PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the city of Maricopa, the Union Pacific Railroad and the Federal Highway Administration, will host a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in Maricopa to discuss the recently released Draft Environmental Assessment for the State Route 347 at Union Pacific Railroad Study.

The proposed grade separation project at SR 347 would help alleviate traffic backups at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Pinal County by replacing the existing at-grade intersection with an overpass.

The hearing will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. (presentation starts at 6:30 p.m.) in the Maricopa Unified School District Board Room, 44150 Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, in Maricopa.

The Environmental Assessment public comment period began on Nov. 18 and will end on Dec. 18, 2014. All comments received during the 30-day public comment period will be documented and responded to in the Final Environmental Assessment.

Comments can be provided in the following ways:

• At the public hearing
• In writing: ADOT SR 347 Project Team, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007
• Online
• Email
• Phone: 855.712.8530

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, in a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, is hosting a public meeting in Nogales on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to provide an update on the State Route 189: International Border to Grand Avenue Study.

Beginning in 2011, ADOT began an engineering and environmental study for SR 189, also known locally as Mariposa Road, to develop a long-range plan for future improvements between the U.S.-Mexico border and Grand Avenue.

At less than four miles long, SR 189 in Nogales is one of the shortest routes on the state’s highway system, but it is one of the most critical when it comes to commerce and trade due to its close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border.

In addition, the Mariposa Port of Entry, one of the busiest cargo ports along the U.S.-Mexico border, has recently been expanded and increased travel demand along the route is anticipated.

The public is invited to attend the meeting to learn more about the study and provide comments.

The Nov. 18 public meeting is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (5:45 p.m. presentation start) at the Mary L. Welty Elementary School in the cafeteria/multipurpose room, 1050 W. Cimarron St.

In order for potential SR 189 improvement projects to move forward, they would need to be added to ADOT’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. This Five-Year Program serves as a blueprint for future projects and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for those projects. A potential project goes through several levels of review to become part of the Tentative Five-Year Program before the program is presented to the State Transportation Board for consideration and formal approval.

ADOT is accepting public comments on the State Route 189 study through Dec. 2, 2014. Comments can be submitted to [email protected].

PHOENIX – As part of the public review period for the South Mountain Freeway Final Environmental Impact Statement, it was noted that 10 comments submitted in 2013 on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement were inadvertently not relayed to the study team for incorporation into the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which was released Sept. 26.

This was a technical issue with how a few of the received emails were handled. Measures have been put into place to better document comments when received, and relay them to the study team. In all, nearly 8,000 comments were received on this project from residents, groups and other agencies during the review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

As a result of the 10 missed comments, the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have decided to issue a formal “Notice of Omission” in the Federal Register and publish an Errata to the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

The Errata will include the 10 omitted comments and formal responses to those comments; it will be available for a 30-day public review period.

The South Mountain Freeway Corridor Study Team remains committed to completing a thorough and rigorous process for studying the proposed South Mountain Freeway.

A Record of Decision is expected in early 2015. The final decision on construction of the freeway is a cooperative effort, involving ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the Maricopa Association of Governments as the regional planning agency. As a corridor that is part of a comprehensive regional plan developed by the Maricopa Association of Governments, ADOT serves as the agency responsible for implementation of the plan, with the Federal Highway Administration providing the federal oversight required to use federal transportation funds.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/SouthMountainFreeway, email [email protected], call 602.712.7006, or write to ADOT Community Relations, 1655 W Jackson St., MD126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Transportation, in a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, is hosting a series of public meetings in Pinal County on the North-South Corridor Study, which is a proposed 45-mile transportation corridor that would link US 60 near Apache Junction, south to Interstate 10 near Eloy.

The meetings will provide information about the recently completed Alternatives Selection Report, as part of the Environmental Impact Statement/Design Concept Report for the North-South Corridor Study.

The Alternatives Section Report evaluated all the potential locations for the proposed highway and narrowed it down to possible corridors. Once completed, the North-South Corridor Study will identify a preferred alignment for the proposed transportation corridor in Pinal County.

The public is invited to attend the meetings and learn more about the study, possible routes and to provide comments.

All meetings will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. with a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m. followed by an open house.

• Monday, Nov. 17 – Walker Butte Elementary School, 29697 N. Desert Willow Blvd., Queen Creek
• Tuesday, Nov. 18 – Santa Cruz High School, 900 N. Main St., Eloy
• Wednesday, Nov. 19 – Apache Junction High School, 2525 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction
• Thursday, Nov. 20 – Coolidge-Florence Elks Lodge, 2241 N. Attaway Road, Coolidge

In order for potential projects to move forward, they would need to be added to ADOT’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. This Five-Year Program serves as a blueprint for future projects and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for those projects. A potential project goes through several levels of review to become part of the Tentative Five-Year Program before the program is presented to the State Transportation Board for consideration and formal approval.

PHOENIX – A series of public information meetings will be held later this month in north Phoenix and Scottsdale for a study of future improvements, including new lanes, along Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) between I-17 and Princess Drive, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Due to limited regional transportation funding, any approved Loop 101 construction is still several years away. Under current Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Transportation Program funding projections, Loop 101 improvements between Princess Drive and State Route 51 (Piestewa Freeway) are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2021, while construction between SR 51 and I-17 would start in fiscal year 2024.

ADOT is seeking public comments for an initial design and environmental study of the possible Loop 101 improvements. The following meetings will be held to present initial information and receive comments for the study team to review:

• Tuesday, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix (in the Q Building, Blue Conference Room). ADOT presentation starts at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Deer Valley Community Center, 2001 W. Wahalla Lane, Phoenix. ADOT presentation starts at 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Scottsdale Municipal Airport, 15000 N. Airport Drive, Scottsdale. ADOT presentation starts at 6 p.m.

Possible Loop 101 improvements to be studied include adding two traffic lanes in each direction between I-17 and Seventh Avenue, one new lane in each direction between Seventh Avenue and SR 51, and one new lane in each direction between Tatum Boulevard and Princess Drive.

The ADOT study will evaluate the proposed improvements projections for increased traffic along Loop 101 in the north Valley over the next two decades. Potential environmental factors, including freeway noise and air quality projections, also will be studied.

The initial design work, known as a Design Concept Report, and environmental study are expected to be completed by spring 2015.

Public comments also can be submitted online.

PHOENIX – Motorcycle and classic car enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on the Motorcycle Fun Ride and Classic Car Show hosted by the Arizona State Credit Union, along with the State Employees Charitable Campaign and the Arizona Department of Transportation next weekend.

The classic car show will be at the Arizona State Capitol on Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to the classic cars there will be music, a 50/50 raffle, a motorcycle skill demonstration by the Department of Public Safety and some of Phoenix’s best food trucks and more on hand for folks to enjoy.

The motorcycle fun ride will begin at the Arizona State Credit Union at 2355 W. Pinnacle Peak Rd. in Phoenix. Check-in time will start at 7 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 8 a.m. Riders will have various ride options through the Valley and end at the State Capitol; this will not be a parade.

The event is an effort to raise funds for the 100 Club of Arizona and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix.

Those wishing to participate in the motorcycle fun ride or classic car show can register for $25, which includes an event T-shirt. For information about the event, please visit secc.az.gov/motocar.

PHOENIX —The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are seeking public comments on a proposed rehabilitation of Virgin River Bridge No. 1 on Interstate 15, located in the far northwest corner of Arizona.

The $33 million project on Virgin River Bridge No. 1, approximately five miles east of Littlefield, will include the replacement of the bridge’s superstructure (girders, deck and railings), as well as widening the roadway through the narrow passage of the environmentally sensitive area of the scenic Virgin River Gorge.

Earlier this year, the project was added to ADOT’s 2015-2019 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program, and is slated to begin in fiscal year 2019.

As part of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Highway Administration and ADOT are beginning work on an Environmental Assessment, which will evaluate potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Essential to identifying the best program of solutions is the participation and feedback from individuals who travel along the I-15 corridor or live in the area.

Comments from the public regarding the proposed scope of construction and impacts, or other issues and concerns, may be submitted through Nov. 28.

Despite its remote location, Arizona’s 29-mile section of roadway is one of the most heavily traveled commercial and economic corridors linking Southern California with the Rocky Mountain region. Earlier this spring, ADOT began a $27 million project to replace Virgin River Bridge No. 6, marking the first of eight rehabilitation projects that will ultimately need to be completed through the gorge.

To provide input during the public comment period, you can participate in the following ways:

• Email comments to [email protected].
• Submit comments online.
• Mail comments to Virgin River Bridge No. 1 Study Team, c/o ADOT Community Relations, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
• Call 855.712.8530.

PHOENIX – Valley residents and other guests had a chance to walk, jog, bike and even skate this morning on part of the soon-to-be-opened Loop 303 interchange at Interstate 10 in the West Valley.

The Loop 303 “Open House” event was held in Goodyear on a section of the new I-10 frontage road that travels beneath two elevated ramps that will soon provide connections between the two freeways, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Governor Jan Brewer took part in the celebration, and was joined by a group of Valley mayors, including Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The local leaders marked both the upcoming interchange completion, scheduled for September, and ADOT’s recent series of projects to improve Loop 303 into a six-lane freeway between I-10 and Grand Avenue.

Before helping to cut the ribbon on Saturday, the Governor said the Loop 303 improvements promise to help drive the region’s economy.

“I’m thrilled to be on my side of town today to celebrate Arizona’s newest freeway completion,” said the Governor. “It opens up our state to the growing communities in the West Valley – expanding commerce and easing travel throughout the region.”

ADOT Director John Halikowski also noted how the improvements to the area’s transportation system, including the $145 million Loop 303/I-10 interchange, will continue to create jobs.

“I can’t overstate the importance of all the work that has gone into planning, designing and now building the Loop 303 into a freeway that improves business access over the coming decades,” said Halikowski. “There’s a vital link between transportation improvements and jobs created by nearby economic development projects.”

When all four ramps connecting I-10 and Loop 303 are opened to traffic in the coming weeks, drivers for the first time will be able to travel along all 36 miles of Loop 303 between I-17 in north Phoenix and I-10 in Goodyear.

The Loop 303 projects are all part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan approved by county voters in 2004.

PHOENIX – A public “Open House” and dedication on Saturday morning, August 16, at the soon-to-be-completed Loop 303/I-10 Traffic Interchange in Goodyear will provide local residents and visitors with a chance to walk, jog, skate or cycle beneath the elevated ramps that will soon carry traffic between the two freeways.

Governor Jan Brewer is scheduled to join Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord, ADOT Director John Halikowski and other dignitaries at the event to mark the upcoming completion of the interchange as well as other recently-completed Loop 303 projects north of I-10. The interchange is scheduled to open to traffic in September.

The Loop 303 dedication event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on August 16 along the new westbound I-10 frontage road that also was built as part of the $145 million freeway-to-freeway interchange project.

Parking will be available on the eastbound I-10 frontage road east of Citrus Road, south of I-10, in Goodyear. Those attending the event will then be able to walk or roll through the Cotton Lane underpass beneath I-10 and have an up-close view of the large ramps at the interchange.

For safety reasons, visitors will not be able to walk, jog or ride along the elevated ramps at the interchange.

Governor Brewer will speak at a ribbon-cutting ceremony starting at 9 a.m.

The Open House and dedication also will celebrate the completion of ADOT’s recent series of projects to improve Loop 303 from an older two-lane highway to a six-lane freeway traveling north and south from Goodyear to Surprise.

PHOENIX – Nearly every month, the Arizona Department of Transportation goes through the process to award contracts to construction companies for transportation projects. ADOT is currently seeking public input on the total value of federally-funded contracts that should be awarded to disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms.

ADOT is proposing a preliminary goal of 9.38 percent of the total dollars of Federal Highway Administration-funded contracts awarded to DBE firms over the next three fiscal years, with 5.44 percent to be achieved through race-neutral means (ADOT small business programs and other efforts) and 3.94 percent to be achieved through race-conscious means (contract goals).  ADOT’s current goal for FHWA-funded contracts is 7.76 percent. 

ADOT is seeking public input on this goal and wants to hear from women and minority business owners and organizations, contractors, engineering consultants and other interested stakeholders.   The public is encouraged to comment on the size of the goal, the methodology used to calculate the goal, their experience competing for or working on ADOT projects, their suggestions on how to improve contracting opportunities for DBEs and other small businesses and what ADOT can do to enhance its support of the DBE and small business community.

The public comment period runs from Aug. 4 through Sept. 17.  As part of the comment period, ADOT will be holding public hearings on the following dates at locations around the state:

All public hearings will be held from 3 – 6 p.m. with ADOT presentations at 3:15 and 5:15 p.m.

All documents related to the proposed goal and methodology will be available for review from Aug. 4 through Sept. 17 online and during normal business hours at the following locations:

At any time during the 45-day public comment period, comments can be provided in the following ways:

• Verbal testimony at public hearings
• Online
• Email
• By Mail: Keen Independent Research, 172 N. Washington Street, Wickenburg, AZ 85390

The public comment period will close on Sept.17.  All public comments will be reviewed before ADOT submits the preliminary DBE goal to FHWA at the end of September.