Arizona Management System (AMS)

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

I-17 101 traffic interchange

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

ADOT’s commercial truck safety course a hit in Mexico

September 12, 2017

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation safety training program for commercial vehicle drivers using international ports of entry is proving so popular with trucking companies and government officials in Mexico that ADOT has doubled the number of training sessions planned for this fall.

“Trade with Mexico is one way our highways are Key Commerce Corridors that drive Arizona’s economy,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “With the support of officials in Sonora, Mexico, we are expanding a program that’s boosting international commerce while ensuring that commercial vehicles are safe.

Tim Lane, director of ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division, which conducts truck safety inspections at commercial ports of entry, said 46 commercial vehicle drivers attended the International Border Inspection Qualification program in the Sonoran capital of Hermosillo on Aug. 22 and 23.

Representatives from the Sonora governor’s office attended the event in Hermosillo, including Natalia Rivera Grijalva, chief of staff for Governor Claudia Artemiza Pavlovich Arellano, and Secretary Ricardo Martínez Terrazas for the Department of Infrastructure and Urban Development of Sonora. The event was covered by local newspapers, television and radio.

The program teaches commercial vehicle drivers what to expect during safety inspections when they enter Arizona through ports at San Luis, Nogales and Douglas. Including sessions in San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, and Douglas, 89 drivers have completed training and testing in the program’s first six weeks.

Commercial vehicle drivers who pass examinations at the end of the program are able to communicate with ADOT safety inspectors using WhatsApp, a popular smartphone messaging app. Qualified drivers can send photos of potential safety issues to inspectors, who tell them whether the photos show violations and, if so, how to correct them. Commercial vehicle drivers who have participated in IBIQ training can use WhatsApp at the border ports of entry in Nogales, San Luis and Douglas.

The International Border Inspection Qualification program is part of ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit launched last fall to train commercial vehicle drivers and mechanics on safety inspections at the border. The goal is for trucking companies to make any needed repairs before they approach the border, saving the companies time and money and allowing ADOT inspectors to focus on trucks that are more likely to have safety concerns.

The program is working: ADOT inspectors have conducted fewer border inspections over the past year but have found more violations, increasing safety on Arizona roads. Those improvements have led to more trucks crossing in Arizona instead of elsewhere, boosting the state’s economy.

The International Border Inspection Qualification program stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey. This approach to continuous improvement empowers employees at state agencies to come up with innovative ways to better serve customers.

The program initially scheduled four training sessions this fall but has added four more at the request of Mexican trucking officials, including one held last week in Douglas, Arizona. The remaining schedule:

  • Sept. 19-20 in Nogales, Sonora
  • Oct. 3-4 in Douglas, Arizona (to be conducted in English)
  • Oct. 11-12 in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora
  • Oct. 24-25 in Culiacán, Sinaloa
  • A yet-to-be-determined November date in Hermosillo, Sonora  

New MVD offices cost nothing to build because they’re totally digital

New MVD offices cost nothing to build because they’re totally digital

I-17 101 traffic interchange

New MVD offices cost nothing to build because they’re totally digital

New MVD offices cost nothing to build because they’re totally digital

August 29, 2017

PHOENIX – Opening a new customer service location usually means cutting a ribbon at the door, but that can’t happen at the newest Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices because they’re located entirely in cyberspace.

An analysis of MVD customer traffic for the 2017 fiscal year shows that the upsurge in online usage at ServiceArizona.com and its associated kiosks is essentially the same amount of traffic experienced at two large urban “brick and mortar” MVD offices.

In fiscal 2017, ServiceArizona.com and kiosk traffic accounted for a combined 7.9 million customer transactions such as vehicle registration renewal, ordering a specialty license plate, updating insurance information and many other functions. That’s an increase of about 286,000 online transactions compared to the previous fiscal year, which is approximately how many transactions two typical physical locations in Phoenix or Tucson will handle.

“MVD is serving more people every year, and adding online options means we get more people out of line and safely on the road,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “In the most recent fiscal year, our online growth was so great that we basically created the equivalent of two new MVD offices. That means customers in every part of Arizona get high-quality service at their convenience and on their schedule, and we are using taxpayer dollars more efficiently.”

Under the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey, MVD has taken a leading role in implementing new strategies designed to improve customer service. Among those introduced within the last year include providing online appointments for road tests, installing a function to update crucial auto insurance information and allowing veterans’ specialty plates to be ordered online.

The online innovations combined with more efficient operational strategies at physical locations have helped lower the average customer time spent in an urban office to approximately 25 minutes compared to nearly an hour in mid-2016.

For more information: azdot.gov/mvd.

From the Director: Improvements at our ports of entry mean business for Arizona

From the Director: Improvements at our ports of entry mean business for Arizona

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From the Director: Improvements at our ports of entry mean business for Arizona

From the Director: Improvements at our ports of entry mean business for Arizona

August 21, 2017

Port of Entry

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Transportation is a key component of commerce, especially at our international ports of entry. If there are delays at the ports, it can cost businesses time and money to move products to their final destinations. At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we are making great strides in improving efficiency at our international ports of entry, making our state an attractive route for commercial carriers.

While safety remains our top goal, we want to be as efficient as possible at helping commerce move across our border and into Arizona’s economy. By working closely with international trucking interests, we are supporting commercial traffic and boosting the economy not just in Arizona but along the Interstate 10 corridor and across the nation.

ADOT enforcement officers have identified system changes that are improving operations at our international ports in San Luis, Douglas and Nogales. By being consistent with our inspections, educating Mexican trucking companies and drivers on what to expect during these inspections, coordinating inspections with our federal partners, and employing the latest technology during the inspection process -- all of these efforts are bringing commerce back to AZ. Commercial truck traffic is up 7 percent at the San Luis port in just two months.

I am proud of our agency’s efforts to streamline processes and identify innovative ways to better serve our customers, all part of the Arizona Management System. The system improvements we are making at our international ports of entry mean business for our state. While still maintaining safety, reducing inspection times and lowering company costs, we are encouraging trucking companies to use Arizona as a key commerce state. Transportation is indeed a key component of commerce.


Director-Halikowski-headshot

 

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

 

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

Step by step, ADOT facial recognition process guards against identity fraud

August 15, 2017

PHOENIX – Since the Arizona Department of Transportation began using facial recognition technology and training in 2015 to protect Arizonans from identity theft, detectives have brought more than 100 cases to court.

It’s a process that begins when a person applies for or renews a driver license or ID card at a Motor Vehicle Division office or Authorized Third Party business, and it is a seamless part of the customer’s visit.

After the customer’s picture is taken, the photo goes through a check against all others in the state driver license database while the customer finishes the application process.

All of the analysis takes place inside a computer, and if the system finds the applicant’s photo likely matches another photo under a different name, it flags the photos, putting a temporary stop on printing the permanent card. The photos are then sent to FBI-trained staff members at ADOT’s Office of Inspector General where they undergo three levels of review to verify that the photos are of the same person.

“This high-tech tool has really enhanced our ability to catch identity thieves,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of the Office of Inspector General. “When we couple this technology with other security measures like central credential issuance, it allows us to stop these criminals and keep Arizona IDs out of their hands.”

 

facial-recognition-comparison

The detectives and staff members are trained to look for similarities in facial features and even account for identical twins. If photos are confirmed to be the same person on multiple profiles, ADOT detectives will open an investigation.

If detectives determine that a person is committing fraud, the license or ID card is never printed. The temporary credentials customers receive at MVD offices and Authorized Third Party businesses expire after 30 days.

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

For more information about applying for an Arizona driver license or ID card, please visit: azdot.gov/driverlicenseinfo.

Replacing wiper fluid jugs with tablets saves money - and more

Replacing wiper fluid jugs with tablets saves money - and more

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Replacing wiper fluid jugs with tablets saves money - and more

Replacing wiper fluid jugs with tablets saves money - and more

August 14, 2017

By Steve Elliott / ADOT Communications

ADOT's culture of continuous improvement has every employee, everywhere, solving problems every day. Under the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey, we're constantly looking for ways to improve our value to customers including you.

The video above explains how one employee's suggestion has paid big dividends at our Equipment Services shops, which maintain and repair ADOT vehicles as well as vehicles from other agencies.

Justin Mein, a technician at the Tucson shop, looked at all the bottles of wiper fluid used at his operation and suggested an alternative: tablets that can be dropped into water in a vehicle's reservoir to create wiper fluid.

The benefits begin with taxpayer dollars – using tablets costs 71 cents less per gallon than relying on bottled wiper fluid – but involve much more than that. The tablets eliminate the waste of employees having to lug around gallon jugs of wiper fluid. The change also has greatly reduced plastic waste and the storage space that must be devoted to wiper fluid.

Previous ADOT blog posts have shared videos highlighting employee ideas that have improved how we upgrade overhead message boards, protect highway signs from graffiti and repair street sweepers, among other subjects. We'll have many more to share in the coming months.

Technology making Arizona roads safer, boosting economy

Technology making Arizona roads safer, boosting economy

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Technology making Arizona roads safer, boosting economy

Technology making Arizona roads safer, boosting economy

August 10, 2017

PHOENIX – A popular smartphone messaging app is helping to make Arizona roads safer for motorists and truck drivers while reducing congestion at the international border and boosting Arizona’s economy.

As part of a first-of-its-kind safety certification program for truck drivers and trucking firms in Mexico, the Arizona Department of Transportation is using WhatsApp to help qualified drivers and mechanics know whether their trucks meet Arizona safety requirements before heading to the border.

It’s part of an effort that has members of ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit offering a two-day International Border Inspection Qualification safety course in Mexico. The first workshop was held recently in San Luis Río Colorado, and the next is scheduled for Aug. 22-23 in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora.

“We’re taking this historic step because a border crossing process that is efficient for international commerce and improves roadway safety is absolutely essential for both Arizona and Sonora,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “This innovative program is part of an ongoing effort to make sure we are doing our jobs the best way possible in the interest of both economic growth and safety on Arizona roads.”

Drivers who complete the course and pass both a 65-question test and a practical exam of truck safety will receive a certificate allowing them to use WhatsApp to send photos of trucks to ADOT inspectors before they approach the border. Inspectors will either tell them the truck meets safety requirements or explain what needs to be corrected.

It’s an extension of an effort launched in 2016 to teach commercial truckers in Mexico what to expect in safety inspections once they enter Arizona. The Border Liaison Unit held safety inspection classes at three border ports of entry – San Luis, Nogales and Douglas – before taking its training program into Mexico.

These efforts stem from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey. This approach to continuous improvement empowers employees at state agencies to come up with innovative ways to better serve customers.

Juan Ciscomani, the governor’s senior adviser for regional and international affairs, praised ADOT’s efforts.

“ADOT is conducting trainings focused on helping transportation companies better prepare for the safety inspection process once they enter Arizona,” Ciscomani said. “This work is helping speed up the flow of trade and improving the competitiveness of our region, which has been a priority for Governor Ducey.”

Next round of SR 51 ramp meter adjustments begins

Next round of SR 51 ramp meter adjustments begins

I-17 101 traffic interchange

Next round of SR 51 ramp meter adjustments begins

Next round of SR 51 ramp meter adjustments begins

August 7, 2017

PHOENIX – Starting this week, the timing of ramp-meter signals along southbound State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) are being adjusted to respond to the flow of morning rush-hour traffic, expanding an Arizona Department of Transportation program that began last fall along the freeway’s northbound on-ramps.

Instead of the ramp meters being programmed with predetermined red-light intervals, the system will use data from traffic-flow sensors embedded in the freeway’s pavement to adjust the signal timing. When morning rush-hour traffic slows, the ramp meters may hold vehicles several additional seconds to help ease the congestion.

The change involves southbound SR 51 on-ramp meters from Greenway to Thomas roads. The southbound ramp meter at Shea Boulevard isn’t currently in use.

As with the northbound State Route 51 ramp meters during the afternoon rush hour, the southbound meters may even turn off earlier in the morning based on how well freeway traffic is flowing.

Drivers may notice new signs along southbound SR 51 on-ramps advising them of the signal timing changes.

The ramp meter project supports one of ADOT’s key performance indicators under the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey: reducing the percentage of time freeways in the Phoenix metro area are congested.

Ramp meters have been in use for many years across the country and at many Phoenix-area freeway on-ramps during busy rush hours to enhance traffic flow, as well as safety, by controlling the number of vehicles entering freeways at any one time.

The upgrades along SR 51 provide a way to look at expanded capabilities of ramp-meter technology. Most ramp meters along Valley freeways are currently programmed with predetermined red-light intervals. Hours of operation for the meters have been based on historical traffic data.

The SR 51 ramp meters using the new responsive system are programmed to adjust to freeway traffic flow and the volume of traffic entering the freeway. Detectors along the entrance ramps also assess if ramp traffic is backing up, allowing the system to further adjust the red and green light timing to limit the amount of traffic waiting to enter the freeway.

ADOT is working closely with the city of Phoenix on the ramp meter research project and will continue to monitor any impacts to traffic on local streets intersecting with SR 51.

From the Director: Times Are A-Changing at MVD

From the Director: Times Are A-Changing at MVD

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From the Director: Times Are A-Changing at MVD

From the Director: Times Are A-Changing at MVD

July 12, 2017

MVD Office

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Times -- they are changing at the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. Literally! The wait times at our Phoenix and Tucson MVD offices have been cut in half compared to last year. We have expanded the office hours at our MVD urban offices in Phoenix and Tucson, opening the doors at 7:30 a.m. to help meet customer needs. These efforts are resulting in great success.

I commend our employees at MVD who have embraced the Arizona Management System philosophy of finding change for the better. Instead of customers having to sit and wait to be served, a very arduous process a year ago, today we have employees providing assistance and answering questions upon arrival that reduce the amount of time a customer spends at an MVD office. Since February, customers at the 15 MVD offices in metro Phoenix and Tucson are now averaging fewer than 30 minutes from the moment they enter an office to the time they leave. Our rural MVD offices are also experiencing a reduction in wait times.

We have also introduced kiosks in MVD offices and offer more services online, reducing the amount of time customers need to spend at an MVD office. It follows our vision to get people out of line and safely on the road.

There are now 168 third party providers in locations statewide. Most third party providers offer similar services at an MVD office like drivers and motorcycle licenses, travel identification cards, and title and registrations. For a list of third party providers, visit the ADOT website, azdot.gov/mvd.

By opening our urban MVD offices a half an hour early, the results are showing better customer service. Our employees can have flexible schedules to meet the high demand times, the early morning and lunch time hours. We are saving on overtime costs as employees have time to complete their tasks during the day.

I am happy that our customer service representatives will have time now to continue their training. Beginning July 12, the urban MVD offices will open at noon to allow time for employee continuing education programs. This time change will occur on the second Wednesday of each month.

Times – they are changing at MVD – for better customer service and less wait time. Stay tuned, more innovations are on the way.


Director-Halikowski-headshot

 

This post originally appeared on ADOT Director John Halikowski's 
LinkedIn page. He has led the agency since 2009.

 

 

Continuous Improvement: Retrofitting overhead message boards

Continuous Improvement: Retrofitting overhead message boards

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Continuous Improvement: Retrofitting overhead message boards

Continuous Improvement: Retrofitting overhead message boards

July 6, 2017

By Peter Corbett / ADOT Communications

Earlier this week, we shared how a bright idea by ADOT employees is allowing us to upgrade rather than replace 20-year-old overhead electronic message boards.

This innovative approach provides more readable message boards and saves taxpayer dollars. While replacing a board would cost $300,000, a retrofit using the kit employees developed costs just $42,000. And it saves about $1,000 a year in energy costs for each message board.

In ADOT's culture of continuous improvement, we call this a kaizen (pronounced ky-ZEN). That means something that improves safety, improves efficiency by reducing waste or, as is the case here, accomplishes both.

The video above shows this kaizen in action. Please take a look.

 

A bright idea creates better highway message boards at a reduced cost

A bright idea creates better highway message boards at a reduced cost

I-17 101 traffic interchange

A bright idea creates better highway message boards at a reduced cost

A bright idea creates better highway message boards at a reduced cost

July 3, 2017

PHOENIX ‒ A bright idea by Arizona Department of Transportation employees delivers clearer messages on overhead electronic signs along state highways, while saving taxpayer dollars.

As part of ADOT’s commitment to continuous improvement, employees developed a retrofit kit to replace old halogen light bulbs with state-of-the-art LED lighting for message signs that provide drivers with information about highway conditions, incidents and travel times. Such an improvement, referred to in continuous improvement as kaizen, reduces waste, improves safety or, in the case of this employee-driven idea, accomplishes both.

“The LED system is a brighter, clearer light, so it’s easier to see the signs and read the messages,” said Chuck Hill, ADOT traffic signals and lighting supervisor.

Rather than replacing an older message board when the need arises, at a cost of $300,000, ADOT crews replace the original halogen bulbs and mechanical shutters that had been used to create messages. The cost for a retrofit is significantly lower, at about $42,000 per message board.

dmssigna
The retrofit kit, in use since 2014, also replaces wiring and upgrades the message board’s control box.

Each upgrade replaces 20-year-old technology that requires monthly maintenance. In addition, the maker of the existing boards has gone out of business, so no replacement parts are available.

The LED system uses 60 percent less energy, resulting in an annual savings of about $1,000 per sign.

Forty-five message boards in the Phoenix area have been retrofitted since 2014, and many other signs around the state have received or will receive the upgrade.

As ADOT retrofits message boards, drivers get clearer messages delivered by more reliable signs.