Tag Archives: Phoenix

I-15 bridge improvement work progresses along Virgin River Gorge

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virginriverbridgePHOENIX — As progress continues on the reconstruction of Virgin River Bridge No. 6, the Arizona Department of Transportation is urging motorists traveling on Interstate 15 between Mesquite, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, to plan ahead for construction delays up to 20 minutes next week.

Beginning on Monday, Feb. 23, crews will install the girders on the new southbound bridge structure.

This work, which will continue through the end of March, will require intermittent rolling lane closures to allow for the safety of both construction crews and the traveling public. Work hours will be Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to noon.

For more information on the intermittent traffic breaks that will occur, watch the following ADOT YouTube video: http://youtu.be/FyUcqpQCfig.

While one travel lane will remain open in each direction, motorists are reminded to slow down and drive carefully through the work zone and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

The $27 million rehabilitation of Virgin River Bridge No. 6 (milepost 16) began in March 2014, and is anticipated to be complete in 2016. This significant project includes the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the Virgin River Gorge.

Drivers should allow for up to 15 minutes extra travel time during regular construction activities occurring on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional delay time may occur on weekends due to heavier traffic volume and special events.

The busiest travel time through the Gorge is Friday through Sunday. With limited alternate routes due to the remote location of the I-15 Virgin River Gorge corridor, ADOT urges drivers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions. Unscheduled restrictions or closures may occur. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov or call 5-1-1; outside Arizona, dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623).

For more information about the I-15 Virgin River Gorge projects, please visit azdot.gov/I15virginriver.

March is Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month

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PHOENIX – March has been designated as Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness month since 1983. The Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission is a part of the Arizona State Parks system.

Arcaeology awareness was started in 1983 by the State Historic Preservation Office and an ad hoc Archaeology Advisory Group for the Governor. This group morphed into the Arizona Archaeology Advisory Commission. The duties of the Commission are specified in Arizona Revised Statue. The commission will end July 1, 2017.

March was designated Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month and this statewide celebration has grown into a major public education effort involving over 60 different federal, state, municipal, tribal and private organizations. Proclaimed by the Governor each year, this celebration annually features over 100 events including prehistoric site tours, exhibits, open houses, lectures, demonstrations and other activities throughout Arizona.

Starting in 1989, an annual Archaeology Expo was added to the Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month events. The Archaeology Expo is a pivotal event in the month-long celebration of AAAM and provides an opportunity for organizations involved in archaeology to provide exhibits, demonstrations of prehistoric crafts and archaeological techniques, and hands-on activities for both children and adults. Other activities at the Expo include: guided site tours, Native American arts and crafts, demonstrations, and living history re-enactments.

These activities give visitors new insights into Arizona’s many prehistoric and historic cultures. This successful public education event reaches out to thousands of people each year in an effort to instill a stewardship ethic toward our state’s archaeological and historical resources. The annual Archaeology Expo is held in a different region of the state to benefit people throughout Arizona.

A free listing of events is available by contacting Arizona State Parks at (602) 542-4174. Events available in your area are listed on the Arizona State Parks web site.

Proposed Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (Azpdes) Renewal Permit

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ADEQ-2Pursuant 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. 15-41
Published on February 17, 2015
Published in the Northern Arizona Gazette

AZPDES Permit No. AZ0021245

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Page Springs Fish Hatchery (PSFH)
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086

The Arizona Game and Fish Department applied for a renewal AZPDES permit for the proposed discharge of up to 22.8 million gallons per day (mgd) of hatchery process water from PSFH to the

Oak Creek in the Verde River Basin in Township 16 N, Range 4 E, Section 23, in Yavapai County, Arizona. The PSFH consists of two flow-through fish hatcheries (Bubbling Ponds and PSFH). Water for the two production operations (cold water species and warm water species) is obtained from two natural springs, is not comingled through the hatchery processes, and is discharged to two different locations on Oak Creek. Biosolids requirements are not applicable because fish wastes are not considered biosolids under the 40 CFR 503 provisions.

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 Jacqueline Maye, 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).

ADOT MVD offers online vehicle license tax report for 2014

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PHOENIX – As Arizonans start working on their tax returns, many want to know the amount of vehicle license tax they paid last year.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offers a free online service, Vehicle Fee Recap, on ServiceArizona.com to help vehicle owners easily obtain their vehicle license tax paid in 2014 as well as any specialty license plate donations.

From the ServiceArizona home page, a customer can select the Vehicle Fee Recap link and follow the simple instructions to receive a free, printable report. The Vehicle Fee Recap report will only contain information for the previous calendar year.

“Vehicle Fee Recap has proven to be one of ServiceArizona’s most popular features during tax season,” said Motor Vehicle Division Director Stacey Stanton. “This service is yet another way MVD works to save valuable time for our customers.”

Owners of Arizona-registered vehicles who wish to use the data provided in the Vehicle Fee Recap report for tax returns should seek guidance from the Internal Revenue Service, the Arizona Department of Revenue or other tax professionals.

The Vehicle Fee Recap feature of ServiceArizona is also accessible by mobile devices.

Transportation projects in 2015 to drive economic development in Arizona

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PHOENIX — The new year is shaping up to be a big year for the Arizona Department of Transportation, as the agency will be working on several new and existing projects that will aid economic development and support the efficient movement of goods and services across the state.

All of the projects will be funded with federal and state highway funds, which are collected through gas and vehicle license taxes. In the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, voters have approved supplemental tax revenue that enables more transportation projects to move forward in their respective regions.

Phoenix-Area Projects for 2015

Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway
ADOT expects to release the Record of Decision for the long-proposed South Mountain Freeway this spring and work toward selecting a contractor for the proposed $1.9 billion project. The 22-mile-long freeway would run east and west along Pecos Road and then turn north between 55th and 63rd avenues, connecting with I-10 on each end. The South Mountain Freeway is also part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400.

Loop 101 and Loop 202 Widening Projects in East Valley
Much of the focus on freeway improvements in the metro Phoenix area will remain on projects that broke ground in 2014 and are due for completion in 2016. The $73 million Loop 101 widening project between Shea Boulevard and Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) in the Scottsdale area is adding an additional lane in each direction along 11 miles of the Pima Freeway, as well as merge lanes between most major interchanges. The $109 million project to widen the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway between Loop 101 in Tempe and Broadway Road in east Mesa also will advance, with new general purpose lanes being added between Loop 101 and Gilbert Road, along with HOV lanes between Gilbert Road and Broadway Road.

Interstate 10/Loop 303 Interchange
Among the new freeway projects scheduled to start this year is the “south half” of the Interstate 10/Loop 303 Interchange, which will complete all ramp connections between the two freeways in Goodyear. Work is expected to start this fall. The north half of the interchange opened last August and, combined with a widened Loop 303 north of I-10, has been embraced by West Valley communities as much-needed infrastructure to help drive economic development in the region.

Additional Loop 303 Improvements in Northwest Valley
Farther north along Loop 303, ADOT will launch a project to add an interchange at El Mirage Road by this spring. The new interchange will be built at the same time that crews are improving Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway between Grand Avenue (US 60) and Happy Valley Parkway in Peoria. A third project already underway is creating improved connections at the Loop 303/Grand Avenue interchange. All three projects are scheduled for completion in 2016.

US 60 Improvements in Surprise
Also in Surprise, a project to build a Bell Road bridge over Grand Avenue (US 60) and new ramps connecting the two roadways is scheduled to start late in the year, after a design-build contracting team is selected by ADOT.

Tucson-Area Projects for 2015

Interstate 19 Traffic Interchange Reconstruction (Ajo Way)
In 2015, ADOT will begin work to replace the existing Interstate 19 traffic interchange at State Route 86, also known as Ajo Way, with a single-point urban interchange. The modern interchange will feature a single set of traffic signals, rather than signals at multiple locations. The $86 million project is expected to improve traffic flow and enhance safety for motorists traveling through Tucson’s southwest side. Construction is expected to continue through 2017 and will also include widening I-19 from Ajo Way to Irvington Road and widening SR 86 to three lanes in each direction between 16th Avenue and Holiday Isle.

State Route 77 Widening (Tangerine Road to Pinal County Line)
After starting work in summer 2014, ADOT will continue efforts to upgrade a six-mile section of SR 77 (Oracle Road) between Tangerine Road and the Pinal county line from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. Along with widening the roadway, planned improvements include raised medians, traffic signal and drainage improvements, wildlife crossings, sound walls and multiuse paths. The $33.9 million project is slated to take two years to complete.

State Route 86 Widening (Valencia to Kinney Roads)
In 2015, ADOT is expected to begin construction on expanding SR 86 (Ajo Highway) in each direction from Valencia to Kinney roads in Pima County, 10 miles west of downtown Tucson. This seven-mile-long, $55 million project in Pima County will enhance safety and improve traffic flow on the highway, which serves as a regional transportation route between Tucson and south-central Arizona. SR 86 provides access to the Tohono O’odham Nation and is widely used to reach the popular tourist destination in Mexico called Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point.

Statewide Projects for 2015

Northern Arizona

US 93 Widening (State Route 71 to State Route 89 and Antelope Wash sections)
ADOT will continue long-standing efforts to transform the heavily traveled corridor between Phoenix and Las Vegas into a modern four-lane divided highway throughout the entire 200-mile stretch with two US 93 widening projects this year. After beginning last year, ADOT will complete upgrading a three-mile segment of US 93 (Antelope Wash), located approximately 20 miles north of Wikieup (mileposts 101-104) this summer. A second US 93 widening project (State Route 71 to State Route 89), just north of Wickenburg (mileposts 185-190), is expected to break ground this spring.

State Route 89A Spot Widening (Vista Overlook to JW Powell)
This $22.5 million project is slated to improve safety and traffic flow by widening the roadway and constructing passing lanes entering and exiting Oak Creek Canyon through an eight-mile stretch from the popular tourist destination Vista Overlook to the JW Powell interchange, three miles south of Flagstaff. Design of the project is nearly complete and ADOT hopes to start construction this year.

Interstate 40 Pavement Improvements (various projects)
ADOT has several major resurfacing projects in the works along the nearly 360-mile-long I-40, which is one of Arizona’s Key Commerce Corridors, as it stretches from California to the New Mexico state line, Three major pavement preservation projects are set to take place in 2015. This spring will complete final paving on the Rattlesnake Wash to US 93 (mileposts 57-72) section east of Kingman after the project began last summer. Later this year, ADOT will start two new resurfacing projects east of Flagstaff, including the Navajo county line to Minnetoka (milepost 250-259) and Walnut Canyon to Twin Arrows (milepost 214-218) segments.

US 89 Landslide Repairs (near Bitter Springs)
ADOT is scheduled to reopen US 89 south of Page after the highway was closed on Feb. 20, 2013 after a landslide caused serious damage to the highway near the Echo Cliffs. Major work on the repairs began on Aug. 11, 2014 as crews began excavating nearly one million cubic yards of rock near the highway to build a buttress, which will stabilize and reinforce the mountain slope that carries the roadway. The $25 million repair project remains on target to reopen to traffic this spring, in advance of this summer’s tourism season in Page and Lake Powell.

Southern Arizona

US 60 Widening (Silver King/Superior Streets)
This spring, ADOT is expected to start a project to convert the last remaining two-lane roadway segment on US 60 between Phoenix and Superior into a modern, four-lane divided highway. The $45 million project (mileposts 222-227), which will also include improving the urban section of highway in Superior, is expected to take two years to complete.

US 95 Fortuna Wash Bridge
This $13.5 million project is part of a larger corridor improvement project for US 95, the north and south corridor between Yuma and Quartzsite. US 95 is also the main route to the Yuma Proving Ground, which is one of the largest employers in Yuma County and one of the Army’s busiest training sites in the U.S. This project includes a bridge over Fortuna Wash, which often floods during heavy rains. This project is scheduled to begin in the spring.

US 95 San Luis Street Improvements
This $11 million project includes reconfiguring San Luis Port of Entry traffic off US 95 in San Luis to facilitate business along Main Street. The project, which began in October 2014, will help the circulation of traffic, enhance pedestrian safety and improve access to downtown businesses near the U.S.-Mexico international border. Work will be completed this year.

Major Studies

Interstate 11
ADOT’s Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor Study continues to move forward. This year, work will begin on an Environmental Impact Statement which will allow ADOT to begin an environmental study in the area between Nogales and Wickenburg, part of the proposed Interstate 11 and Intermountain West Corridor. The $15 million Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement is expected to take three years to complete, once work gets underway later this year. Interstate 11, which will connect Arizona to the entire Intermountain West, is one of our state’s Key Commerce Corridors. I-11 is being planned as a multimodal freight corridor and a manufacturing belt that will drive trade, commerce, job growth and economic development while facilitating strong connections to other major markets.

Passenger Rail
The next major step for ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study: Tucson to Phoenix is to publish the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for public review. Three public hearings will be held later this year in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties to allow community members to comment on the recommendations of the study. Following the public review process, the final recommendations and environmental considerations will be issued on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for federal approval. ADOT is currently evaluating three final rail alternatives. The Passenger Rail Corridor Study is expected to be completed later this year. ADOT’s mission is to evaluate and implement modes of transportation to provide a well-balanced, flexible transportation system that moves people and commerce throughout Arizona.

ADOT launches Web-based tool for commercial carriers, drivers

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PHOENIX – With more than 70 permit options for commercial drivers, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s new online tool allows for quick, accurate information in one stop.

The ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division implemented this new system, Electronic Permit and Routing Online – known as ePRO.

“The efficient and safe movement of freight is a keystone to improve Arizona’s economic foundation,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “To stay competitive, Arizona must provide our business partners with solid information about safe, reliable routes to support travel decisions. Systems like ePRO support that mission.”

The online system creates a one-stop, self-service tool to obtain the necessary permits and also receive up-to-date validation of routing information and roadway travel restrictions. Each year, ADOT issues more than 250,000 permits for 3,000 commercial carriers operating in Arizona.

ADOT began working with the commercial vehicle carriers three years ago to develop an online permit system that meets the needs of the industry.

“The safe and efficient movement of freight is crucial to Arizona’s economic success. The ePRO permitting system is an important step in ensuring Arizona does not become an unnecessary bottleneck in delivering goods and products,” said Tony Bradley, president and CEO of the Arizona Trucking Association.

Previously, permits were issued at Arizona ports of entry and at central permitting offices. This process did not allow for the customer to receive timely routing or roadway travel restrictions, which had to be provided by an ADOT employee to complete the permit process.

“The new ePRO system provides better service, reduces costs and provides critical support to the professional driving community,” Halikowski said.

The new ePRO system expedites the permit issuance process through self-service convenience, allowing 24/7 access to obtain most permits, along with those for typical oversize and overweight loads.

Carriers and drivers desiring to use ePRO will be required to obtain a user sign-in and password. The online system is a secure environment using the latest encryption technology and will accept major credit cards for the purchase of permits.

The ePRO system, along with finding locations where permits can be obtained, can be found on the ADOT Website at www.azdot.gov/permits.

ADEQ: Stormwater Permitting Program

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ADEQ-2The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is proposing to re-issue the Arizona Department of Transportation, Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit, pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code, Title 18, Article 9 (Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System).

The formal Public Notice was published in the Arizona Business Gazette on Thursday, January 29, 2015. The deadline for submitting comments on the draft permit is Thursday, March 12, 2015. Comments must be submitted to the following address:

Electronically: henninger.christopher@azdeq.gov

or

Hardcopy to:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
1110 West Washington Street, Mailcode 5415A-1
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Subsequent to the close of the public comment period, ADEQ will prepare a written response to significant comments and issue the final permit.

Questions regarding the draft permit or Arizona’s stormwater program can be directed to:

Christopher Henninger, CMS4S
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Direct: 602.771.4508

State Route 30 study meeting set for Jan. 21 at Fowler Elementary School in West Phoenix

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adot-logo3PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will host a public meeting at Fowler Elementary School in West Phoenix on Wednesday evening, Jan. 21, to provide community members with information and receive comments about the planned State Route 30 transportation corridor.

Four potential alignments for State Route 30, along with a “no-build option,” are being studied by ADOT on behalf of the Maricopa Association of Governments, which serves as the Phoenix area’s freeway planning agency.

Any east-west SR 30 project would generally extend from 59th Avenue on the east to Perryville Road on the west, within boundaries of Lower Buckeye Road on the north and the Gila and Salt rivers on the south. Regional transportation planners have looked at SR 30 as a future way to provide additional freeway traffic capacity south of I-10 in the West Valley.

Under MAG’s Regional Transportation Plan for the metro Phoenix area, SR 30 is currently an unfunded long-range project anticipated for construction after 2026, if and when funding is available.

The SR 30 public meeting is scheduled as follows:

When: Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Fowler Elementary School, 6707 W. Van Buren Street, Phoenix 85043
Who: Representatives from ADOT’s SR 30 Study Team will be available to answer questions. A brief presentation about the study also will be conducted at 6:15 p.m.

ADOT’s study is designed to determine a recommended alignment alternative for the potential SR 30 corridor, or to recommend a no-build option. The study was initiated in 2005 with agency and public meetings. Since that time, ADOT has researched engineering challenges and environmental issues and collected public and stakeholder input while developing the four potential SR 30 alignments.

After the Jan. 21 meeting, comments for the SR 30 study also can be submitted through Feb. 20. Comments can be sent online at azdot.gov/SR30 or by email at SR30@azdot.gov. Comments also can be sent by phone at 1.855.712.8530 or mailed to the SR 30 study team, c/o ADOT Communications, 1655 W. Jackson Street, #126F, Phoenix 85007.

Information about the study is available at azdot.gov/SR30.

 

Approved driving schools to issue certificates to skip license exams at MVD offices

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adot-logo-03aPHOENIX – Students who undergo training at state-approved driving schools will now be able to receive training completion certificates that may waive written and road tests at Motor Vehicle Division offices.

However, there are requirements that driving-school students must meet, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

In order to qualify, students must be Arizona residents and attend classes at an ADOT-contracted driving school. A minimum of 30 hours of classroom training is required to waive the written exam and at least 10 hours of behind-the-wheel training is required to skip the road exam.

“Our top priority is safety,” said Motor Vehicle Division Director Stacey Stanton. “Through this program, we’re partnering with the private sector to encourage new drivers to get as much professional instruction as necessary until they can safely drive on their own. We hope more drivers will utilize these training opportunities.”

While most students who present training completion certificates at Motor Vehicle Division offices will get their instructional permit or driver license at that time, some certificate holders will be randomly selected to take the written or road exam at the Motor Vehicle Division office.

This random testing will be used to gauge the quality of instruction being given at the driving schools. Certificate holders should come to the Motor Vehicle Division office prepared to take the written or road exam in case they are selected.

A list of approved driver training schools is available at azdot.gov/drivingschools. There are more than 50 ADOT-approved schools across the state.

This initiative is one way, in addition to Authorized Third Party offices that provide a variety of motor-vehicle services, that ADOT is working to decentralize services, making them more accessible to community members around the state by engaging the private sector.

Enhancing driver training, and providing opportunities for ADOT-approved driving schools to issue certificates of completion to potentially bypass Motor Vehicle Division office testing, is an action step in ADOT’s new Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

PUBLIC NOTICE: ADEQ hearing

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ADEQ logo resizedA public hearing on the supplemental notice of proposed expedited rulemaking for the NSPS/NESHAPS/Acid Rain Incorporation by Reference Rulemaking (through June 28, 2013) will be held on January 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., conference room 145, at 1110 W. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Notice of the hearing was published in the Arizona Administrative Register and the Arizona Republic on December 5, 2014, and on the Department’s public notice calendar on December 8, 2014 (http://www.azdeq.gov/cgi-bin/vertical.pl).

Copies of the proposed rulemaking and supplemental proposed rulemaking can be found at: http://www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/draft.html