By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

The goal for these monthly messages is to enhance awareness about transportation-safety issues, and when it comes to choosing topics, I find a lot of value in highlighting subjects that many drivers might be unfamiliar with. Traffic Incident Management (TIM) falls into that category.

While some people reading this are very knowledgeable on the subject, most motorists aren’t aware of the methods employed by first responders to quickly and efficiently clear crash scenes. Drivers also might not realize why TIM is so critical.

TIM, defined in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan as “the coordinated process to identify, respond to and clear traffic incidents to prevent secondary collisions and reduce the duration of incident-related congestion,” promotes consistent training for responders and focuses on safety and the efficient clearance of incidents.

TIM is valuable because every minute counts when responding to the scene of a traffic incident. Consider this: according to our partners at the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), national statistics show that for every minute a vehicle is sitting adjacent to the travel lane or on the shoulder, the risk of a secondary crash increases by 2.8 percent.

Those secondary crashes are often more severe than the initial incident, which is why the effort behind TIM is so significant. It’s also why a wide variety of ADOT employees have gone through the four-hour TIM responder course.

In addition to training, ADOT has a partnership with DPS, the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments that places state troopers at the ADOT Traffic Operations Center for a faster response, with the goal of reducing congestion and improving safety statewide.

All of this coordination is making a difference, and as drivers, we appreciate the efforts of all responders, including law enforcement, fire/EMS personnel, tow-truck drivers and ADOT’s Arizona Local Emergency Response Team (ALERT). The best way to show that appreciation is to slow down and Move Over when you see flashing lights. It’s not just a courtesy – it’s the law. Arizona’s Move Over law requires all drivers to move over one lane, or slow down and use caution, when passing any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of any road or highway.

The next time you’re Moving Over, I hope you’ll think of all the people who are out there, putting into practice the TIM principles and working together to safely clear the road.

By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation

By now, you should be familiar with Pull Aside, Stay Alive – the public awareness campaign designed to educate drivers about what to do (and what not to do) when they encounter a dust storm.

Since ADOT, along with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service launched the effort three years ago, many drivers have gotten the message that it’s better to wait out a dust storm rather than to risk driving through one. I encourage you to review and help spread the safe-driving tips that have become a part of the campaign’s core; however, today I want to give you a look at what ADOT and other agencies are working toward in regards to dust storm safety.

You might not know that Pull Aside, Stay Alive was born out of a 2012 dust storm workshop attended by agencies from around the state. That workshop has become an annual event, and this year’s meeting, held last month in Casa Grande, focused on some long-term goals related to helping drivers stay safe before, during and after a dust storm.

The 2015 workshop included presentations on the work that’s happening to better detect and predict dust storms – we’re seeing some interesting developments on that front. Dust storm response and mitigation were among the topics discussed, and ADOT’s very own Research Center was on the agenda with a presentation on a recent study on dust storm communication. We’ve learned through that study that there is a high degree of familiarity with the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” campaign. The day wrapped up with a group discussion that concentrated on how to advance the efforts.

This collaboration is so important because no single group or agency can prevent dust storms, but together we can find ways to minimize the danger. As we head toward the summer months, ADOT will continue this year to build and grow awareness with Arizona drivers about the dangers of dust storms and what to do if they encounter one.

By John Halikowski
Director, Arizona Department of Transportation

In a zeal to support its urban-focused, transit-or-nothing agenda, the Public Interest Research Group has ignored important considerations about the proposed Interstate 11 corridor, including the facts about the future of freight traffic in Arizona and the growing transportation needs across the state.

In suggesting the Arizona Department of Transportation is somehow using inaccurate or obsolete data in analyzing the I-11 corridor, PIRG fails to recognize the true needs facing the transportation system across Arizona and the critical role the movement of freight will play in our economic future. Freight shipments are expected to triple in Arizona by 2050, exceeding 600 billion tons of freight on Arizona’s highways a year. And, as the population of the state continues to grow, so too will the needs of our transportation network – including highways and mass-transit opportunities.

I-11 isn’t a highway for today. This is a corridor for the future – a future in Arizona that has the state at the center of a worldwide economy. I-11 is not about enhancing the drive to Las Vegas for tourists. This corridor – which could include a highway, passenger and freight rail, and energy transmission – is about moving freight through Arizona safely and efficiently. There will be benefits for tourist traffic, but the investment in I-11 will support the state’s growing business sectors and our position in the modern economy. Just like the vision regional planners had for the Valley’s freeway system in the 1960s, ADOT today has to look at the needs of the future.

PIRG also fails to recognize the largely rural nature of transportation in Arizona. While some young urbanites might prefer transit over new highways, that’s not a practicable option outside of the Phoenix and Tucson regions. Arizona is a large state with transportation challenges that cannot and will not be solved by transit alone. ADOT continues to study a Phoenix-to-Tucson passenger rail line, recognizing that I-10 cannot be the only choice for travel between these two major regions in the future. We need alternatives, but you can’t move freight by bus. We have to consider all options to meet the needs of passenger cars, trucks, rail, transit, air traffic, pedestrians and bikes.

Despite PIRG’s claims, ADOT is investing more than 40 percent of its highway budget in preserving and protecting the current highway system. This spending on preservation secures our investment in highways that taxpayers have made over the decades, and ensures that we have the infrastructure we need for the demands of today and the future.

At ADOT, we are obligated to look forward and consider the future needs and demands of our transportation system. The “transportation system” must contribute to ensuring that Arizonans both today and tomorrow have provided no less than the best quality of life for our citizens. PIRG’s narrow viewpoint will not meet that need. Transportation has to be about more than just moving people – it is about moving our economy and supporting good jobs in the state for us and future Arizonans. You can’t do that with buses alone.

For more information on the Interstate 11 study, visit i11study.com.

By Jennifer Toth
Deputy Director for Transportation

Of all the cargo we transport, none is more valuable than children. Yet tragically, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 years. These deaths, and thousands of serious injuries, can be prevented by properly using car seats, booster seats or seat belts.

In recognition of national Child Passenger Safety Week September 14-20, 2014, I want to remind everyone about properly using child safety seats and seat belts. Not only do they save lives, but child safety seats are required by Arizona law. Children younger than 8 years old and under 4' 9" must be properly secured in a safety or booster seat.

If you currently use a car seat and want to ensure it is properly installed, visit www.safercar.gov/parents/index.htm for information about car seat inspection locations in Arizona.

As children grow up, they need to understand the importance of always wearing a seat belt. One of the best ways to teach them is leading by example. This means always wearing YOUR seat belt and making sure all passengers are buckled up or properly secured in the appropriate car seat before you begin driving.

Sharing the Road with Trucks

September 14-20 is also National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. One of the best ways to show your appreciation during this week, and always, is by safely sharing the road with trucks. Here are a few tips, courtesy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

• Avoid blind spots, also referred to as “no zones,” around the front, back and sides of a truck. If you cannot see the truck driver in the mirror, the truck driver can’t see you.
• Don’t cut in front of trucks. They need more time to stop compared to a passenger vehicle. Forcing a larger vehicle to stop suddenly can result in a serious crash.
• Pass trucks safely! Look for the front of the truck in your rear-view mirror and make sure there is enough space between your vehicle and the truck before pulling in front.

By Jennifer Toth
Deputy Director for Transportation

Most Arizona children head back to school in August, so you’ve probably noticed an increase in traffic – and more kids on streets and sidewalks.

As you’re driving, watch for children as they walk and bike to and from school. Kids can be unpredictable, so anticipate they might dart into the path of your vehicle. Slow down, especially on residential streets and near schools, and be prepared to stop.

Parents and guardians:

• Teach and reinforce the importance of walking and biking safely, including the basics of looking both ways before crossing a street and always using cross walks. The National Center for Safe Routes to School program provides tips for getting to school safely. Take a few minutes to review it with the kids in your family.
• Check out the route your child takes to school. Walk or bicycle it with your child and identify potential safety hazards along the way. Point out the safe places to cross the street, as well as driveways or alleys where kids should look out for vehicles entering the roadway.
• Don’t allow children to use headphones or mobile devices to talk, text, play games or watch videos when walking or bicycling. Children need to keep their eyes and ears focused on their surroundings, watching especially for drivers who might not see them.
• Require children to wear a properly fitting helmet if they ride a bike to and from school.

For more safety information, please revisit some of our previous posts.

By Jennifer Toth
ADOT Deputy Director of Transportation

May 2014 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and this topic is more important than ever.

Fatal and serious-injury crashes involving motorcycles are on the rise. In 2012 there were more than 4,950 fatal motorcycle crashes on our nation’s roads and highways, accounting for 15 percent of total fatal crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

All drivers need to "Share the Road" with motorcycles.

Arizona is mirroring this troubling trend. As the chart at left illustrates, numbers for fatal and serious-injury motorcycle crashes have remained steady or increased during the past eight years, except for calendar years 2009 and 2010 when Arizona and states across the nation experienced overall decreases in annual “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT).

Reversing this trend – and protecting and saving lives – requires a combination of safe riding practices by motorcycles and a commitment by all drivers to “Share the Road.”

For All Road Users

• Remember: A motorcyclist has the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as any other motorist on the roadway.
• Give a motorcyclist a full lane width to maneuver safely.
• Always look for motorcycles by checking your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes. Motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see, so keep an eye out.
• Allow more distance – three or four seconds – when following a motorcycle. This gives the motorcycle rider more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

For Motorcyclists

• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed.
• Wear a helmet and use reflective tape and gear to be more visible. NHTSA estimates helmets saved the lives of 1,617 motorcyclists in 2011.
• Never ride while impaired or distracted—it is not worth the risk of killing or injuring yourself or someone else.

For extensive motorcycle safety information, visit the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety website.

Today, we bring you a guest blog post from Engineer in Training Elizabeth Weil (you might remember she also recently blogged about the components of a plan set).

In today's post, she describes what she learned and accomplished during her rotation through ADOT’s communications division. You can read more about the EIT program in this 2012 blog post.

By Elizabeth Weil
Transportation Engineering Associate

As an Engineer in Training, I’ve spent the last two months in the Office of Communications, which is a rare choice so I’ve been told. Some of my other rotations were more typical: Contracts and Specifications, Construction, and Traffic Design to name a few.

But one of the benefits of the Engineer in Training program is the ability to find out how everyone works together to build and maintain our roads. And as I have discovered, Communications is an important part of the process.

If you’re wondering, this blog is part of Communications, along with our other forms of social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. So one of my assignments was to write a blog post, and another was to write traffic-related tweets from the Traffic Operations Center. I watched the video-editing process that occurs before our informational videos show up on YouTube. Social media is one way we communicate with the public; we can answer questions, give up-to-date traffic information, or convey information about a project or event.

Another part of the Communications team is the group of people who work with the media, which is how you see us on TV or hear us on the radio. The Public Information Officers taught me about being interviewed; they asked me difficult questions and filmed my answers, which I later had to watch. I assisted with writing two press releases as well.

I had never been to a public meeting before, and I was finally able to attend one. These meetings are a way for the public to voice concerns over aspects of a project or ask questions. I especially wanted to attend a public meeting because it is closely related to what many engineers do, whether the project is in the process of being designed or constructed. And if you’ve ever wondered whether or not somebody answers that project hotline number we advertise, I was given the opportunity to answer some of your questions about road closures and the locations of ongoing projects.

This is the last of my two-month rotations, and I am about to start my final six months of the Engineer in Training program in Roadway Design. I now have a better understanding of what the different groups of ADOT do, especially Communications. I even spent some time learning about how the Adopt-a-Highway program works and the benefits of having volunteers and sponsors clean our highways. The Office of Communications does much more than I ever knew about, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn (and practice my writing skills).

By Doug Pacey
ADOT Office of Public Information

Selling a car can be exhilarating. Often times, it means a new car is in your future. But before you make your way to a dealership for a new ride, file a sold notice with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division. There are plenty of good reasons for this, not the least of which is to avoid an Abandoned Vehicle fee.

Never heard of it? Well, it’s not a common occurrence, but it has happened enough to unsuspecting owners that we wanted to provide a reminder and general information to Arizona vehicle owners.

A property owner or law enforcement may have a car towed that has been abandoned or unclaimed – this can occur in parking lots, on the side of the road or an apartment complex, for example – for an extended period of time or as a result of a vehicle accident. Once MVD receives the request from the tow company to file the vehicle as abandoned, MVD sends notice to the owner, lien holder and any other interested party providing information that they have 30 days to reclaim the vehicle. If the vehicle is not claimed ownership of the vehicle may be transferred free and clear to the towing company.

The owner of record of an abandoned vehicle may be charged an abandoned vehicle fee when they attempt to submit a driver’s license application or attempt to register another vehicle. The fee is $500 if the vehicle is abandoned on private property, public land or within the right-of-way of any street or highway. It is $600 if left at a national forest, state park land, Bureau of Land Management land or state trust land.

It is possible to waive the Abandoned Vehicle Fee. The owner must submit proof to MVD that the vehicle was sold or transferred prior to the date of abandonment. MVD may consider the following examples as proof:

• Copy of the sold notice sent to the MVD prior to the abandonment
• Copy of the bill of sale dated prior to the abandonment
• Copy of the notarized Certificate of Title, reflecting the transfer of ownership
• Copy of the sales contract from a dealership, reflecting the vehicle was used as a trade-in

A sold notice can easily be completed online at azmvdnow.gov.

Engineers are a valuable resource for the ADOT Blog. We quote them, film them and use their knowledge so we can better explain to you many of our more complex transportation topics.

Without the expertise of ADOT’s engineers, this blog just wouldn’t be the resource that it has become over the past three years. We definitely appreciate our engineers, which is why we’re so glad to share today’s guest blog post with you.

It comes from one of ADOT’s Engineers in Training. We blogged about this innovative program back in 2012, but basically EITs follow a structured program working in varied sections within ADOT. Their time is divided into training blocks that last two and four months. A few of the blocks are mandatory and others are selected by the EIT.

Our guest blogger Elizabeth Weil made the choice to rotate through ADOT’s communications division for one of her blocks! Her time here has included learning about the many ways ADOT communicates with the public. Today, she writes about construction plans and explains some of their different components…

By Elizabeth Weil

Transportation Engineering Associate

We draw them, we review them, and we use them during construction, because they tell us what to do. Roadway plans are common around ADOT amongst designers and construction personnel, but you’ve probably never seen them for yourself. Here are just a few things that we include in plan sets.

Pavement structural sections (above) describe the layers of a roadway. In this example, above the subgrade (the ground below the roadway material) goes 5 inches of AB (aggregate base, a specific size of rock), then a layer of AC (asphalt, or “asphaltic concrete”), a tack coat (an adhesive oil used to make layers of asphalt stick to each other), and another layer of AC on top.

A typical section shows (above) which structural sections are used in specific areas. They’re accompanied by station limits (in this case 1086+00.00 to 1089+02.07). Those numbers refer to a specific location in the same way a milepost would. This typical section also gives a distance from the right-of-way line to the centerline of the road, the slope of the roadway, and widths of the lanes and shoulders. This way, we know exactly where the roadway will go and how big it will be. Think of the typical section as a cross-section of the roadway; if you were driving, you’d be moving into or out of the page.

Typical Section

This is just part of a sheet showing the plan view of the roadway (a bird’s-eye view). There is a lot of information on each of these sheets- this section of roadway has a taper (where the width of the roadway changes), guardrail (the numbers in diamonds are pointing at it), and right of way (the dashed lines near the outside). Numbers in the shapes are referring to a summary sheet which I haven’t included in this post, but each summary gives much more information (such as guardrail lengths).

Lastly, if you were wondering, we don’t usually have numbers in red; these screenshots were taken from our drafting guidelines which exist so we can make our plans as consistent as possible to avoid confusion.

By Doug Pacey
ADOT Office of Public Information

Editor's note: The map has been updated to include the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway and Loop 303 which were completed after this blog was written.

In every city, transportation landmarks are given nicknames. Denver claims a “Mousetrap,” Los Angeles boasts the “Four Level” and Seattle has its “S-curves.” These colloquialisms can be baffling to new residents and some long-timers, too.

Phoenix is no different. Perhaps you’ve heard a traffic reporter refer to slowing at the “Mini-Stack” or a crash at the “Split” and wondered what highway was affected?

Wonder no longer. We’ve compiled a list and created a map, explaining and locating popular nicknames to Phoenix’s transportation landmarks.

Stack – A four-level interchange connecting I-10 and I-17; located west of downtown Phoenix near 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.

Mini-Stack – A four-level interchange linking I-10 to State Route 51 and Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway; located south of McDowell Road and east of 16th Street.

North Stack – Another four-level interchange, this one is located at the I-17 and Loop 101, north of Bell Road.

Split – The interchange where I-10 splits or merges – depending on your direction of travel – with I-17 near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Westbound I-10 splits into lanes that allow drivers to head north on I-17 or continue west on I-10.

SuperRedTan – A multi-tiered interchange in east Mesa where US 60 Superstition Freeway, Loop 202 Red Mountain and Loop 202 Santan meet. SuperRedTan is formed by taking part of each freeway’s name – Superstition, Red Mountain and Santan.

Broadway Curve – Southeast of the Split, this rush-hour-challenged section I-10 is near Broadway Road, and SR 143, by the Phoenix-Tempe border.

Durango Curve – The curved section of I-17 near Durango Street is located southwest of downtown Phoenix.