Arizona Port of Entry Study

Arizona’s Ports of Entry (POE) monitor commercial traffic entering Arizona for registration, taxes, size and weight restrictions, commercial driver license requirements, insurance requirements and equipment safety requirements, and issue permits as required.

ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division (ECD) conducts commercial vehicle enforcement operations at 22 fixed POEs. 14 of the 22 POEs are domestic ports, and eight POEs are located at the international border with Mexico. Through the fixed POE system and mobile enforcement, peace officers check commercial vehicles for compliance with size, weight, and safety laws, including those related to the transportation of hazardous materials.

In addition, Enforcement Services Bureau (ESB) certified peace officers inspect vehicles for authorized ownership, monitors and recovers stolen vehicles and vehicle components, and completes administrative and criminal investigations. As with any other transportation asset, POE facilities must be maintained and modernized.

This Arizona Ports of Entry Study documents needs and recommends prioritized investments to address the needs at each of the 14 domestic POE. The information will be used to assist ECD and ADOT to determine the level of investment needed, and their prioritization of the investments.

The Arizona POE Study includes the following elements:

  • Develop a comprehensive list of POE improvement needs through a data-driven process and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), POE staff, and stakeholder outreach.
  • Prepare a baseline description of an “optimal” POE facility to serve as a guide for needs identification and POE project development.
  • Develop improvement projects and costs
  • Rank improvements using a performance-based process to evaluate, score, and prioritize the projects.
  • Prepare a Return on Investment Analysis for the 14 domestic Ports of Entry.
  • Summarize findings in a Report that documents POE conditions, the “optimal” POE description, POE needs, potential improvement projects and investments, planning-level costs, and a scored prioritization process. The final report will also include the Return on Investment analysis.

POE Classifications

To facilitate analysis documented in this report, the POEs were organized into three POE classifications which represent their varying levels of infrastructure needs. The POE classifications are:

  • Primary POEs. Located on interstates and major divided highways, these POEs generally have separate inbound and outbound facilities, most hours of operation, and serve the highest number of commercial vehicles.
  • Secondary POEs. Located primarily on two-lane highways, these POEs do not have separate inbound and outbound facilities and have regular but more limited hours of operation as compared to Primary POEs. Secondary POEs serve a moderate number of commercial vehicles.
  • Tertiary POEs. Located primarily on two-lane US highways, do not have a separate outbound facility, no regular hours of operation, but mobile details may be performed, and serve the fewest number of commercial vehicles.

The Arizona POEs included in this analysis shown in graph below:

AZ Port of Entry Classification Map