The State Transportation Board voted yesterday to formally adopt the 2014-2018 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program…

Readers of the ADOT Blog will remember that this is the plan that was up for public comment between March and May. It’s also what we’ve in the past referred to as a, “blueprint for ADOT that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve our state’s transportation infrastructure.”

After conducting three public hearings and considering the comments of about 1,300 people across Arizona, the board made its decision during their meeting yesterday in Phoenix. The finalized plan now determines which projects will move forward in Greater Arizona while allocating dedicated funding to preservation of Arizona’s existing highway system over the next five years. In addition, four major projects will move forward in the Pima County region and 15 major projects will advance in the Maricopa County region using, in part, funding generated by those regions.

The board wrestled with some tough choices about how to fund major projects and still preserve the existing highway system. This year, the proposed projects for Greater Arizona drew a tremendous amount of interest and comment from communities across Arizona. Due to a major decline in transportation funding, the Arizona Department of Transportation must reduce the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program by a total of $350 million statewide and will move toward preserving existing highway infrastructure. This significant reduction in funding means fewer expansion projects will move forward, particularly in Greater Arizona.

A, B or C?

As part of the public comment process for the Five-Year Program, ADOT developed three scenarios to address how to fund projects in Greater Arizona with limited money.

Scenario A focused on allocating the majority of funding to preservation. Scenario B focused on moving major projects forward with the available funding. Scenario C focused on a combination of preservation and major projects. Ultimately, the board adopted a modified version of Scenario C.

The following is the list of projects for Greater Arizona during the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program. The first item includes a project that was approved by the board to be accelerated to the current fiscal year (FY 2013):

• State Route 89, Deep Well Ranch Road to South Chino Valley: On June 14, the board voted to accelerate this highway widening project from FY 2014 to FY 2013, placing it in the current Five-Year Program. This is a $25 million project that will be funded with unexpended money from other ADOT highway projects.
• Interstate 10, Ehrenberg Port of Entry, Phase One: $8 million allocated in FY 2014 for technology improvements.
• US 95, Fortuna Wash Bridge Construction: $1.5 million allocated in FY 2014 for design and $13.5 million allocated in FY 2015 for construction.
• State Route 260, Lion Springs Section: Will be reduced from $40 million to $5 million, which will be allocated in FY 2018 for design work on this widening project. The $35 million previously allocated for this project will now go toward pavement preservation.
• US 60, Silver King Section and Superior Streets: $45 million accelerated from FY 2016 to FY 2015 for this widening project.
• State Route 260, Interstate 17 to Thousand Trails: $4 million allocated in FY 2014 for scoping and $62 million allocated in FY 2016 for construction of this widening project.

More about the plan

The Five-Year Program is updated annually. Each program begins with a long-range visioning process, moves into a more realistic 20-year plan and finally yields each Five-Year Program. The program is developed by working closely with local planning organizations and community leaders to identify ready-to-construct or design projects.

Funding for the Five-Year Program is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through the gasoline tax and the vehicle license tax.

For more on the plan, re-visit some of our previous blog posts, or check out ADOT’s website.

There’s just one more public hearing for ADOT’s Five-Year Construction Program and the meeting is coming up soon…

It’s scheduled 9 a.m. May 10 at the Flagstaff City Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., in Flagstaff.

But, don’t worry if you can’t make it. There are other ways to comment and there’s still some time to give your feedback before the State Transportation Board considers adopting the final program at its June 14 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.

Just remember, all public comments must be received by May 17 to be considered by the Board.

If you’d like to give your thoughts on the plan, here are some options:

• Email: [email protected]
• Online comment form
• Phone: 855.712.8530
• Print and mail the comment form to: ADOT 5-Year Program, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

The Five-Year Construction Program is a blueprint for ADOT that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve our state’s transportation infrastructure.

For more on the tentative program, you can check out our website to read the plan, view the how-to-read-it guide and learn more.

The proposed Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway has a history that dates back to 1985, but we’re not going to blog about the project’s timeline today…

We’ll bring you a project overview soon, or, if you can’t wait, there are many, many details over on our South Mountain Web pages.

What we do want to tell you about right now is that an important public input process for the South Mountain Freeway Draft Environmental Impact Statement has just begun.

What’s a draft environmental impact statement?

The six-chapter document covers potential impacts from building or not building a freeway, coordination with the Gila River Indian Community, purpose and need for a new freeway, alternatives studied and public outreach efforts since the study was launched in 2001.

ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration released the document on April 26, launching a 90-day public review period that will feature a day-long public hearing on May 21.

Finding the draft

The draft environmental document can be found on the project website — and at the following locations in the community:

• Phoenix Public Library – Ironwood Branch, 4333 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix 
• Phoenix Public Library – Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 
• FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, 4940 E. Ray Road, Phoenix 
• Sam Garcia Western Avenue Library, 495 E. Western Ave., Avondale 
• Tolleson Public Library, 9555 W. Van Buren St., Tolleson 
• ADOT Environmental Planning Group, 1611 W. Jackson St., Phoenix (call 602-712-7767 for appointment) 

More on the project

The proposed South Mountain Freeway has been a critical part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Freeway Program since it was first included in funding through Proposition 300 approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985. The freeway was also part of the Regional Transportation Plan funding passed by Maricopa County voters in 2004 through Proposition 400.

The South Mountain Freeway is the last piece to complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system necessary for high-quality regional mobility, according to the project’s engineers.

How to voice your opinion

The public will be able to provide comments in a variety of ways during the 90-day public comment period:

• Attending a public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 21 at the Phoenix Convention Center (see map below for details)
• Providing input by email at [email protected]
• Submitting online commentsHERE
• Calling 602.712.7006
• Mailing comments to the South Mountain Study Team, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

The 90-day public review window is twice the amount of time required under federal law. Public comments must be submitted by July 24.

Following review of the draft environmental impact statement, the project’s study team will incorporate input gained from comments to produce the final environmental impact statement.

This final document will have a 60-day public review period. A record of decision is expected in 2014.

Funding for the South Mountain Freeway is already available in the MAG Regional Transportation Plan; construction of the freeway, if approved, could begin as soon as 2015. The eight-lane freeway would run from I-10 in the West Valley along 59th Avenue, cut across the southwest corner of South Mountain Park and connect with Pecos Road on the south side of Ahwatukee to connect with I-10 and the Loop 202 Santan Freeway. The 22- to 24-mile-long freeway has a $1.9 billion budget, allocated through voter-approved transportation funds as outlined in the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan.

For more information on how to participate in the study review process, visit the South Mountain Freeway Web page.

It’s almost time for the next public hearing on ADOT’s tentative Five-Year Construction Program…

This one is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 12 in Tucson. The meeting will be held in the Pascua Yaqui Justice Center in the Albert V. Garcia Auditorium, 7777 S. Camino Huivism, Building C.

But if you can’t make it, don’t worry – there are plenty of other ways to comment. Here are a few of your options:

• Email: [email protected]
• Online comment form
• Phone: 855.712.8530
• Print and mail the comment form to: ADOT 5-Year Program, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

More on the tentative program 

The Five-Year Construction Program is a blueprint for ADOT that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve our sate’s transportation infrastructure.

However, some tough decisions are ahead. For the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program (which is still a tentative program right now), ADOT has determined that $350 million must be cut due to stagnant revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding.

As a result, the 2014-2018 Five-Year Construction Program reflects a major focus on preserving our existing state highway system while moving some programmed projects forward. Other programmed projects in the five-year plan will need to be delayed to future years due to significantly less funding.

We encourage you to visit the ADOT website to take a look at the tentative plan. There you’ll also find information on three different scenarios

It’s important that you do provide feedback because the State Transportation Board will consider all public comments that are received by May 17 before adopting the final 2014-2018 Five-Year Program at its June 14 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.

ADOT’s tentative Five-Year Construction Program is now online and available for your review and comments.

But before you go and have a look, we want to let you know that this year’s draft is a little different from what you've seen in the past…

Yes, the Five-Year Construction Program still serves as a blueprint for ADOT.

And, just like it has in previous years, the plan details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve our sate’s transportation infrastructure.

However, for this year’s plan (which is still a tentative program right now), ADOT has determined that $350 million must be cut due to stagnant revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding.

As a result, the 2014-2018 Five-Year Construction Program reflects a major focus on preserving our existing state highway system while moving some programmed projects forward.

Other programmed projects in the five-year plan will need to be delayed to future years due to significantly less funding.

Preserving our system means protecting our investment of $18.4 billion – this is the value of the state highway system through monies spent on expansion, modernization and preservation projects.

What this means…

Over the next five years, there will be less focus on expansion of the system statewide. This is the first Five-Year Program that will reflect this dramatic change for the agency.

This issue will be present in 2013, but will become much more pronounced by 2016, when $250 million will be cut from the program, and in 2017, when an additional $100 million will be cut from the program.

“We are at a crossroads,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “The time has come to make some tough decisions about how to spend our limited transportation dollars. We are standing at a wide funding gap between the need for future transportation options and the reality of insufficient funds to pay for them. We need to move forward with a plan that focuses on preserving the good work we’ve done in creating a state highway system that connects communities and economies.”

The State Transportation Board will conduct public hearings to allow for additional community input.

What’s your opinion?
The public comment period for the Tentative Five-Year Program is now under way. As ADOT moves toward a preservation-based system, there are three scenarios that are being considered for implementation. All three scenarios are available for public comment:

• Scenario A – Focus on Preservation: This scenario focuses the most investment on keeping the existing highway system in good repair with the least investment in programmed major projects in greater Arizona. There would be 81 preservation projects from 2014 to 2016, 39 bridge projects, one major project and 690 miles of pavement projects. An average of $184 million per year in preservation from 2014 through 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2031 with this scenario.
• Scenario B – Focus on Programmed Major Projects: This scenario focuses the most investment on major projects that are programmed in greater Arizona with the lowest investment in keeping existing highways in good repair through preservation. There would be nine major projects from 2014 to 2017. From 2014 to 2016, there would be 25 bridge projects and 458 miles of pavement projects. An average of $142 million per year in preservation from 2014 to 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2017 with this scenario.
• Scenario C – Combination of Preservation and Major Projects: This scenario focuses on some investment in major projects that are programmed in greater Arizona with less investment in keeping existing highways in good repair. There would be four major projects from 2014 to 2017, 39 bridge projects from 2014 to 2018 and 524 miles of pavement projects. An average of $149 million per year in preservation from 2014 to 2018 would be allocated. Arizona’s interstate system is projected to fall below current standards for pavement quality in 2021 with this scenario.

How to comment

ADOT welcomes feedback and has provided the following options to submit your comments:

• Email: [email protected]
• Online comment form
• Phone: 855.712.8530
• Print and mail the comment form to: ADOT 5-Year Program, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 17. Public hearings will be conducted on March 8 in Phoenix, April 12 in Tucson and May 10 in Flagstaff to allow for additional community input (see details above). The board is expected to adopt the final 2014-2018 Five-Year Program at the June 14 meeting in Pinetop-Lakeside.

If you travel between these two major metropolitan areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants to hear from you!

Today ADOT launches a series of public involvement tools to help explore the different travel options that could exist between the two cities. Those options might include rail, transit, or even a no-action plan.

Together with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration, ADOT hopes to use the public feedback to determine some potential corridors and narrow down the types of transportation options to explore. The feedback will also assist in completing an alternatives analysis and an environmental impact study.

So...how can you get involved?

Tonight is the first of 12 open house events being held over the next month in Pima, Pinal and Maricopa counties.

We've also launched a website where you can watch a quick video, read the project booklet and fill out a short comment form, all without heading out to a public meeting.

ADOT even offers a free “Do it Yourself” participation kit with informational materials and a DVD outlining the study. The kit can be ordered at the Intercity Rail website and will be mailed with a postage-paid return envelope for completed comment forms (comments must be received by Nov. 14). The kits are great for showing the video and encouraging comment form completion at your next HOA meeting, or book club event.

We encourage you to really explore the website, go to an open house, watch the video above and fill out the comment form! All your input will assist Arizona policymakers to prioritize the state’s transportation needs.

Here’s a list of the upcoming meetings:

Remember when we first blogged about Arizona ’s Long-Range Transportation Plan?

It’s the plan that’s updated every five years and helps set ADOT’s priorities when it comes to the state’s transportation needs over the next 25 years.

You might also remember that in an effort to get significant feedback about where Arizonans would like to see their transportation dollars spent, ADOT tried something a little different in terms of public involvement.

Steering away from the traditional public meeting route, we launched an extensive outreach campaign – coined What Moves You Arizona – as a coordinated effort to communicate information about the multibillion-dollar gap between the state’s transportation needs over the next 25 years and anticipated revenue.

What Moves You Arizona offered a way to reach out to as many people as possible and give everyone the opportunity to have their voice heard – the opportunity for Arizonans to tell ADOT what was important to them regarding the future of transportation in their state.

Here’s a breakdown of the campaign:

• 12 Meeting-In-a-Box kits requested and distributed.
• 6 e-newsletters with a total distribution of 128,693 sent.
• 3 educational videos created generating 2,720 online views.
• 66 DVD requests fulfilled.
• 86 total newspaper advertisements placed along with spots on 23 radio stations.
• 2,385 surveys completed (an unprecedented response!)

Not only did the outreach efforts generate an unprecedented amount of public input, but the campaign was awarded with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Excel Award – AASHTO’s highest award for public relations programs and campaigns.

The award was announced Tuesday at the National Transportation Public Affairs Workshop (NTPAW) in Iowa! NTPAW is sponsored each year by AASHTO’s subcommittee on transportation communications.

Thanks to the numerous survey responses and the comments made at the workshops, ADOT was able to incorporate all that feedback into the Long-Range Transportation Plan and determine a recommended investment choice and associated performance measures. The final plan is scheduled to be adopted by the State Transportation Board in October and will be released in November.

ADOT appreciates everyone who attended workshops, provided feedback and took the time to complete a survey. Your participation gave Arizonans a voice in shaping our transportation future.

If you haven't yet, be sure to "like" us on Facebook where you can always give us your feedback and input!

We want to hear from you!

Public involvement is the key to designing a roadway that improves traffic flow and enhances safety. As ADOT works with the Federal Highway Administration and the Regional Transportation Authority to widen Oracle Road (SR 77) from Tangerine Road to the Pinal County line, our ears are open to comments, questions and concerns.

Proposed improvements include widening Oracle Road from two lanes to three lanes in each direction. This work will tie into the recently widened section of the highway from Calle Concordia to Tangerine Road.

Other proposed improvements include:

• 10-foot-wide shoulders (7-foot-wide with curb in Catalina) for cyclists
• Rubberized asphalt
• Raised center medians and left-turn lanes in the Catalina area
• Traffic signal improvements
• Drainage improvements
• Replacing shared-use path on the east side of Oracle Road from Wilds Road to Mainsail Boulevard
• Retaining walls and noise walls (if required by environmental study)
• Three wildlife crossing structures to allow wildlife to migrate safely between the Santa Catalina and Tortolita mountains, without crossing the roadway at street level. (The crossing structures are made possible through the RTA and are planned to coincide with the ADOT project).

So, how can you get your voice heard? Visit the project page to email your comments or find out more information on SR 77. Public comments are an important part of the project!