By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

I’ve grown accustomed to your face ...

Sound familiar? It is a song from the Broadway musical “My Fair Lady.” The song could also represent ADOT’s efforts in the use of facial recognition software to fight identity theft in Arizona.

ADOT first implemented facial recognition technology in 2015 for use by our Motor Vehicle Division.  The technology allows our MVD personnel to look at a driver license photo and identify features on a person’s face. From there, the system can compare those features to every other photo in MVD’s database.

If there is a match in the system, there is now the potential problem of someone using another person’s identity to obtain a driver license or identification card. When that happens, MVD alerts ADOT’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an investigation. Our detectives, who have received FBI facial-recognition training, perform three levels of review to determine if identity theft has occurred. If the investigation proves fraudulent activity, law enforcement officials are notified and prosecution can take place.

I commend our employees at MVD and ADOT’s detectives for their efforts in protecting the people of Arizona. The use of facial recognition software is critical to our efforts to protect the identities of Arizona citizens and prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identified cards.

“I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Face” should only be heard on stage, not here at ADOT.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

I want our employees whose office is the road to be able to go home to their families every day. During National Work Zone Awareness Week, it makes perfect sense to remind motorists to be alert when driving in work zones.

Safety is the No. 1 priority at ADOT. When it comes to work zones, vehicles speed by just inches away. We rely on motorists to pay attention and slow down when entering work zones, not only for the safety of our crews but for drivers and passengers.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, drivers and passengers accounted for 82 percent of work zone fatalities nationally in 2014, the most recent year with complete data. According to preliminary data for 2016, Arizona had seven fatal crashes in work zones, resulting in seven deaths, and 27 serious-injury crashes.

That’s why is doesn’t hurt to remind everyone, give our work crews a “brake” – drive safe in work zones.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Time is money -- especially when you are a trucking firm with fresh produce and you face a border inspection. You know it is going to take time, and you know you must follow federal and state regulations before that produce gets delivered to warehouse distribution centers.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is continuing its efforts to host meetings, events and programs with transportation leaders, elected officials and heads of trucking firms in Arizona and Mexico on the importance of safety inspections. It is our goal to educate the trucking industry about how safety compliance can reduce inspection times and make roads safer.

With our innovative programs that make our border inspections move efficiently, the results show a direct impact on international commerce and Arizona’s economy. We are helping to improve the flow of commercial traffic while keeping Arizona highways safe.

In 2015, $30 billion in both imports and exports moved through the state’s border ports, supporting 100,000 Arizona jobs.

ADOT, in collaboration with our federal and state law enforcement partners, holds commercial vehicle industry days to provide information about safety regulations, permitting and the inspection process.

I commend our officers who conduct the safety inspections at our commercial ports of entry, in addition to making sure commercial vehicles follow federal and state regulations. It is in this spirit of cooperation and education that we see the connection between international commerce and safety.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

This is the time in the Arizona Department of Transportation’s planning cycle when we seek public comment on our tentative five-year construction program. It is an annual update of proposed projects to move forward in the next five years and how much local, state and federal funding should go toward them.

The Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program for 2018-2022 proposes accelerating some key expansion projects in Greater Arizona (outside Maricopa and Pima counties) due to federal funding increases, grants and state budget appropriations. The tentative program maintains our agency’s target of $260 million per year for preservation. Preservation ensures we are keeping the existing highway system in good repair and can function as it should.

Major improvement projects along some of Arizona’s busiest corridors will not only provide better mobility for everyday commutes and travel but will enhance freight movement, trade, commerce and economic development as Arizona expands its reach in the global marketplace.  While key expansion projects are usually the most visible changes to our transportation infrastructure, ADOT is also committed to protecting Arizona’s nearly $21 billion investment in our state highway system through dedicated preservation funding.

You can review the list of proposed projects and provide comments at azdot.gov/fiveyearplan. The comment period ends at 5 p.m. May 30. The State Transportation Board is expected to finalize the five-year program at its June 16 meeting in Payson.

We value the public input in our planning process. I encourage you to review and comment on what we believe will improve and preserve our state’s transportation system.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Have you ever heard the expression “time is money”? The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has taken that expression to heart and implemented strategies that have resulted in an 80 percent reduction in employee overtime pay. By modifying the operating hours of three Tucson-area offices, MVD has seen major savings in payroll costs.

ADOT and all its divisions like MVD are implementing the Arizona Management System to empower employees to find ways to improve the customer experience.

By opening the three Tucson MVD offices a half hour early, customers who want to get their business done early can do so and supervisors have more flexibility in scheduling employees. The number of employees available to serve customers is more consistent throughout the day and transactions are conducted more efficiently. There are fewer employees having to stay after hours to finish various tasks, thus reducing overtime costs. It’s a win-win situation for customers and our employees (who get to go home on time, as scheduled), not to mention the savings we are incurring for the Arizona taxpayer.

I enjoy sharing these stories that highlight the efforts our employees are making as change agents. No change is too small that makes a difference in how we operate and serve our customers, the taxpayers. Less time you have to spend at a MVD office means time savings to you and ADOT – even if it is a half hour at a time.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

We don’t need an Academy or selfie-taking accountants to tell us who has the best safety message. We want YOU to tell us who has the best entry in ADOT’s safety message contest.

With more than 7,000 submissions, there are now 20 finalists that have advanced to the next round of the contest. From speeding and impairment, texting and seat belt use, to proper use of the HOV lane and general driving safety tips, you get to decide which two messages will appear on signs above Arizona’s highways.

With so many great submissions, ADOT expanded the number of finalists from 15 to 20 and increased the winners from one to two. The winning messages will appear on overhead signs one day each in April.

I commend the creativity displayed from those Arizonans who submitted entries in our safety message contest. We want our residents to be engaged in the conversations about transportation safety. It takes all of us to be good drivers, sharing the road and obeying traffic laws, so we can reduce fatal and serious-injury vehicle crashes.

Do vote by March 15 and I promise you won’t have to worry about wrong envelopes being opened with the winning message.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that transportation plays a key role in a state’s economy. A good transportation system ensures that goods and services get to their proper destination. A good transportation system ensures people get to where they want to go either for business or pleasure. At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we continue to make improvements in our state transportation system that ensure trade flows between our borders and people can travel to their favorite destinations. Here’s what we have planned this year that keeps Arizona’s economy moving:

The biggest single transportation project in the state’s history is the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. The $1.9 billion project begins in earnest in the first half of 2017 with the building of the foundations for 40 bridges planned, widening eastbound lanes on Pecos Road, and access roads near Interstate 10 in west Phoenix. The 22-mile project is a direct link between the East Valley and the West Valley, and it brings great economic development opportunities.

Pavement preservation is a cornerstone in keeping our transportation system functioning at its best. We have an 11-mile stretch of I-17 scheduled for resurfacing in the spring of 2017. Between 19th and Peoria avenues, our crews will add a new layer of smooth, durable rubberized asphalt along the Black Canyon Freeway.

A widening project in the Marana/Tucson area will improve travel along Ina Road and Interstate 10. The $120 million project features a wider bridge with two lanes in each direction over I-10 and the railroad tracks, making the area more efficient and safer to travel.

Dust storms are very prevalent in Arizona especially during our summer monsoon season. ADOT was awarded a $54 million federal grant in 2016. A portion of the grant funds are being used to install a dust detection and warning system along I-10 between Eloy and Picacho Peak later this year. When fully implemented, the system will trigger safety measures including reduced speed limits and electronic message boards to warn drivers of visibility concerns. We will continue our efforts to warn drivers not to drive through a dust storm.

Our interstates serve as key commerce corridors in Arizona. Roadway improvements, whether they are additional lanes, paving or a dust detection system, ensure our transportation system is working efficiently and effectively. At ADOT, we are committed to making sure our state’s economy continues to move at the speed of business.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Calling all of you creative thinkers! Have you ever thought of a safety message that could appear on a digital message board over one of Arizona’s highways? Here’s your chance to be creative while thinking of important safety messages.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has kicked off our Safety Message Contest. Here is how it works. Safety messages can be submitted at azdot.gov/signcontest until Feb. 19. ADOT will review submissions and select 15 messages to advance to the next round. In March, we’ll post the finalists on our website and let the public decide the winner. The winning message will appear on the message signs for two days in April.

There are certain guidelines that must be followed – only 3 lines and 18 characters per line allowed (including spaces); no phone numbers, hashtags and web addresses permitted; and no emoji.

At ADOT, we have been placing unconventional safety messages on our overhead signs for more than a year. By tapping into the creativity of all Arizonans, we’re hoping to spark even more conversations about safe driving.

Don’t delay; enter as many messages as you like. It’s your turn to be creative in the world of transportation safety.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Making transportation personal. At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we understand the role transportation plays in our quality of life. You need our transportation system to work when running errands, taking the children to school, or driving to a favorite vacation destination. When some incident like a flat tire or overheated vehicle occurs on our roadways and ADOT comes to provide assistance, you might be surprised. At ADOT, it’s what we do – it’s called making transportation personal.

During high-travel holiday weekends, our crews are stationed on Interstate 17, Interstate 10 and State Route 87 towards Payson to provide roadside assistance. In collaboration with our law enforcement partners at the Arizona Department of Public Safety, our crews change tires, provide fluids for overheated vehicles and, in some cases, an air conditioned vehicle to sit in while waiting for a tow truck. It is a service we have been performing for the last several years to help keep you safe and moving toward your destination.

I want to extend my thanks to our dedicated employees who come to the rescue of stranded motorists around the state. I’m sure it’s comforting to those waiting on the side of the road to see an ADOT truck with its lights flashing, coming to assess the situation and provide assistance. It’s lending a helping hand. It’s making transportation personal.

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

By John Halikowski / ADOT Director

Previously, I’ve reviewed how the Arizona Department of Transportation has embraced the Continuous Improvement culture. It’s all about eliminating tasks that are obsolete, streamlining our processes and working together to try different ideas – tackling challenges, finding solutions – in order to be a high-performing organization. I have more examples of our ADOT team becoming problem solvers.

Our Show Low Maintenance crew was spending considerable time filling an herbicide truck with water in order to spray weeds in our right of way. The effort was taking up to an hour, limiting time to spray weeds in a given day and increasing the number of trips needed to fill the tank. The Show Low Equipment Repair Shop and maintenance teams worked together to design and build a system where water could flow faster in the tank and offer multiple filling options. Filling the tank now takes just 10 minutes. Besides saving time, our maintenance crew can now spray in a shorter period of time and treat needed areas much faster than before, providing time to tackle other maintenance issues.

When repairing guardrail, our process was to purchase a specialized guardrail truck and have the truck modified to meet the work requirements. Under Continuous Improvement, our fleet management, Phoenix Weld Shop and maintenance teams worked together to repurpose and modify an existing generator trailer. The effort saved $10,000 in replacement costs and provided our maintenance units with the exact layout and equipment for guardrail operations.

Graffiti on our signs has been an ongoing problem for ADOT. It costs money (material and labor) to make the signs, not to mention the inconvenience to the public when we have to close traffic lanes for installation of replacement signs. A team member with our striping and signing crew designed the anti-graffiti shield, a black sun-type shade you see mounted on some directional signs. The shield makes it difficult to “tag.” We spend $17.51 per square foot on shield material rather than up to $10,000 on a new sign. Now, that’s cost savings! We also put an anti-graffiti film on other signs that makes it easier to wash off any graffiti and avoid having to make new signs.

At ADOT, we are continuing to look for those opportunities to change how we go about doing our daily work. It is the small things that add up that save time and money, making us more efficient and effective in meeting the needs of our customers, the taxpayers. I challenge myself and our ADOT team every day to be problem solvers. I look forward to showcasing more examples of our efforts – it’s definitely worth sharing.

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