives: Phoenix

Congressional proposal formally extends I-11 to Southern Arizona

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PHOENIX –– As planning for the Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor advances, Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski today expressed appreciation for the efforts of U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Senator Jeff Flake for their work to introduce the Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015 to Congress.

The bill formally extends Interstate 11 from Wickenburg south through the Tucson area to Nogales, Arizona. Interstate 11 had previously received a congressional designation from Phoenix to Las Vegas. The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act would not only formally designate I-11 across Arizona from border to border by establishing a new international trade corridor, but would also extend the interstate north through Nevada as well, with plans to ultimately connect with existing high-priority corridors to the Canadian border.

This act formalizes and reinforces ADOT’s overall concept for Interstate 11 in Arizona. ADOT, through its two-year feasibility study, which was completed last fall, focused on and supported the concept of Interstate 11 that runs border to border throughout Arizona, beginning at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and ending at the Arizona-Mexico border.

“I applaud the efforts of Senators McCain and Flake for their continued support to make Interstate 11 a reality,” said Halikowski. “As a part of ADOT’s Key Commerce Corridor plan, investment in corridors like Interstate 11 provides tremendous opportunities for Arizona to connect to other economic centers and up our game through increased trade, tourism, commerce, job growth and economic development throughout Arizona and the Intermountain West.”

The Intermountain West Corridor Development Act is also supported by Senators Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

Other benefits of Interstate 11 include connections to major trade hubs and transcontinental roadways and railroad corridors, while improving safety and travel time along the north-south corridors of the western United States.

Last fall, the Arizona and Nevada departments of transportation completed an initial two-year feasibility study as the first step in the Interstate 11 process. In December, the Arizona State Transportation Board took action to approve $15 million for the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement, which will allow ADOT to begin an environmental study in the area between Nogales and Wickenburg. The Tier 1 EIS is expected to begin later this year and is estimated to take three years to complete.

ADOT urges drivers to slow down, avoid distractions during National Work Zone Awareness Week

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File photo.

File photo.

PHOENIX — It is one of the most dangerous jobs across the country, that of the highway worker. Operating close to traffic subjects highway workers to safety risks, including speeding, impaired or distracted drivers. But the Arizona Department of Transportation also points to national statistics that show most victims in work zone crashes are likely to be drivers or their passengers.

“Expect the Unexpected” is the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, which started Monday.

In 2013, the latest year for which national statistics are available, 579 people died in work zone-related crashes across the country, according to the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation. About 80 percent of those killed or injured in such crashes were drivers or their passengers.

A review of law enforcement crash reports shows 17 people were killed in Arizona work zone crashes in 2013. It was a noticeable increase over seven such fatalities in 2012 and 10 deaths in 2011.

ADOT and other U.S. transportation agencies have joined together this week to urge drivers to pay attention to signs and other warning devices, slow down and give workers plenty of space in and around work zones along highways and local roadways.

No ADOT workers have been killed in work zone crashes in recent years, and the agency wants to keep it that way.

ADOT has unveiled a new Work Zone Safety public service announcement that highlights the risks construction and maintenance crews face along highways, especially when drivers don’t heed lowered speed limits in work zones. The video shows a close call for a paving crew as a speeding recreational vehicle passes by them.

“A tragedy can occur at any moment within a work zone,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Our highway workers are somebody’s family member. We’re asking you to slow down and pay attention so those workers can make it home safely to their families at the end of the day.”

State Route 347/Union Pacific Railroad Final Environmental Assessment approved

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, in partnership with the city of Maricopa, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Federal Highway Administration, has received federal approval for the proposed bridge project on State Route 347 over the railroad crossing, clearing the way for the project to move forward when funding is available.

On March 18, the Federal Highway Administration issued a Finding of No Significant Impact after reviewing the Final Environmental Assessment, the definitive decision-making document federally required for the project.

This grants the final approval necessary for ADOT to begin the process of acquiring right of way, completing the design and beginning construction when funding is available.

The environmental review process, which includes preparing the draft and final environmental assessments, was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

The estimated $55 million project is intended to alleviate traffic backups at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Pinal County by replacing the existing at-grade intersection with an overpass on SR 347, which is the only direct route between the city of Maricopa and metro Phoenix, so vehicle and train traffic do not impede one another.

More than 40 trains run daily through the middle of Maricopa, which has been one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation. Future plans call for more than 100 trains to pass through Maricopa daily.

In June 2014, the project was added to ADOT’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, including $18.8 million for design and right-of-way acquisition and $36.2 million for construction in fiscal year 2020:

  • FY 2015:$5.5 million allocated for design and $500,000 allocated for right of way
  • FY 2016: $5.5 million allocated for right of way
  • FY 2017: $7.3 million allocated for right of way
  • FY 2020: $36.2 million for construction

For more information on the SR 347 project, including a computer-generated video of the proposed grade separation, please visit the project webpage: azdot.gov/sr347.

PROPOSED ARIZONA POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (AZPDES) RENEWAL PERMIT

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ADEQ logo resizedPursuant 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. 15-47                               Published on March 26, 2015
Published in the Buckeye Valley News

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0025836
Arizona Public Service
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
P.O. Box 52034, M/S 7626
Phoenix, Arizona 85027

Arizona Public Service (APS) has applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 19.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated domestic effluent from the APS Water Reclamation Supply System (WRSS) Pipeline to the Buckeye Canal, tributary to the Hassayampa River in the Middle Gila River Basin. The pipeline has a total of 21 outfalls located between Township 1N, Range 2W, Section 25 and Township 1S, Range 3W, Section 5 in Maricopa County, Arizona. Discharge typically occurs once every three years when the pipeline needs to be drained for maintenance and inspection activities. Effluent in the pipeline is supplied by wastewater treatment plants operated by the cities of Phoenix, Tolleson, and Goodyear. All plants contributing effluent to the pipeline have AZPDES permits and treat to secondary standards. The permittee operates the pipeline to provide the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station with cooling water.

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 Ramona Chomor, 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).

South Mountain Freeway gains final federal approval

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PHOENIX –– The Valley’s Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, proposed by regional planners since the 1980s, has received final approval from the Federal Highway Administration, paving the way for the Arizona Department of Transportation to move the project forward.

The Record of Decision, signed March 5 by the Federal Highway Administration, grants the final approval necessary for ADOT to begin the process of acquiring right of way, complete the design and begin construction of the 22-mile-long freeway to serve the metro Phoenix region.

The Record of Decision will allow ADOT to begin final design and subsequent construction of the South Mountain Freeway. Acquisition of right of way is expected to begin immediately. ADOT has determined that, pursuant to an unsolicited proposal submitted to construct the freeway, construction will follow a public-private partnership path, helping to speed construction and reduce overall costs. The freeway would not be tolled under any public-private partnership proposal, but would include a private group involved with final design, construction and a 30-year agreement to maintain the freeway.

“The South Mountain Freeway has been approved as a part of two elections that have provided the region with additional transportation funding. Voters recognized the need and the benefits of this project to provide connectivity, travel reliability and route options for a growing region,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Both ADOT and the Maricopa Association of Governments agree this is a critically needed project, and ADOT is breaking new ground by moving it forward under a public-private partnership agreement to more closely involve the private sector, helping to save money and speed construction.”

The proposed South Mountain Freeway has been a critical part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Freeway Program since it was first included in funding through Proposition 300, approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985. The freeway was also part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400.

The South Mountain Freeway is the last piece to complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system necessary for high-quality regional mobility, according to regional planners.

“This is a great day and an important milestone in the history of the Valley’s transportation system,” said Maricopa Association of Governments Chair Michael LeVault, mayor of Youngtown. “It has been a long time coming, and we look forward to the improved mobility and economic opportunities that this freeway facility will bring to our region.”

The environmental review process, which included preparing both draft and final environmental impact statements, was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and identified the preferred route for this freeway corridor – running east and west along Pecos Road and then north and south between 55th and 63rd avenues, connecting with Interstate 10 on each end. The Final Environmental Impact Statement documented the analysis of potential impacts associated with the freeway and the no-build alternative, and addressed comments received on the draft and final Environmental Impact Statements. The draft environmental report was published in 2013, followed by publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2014.

The Federal Highway Administration has decided to identify the Preferred Alternative (a combination of the W59 and E1 Alternatives) as the Selected Alternative for the South Mountain Freeway project. This decision along with supporting information, including responses to public comments received on the Final Environmental Impact Statement, is documented in the Record of Decision.

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. The $1.9 billion project is expected to take about four years to construct.

Arizona Highways magazine celebrates 90 years with anniversary issue

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300-azhighwayPHOENIX — How do you capture the past 90 years in words and pictures? It’s not an easy task to encapsulate the best of the best in a single issue of a magazine.

April marks 90 years of publication for Arizona Highways magazine. As a tribute, Arizona Highways has taken a walk through history. The editorial staff dug through roughly 1,100 issues to assemble a collection of words, photos, ads, maps, art and other memorabilia that proved to be some of the most popular items ever published by the magazine. The content is divided up over nine decades, each decade highlighting the favorites among readers.

“We’ve come a long way since 1925, when we ran ads for road graders and published stories about bridge construction,” said Arizona Highways Editor Robert Stieve. “Things got a lot more interesting in 1938, when Editor Raymond Carlson and Art Director George Avey came along. They’re the founding fathers of a magazine that would go on to make publishing history in 1946 with the world’s first all-color publication, get banned in the Soviet Union in 1965 because it was viewed as propaganda, and share the beauty of Arizona with readers in all 50 states and more than 120 countries around the world.”

Arizona Highways’ 90th anniversary issue features so many highlights from years past, that the number of pages was nearly doubled for this issue. Everything from famous photographs by Ansel Adams, colorful paintings by Ted DeGrazia, and breathtaking scenery from every corner of Arizona is included in this special collector’s issue.

There are some treats in store with this 90th anniversary issue for both longtime subscribers and new readers. The April issue features custom front and back covers. The original work of art on the front cover was created by world-renowned painter and Arizona native Ed Mell. It combines some of the many elements of the Arizona landscape, along with a highway featured prominently. Signed, limited-edition prints of this fine art will be available for sale at $49.99. Proceeds will benefit Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona.

The iconic map on the back cover was originally created in 1940 by George Avey. This will also be available as a limited-edition print for $19.99. Both prints will be available for purchase at shoparizonahighways.com or by calling 1-800-543-5432.

Finally, for one day only, a digital 12-month subscription to Arizona Highways will be available on April 1 at the cost of just one dollar, the same price for a subscription to the magazine in 1925, the year it launched. The sale will begin at 8 a.m. on April 1 and last until midnight at arizonahighways.com. The special price for the digital subscription is limited to the first 10,000 customers on April 1.

A one-year subscription to the print version of Arizona Highways magazine (12 issues) is $24 in the United States. For more information on Arizona Highways magazine, or to sign up for a subscription, visit arizonahighways.com.

HB 2320 and HB 2431 Stalled in House

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Commentary by Arizona Citizens Defense League

PHOENIX — The House Leadership has sidelined two AzCDL-requested bills, HB 2320 and HB 2431. If they cannot meet the March 20 deadline to be heard in Senate committees, they are effectively dead for the session.

HB 2320, which would exempt CCW permit holders from being disarmed when entering state and local government property unless every person entering is screened for weapons, only needs a Third Read floor vote to proceed to the Senate.

HB 2431, which would establish an interstate compact that restricts member states from enacting firearms transfer requirements greater than existing federal law, needs both a House Committee of the Whole (COW) hearing, currently scheduled for March 9, and a Third Read vote to proceed.

It’s time to urge the House Leadership to schedule HB 2320 and HB 2431 for Third Read votes before it’s too late.

Daylight Savings time begins Sunday

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famous-daylight-savings-time-quotes-and-sayings-2PHOENIX — Daylight savings time will begin tomorrow. Across the country clocks will “spring ahead” one hour.

Except in Arizona.

For years, Arizona has enjoyed the luxury of not having to reset their clocks. They may, however, have to reset the recording times on their VCR (if you know what those are) to ensure they can capture the latest Lady Gaga performance.

300-Native-AmericanThis distressing situation may change, however, if Republican Phil Lovas has his way.
Arizona legislature Phil Lovas (R-22) has introduced HB 2014 to make Arizona compliant with daylight savings time. He is joined by John Allen (R-15) and Paul Boyer (R-20).

HB 2014 would amend Section 1-242 of the Arizona Revised Statute to make Arizona residents change their clocks with the rest of the nation. The bill even deletes section D. of the current statute which reads:

The rejection of daylight saving time as provided for in this section may be changed by future legislative action.

Presumably this is intended to ensure that no one has to change their recording times so that they can always and forever catch the latest escapades of the Kardashians.

Fortunately there appears to have been no movement on this bill of Kawliforna influence.

60-day ramp closures start Mar. 9 at the Loop 101/Thomas Road interchange

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PHOENIX — As part of the Loop 101 Improvement Project in the East Valley, additional on- and off-ramps will be closed for approximately two months starting Monday (March 9), according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The northbound Loop 101 on- and off-ramps at Thomas Road are scheduled to close by early Monday morning. Crews will reconstruct the ramps so they fit into the path of the wider freeway. The ramps are due to reopen by mid-May.

Drivers are encouraged to use ramps at other nearby interchanges along Loop 101 while the ramps at Thomas Road are closed.

The work is part of the $73 million project to add new right lanes along Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway). The entire project is scheduled for completion next year.

The northbound Loop 101 on-ramp and southbound off-ramp at McKellips Road were closed to traffic last week. They are scheduled to reopen by early May.

Project schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather.

Baggiore Selected Director of ADEQ’s Water Quality Division

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PHOENIX – Trevor Baggiore has been selected as the new director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality Division, ADEQ Director Henry Darwin announced today.

Baggiore had served as the division’s deputy director since September 2014 and had been deputy director of the ADEQ Air Quality Division for four years before making the move to the Water Quality Division. Baggiore replaces Mike Fulton, who resigned last week to become deputy director of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department.

Baggiore received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University in 2001, the same year he joined ADEQ as an intern. He received his master’s degree in business administration from ASU in 2006 and is a registered professional engineer in Arizona.

“Trevor brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to his leadership role along with a proven track record of planning and executing complex projects,” Darwin said. “I’m extremely excited by the prospects of his promotion not only for Trevor but for the Water Quality Division and the entire agency.”

Before being selected deputy director of the Air Quality Division, Baggiore had been both a unit manager and section manager in the division for six years.