PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Office of Communications and Public Involvement has won four top awards from an organization representing state transportation agencies across the country. 

ADOT took home the honors during the recent annual meeting of TransComm, the communications committee for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), a national nonprofit group that represents and supports state departments of transportation. 

The winners were: 

TransComm PR Professional of the Year: Doug Pacey
As a public information officer and now Assistant Communications Director for Digital Communications, with responsibilities that include oversight of ADOT’s social media accounts, Pacey leads development of safety campaigns including the attention-grabbing messages that appear on digital message boards. He has spoken to TransComm and other regional and national groups about the effective use of humor in transportation communications.

Virtual Public Involvement: 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan
A broad cross-section of Arizonans, nearly 10,000 in all, provided input for this recently adopted blueprint and vision for ADOT’s priorities over the next 25 years. Virtual outreach included an interactive online survey; public meetings held via Zoom, telephone and a self-guided online meeting room that simulated a public meeting; a comprehensive website; online options that supplemented traditional methods for submitting feedback; and extensive notification of engagement opportunities, including digital ads, social media posts and email alerts.

Video Production-External: Sliding a Bridge – SR 79 at the Gila River
This narrated video showed how ADOT used an innovative approach to replace this key bridge in Florence by assembling the new structure next to the existing bridge and then sliding it into place. 

Transportation Event: I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project – Ready to Rubble 
A comprehensive communication plan, stakeholder tours and media event presented removing three Interstate 10 bridges, requiring a weekend closure, as “Ready to Rubble: The Ultimate Bridge Takedown.” In addition to information, photos and video shared through ADOT’s distribution channels, including this YouTube video, several media outlets provided live shots and other behind-the-scenes coverage.

ADOT Communications and Public Involvement supports projects and agency priorities through public involvement outreach, news media relations, safety communications, social media engagement, graphics and video production, website design and operations, internal communications, constituent services and more.

PHOENIX – Following approval by the State Transportation Board, the Arizona Department of Transportation has adopted the 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan providing a blueprint and vision for ADOT’s priorities over the next 25 years. 

The plan, which is not project-specific, sets transportation investment priorities for ADOT based on anticipated future revenues and system needs.

The State Transportation Board approved the update at its Friday, Oct. 20, meeting in Yuma.

A broad cross-section of Arizonans, nearly 10,000 in all, provided input on the plan. Their input made it clear that ADOT’s top priorities should be fixing roads and preserving and maintaining existing infrastructure, along with highway projects that address growth and improve highways in rural areas. 

The plan, which is updated every five years, is available for review at ADOT2050plan.com. 

PHOENIX – After extensive study and public input on the feasibility of reopening 5 miles of State Route 88 (Apache Trail) severely damaged by flooding and erosion, the Arizona Department of Transportation is recommending improvements estimated to cost $33.7 million that would be needed to restore access safely and sustainably. 

There currently is no funding identified for a project on this unpaved stretch east of the Phoenix area, though ADOT is seeking federal funding. The recommendation contained in ADOT’s Final Design Concept Report would be the basis for design and construction when future funding is identified.

“Subject to funds becoming available, we are proposing improvements that would reduce the chances of future damage from storms and enhance safety for motorists,” said Paul Patane, ADOT Multimodal Planning Division Director. “We understand State Route 88’s place in the hearts of many Arizonans and have a recommendation that prioritizes safety and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”

SR 88 closed in 2019 between Fish Creek Hill Overlook and Apache Lake Marina Road (mileposts 222-229) when torrential rain onto the adjacent Woodbury Fire scar extensively damaged the gravel roadway and left a section blocked by boulders. The storm also damaged the drainage system, guardrail and bridge approaches and left unstable rock faces, creating safety issues and making the road vulnerable to additional damage and closures.

Funded by a legislative appropriation, the State Route 88 (Apache Trail) Study received comments from nearly 1,700 Arizonans, the majority of whom supported ADOT’s preferred alternative for reopening the roadway. ADOT’s recommendation was based on public input, as well as evaluation criteria including resilience, cost, feasibility, safety and potential environmental impacts of the improvements that include: 

• chip sealing the road surface throughout the 5 miles;

• widening the roadway to 15 feet in steeper areas;

• adding rock bolts to potentially unstable rock faces and scaling to remove loose and overhanging rock;

• increasing drainage capacity to accommodate accommodate 2.25 inches of rain in an hour; 

• rehabilitating or repairing existing bridges; 

• placing new concrete barrier for safety on steep sections; and 

• adding pullouts, signs and other safety enhancements. 

Traveling between the East Valley and Roosevelt Lake, Apache Trail was built for construction of Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which was completed in 1911. Prior to closing in 2019, the stretch between Tortilla Flat and Apache Lake was used by an average of 232 vehicles daily.

ADOT has performed extensive work to restore access to and improve other damaged sections of SR 88 and made regular repairs when flooding has damaged areas that are open to traffic. Last year, ADOT reopened 1.7 miles west from Apache Lake to restore access to the Reavis Trailhead at milepost 227. An $18 million project is chip-sealing 11 miles between Apache Lake and SR 188 near Theodore Roosevelt Dam. Motorists can safely access Apache Lake and other points on the east side of the closure via SR 188. From the west, SR 88 is open to Fish Creek Vista facilities 9 miles east of Tortilla Flat, which has been accessible throughout via Canyon Lake. 

The next step in advancing a project in the stretch that remains closed would include conducting final design and an extensive environmental study. This would be required because this stretch is on an easement through U.S. Forest Service land. That process can be expected to take up to two years. 

ADOT has begun seeking federal funding to advance a project. This includes a pending application through the Federal Highway Administration’s Promoting Reliant Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program, seeking $3.6 million to be used for design and environmental study.

For more information on the study and SR 88, please visit azdot.gov/SR88Study.

PHOENIX – The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Arizona Department of Transportation are proposing to renew an agreement through which ADOT assumes FHWA’s authority for environmental reviews and determinations for certain types of projects.

A draft Memorandum of Understanding that would continue this agreement, known as Categorical Exclusion assignment, has been posted to the Federal Register and is available for comment until Oct. 30.

The agreement, established in 2018 and renewed in 2021, involves federal-aid projects found to have no significant environmental impacts. It allows ADOT to determine whether a project is categorically excluded from preparation of a more extensive environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement based on anticipated environmental impacts. Arizona is among eight states, including California and Utah, that currently have this authority.  

Congress established the program to help streamline environmental reviews for federal-aid highway projects. States must still comply with all requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other federal environmental laws, regulations, executive orders and policies on all federal-aid highway projects their transportation departments administer.

You can learn more about Categorical Exclusion assignment, review the draft Memorandum of Understanding, and find out how to submit comments to FHWA at azdot.gov/CE-Assignment.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has released the Final 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan that provides a blueprint and vision for the state’s transportation system over the next 25 years. 

The plan, which is not project-specific, sets transportation investment priorities for ADOT and partner agencies based on anticipated future revenues and costs for improvements.

ADOT will present the final plan for consideration and action at the State Transportation Board’s Oct. 20 meeting in Yuma.

A broad cross-section of Arizonans, nearly 10,000 in all, took surveys, attended public meetings and shared comments through the public involvement process. Their input made it clear that ADOT’s top priority should be fixing roads and preserving and maintaining existing infrastructure, along with prioritizing highway projects that address growth and improve highways in rural areas. 

The final plan includes a projection of $69 billion in transportation revenues, including state, federal and regional funds, between 2026 and 2050, including funding from the new federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It also points to anticipated transportation needs totaling $231 billion over that same 25-year period.

The plan, which is updated every five years with input from the public, is available for review at ADOT2050plan.com. 

DOUGLAS  – The Arizona Department of Transportation is holding an in-person open house Thursday, April 27, to share information on a study evaluating alternatives for a connector road from the new Douglas International Port of Entry to State Route 80.

ADOT is conducting the study to recommend a preferred future roadway location and design that can safely accommodate commercial traffic, as there is no current paved roadway in place. 

The study area is about 4.5 miles west of Douglas and the existing Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry in Douglas. The area is in unincorporated Cochise County and bounded by SR 80 to the north, the international border with Mexico to the south, Brooks Road to the west and James Ranch Road to the east. Current land uses in the area include commercial, residential and vacant land.

The open house will provide an overview of the study and an opportunity for residents, businesses and other stakeholders to ask questions and provide comments.

The open house is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Douglas Visitor Center, 345 16th St. in Douglas. A brief presentation is scheduled from 5:15 to 5:30 p.m. 

The open house materials will be posted online for those who cannot attend the meeting. For more information, as well as to submit questions or comments, please visit AZDOT.gov/DouglasIPOERoadStudy.