PHOENIX – A $3.7 million project to construct a first-in-the-nation thermal detection system, which will detect wrong-way vehicles and alert the other drivers and law enforcement of them on Interstate 17, was approved Friday afternoon by the State Transportation Board.

Last week, Governor Doug Ducey instructed the Arizona Department of Transportation to accelerate the construction of this system in light of recent wrong-way crashes, which resulted in Friday’s vote.

Construction of the thermal camera pilot system is expected to begin this fall on I-17 from I-10 to Loop 101. ADOT is exploring ways to begin construction even sooner. Full installation will take seven months, and the performance of this pilot will guide further expansion.

The system will take a three-phase approach when a wrong-way vehicle is detected: alerting wrong-way drivers so they can self-correct, warning right-way drivers and notifying law enforcement.

Once operational, the system will use thermal cameras, warning signs for wrong-way drivers and advisories for right-way drivers along a 15-mile stretch of I-17. In addition, the system will automatically focus highway cameras on the wrong-way vehicle and send automated alerts to the Highway Patrol, helping troopers intercept vehicles faster.

On freeway ramps, wrong-way vehicles will trigger alerts, including illuminated signs with flashing lights, aimed at getting drivers to stop. The system will immediately warn other drivers through overhead message boards as well as law enforcement. Cameras in the area will automatically turn to face the wrong-way vehicle so traffic operators can better track it. On the freeway, thermal cameras placed at one-mile intervals will signal when a wrong-way vehicle passes so State Troopers plan their response and get out in front of the wrong-way driver, providing a faster response.

While ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety respond quickly to reports of wrong-way drivers, most incidents begin with 911 calls from other motorists. The advantages of this system begin with automatically alerting ADOT and DPS to wrong-way drivers at the point of entry and getting State Troopers to wrong-way vehicles faster.

This system can reduce the risk, but it can’t prevent wrong-way driving.

Phoenix-area freeways safely move hundreds of thousands of vehicles every day. When crashes do occur, research demonstrates that more than 90 percent of the time, the collision is the result of driver behavior – like speeding, reckless or distracted driving, or driving while impaired. Wrong-way crashes fit this pattern.

Beyond a detection system, coordination with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement is necessary to stop and intercept wrong-way drivers before they enter the highway system.

ADOT also continues to study new technologies that promote highway safety for all users, including tools for detection, tracking and notification of wrong-way drivers.

Following Friday’s action by the State Transportation Board, the project now requires approval from the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council.

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Arlando Teller, a veteran transportation official from the Navajo Nation, and Steve Stratton, a longtime city and county leader from Globe, to serve on the State Transportation Board.

Teller will represent Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties, while Stratton will represent Pinal, Gila and Graham counties.

The State Transportation Board’s seven members serve six-year terms, prioritizing transportation needs, projects and funding on behalf of communities throughout Arizona.

Teller, born and raised in Chinle, is the airport program manager for the Navajo Division of Transportation in Window Rock. During his six years there, he has also worked as a senior transportation planner.

One of his accomplishments with Navajo DOT was working with Arizona legislators on a law allowing tribal airports to get state and federal aid for improvement projects. His diverse transportation background includes work at the California Department of Transportation, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Falcon Field in Mesa.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve on the State Transportation Board in order to support not only Navajo Nation projects, but to fully advocate for projects within all of northern Arizona and its rural communities,” Teller said.

Stratton has been engaged in transportation issues and with the State Transportation Board through long service in public works and city management. Born and raised in Globe, he served as that city’s public works director and city manager. He then was public works director and acting manager for Gila County. Now retired from public service, Stratton works for WestLand Resources, an environmental and engineering company.

“I am extremely appreciative of the appointment,” Stratton said. “I am concerned about the transportation needs of the state as a whole and the available funding associated with meeting those needs. I want to make a positive contribution as a new board member.”

About the State Transportation Board

The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to advising the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and serve six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information on the State Transportation Board is available at aztransportationboard.gov.

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Pliny Draper to the State Transportation Board, representing the Northern Arizona region in the planning and development of Arizona’s transportation network. 

The seven members of the State Transportation Board serve six-year terms while representing local communities throughout Arizona to prioritize transportation needs, projects and funding. Draper will represent Apache, Navajo and Coconino counties during his board tenure.

Draper is a member of the Navajo Nation and lives in Apache County on the Navajo Reservation near Chinle and the Canyon de Chelly National Monument. He is also half Hopi.

“One of our main areas of focus in Arizona is economic development and how transportation projects will improve our economy,” said Draper. “As we work to enhance job growth and economic development, we also need to work with the tribes and work together to develop a better statewide transportation system. We need to be brave and step forward as we compete with European, Asian and other international markets. We need to think big.”

His appointment requires confirmation by the Arizona State Senate. Draper attended his first board meeting by phone on May 15. The board met in Chino Valley.

Draper spent his career in architecture and construction administration, working on and overseeing large projects in several major cities, including Boston, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Pasadena and Honolulu. Projects included schools, hospitals and hotel resorts. Draper’s projects in Honolulu included two 40-floor high-rises, an airport terminal, an automated people mover system and light rail stations.

Now retired, Draper focuses on ranching and his work as an historian. He is also a member of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs and is a graduate of Arizona State University.

About the State Transportation Board

The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to serving in an advisory capacity to the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Arizona State Senate to six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information on the State Transportation Board is available at aztransportationboard.gov. 

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Michael S. Hammond to the State Transportation Board, representing the Pima County region in the planning and development of Arizona’s transportation network.

The seven members of the State Transportation Board serve six-year terms while representing local communities throughout Arizona to prioritize transportation needs, projects and funding.

“As someone who has lived in Southern Arizona for 39 years and traveled extensively throughout our state and the state of Sonora, Mexico, both for pleasure and business, I have a keen appreciation of our transportation infrastructure and its importance in adding to our quality of life, not to mention driving economic development and job growth,” Hammond said. “It is a privilege and an honor to have a voice in the future infrastructure investments made by the state of Arizona.”

His appointment requires confirmation by the Arizona State Senate. Hammond is expected to attend his first board meeting April 17 in Phoenix.

Hammond has been in commercial real estate since 1978 and is president, founder and managing shareholder of Cushman & Wakefield|PICOR, an independent commercial real estate brokerage and management firm based in Southern Arizona. In 2002, with his background in industrial real estate and interest in regional economic development, he began focusing on the border region and, more specifically, the state of Sonora, Mexico.

Hammond received “Tucson Man of the Year” honors from Greater Tucson Leadership in 2013. He is a member of various local, regional and national organizations, including the Arizona District Export Council, the Business Development Finance Corporation, Southern Arizona Leadership Council and Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities. He is a full member of the Urban Land Institute, and serves on the Urban Land Institute State of Arizona Steering Committee.

Hammond is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle.

About the State Transportation Board
The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to serving in an advisory capacity to the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Arizona Senate to six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information on the State Transportation Board is available at aztransportationboard.gov. 

PHOENIX – Projects to preserve, modernize and expand Arizona’s highway system have now been formally approved to move forward over the next five years.

Today the State Transportation Board voted to adopt the 2015-2019 Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. The board’s action determines which projects are now programmed in Greater Arizona while allocating dedicated funding to the preservation of Arizona’s existing highway system over the next five years. In addition, six major projects will move forward in the Pima County region and four major projects will advance in the Maricopa County region using, in part, funding generated by those regions.

“ADOT continues to focus on preservation and protecting our investment of more than $19 billion in the state highway system,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “We have also worked closely with the board over the last few months and followed their guidance to move improvement projects forward that are important to the communities we serve and that fit into ADOT’s long-range transportation plan.”

Much like the current Five-Year Program, the 2015-2019 Five-Year Program reflects a major focus on preserving the existing state highway system while moving some programmed projects forward. ADOT must prioritize projects due to stagnant revenue from the gas and vehicle license taxes and from decreased federal funding — all of which support the Five-Year Program. The 2015-2019 Five-Year Program includes a three-percent increase in preservation spending over the current program, with a steady increase in preservation funding over the next 10 years.

The following is the list of projects for Greater Arizona during the 2015-2019 Five-Year Program. The list includes three projects that were added to the program during this spring’s public comment period, as the board provided input to ADOT planners.

• State Route 347 Railroad Overpass: Total project cost is $55 million.
  FY 2015: $5.5 million allocated for design and $500,000 allocated for right of way.
  FY 2016: $5.5 million allocated for right of way.
  FY 2017: $7.3 million allocated for right of way.
  FY 2020: $36.2 million for construction (note that this portion of the project is in the 2020-2024 Development Program).

• State Route 189, Nogales to Interstate 19: Total project cost is $69 million.
  FY 2016: $2 million allocated for environmental work.
  FY 2018: $4 million allocated for design.
  FY 2022: $63 million for construction (note that this portion of the project is in the 2020-2024 Development Program).

• US 60, Show Low to Little Mormon Lake: $6 million allocated in FY 2018 for this project, which will add turn lanes, widen the roadway and construct intersection improvements.

• US 60, Silver King Section and Superior Streets: $45 million allocated in FY 2015 for this widening project (reconstruct to a four-lane roadway with a center turn lane).

• US 95, Fortuna Wash Bridge Construction: $13.5 million allocated in FY 2015 for construction of a new bridge.

• State Route 260, Interstate 17 to Thousand Trails: $62 million allocated in FY 2016 for construction of this widening project.

• State Route 89, State Route 89A to Deep Well Ranch Road: $15 million allocated in FY 2017 for a corridor widening project that will improve capacity, operations and safety.

• State Route 260, Lion Springs Section: $5 million allocated in FY 2019 for design work on this widening project.

• Interstate 15, Bridge No. 1: $2.5 million allocated in FY 2017 for design and $33 million allocated in FY 2019 for bridge replacement.

The public comment period for the 2015-2019 Five-Year Program began on March 7 and ended on May 20. During this time, public hearings were held in Phoenix, Marana and Flagstaff. Comments were also submitted online.

The Five-Year Program serves as a blueprint for future projects and designates how much local, state and federal funding is allocated for those projects. It is divided into three sections: the Maricopa County region, the Pima County region and the 13 counties that make up Greater Arizona.

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.

PHOENIX – The new Arizona State Transportation Board website was launched today, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The website provides information on the board including their powers and duties, as well as information on board meetings and meeting agendas for the year.

“This website will be a one-stop shop for all information on the State Transportation Board,” said Floyd Roehrich, ADOT deputy director for policy. “People will be able to find information on board meetings and transportation projects that have been awarded.”

The new State Transportation Board website also features short biographies on the board members and provides ways to contact the board.

For more information, visit aztransportationboard.gov.

About the State Transportation Board

The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to serving in an advisory capacity to the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Arizona Senate to six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program.

PHOENIX – Governor Jan Brewer has announced the appointment and successful confirmation of Jack Sellers as the newest member of the Arizona State Transportation Board. Mr. Sellers will represent the Maricopa County region in the planning and development of Arizona’s transportation network. His appointment was confirmed Tuesday by the Arizona State Senate.

“Mr. Sellers possesses a keen familiarity with the infrastructure challenges and opportunities facing our state,” said Governor Brewer. “With an understanding and respect for transportation’s crucial role in trade, job growth and global competitiveness, he is a welcome addition to the Board of Transportation.”

Mr. Sellers lives in Chandler and has been a member of the Chandler City Council since 2009. He is the former facilities manager for the General Motors Desert Proving Ground in Mesa.

Mr. Sellers has long been involved in his community, particularly in economic development and transportation issues. He represents Chandler on the Maricopa Association of Governments Economic Development Committee; is Vice Chair of the MAG Transportation Policy Committee; and is a member of the Arizona-Mexico Commission’s Transportation Committee. He previously chaired the Chandler Transportation Commission and Chandler Transportation Bond Committee, and has served on the Airport Noise Compatibility Study Advisory Committee.

Additionally, Mr. Sellers has been active with the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, serving on the International Leadership Committee as a board member and executive committee member. He also serves on the East Valley Partnership’s Economic Development and Government Relations Committees and chairs the Transportation Committee. Mr. Sellers also is a member of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and participates on its Public Policy Committee. He previously served as a board member and chair of the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, where he was named Business Leader of the Year in 2004. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from New Mexico State University.

Mr. Sellers replaces outgoing Board Member and Chairman Victor Flores, also of Maricopa County.

About the State Transportation Board:

The seven-member State Transportation Board has policy powers and duties, in addition to serving in an advisory capacity to the director of the Arizona Department of Transportation. Members of the board are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Arizona Senate to six-year terms. The board has broad authority to plan and develop Arizona’s highways, airports and other state transportation facilities. In addition to these general policy duties, the board is responsible for development and oversight of the state’s Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program. More information on the State Transportation Board is available at aztransportationboard.gov.