The entertainment industry has its annual awards that showcase “the best of” in movies and TV shows. The transportation industry is no different as we have annual awards programs that recognize transportation projects that are making a difference in communities across the country. I am pleased to announce the Arizona Department of Transportation recently received three regional awards in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards competition.

Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AAA, America’s Transportation Awards showcases transportation projects delivered by state departments of transportation and tells the story of the importance of transportation to our communities. With 79 projects nominated nationwide in three categories, the competition was fierce.

Under the category “Best Use of Technology and Innovation – Large Project,” ADOT won for the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project. As our first public-private freeway project in ADOT’s history and the state’s largest single highway project at $2 billion total, the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway project is the final leg of the loop transportation system in the metropolitan Phoenix area that connects the West Valley to the East Valley. Using the P3 method, we built the freeway as a single project and saved nearly $100 million. We are already witnessing the economic development opportunities in the area and reduction in commute times for drivers.

Under the category “Quality of Life/Community Development – Small Project,” ADOT tied for first place with the State Route 347 at Union Pacific Railroad project. We built a six-lane divided overpass with raised medians and sidewalks to carry traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians over the railroad track in the City of Maricopa. Now, the community doesn’t have to wait for trains to pass by on its main north-south corridor. The City of Maricopa is reaping the benefits of the project with shortened emergency response times and construction has begun on several commercial projects. Most importantly, drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists can safely travel on this major corridor without delay due to train traffic.

Under the category “Operations Excellence – Medium Project,” ADOT tied for first place again with the I-10/SR 87 Improvement Project with Dust Detection System. This project added a travel lane in each direction on a four-mile stretch of Interstate 10. We also built a modern interchange at SR 87 with two lanes in each direction plus turn lanes and traffic signals over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. But, the cornerstone of the project is the installation of a first-in-its-kind dust detection and warning system. Blinding dust storms in the area between Tucson and Phoenix have been a safety concern to us for years. The dust detection system is helping us improve safety for the traveling public.

As a regional winner, our projects will be considered for the next phase of the nationwide competition, making it into the “Top 12” list. These 12 projects compete for the two top prizes – the Grand Prize, chosen by an independent panel of judges, and the People’s Choice Award which is determined by the public through online voting this fall.

I applaud the men and women at ADOT who design, build and maintain a transportation system that ensures we meet our True North, Safely Home. And thank you as well to the many stakeholders involved in these award-winning projects. Receiving the recognition by our peers in transportation makes me very proud and validates the outstanding work we do for the people of Arizona.

Earlier this week, the Federal Highway Administration made public the results of the State Safety Performance Targets for 2018. It was heartening to see that Arizona rated “met or made significant progress.”

At the same time, there are still far too many preventable collisions occurring on all Arizona roadways – state highways, county roads, city streets and tribal roads – and we can all make better decisions behind the wheel that will result in fewer crashes.

Reducing crashes isn’t something that ADOT alone can address because more than two-thirds of crashes happen on roads other than the state highway system. That’s one reason why traffic safety stakeholders throughout Arizona are working together on Arizona’s Strategic Traffic Safety Plan (STSP). ADOT leads this effort, which is a comprehensive framework for reducing fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways, and includes federal, state, local and other safety stakeholders. The purpose of the STSP is to bring together city, county, federal and other stakeholders to leverage our collective resources and work together to address transportation safety issues.

When making improvements to highways, ADOT looks for ways to include elements that increase safety for all roadway users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Here are a few recent examples from around Arizona:

• In Flagstaff, construction of a new, wider Fourth Street bridge over Interstate 40 will improve traffic flow and have a dedicated path for bicycles and pedestrians, connecting the Flagstaff Urban Trail System across the interstate.
• The I-10 restriping project near the Loop 101 interchange in Phoenix’s West Valley improved safety and traffic flow. After adjusting lanes, restriping and making sign upgrades, traffic backups have been reduced and DPS is receiving fewer calls to respond to fender-benders in the area.
• Phase 2 of the Interstate 19/Ajo Way Traffic Interchange project in Tucson has improved traffic flow and safety due to the widening of I-19 and Ajo Way/State Route 86 and will replace the Michigan Avenue pedestrian bridge.

These are just some of the engineering examples that are improving Arizona’s state highway system. Many other projects are planned or under construction. But even with highways built to exacting safety standards, we still need drivers to make good decisions behind the wheel.

We’ve heard the phrase “living in unprecedented times” so often over the past few months that it’s become a cliche. That doesn’t make it any less true, and for the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division, the effects of the public health emergency actually have been unprecedented, specifically in how we’re able to meet customer demand.

When the emergency was declared, MVD never closed. Our first responsibility is to serve the public and to do so safely. Because of our commitment to doing all we can to offer vital services, we either initiated or refined business practices in ways we never contemplated before. A lot of the credit for making these changes work goes to the professionalism and dedication of our front-line employees and leadership. 

Among the things we did were to set up an appointment system for offices, limiting services to first time license and registration. License renewals were extended by six months for anyone whose credential expires between March and September of this year. MVD leadership also responded with quickness to set up a statewide customer service hotline so people can make appointments and set up AZ MVD Now accounts. 

Even with that action, call center operations have been diminished, meaning call queues can be more than 30 minutes before reaching a customer service representative. 

The system isn’t perfect, but the fact it exists at all is a testament to the creativity and dedication of every MVD employee. We stood up what amounts to a call center in a matter of days and we’re working each day to make it better.

Our offices can handle about 4,000 people a day as opposed to the normal level of about 14,000. You can see how that puts pressure on a phone system where perhaps 200 or so customer service agents are available at any one time. 

That number fluctuates because of the pandemic. In fact, we can generally plan on having only about 70 percent of our workforce available on a given business day. When an MVD employee tests positive for COVID-19, many of his or her office colleagues will also get tested. That’s a days-long commitment that usually means that office is closed, further burdening the rest of the system. 

Some customers have contacted MVD worried that registration tabs have taken longer than expected to be sent via the U.S. Mail. Even if there is such a delay, once a first-time registration or a renewal has been paid, the customer’s accurate status is updated to the MVD database accessible to law enforcement. Customers may also wish to keep their receipts after making payment. 

Additionally, drivers whose license expires between March and September of 2020 have had that date automatically updated by six months and do not need to visit MVD for a renewal until the new date. 

We recognize this is not the level of service that the public has come to expect, or that we expect from ourselves, and we are working hard to find new ways to safely and effectively serve the public.  At the same time, we have offices around the state with front-line workers dedicated to keeping pace with the needs of our customers. Under stressful and hectic conditions, they are pushing forward to provide critical services for the public. We are making process and technology improvements every day to make the situation better for Arizonans.

We are all in this together, as stated by Governor Doug Ducey at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and I couldn’t agree more. At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we want to do our part to help ease the challenges we are all facing during these unprecedented times. Here are just a few ways ADOT is helping with COVID-19 relief efforts.

It is evident during this crisis that the public is relying on an efficient transportation system to keep grocery stores’ shelves stocked and delivery of medical supplies to our hospitals, first responders, pharmacies and others in the health care industry.

ADOT recently opened two rest areas in northern Arizona for truckers hauling essential supplies. While these openings are temporary, we know the Parks and Christensen Rest Areas provide a place for truck drivers to get the rest they need as they help all of us. These two rest areas are only open to commercial vehicles. Our other ADOT rest areas remain open for all travelers.

In addition, food trucks are now allowed to operate at eight rest areas along interstate freeways. Food truck owners can visit azdot.gov/permits to apply for a permit to sell food at these rest areas. There is no cost for the permit and it will be good for 30 days. I want to thank Governor Ducey for his assistance, through an Executive Order, which ensures truckers have access to nutritious food while hauling vital supplies across our country.

Under normal conditions, a commercial truck cannot weigh more than 80,000 pounds as it travels in the state unless the trucking company has purchased an overweight permit. To ensure critical supplies of medical equipment, safety gear, and food are transported to needed areas in the state, ADOT is allowing commercial trucks with gross weights of up to 90,000 pounds to travel in the state without securing an overweight permit. The temporary weight limits apply to commercial vehicles that are providing direct assistance to COVID-19 relief efforts. We feel it is vital that our processes do not hinder the delivery of supplies to the people of Arizona.

Finally, ADOT reallocated more than 2,600 N95 respirator masks to two state-operated assisted care facilities to help address the need for personal protective equipment for health care personnel. The recipients were the Arizona State Veteran Home in Phoenix and the Arizona Pioneers Home in Prescott. ADOT had purchased the N95 masks during a previous viral outbreak. We were able to assess our inventory and help others who are on the front lines taking care of patients.

At ADOT, we want to do our part to help with relief efforts. Visit Arizonatogether.org to find out how you can help with relief efforts. We are all in this together. 

It has been said that engineers solve problems you didn’t know you had in ways you don’t understand.

At the Arizona Department of Transportation, our engineers do work that is technical and often complicated, and we depend on them to solve problems every single day. More importantly, our ADOT engineers play a big role in getting everyone safely home, our True North. Their expertise and problem-solving abilities help us to achieve our Mission, “Connecting Arizona.  Everyone. Everywhere. Every Day.” and our Vision, “Moving Arizona. Becoming the safest, most reliable transportation system in the nation.”

Of course, “engineer” isn’t a one-size-fits-all label at ADOT. We have engineers who design our safe and reliable highways. We have engineers who test and analyze the soil we build on, giving us a safe, solid foundation. We have engineers who work on systems that keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. We even have engineers-in-training, who get training and experience in building safe roads.

Every ADOT employee plays a role in fulfilling our agency’s True North, Mission and Vision but this week, I want to give a special shout out to our engineers in recognition of National Engineers Week.

Started by the National Society of Professional Engineers in 1951, the week is celebrated every year to bring attention to the contributions of engineers while emphasizing the importance of math, science and technical skills.

This week, I encourage you to check out our ADOT Blog where we are featuring posts that showcase the engineers of ADOT and the work they perform.  I know you will appreciate the important work they do and are indeed worthy of the recognition.

Many of us probably don’t think twice when asked to show a form of identification. Our identification can be in the form of a driver’s license, student ID card, military ID, or passport. Imagine you are a veteran who is experiencing homelessness and not having any identification at all. What does a veteran do?

For many years, the Arizona Housing Coalition’s Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance has sponsored an event called Maricopa County StandDown Day. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has been a partner at this event as long as I can remember. It is held at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, to help veterans with such government services as identifications, housing assistance, medical services and the list goes on.

MVD employees are there to help with driver licenses, identification cards, and title and registration services. Our driver's license transactions include written tests and vision screenings along with road tests. We set up temporary computer workstations so all the transactions are recorded in our system.

This year, MVD employees assisted 769 veterans experiencing homelessness. They processed 671 transactions, administered 21 written tests, and conducted 13 road tests.  We now have veterans who have some type of identification card and can gain access to services they need.

I am very proud of our partnership with the annual StandDown Day and wish to thank our MVD employees who help our veterans who are in need. Helping our veterans gain identification is a service we are proud to offer and a small gesture of our appreciation for their service to our country.  

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?

Before using the E-Grants system, planning managers would receive multiple invoices from grant recipients in transit and transportation as each finance line had to have its own invoice. The process to approve invoices lent itself to data entry errors, reworking of invoices and greater lag time in getting reimbursements paid.

Through a Plan-Do-Check-Act process, Transit partnered with Regional Planning to improve the system for the customers who were paying too many invoices. The teams designed a reimbursement form in the web-based system, E-Grants, that has fewer data entry fields which means less errors and rework, and most importantly, less time needed by ADOT staff to review and approve the invoices entered into the system. Customers have access to E-Grants as well so they can see the status of their grants, especially balances, and submit invoices as needed per billing period. Planning managers can review two-year work programs for each customer as E-Grants stores the documents, saving time in locating the information.

But, the teams didn’t create this new tool in a vacuum. ADOT used customer feedback and input from team members to design the reimbursement form in E-Grants that is customer-focused and efficient. It is transparent for all parties involved and everyone is accountable for the work being performed.

This is another example of ADOT reducing wastes in our processes and in turn bringing efficiency and value to the customers we serve.

Nov. 10-16 is Traffic Incident Management Week. What do I mean by “Traffic Incident Management?” 

Here’s the short version: When crashes occur, TIM strategies keep safe those involved in the collisions, the professionals responding to the collisions and the traveling public that comes upon the crash scene, as well as reducing duration and impacts these crashes have on traffic.

TIM is important. TIM techniques are time-tested and effective. Most importantly, all of us, even when driving in our own cars, can contribute. Here are three TIM tips for making roadways safe for everyone:

• If you’re involved in a non-injury fender-bender, the misconception that it’s best to stay put can leave you in danger, increase risks for emergency responders and other motorists. Instead, drive your car out of travel lanes to the shoulder. Then call for help and exchange information with the other drivers in a safe place.
   
• When you come upon a crash scene and responders are working in travel lanes, be sure to pay attention to them.
   
• Whenever you see any vehicle stopped on the shoulder of a road with lights flashing, “Move Over” one lane to the left or slow down if it isn’t safe to change lanes. By moving over, you’re providing a safer place for emergency responders to work and for stranded motorists to inspect their cars.

Actually, there’s a fourth item, too. Share these TIM tips with family and friends so even more drivers become aware of how they can contribute to making our roads safer! We all should care about traffic incident management!

What does it mean to be “One ADOT?”

Recently, two questions were posed to ADOT employees: “what does it mean to be One ADOT?” and “what if we...?” Employees were encouraged to submit their answers in photos. The result is an inspiring “We’re One ADOT” video.

ADOT teams sent in more than 300 submissions from employees statewide. I was overwhelmed and humbled by the response. From such responses as “share equipment with other districts,” to “embrace our differences,” to espousing our True North, “Safely Home,” our employees are embracing and building a culture of “One ADOT.”

So, grab some popcorn and enjoy watching this short trailer of the “We’re One ADOT” video, featuring the dedicated employees of the Arizona Department of Transportation.

If you are in a big crowd, you ask someone to “move over" to give you room. If the cat is in my chair, I ask him to “move over” so I can sit down. The phrase, “move over,” can mean different things.

At ADOT, it means one thing: safety.

“Move Over” has been a law for more than a decade in Arizona, but too many drivers aren’t following it and the consequences can be deadly. On Saturday, Oct. 19, transportation safety stakeholders across the country will participate in “Move Over” Day with the purpose to raise awareness about the law.

The “Move Over” law requires motorists to move over one lane to the left – or slow down if it isn’t safe to change lanes – when approaching any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the shoulder of a road or highway. That includes police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, maintenance trucks and even passenger vehicles with hazard lights flashing.

“Move Over” matters because stranded motorists and responders need a safe place to work when they’re on the shoulder of our highways. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for responders to be hit and killed while doing their job helping people in need, or a person to be struck while inspecting their own disabled car or changing a flat tire. In fact, according to national crash statistics, traffic crashes are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement in the U.S.

Safety is a priority at ADOT and our crews make themselves noticeable. But even wearing brightly-colored and reflective gear and following exacting safety practices to ensure proper traffic incident management doesn’t stop close calls from occurring.

Drivers, please, pay attention to the road ahead and “Move Over” when you see flashing lights.