PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation efforts that have improved safety on a busy stretch of westbound US 60 in Tempe and advanced a first-in-the-nation system that reduces the risk from wrong-way drivers have been honored by a national organization dedicated to the management and operation of state highways.

Runner-up for Best Transportation Systems Management and Operations Project (Creative Solution) is ADOT’s pilot system using technology to reduce the risk from wrong-way drivers on 15 miles of Interstate 17 in Phoenix. The National Operations Center of Excellence is presenting its Best Transportation Systems Management and Operations Project Award (Creative Solution) to ADOT for lane adjustments and new signs that have improved traffic conditions and dramatically reduced minor, rear-end crashes on westbound US 60 (Superstition Freeway) approaching Interstate 10.

“Arizonans' safety will always be our No. 1 priority,” Governor Doug Ducey said. “ADOT's efforts to leverage technology and develop innovative solutions are bringing about real, measurable improvements to roadway safety. Arizona will continue to focus on how we can constantly improve the safety and reliability our roadways.”

On westbound US 60, a July 2018 project that changed lane striping to allow a second left lane to eastbound I-10, complemented by new signage, has improved overall traffic flow in the freeway’s left lanes. Compared to the five years before this improvement, crashes in those lanes have declined by 90 percent during afternoon peak hours.

ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations division partnered with the city of Tempe and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to study and implement the US 60 safety measures. 

The runner-up award for the I-17 wrong-way pilot system also honored stationing an AZDPS trooper at ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center in Phoenix as part of a comprehensive response designed to help law enforcement respond faster to wrong-way incidents than relying on 911 calls from other motorists.

Since it went into operation in January 2018, this system, using thermal cameras to immediately alert ADOT and AZDPS, has detected more than 40 wrong-way vehicles, most of which turned around on ramps without entering the freeway.

The system uses decision-support software to quickly alert other drivers to the danger through overhead message boards and ramp meter lights that hold on red to warn drivers not to enter the freeway. On off-ramps, self-illuminated wrong-way signs with flashing red LEDs attempt to get the attention of wrong-way drivers, most of whom are impaired.

Earlier this year, the I-17 system won a Government Innovation Award from GCN, an information technology industry magazine.

“It takes a creative, passionate and dedicated team to develop and deliver improvements like these that make a significant difference for travelers,” said Brent Cain, who leads ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations division. “Their work, in coordination with partner agencies, aligns with ADOT’s goals of improving safety and mobility throughout Arizona.”

ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations division includes a variety of traffic safety and operational programs, including roadway-safety improvements, traffic-signal systems, pavement conditions and crash response. It also includes technology used to manage congestion, such overhead message boards and closed-circuit cameras operated from the Traffic Operations Center.

“Innovative approaches that better manage our infrastructure and incorporate cutting-edge technology are why we reorganized in 2015 to create a Transportation Systems Management and Operations division,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “At the heart of this is a commitment to safety and to creating the most reliable transportation system in the nation.”

The National Operations Center of Excellence is a partnership of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Institute for Transportation Engineers and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, with support from the Federal Highway Administration.

PHOENIX – Arizona Highways magazine, published by the Arizona Department of Transportation, won 17 awards at the International Regional Magazine Association’s recent annual conference in Denver.

Among those, the magazine won three first-place Gold awards for a feature story by frequent contributor Matt Jaffe, a headline by Editor Robert Stieve and a portrait photograph by Scott Baxter.

“I’m tremendously proud of the incredible work being done every day by our team, especially the editorial and design team,” said Kelly Mero, publisher of Arizona Highways. “Every person at Arizona Highways contributed to these awards by making sure we bring the best products to market.”

This is the fourth straight year that the association has honored Arizona Highways with at least 16 awards.

Gold award winners:

• Nature & Environment: A Little Cat Goes a Long Way, by Matt Jaffe.
• Headline: Growing, Growing, Gone, by Robert Stieve.
• Portrait Photo: Dear Jim ..., by Scott Baxter.

Silver award winners:

• Profile: The Maverick, by Kelly Vaughn.
• Single Photo: In the Frame, by Derek Von Briesen.
• Photo Series: The Big Pictures: Monument Valley.
• Portrait Series: The Maverick, by Scott Baxter.
• Magazine Photographer of the Year: David Muench.
• Overall Art Direction: Barb Denney & Keith Whitney.
• Department: The Journal.
• Cover: February 2017.

Bronze award winners:

• Travel Feature: Fringe Benefits, by Matt Jaffe.
• General Feature: Identifying Flying Objects, by Matt Jaffe.
• Column: Editor’s Letter, by Robert Stieve.
• Art Direction Single Story: The Big Pictures: Red Rock Country, by Barb Denney.

Chris Gall received an award of merit for an illustration of Canyon de Chelly, and the magazine received a second award of merit for a Special Focus edition published in December 2017.

Founded in 1925, Arizona Highways is dedicated to promoting travel to and through the state of Arizona. In addition to the world-renowned magazine known for spectacular landscape photography, Arizona Highways publishes travel guide books, calendars and other products to promote travel in Arizona. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

Learn more at ArizonaHighways.com.

PHOENIX ‒ Arizona Highways has won 10 top prizes, including Magazine Writer of the Year and Photographer of the Year, from the International Regional Magazine Association.

At the association’s recent meeting in Banff, Canada, the Arizona Department of Transportation-produced magazine took home 22 awards in all, the most in the competition, and was a finalist for Magazine of the Year for work published in 2016.

“State highways are key commerce corridors not only because of commercial travel but because so many are drawn to the beauty of Arizona’s open spaces,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Arizona Highways has been an ambassador to people around the world for almost 100 years, and it continues to excel.”

Frequent Arizona Highways contributor Matt Jaffe won Magazine Writer of the Year for pieces about the history of thick-billed parrots in Arizona, the David and Gladys Wright House in Phoenix, trading posts still operating on tribal lands and historic fire lookouts.

Adam Schallau, who specializes in photos of the Grand Canyon, won Photographer of the Year for several of his appearances in Arizona Highways.

Other 2014 gold winners in writing were:

• Public Issues: Terry Greene Sterling, “Cutting It Down to Size”
• Historic Feature: Matt Jaffe, “Quite Wright”
• Essay: Craig Childs, “The Sound of Fallen Trees”
• General Feature: Annette McGivney, “Across the Great Divide”
• Department: Staff and contributors, “The Journal”
• Photo Series: Multiple photographers, “This Land is Your Land”
• Portrait Photo: David Zickl, “Out of the Ordinary”
• Portrait Series: David Zickl, “Getting Your Face Wet”

The International Regional Magazine Association was founded in 1960 to support and promote regional magazines in the United States and elsewhere.

Founded in 1925, Arizona Highways is dedicated to promoting travel to and through the state of Arizona. In addition to the world-renowned magazine known for spectacular landscape photography, Arizona Highways publishes travel guide books, calendars and other products to promote travel in Arizona. The magazine has subscribers in all 50 states and more than 110 countries.

Learn more at ArizonaHighways.com.

YUMA – A binational initiative to increase commerce and tourism in southwestern Arizona and the neighboring region in Mexico, stemming from a collaboration involving border communities and state entities including the Arizona Department of Transportation, has been honored for excellence in economic development.

The American Planning Association’s Economic Development Division selected the 4FrontED Initiative for its Donald E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award, saying the public-private partnership “is adding economic value to a multi-jurisdictional region where it may not have otherwise occurred.”

The 4FrontED region includes Yuma, Somerton, Wellton and San Luis in Arizona, as well as San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico. The Cocopah Indian Tribe is a recent member of the initiative.

In 2013, ADOT, the Arizona-Mexico Commission, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Arizona Office of Tourism worked with the border communities of Douglas, Nogales and San Luis/Yuma County to create the Arizona Border Communities Roadmap identifying assets and strategies to generate economic development.

The 4FrontED Initiative stems from a binational work program, the Border Business Case, that is the first step of the Border Communities Roadmap. Through the 4FrontED Initiative, communities and businesses in southwestern Arizona and in Mexico formed alliances to increase international commerce and tourism and develop strategies to connect investors with opportunities.

“ADOT recognizes that border communities, because of their binational nature, have unique needs but also present a number of valuable opportunities for growth and development,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “The collaborative approach through the Border Communities Roadmap ensures that we maximize the efforts to promote the region and foster new investment and job creation.”

Yuma Mayor Douglas J. Nicholls, who initiated 4FrontED’s launch, said the initiative’s successes have only just begun as participants unite behind its shared vision.

“We are doing so, in unison, with short-term and long-term goals, to put the region on the global map,” Nicholls said.

The award will be presented Monday, May 8, at the American Planning Association National Planning Conference in New York City.

PHOENIX – Arizona Highways, a world-renowned magazine that has been sharing stories and dramatic photography of Arizona for almost as long as the state has had roads, added to its reputation for excellence with 20 awards at this month’s International Regional Magazine Association conference.

The magazine, published by the Arizona Department of Transportation, won five first-place Gold Awards, including one for the April issue celebrating the 90th anniversary of Arizona Highways, which published its first edition on April 15, 1925.

Other Gold Awards presented to Arizona Highways for work in 2015:

• David Muench, Magazine Photographer of the Year for the December issue;
• Eric Hanson, for his graphic accompanying a Route 66 feature in the May issue;
• Editor Robert Stieve, for his monthly editor's letter;
• and Ben Coan, whose photo of Mooney Falls in the Grand Canyon opened The Journal, the magazine’s introductory column, in October.

Arizona Highways also earned seven Silver Awards, four Bronze Awards and four honorable mentions. The magazine won 11 IRMA awards in 2013 and 16 in 2014.

“The magazine’s strong showing at the IRMA awards this year underscores the nearly 93 years of publishing excellence at Arizona Highways magazine,” Publisher Win Holden said. “I was pleased that the magazine’s creative team received recognition in every major category of publishing: writing, design, photography and illustration.”

Among the Silver Awards presented to Arizona Highways were Annette McGivney in the Magazine Writer of the Year category; Scott Baxter for portraits of Clayson Benally (March); Craig Childs for his essay The Long Deep Trails of Water (June), and the magazine’s website, arizonahighways.com.

IRMA, founded in 1960, supports and promotes regional magazines in the United States and elsewhere. Arizona Highways has hosted the conference four times, most recently in 2012.

Gold Awards

• Editor's Letter: Robert Stieve
• Single Photo: Ben Coan, Let There Be Light, October
• Magazine Photographer of the Year: David Muench, December
• Graphic: Eric Hanson, On the Road Again, May
• Special Focus: 90th Anniversary Issue, April

Silver Awards

• Headline and Deck: Robert Stieve, She Knows Dam Well, March 2015
• Essay: Craig Childs, The Long Deep Trails of Water, June
• Magazine Writer of the Year: Annette McGivney
• Portrait Photo: John Sherman, Table of Contents, August
• Portrait Series: Scott Baxter, Their Souls Blend in a Soft Whisper, March
• Illustration: Jon Foster, Of Prehistoric Proportions, May
• Companion Website: arizonahighways.com

Bronze Awards

• Public Issues: Annette McGivney, For Land's Sake, July
• Profile: Kathy Montgomery, Sir David, December
• Reader Service Article: Noah Austin, Robert Stieve and Kelly Vaughn Kramer, Weekend Getaways, January
• Department: The Journal

Awards of Merit

• Historical Feature: Kayla Frost, Of Prehistoric Proportions, May
• Nature and Environment Feature: Annette McGivney, Ba'cho, August
• Art Direction of a Single Story: Barbara Glynn Denney, Jeff Kida and Keith Whitney, The Blue, July
• Cover: Barbara Glynn Denney, Salt River Canyon, November