PHOENIX – 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 Construction crews have changed an outdated two-lane highway into a modern six-lane freeway with on- and off-ramps at major cross-street interchanges.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.

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.

For more information about the ADOT MVD, please visit azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX – At the recent Arizona-Mexico Commission plenary session, the organization recognized Arizona Department of Transportation Director John S. Halikowski for his work co-chairing the commission’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Ports Committee, spearheading the Transportation and Trade Corridor Alliance, and for his keen understanding of infrastructure issues facing border communities.

This year, the Arizona-Mexico Commission awarded the Tony Certósimo Award to Halikowski, who, according to the group, “has committed to fostering improved relations with Mexico for numerous years. His leadership has advanced Arizona’s important cross-border agenda with Mexico and has embraced the mission of the Arizona-Mexico Commission in support of a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship.”

During the award’s presentation, Arizona-Mexico Commission Executive Director Margie Emmermann applauded Halikowski for “understanding the marriage of infrastructure and economic development” and for championing this new vision throughout Arizona and beyond through his various Key Commerce Corridor efforts.

The award is given to an individual who embodies all that the Arizona-Mexico Commission strives to accomplish, according to the organization. The honor is named after the first executive director, who was influential in formalizing the Arizona-Mexico Commission by establishing its bylaws and developing the group as a nonprofit membership organization.

“John Halikowski deserves the Certósimo Award as he has embraced the mission of the Arizona-Mexico Commission to improve the economic prosperity and quality of life for all Arizonans though strong collaborations,” according to the nomination. “He has demonstrated this in his work and actions with all levels of the public and private sector on both sides of the border, and truly understands the importance of the relationship with Mexico for Arizona and sets the example for the agency he leads.”

The award was presented June 20 as part of the closing ceremonies for the semiannual meeting between Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Sonora Governor Guillermo Padrés Elías.

“As the Arizona Department of Transportation turns its focus to the Key Commerce Corridors for the state, the critical linkages between Arizona and Mexico require attention and investment, not only for Arizona but for the entire U.S.,” Halikowski said. “I’m honored to receive this award, which reflects the good work being done every day at ADOT to improve all of our critical connections that support economic development and prosperity.”

PHOENIX – Three highway projects by the Arizona Department of Transportation, including two major northern Arizona projects, won Engineering Excellence Grand Awards presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona earlier this year. Two other projects received Honor Awards.

The winning projects were the Interstate 17/State Route 69 Cordes Junction Traffic Interchange, the US 89T Interim US 89 Detour and a topographical survey on the State Route 89A improvement project through Oak Creek Canyon.

HDR Engineering, Inc., won a Grand Award for the I-17/SR 69 Cordes Junction traffic interchange project. This project was ADOT’s first federally funded highway project to be built under the construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) method in Arizona. The CMAR concept is an innovative contracting method that involves pairing a design team with a construction team to create one, coordinated entity that delivers a freeway project from beginning to end. This method can save time and money by overlapping the design and construction phases.

The US 89T project, built to serve as a detour to the landslide-damaged US 89, received the award for AZTEC Engineering Group’s coordinated effort to produce roadway plans and get environmental clearance in less than two months. This process normally takes one to two years to complete.

ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration, the Navajo Nation, Navajo Division of Transportation and Bureau of Indian Affairs worked together to accelerate the process in order to open the temporary route as soon as possible. US 89T cuts the original detour route via US 160 and SR 98 nearly in half, saving time and mileage.

The SR 89A improvement project, which will include repaving the roadway, replacing guardrail, repairing the bridge deck at Pumphouse Wash and mitigating rock falls in the area, received the award for David Evans and Associates’ innovative use of laser imaging technologies to conduct a topographical survey. The use of laser imaging resulted in fewer lane closures and significant savings in time and cost. Topographical surveys are a part of the design phase of a roadway project.

Honor Awards were received by URS Corporation for the redesign of the Interstate 10/State Route 90 interchange to solve safety and traffic capacity issues, and by Parsons Brinckerhoff for the Avenue 3E widening project from Gila Ridge Road to 24th Street in Yuma to provide better connectivity through the community.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona Engineering Excellence Awards competition recognizes engineering firms for projects that demonstrate an exceptional degree of innovation, complexity, achievement and value.

American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona is a member organization under the American Council of Engineering Companies, and is devoted exclusively to the business interests of engineers in private practice.

Operations and firefighter building awarded for architectural design

PHOENIX – The Operations and Aircraft Rescue and Firefight Facility (ARFF) building at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, owned and operated by the Arizona Department of Transportation, was recognized at the 22nd Annual Excellence in Masonry Architectural Awards sponsored by Arizona Masonry Guild on Sept. 20.

The ARFF building was presented with a Merit Award for architectural design at the guild’s annual banquet. The awards program honors projects for outstanding masonry design, workmanship and creativity with the use of brick, block or stone.

The winners include ADOT, LEA-Architects, LLC, TLCP Structural, Inc., FCI Contractors, Inc., Yavapai Block Co, Inc., Trig, Inc. and 3 North Natural Stone, LLC.

The building was recognized for its varying levels of lighting as a result of the architecture, consistency of building design and good use of a complex material. Awards are presented to the project owner, architectural firm, the structural engineering firm, general contractor, masonry supplier and masonry contractor for each winning project.

The Arizona Masonry Guild, Inc. is a non-profit organization celebrating 55 years of service to both the masonry industry and Arizonans.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has been recognized for its communications efforts with six national awards, winning first-place honors in every skills contest the agency entered.

The awards included ADOT’s “Pull Aside-Stay Alive” public education campaign that was featured in more than 600 media clips worldwide, and the agency’s crisis communications work in response to the US 89 landslide that closed a highway in northern Arizona in February.

The honors came from the annual meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Subcommittee on Transportation Communications, where transportation communication professionals exchange ideas in the transportation industry’s premier competition.

The awards were announced Thursday from Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Communicating with the public is vital to our mission at ADOT,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “We constantly work to communicate transportation issues in an easy-to-understand and timely fashion because of their importance to Arizona’s economy and quality of life. And our safety campaigns like the Haboob Haiku contest demonstrate innovative approaches to engaging the public.”

ADOT received the following awards:

• Excel Award (without a consultant) for the Pull Aside-Stay Alive public education program. This represents the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ highest award for public relations programs and campaigns. The award recognizes the specific techniques that made a pivotal contribution to the overall success of a broad-based communication endeavor using two or more public relations tools.
• Best Television Commercial or Public Service Announcement for the Pull Aside-Stay Alive 30-second video. In only 30 seconds, this impactful video shows viewers the very real danger of driving in a dust storm.
• Issues/Crisis Management Communication for the communications program in response to the US 89 landslide. This award recognizes a program or actions undertaken to deal specifically with a public relations crisis or other event that has an extraordinary impact on the organization.
• Best Micro-Blog for the ADOT Twitter account. This award recognizes the use of a social media platform to inform and engage the public.
• Best Use of Social Media in a Campaign for the Pull Aside-Stay Alive Haboob Haiku Challenge. This award recognizes the use of social media as part of a communications campaign. The initial five-day launch of the campaign was featured in more than 600 news stories worldwide, including CNN, the Weather Channel, The New York Times and the BBC.
• Best Display for the 20 Years of Partnering trade show display used at the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arizona Roads and Streets Conference and other industry events. This award recognizes the effectiveness and innovation for a large scale presentation or trade show booth.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study has received a great amount of attention and support since the study kicked off more than two years ago. ADOT reached out to members of the public during the course of the study to keep them informed and to get their feedback on how passenger rail between Phoenix and Tucson would best serve communities.

In recognition for these efforts, today the Arizona Chapter of the American Planning Association presented members of ADOT’s rail study team with an award for the best public outreach at its annual conference in Scottsdale. 

ADOT held two major rounds of public outreach during the past two years to gather input on the study. A third round of public outreach is set to begin in early October.

ADOT uses a number of different communication tools and strategies to keep the public, stakeholders, local governments, planning organizations, and state and federal agencies informed about the passenger rail study. Outreach efforts include dozens of events in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties, stakeholder meetings, nearly 7,000 surveys completed in-person and online, news releases, media interviews, blog posts and the use of social media.

ADOT focused on creating a presence at community events within the study area instead of relying solely on stand-alone agency meetings to get the word out about the rail study. Interactive booths and displays are used at local community events and festivals, allowing members of the public to learn about and provide input on the study. Comments are always being accepted throughout the course of the study.

“The idea of a passenger rail line that connects Phoenix and Tucson has received a high level of interest since the study began, so communication with all types of stakeholders has been extremely important,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “ADOT engaged the public through a variety of means, but most importantly, we went out to the communities to provide them with updates and get their thoughts and ideas of how passenger rail would be most effective in connecting Arizona’s two largest metropolitan areas.”

In July, ADOT narrowed the list of rail alternatives to three and is now moving forward with the Green Alternative, which would run along Interstate 10 between the two metropolitan areas; the Orange Alternative, which would serve East Valley population centers and share part of its alignment with the planned North-South Freeway Corridor; and the Yellow Alternative, which would also serve East Valley communities and share right of way with Union Pacific Railroad north of Eloy, where appropriate. All three alternatives would run along I-10 south of Eloy.

Now that the three final alternatives have been identified for further study, ADOT and the study team will move forward with the Draft Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement. There will be a 45-day public comment period early next year, along with three public hearings, that will address the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and allow the public and stakeholders to comment on the document. ADOT is working toward establishing one preferred alternative for further study and is expected to wrap up the study next year.

For more information about ADOT’s Passenger Rail Corridor Study, visit azdot.gov/passengerrail.