Arizona Management System (AMS)

At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we are all about improving our processes whereby safety and quality are enhanced, and eliminating wastes. The effort is called “kaizen.” In our Continuous Improvement culture, kaizen can be a noun (change for the better) or verb (make change for the better).

PHOENIX – As the Arizona Department of Transportation fosters an environment of continuous improvement and waste reduction, one idea has created savings in trips to equipment shops and the cost of tire repairs: the pokey picker upper.

What is a “pokey picker upper?” Simply put, it’s a magnet that is attached to the front of an ADOT maintenance truck that hovers just above the ground collecting metal pieces and shards along the highway shoulders.

PHOENIX – When commercial truckers purchase their permits for driving through Arizona online ahead of time or use a cashless method at the port of entry, they spend less time making payments and get on their way faster. 

PHOENIX – While 2020 presented many challenges, the Arizona Department of Transportation continued to serve drivers in northern Arizona by using different methods, including the innovative bridge slide, to improve bridges to keep cross-country commerce flowing and increase the mobility of local traffic.

PHOENIX – Several major bridge and intersection replacement projects in southern Arizona presented a big challenge for the Arizona Department of Transportation in 2020: How to replace existing structures or entire interchanges without closing highways on projects that last up to two years.

The agency applied several innovative approaches to do just that, keeping passenger vehicles and commerce moving while minimizing potentially disruptive restrictions and closures.

PHOENIX – At the Arizona Department of Transportation, 2020 saw the creation of a terrifying distracted driving awareness campaign, a tragic reminder of the need to drive safely in work zones and the adaptive nature of traffic safety professionals.

For National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in October, ADOT launched its “Distracted Drivers Terrify Me” public awareness campaign. The campaign features regular people doing jobs most of us find frightening. What’s the only thing that terrifies the venomous snake handler? Distracted drivers, of course.

PHOENIX – A transportation agency cannot stop hazardous dust storms from blowing across highways, but in 2020 the Arizona Department of Transportation pioneered a first-ever in the nation detection and warning system that now provides quick and reliable information to help motorists slow down for safety during storms.

PHOENIX – Need to make an in-office appointment at the MVD? Don’t pick up the phone, go online and pick the location and time that works best for you.

Customers can now go to the web and schedule an in-office appointment for any service at Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices. Previously, in-office appointments could be scheduled online for a selection of transactions.

PHOENIX – Eggs...bread...milk...vehicle registration renewal. Yes, renewing your vehicle’s registration can now be completed during a trip to the grocery store, and many other locations, too.

Through CheckFreePay® from Fiserv, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is giving customers another convenient option to renew their vehicle’s registration.

PHOENIX — When snow begins to fall, trained Arizona Department of Transportation snowplow operators will work around the clock to keep the roads safe. Ever-evolving technology incorporated into the snowplows help give the operators a leg up during their 12-hour shifts.

AZMVDNow has introduced a new feature to help you find the service you need.

PHOENIX – New realities mean finding new ways to train emergency responders.

A year ago, during National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Week, hundreds of emergency responders gathered at locations across Arizona to take a TIM training course and learn how to keep themselves and motorists safe when responding to roadway incidents.

In 2020, TIM Week is different.

Though 2020 had a 'nonsoon,' it did give us a good trial for our innovative new dust detection and warning system on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.

We here at the ol' ADOT ranch love the men and women who ply the roadways in commercial vehicles. 

Whether it's driving a big rig all over the fruited plain or delivering doughnuts to the local gas station, commercial drivers are, in many ways, the lifeblood of our economy. (Kinda like doughnuts are the lifeblood of many of the hired hands here at the ranch).

But we digress ...

PHOENIX – The days of Commercial Driver License (CDL) customers only being able to go to a handful of MVD offices for those services are over.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division now offers most CDL services at all full-time MVD locations statewide. Previously, CDL customers were required to travel to a limited number of MVD locations.

Customer-focused. Transparency. Accountability. Efficiency.

These words describe the new process of using ADOT’s E-Grants system to process planning invoices from Councils of Governments (COGs) and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) that receive funds from both the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. Since its launch six months ago, ADOT has reduced the reimbursement processing time from an average of 33 days to four days. So, how did the teams at our Multimodal Planning Division and Financial Management Services do it?

PHOENIX – A new technique that basically slides precast bridges into place has greatly reduced delays for the Bellemont community with an Arizona Department of Transportation project replacing spans over Interstate 40 at Transwestern Road west of Flagstaff.

Those driving along State Route 347 between Interstate 10 and Riggs Road will see large white decals being tested on the pavement.

The speed limit is now displayed on the highway pavement in large white decals as part of an effort to improve safety along SR 347 between Interstate 10 and Riggs Road.