Tag Archives: Phoenix

Chester Crandell still on the ballot

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Arizona-electsPHOENIX – With the recent fatal accident of Senator Chester Crandell, many have wondered what comes next. There is a system that was put in place following the death of Senator Jose Garcia in 2011 outlined in 16-343(F). Secretary of State Ken Bennett held a press conference and sent a letter to the election officials of Coconino, Gila, Navajo and Yavapai counties addressing the proper course of action.

Kim Crawford of the office of the Secretary of State explained that early ballots have already been issued and other ballots will appear with Senator Chester Crandell as candidate. Therefore, he will automatically win the primary election. He is in the unique category of running unopposed, even by a write-in candidate.

Because of his automatic selection, Republican Committee persons from Legislative District 6 will vote on a person to fill the void left by the late Senator.

No write-in candidates are allowed during this process. However write-in candidates are allowed in the general election provided their application is received by September 25.

There has been an outpouring of sympathy and condolences to the family of the Senator. Governor Jan Brewer issued the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened today to learn of the tragic and sudden passing of State Senator Chester Crandell. A fifth-generation native of Arizona, avid rancher, legislator and–above all – a gentleman with a tangible love for Arizona and those he served, Chester will be greatly missed.

“My thoughts and prayers – along with those of the entire state – are with Chester’s dear wife, Alice, and their family during this difficult time. In honor of Senator Crandell – and the service he gave to Arizona – I have ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff from sunrise tomorrow, August 5, 2014 until sunset August 11, 2014.”

Bill Roe, Chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party, released a statement saying:

“We are saddened to hear of the passing of Senator Chester Crandell. Our deepest condolences and sympathy go out to his entire family for their tragic loss.”

Arizona House Minority Leader Chad Campbell issued a statement saying:

“I am shocked and saddened by the news of Sen. Crandell’s passing. We didn’t always see eye to eye on things, but I have absolutely no doubt that Sen. Crandell worked on the issues he did because he believed they would improve Arizona. He served his constituents with honor and class. This is a great loss for our state and I offer my condolences to his family and his friends.”

All statements were issued on Monday following the announcement of the passing of the State Senator.

State Representative Brenda Barton, also an LD6 candidate, posted on her Facebook page August 4:

My friend and colleague passed away today doing what he loved; boots on in the saddle pushing cattle. I know the range he rides tonight, and I know he’s watching; but I miss him terribly.

(Updated August 8, 8:47)

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.

PJ’s Pajama Party

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Phoenix Suns player P.J. Tucker - Photo from FOX videoOPINION by Glen Davis

PHOENIX – Finally. Arizona is complying with the Eighth Amendment. Sort of.

You might recall last month when Arizona executed Joseph Wood while he slept. This has apparently had a significant impact on Arizona jurisprudence.

PJ Tucker will not have to spend time in icky old tent city in Phoenix for his extreme DUI conviction. He’s been sentenced to three days in Kawliforna.

While being sentenced to spend time in California might be a violation of the Eighth Amendment, he will have to spend his time in sunny, California in an air conditioned cell separated from the other icky inmates. And he will have to pay a whole $200 a day to do it!

In addition he will be grounded for eleven days when he returns home and have to have an ignition interlock device installed.

You or I would probably be held to the standard of Arizona Revised Statute 29-1382, Section D. 2:

A person who is convicted of a violation of subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section [Blood alcohol content of more than 0.20] shall be sentenced to serve not less than forty-five consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence is served.

There are possible extenuating circumstances surrounding any case of which we may be unaware. Maybe his apology had something to do with it. If you are ever arrested for extreme DUI, do not forget to apologize.

The lesson here is DO NOT drink and drive. Unless you have a significant bank account.

To be fair to Mr. Tucker, he may have been actually remorseful and may never do it again. Only time will tell.

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.

US 89 landslide repairs to begin later this month

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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.

Taxpayer money recovered through ADOT’s Insurance Recovery Unit

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PHOENIX — During the past 12 months, the Arizona Department of Transportation has recouped more than $3 million in damage to the state highway system, saving taxpayers from bearing the cost of repairs.

ADOT accomplishes this through its Insurance Recovery Unit that is made up of professionals with an insurance-industry background. These professionals reach out to the party responsible for damaging a highway component as well as the party’s insurance carrier to recover the repair costs, which include labor, equipment and materials. This money goes back into the state highway fund.

The Insurance Recovery Unit processed nearly 1,400 claims over the past 12 months.

“Insurance recovery aids us in being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” said Ted Howard, safety and risk management director. “This unit helps save taxpayers millions of dollars each year by holding the person who damages state property accountable for the cost of repairs.”

The recovery process begins when law enforcement responds to an incident where guardrail, a bridge or some component of the highway system was damaged. The officer will mark the damaged item with a sticker that has the police report number on it. ADOT maintenance is then notified of the damage and makes the repair. A member of the Insurance Recovery Unit will utilize the police report to contact the party that caused the damage or their insurance company to file a claim.

Since 2009, ADOT has processed more than 9,500 claims.

ADOT postpones early opening of new ramp at I-10/Loop 303 interchange this weekend

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PHOENIX – The planned early opening of one of the ramps that will soon connect Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in the West Valley will not take place this weekend, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

ADOT has decided to postpone opening the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 until overhead lighting is in place for all four of the ramps that will connect the two freeways.

Plans had called for crews to open the eastbound I-10 ramp to northbound Loop 303 ahead of schedule to reduce the amount of traffic using the construction detour route along McDowell Road and Cotton Lane.

The new ramp and three others at the I-10/Loop 303 interchange will instead open on schedule in September.

Work on the $145 million interchange connecting I-10 and Loop 303 began in November 2011.

ADOT MVD receives award for self-service kiosks

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PHOENIX – When the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division launched ServiceArizona.com in 1997, it was the nation’s first motor vehicle division online service for vehicle registrations.

Over the years, continual technological enhancements and the addition of multiple customer service features allow the website to handle more than eight million MVD-related transactions per year. In recognition of the most recent improvements, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators recently presented ADOT with a 2014 Public Affairs and Consumer Education (PACE) Award for the installation of self-service, touch-screen kiosks, which perform ServiceArizona transactions, in more than half of the statewide MVD offices.

“These kiosks allow customers to quickly and efficiently complete their transactions in an MVD office and we’re pleased that thousands are doing so each week,” said Stacey Stanton, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division.

In 2013, ServiceArizona.com was redesigned to enhance the browsing experience and to improve the capabilities of the website. In addition, many of the features available on the full-service website were made available on kiosks located in MVD offices.

Two types of kiosks were developed. The EXPRESS Registration Renewal kiosk is programmed for registration renewals only and the EXPRESS MVD Services features registration renewals in addition to 19 other transactions, including address changes, voter registration and temporary vehicle permits. Most of the larger MVD offices are equipped with both kiosks.

ADOT MVD offices conduct an average of 14,000 kiosk transactions each month.

The self-service kiosks were implemented to allow more customers in MVD field offices the opportunity to conduct transactions on their own without assistance from customer service representatives. By introducing customers to the time-saving benefits of the new touch-screen kiosks, ADOT hoped more customers would be encouraged to conduct future transactions online at ServiceArizona.com.

The PACE Awards program recognizes public relations, public affairs and consumer education excellence among the motor vehicle, law enforcement and traffic safety agencies across North America. The awards acknowledge creativity, cost effectiveness and the ability to reach consumers with a well-crafted, measured and executed message.

ADOT prepares for early opening of first ramp at I-10/Loop 303 interchange in Goodyear this weekend

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adot-logo3PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation is ready to open the first of four ramps at the freeway-to-freeway traffic interchange that will connect Interstate 10 and Loop 303 in Goodyear.

The elevated ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound Loop 303, which rises more than 70 feet above ground at its highest point, will open to traffic this weekend while crews continue their work to complete the remainder of the $145 million interchange project on schedule in September.

ADOT’s project team has been planning to open the first ramp at the interchange as soon as possible to reduce the amount of eastbound I-10 traffic, including commercial trucks, using the current Cotton Lane connection to northbound Loop 303 at Thomas Road.

When the new ramp opens, eastbound I-10 drivers will have a direct connection to northbound Loop 303, and will not have to exit at Citrus Road and use local streets, including Cotton Lane north of McDowell Road.

To allow crews to finish adding lane markings for the new ramp, eastbound I-10 will be narrowed to one lane overnight between Perryville and Citrus roads from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday (July 12). The eastbound I-10 exit ramp at Citrus Road also will be closed. Eastbound I-10 drivers should allow extra travel time while the overnight restriction is in place.

The new ramp from eastbound I-10 to northbound Loop 303 is expected to open to traffic by Saturday afternoon.

Completion of the I-10/Loop 303 interchange project by this fall will conclude ADOT’s series of five major projects that began in 2011 to improve Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway between I-10 in Goodyear and Grand Avenue (US 60) in Surprise.

The I-10 and Loop 303 improvement projects in the West Valley are funded as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by county voters in 2004. Projects are paid for with a countywide half-cent sales tax for transportation as well as the MAG region’s share of federal funds.