PHOENIX – When a project isn’t using some or all of the funding committed to it because it’s become inactive, freeing that money as quickly as possible means the Arizona Department of Transportation can move forward sooner with other work that’s ready to go.

That’s the goal behind a comprehensive effort to reduce what is known formally as ADOT’s inactive projects balance. This balance is comprised of ADOT projects and local projects that haven’t used any of the funding committed to them in more than 180 days.

At its peak, ADOT’s inactive projects balance stood at $160 million, representing money committed to about 3,000 individual project phases including design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

Today, ADOT employees responsible for project funding have reduced that balance to $50.4 million and are continuing to develop ways to reduce it even further.

“To some, it may sound like an achievement that only an accountant could love, but reducing our inactive projects balance is a win for all Arizonans,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “This allows us to be more nimble in getting limited transportation funding to other projects that will improve the quality of life in this state.”

The most common reasons for projects becoming inactive include requesting funding too far in advance of needing to spend it, a local agency not invoicing ADOT in a timely manner and representatives failing to notify ADOT that a project or project phase is complete.

“Working across ADOT divisions and with local partners, our employees have identified problems that contribute to the inactive projects balance and developed sustainable improvements,” said Kristine Ward, ADOT’s Chief Financial Officer. “We have a clear path and process for continuing to reduce this balance and get even more projects going sooner.”

This effort is aligned with the agency’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Doug Ducey. It calls for all employees to identify ways to improve continuously improve processes and their value to customers.

The improvements include ADOT tracking inactive projects weekly and examining each project phase rather than the whole project when determining what has become inactive. Each month, a website lists inactive projects and projects that will be considered inactive in 30 days.

Employees developed a new policy on inactive projects spelling out that funding authorization should be requested only when a project phase is ready to proceed and providing a consistent process for closing out projects. ADOT representatives have made presentations about the policy and procedures at meetings of local government leaders in addition to conducting webinars for ADOT staff and those with local agencies.

Looking to reduce the inactive projects balance even further, ADOT now is focusing on ways to streamline the process for closing out project phases so the remaining committed funds can be released sooner.

Learn more about how the Arizona Management System works at ADOT by visiting azdot.gov/AMS.

PHOENIX – A Gilbert man who manages a used car dealership has been arrested for selling a vehicle with a false odometer reading in addition to other violations by detectives with the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.

Mikel Martinez, 37, manager of Auto Link of Arizona, had recently sold a 2013 Chevrolet E2500 Cargo Van stating that it had 159,000 miles on it. Unbeknownst to the buyer, the vehicle had actually racked up over 303,000 miles.

The buyer originally came to OIG because Martinez had not provided the title or registration for the van. Martinez had also informed her that she was being financed through BHFC Financial Services; however, when the buyer contacted the company, it had no record of her.

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General took up the case and opened an investigation that led detectives to discover that the vehicle mileage on the title had been altered from when it was first titled to Auto Link of Arizona.

When Martinez was called in to OIG headquarters regarding the odometer tampering, detectives discovered that in addition to altering the mileage, Martinez removed the letter “C” designation on the vehicle’s title. A letter “C” indicates the true mileage of the vehicle is unknown. It was also discovered that he had a fictitious dealer plate on his vehicle that was made of laminated paper.

Martinez was arrested and booked at the Fourth Avenue Jail on Sept. 21 and is currently facing counts of fraudulent schemes, forgery, tampering with a public record, displaying a fictitious plate and odometer fraud.

While ADOT’s Office of Inspector General stands ready to assist those who’ve fallen victim to fraud, ADOT has car-buying tips that can be found on the agency’s website at azdot.gov/CarBuyingTips.

Beware of odometer fraud.

• Check the odometer reading on the vehicle instrument cluster and compare it to what is listed on the back of the title from the seller and any odometer information contained in any vehicle history reports or repair invoices. Also check the title to see if the actual mileage is listed (Box A).
• A typical vehicle is driven about 15,000 miles per year. If the odometer mileage of a vehicle shows much less than that average annual usage, it could be an indicator that the odometer has been rolled back, and worth further inspection.
• Have a trusted mechanic check the odometer for signs of tampering and for wear on the vehicle to see if it’s in line with the displayed mileage. A mechanic can also check the vehicle computer for mileage.

Use good judgment and ask lots of questions. There are no stupid questions when it comes to protecting yourself in a big purchase. Do this:

• Ask for identification to make sure the seller is the owner listed on the title.
• Ask to see vehicle maintenance records.
• Check the VIN on the inside of the driver’s door frame and on the top of the dashboard to make sure they match.
• Check for VIN tampering such as the door frame sticker peeled off and replaced, and altered rivets on the dashboard plaque.

The most important thing to do is to take time and not rush the process. If the seller is acting suspiciously, unwilling to show ID or records or trying to rush the process, walk away. Take the time to find the right purchase.

Seek help if you’ve been scammed. ADOT is here to help victims of fraud involving vehicle titles, registrations and driver licenses. Call our 24-hour fraud hotline at 877.712.2370 or email [email protected].

PHOENIX – An Arizona Department of Transportation project that’s rebuilding 5 miles of Interstate 40 near Williams has been ranked in the nation’s top 10 by Roads & Bridges, a construction industry publication.

The many freeze-thaw cycles seen annually in this area, combined with heavy snow, snowplowing and use by a large number of commercial vehicles, had stressed pavement considerably between Williams and Devil Dog Road.

A $34 million project completely removed the existing eastbound roadway and replaced the surface with new concrete pavement, and crews are nearly done with work overlaying the westbound roadway with new concrete pavement.

“We were patching potholes after every winter storm,” said Chad Auker, assistant district engineer for ADOT’s North Central District. “It was a big maintenance issue.”

To accelerate much-needed improvements, ADOT and Gannett Fleming, the design firm for the project, completed design work, which normally takes about a year, in less than three months. And construction has moved rapidly in part because crews are incorporating Portland Cement Concrete Pavement recycled from this stretch.

Using Portland Cement Concrete Pavement as the road surface increases pavement life by up to 60 percent and outlasts asphalt overlays by at least 10 years.

Gannett Fleming made the nomination to Roads & Bridges because of the project’s innovative and sustainable approach. Handling the construction is Fann Contracting Inc.

“It’s much-deserved,” Auker said. “The whole team, from the designers to the development team to the contractor and ADOT construction staff, worked hard. There were a lot of long days and long weeks, and the award is well-deserved for bringing new pavement to the road.”

The reconstruction between Williams and Devil Dog Road is among projects improving 34 miles of I-40 west Flagstaff. Crews also are improving 28 miles of northbound Interstate 17 just south of Flagstaff and reconstructing I-40 bridge decks at the interchange with I-17 in Flagstaff.

PHOENIX – Two hundred and ninety-two.

That’s the number of concrete girders installed on two Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway bridges spanning the Salt River between Broadway Road and Southern Avenue in the southwest Valley. It’s also nearly a third of the 1,000 girders to be installed on 40 bridges throughout the 22-mile corridor, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Working overnight, crews recently placed the final support beams for the half-mile-long northbound and southbound bridges that will carry traffic across the Salt River when the South Mountain Freeway opens as early as late 2019. Connect 202 Partners, developer of the South Mountain Freeway, placed the first girder at the Salt River on July 21, 2017.

Many of the girders are very long and heavy, weighing 169,000 pounds and extending 170 feet in length. That’s 9 feet longer than any single-span girder ADOT has ever used for a bridge.

All of the girders were manufactured locally and hauled to the construction site overnight, when traffic is lighter. Two large cranes carefully hoisted and set the girders atop the bridges’ abutments and piers.

Now that all girders have been installed, crews will finish pouring concrete decks and adding barrier walls on the bridges. Construction equipment is expected to be able to cross the bridges by early 2019.

The freeway’s Salt River bridges will provide a much-needed local crossing to and from Laveen, especially when the river flows, while also reducing congestion at current crossings. The city of Phoenix’s 51st Avenue bridge is currently the lone all-weather Salt River crossing between 35th Avenue and Avondale Boulevard. 

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and alternative to Interstate 10 through downtown Phoenix. Approved by Maricopa County voters in 1985 and again in 2004 as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan, the South Mountain Freeway will complete the Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeway system in the Valley.

For information on the project, visit SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – At Arizona Department of Transportation commercial ports of entry near California and New Mexico,  K-9 units are trained to identify not only evidence of illegal drugs but human cargo that can include victims of human trafficking. Lieutenants overseeing these ports have training on identifying warning signs of human trafficking, such as unusual tattoos, an unwillingness to speak up and carrying large amounts of cash without explanation.

Meanwhile, dozens of vehicles driven by officers with ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division have bumper stickers aimed at directing those who need help or who see signs of trouble to EndSexTrafficking.AZ.gov or 888.373.7888, resources offered through the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.

With human trafficking an increasingly urgent issue, ADOT officers enforcing commercial vehicle laws have joined other law enforcement agencies and the Arizona Human Trafficking Council created by Governor Doug Ducey to help make Arizona a leader in combating this crime.

“Human trafficking is not just something you hear about on TV or read on the Internet; it’s happening right here in our state,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “That’s why it’s critical for ADOT to be part of this comprehensive effort to combat it.”

As a member of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council, Chief Gary McCarthy with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, part of the Enforcement and Compliance Division, chairs the outreach and awareness committee that not only raises public awareness but trains people on how to spot human trafficking and what to do about it.

In addition to the training provided to lieutenants overseeing commercial ports of entry, starting in 2019 advanced training for ADOT officers will include a human-trafficking component, including where the demand comes from and what cases look like. And the Enforcement and Compliance Division plans to develop online training so other ADOT employees who work along highways will learn how to spot the signs of human trafficking.

Since December, ADOT has had its first two K-9 units trained to detect human smuggling in addition to illegal drugs. The K-9s are used at the ports of entry along the eastern and western sides of Arizona to check any commercial vehicles that raise suspicions.

“We’re taking a few approaches to do our part to end this heinous practice here in Arizona,” McCarthy said. “From training more officers to use of our K-9 units to raising awareness through bumper stickers on our vehicles, ADOT is serious about stopping human trafficking and saving lives.”

If you would like to learn more about how to help stop human trafficking, please visit EndSexTrafficking.az.gov. To report anything suspicious, please call 888.373.7888.

PHOENIX – To prepare for a project replacing the Pinto Creek Bridge on US 60 east of the Valley, biologists from the Arizona Department of Transportation and partner organizations spent several days working to protect a native cactus, in some cases rappelling down the canyon walls to do so.

Their efforts over the summer collected samples, seeds and stem cuttings of the Arizona hedgehog cactus, which exists only in areas in Gila and Pinal counties north of the Gila River.

“We have a responsibility to make sure the plants and animals that make Arizona special are protected,” said Josh Fife, ADOT’s biology team lead. “We’re proud that the work we did will make sure the Arizona hedgehog cactus will continue to exist in the one special place in the world where they thrive.”

An upcoming ADOT project will replace the steel Pinto Creek Bridge, which spans a canyon at milepost 238 of US 60 between Superior and Globe. Built in 1949, the bridge is outdated and well beyond its original life expectancy of 50 years.

Workers will build supports for the new bridge and remove supports for the current bridge on slopes that are home to many Arizona hedgehog cactuses. Thanks the efforts of biologists and engineers from ADOT, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and Tonto National Forest, items removed from areas that will be affected by construction will be replanted once work is complete.

Some of the biologists rappelled into the canyon, while others worked on the rim to collect seeds and haul out samples.

The Federal Highway Administration funded this effort.

About a foot high, usually covered in spines and often with red flowers at the top, Arizona hedgehog cactus looks something like the small animal it’s named after. The species is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is protected under Arizona law.

Protecting native plants and wildlife is part of every ADOT project. Along the South Mountain Freeway’s 22-mile corridor, for example, saguaros, barrel cactuses and palo verde trees are being kept in temporary nurseries until they can be replanted along the freeway. Meanwhile, biologists working on the project have relocated animals including chuckwallas and burrowing owls. New Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River in Marana, built as part of an ADOT project creating a modern interchange at I-10, include bat boxes that have become a new home for bats that lived in crevices under the old bridge.

PHOENIX – Working around the clock to protect motorists and restore a key route through northern Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation has reopened US 89 after flooding severed the roadway late Wednesday between Flagstaff and Page.

“It’s testimony to the dedication of so many ADOT personnel, men and women who responded immediately and worked tirelessly, that residents, tourists and commercial vehicles are once again using US 89,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “We’re grateful to our partners, including the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Coconino County and Federal Highway Administration, who stepped forward to help keep traffic moving through the region and get this critical work done.”

The flooding, caused by the remnants of Hurricane Rosa, cut through a 30-foot section of US 89 and the earth beneath it, necessitating extensive repairs and closing the highway between Cameron and US 160 on the Navajo Nation.

With short-term repairs complete, motorists should expect reduced speed limits through the area.

Reopening the highway in less than 48 hours was no small task. To get traffic moving again, more than 40 ADOT personnel responding from as far away as Page, Payson and Williams had to thoroughly assess the site, excavate the damaged areas, haul in and compact 500 cubic yards of material to restore the roadway’s base, and put down 120 tons of asphalt pavement.

To prepare for a project that will make longer-term repairs, ADOT will assess roadway and drainage conditions in the immediate area.

ADOT coordinated with AZDPS, the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe on a temporary detour route using Interstate 40, State Route 87, State Route 264 and US 160 to keep traffic moving through the region. That detour nearly doubled the driving distance for those traveling between Flagstaff and Page.

ADOT will seek reimbursement for the repairs through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program.

PHOENIX – Arizonans thinking about getting a Travel ID to replace their current standard driver license or ID card should make an appointment at an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office soon to prepare for the Oct. 1, 2020, changes to ID requirements at airport security checkpoints.

“As of this week, there are about 500 business days, excluding government holidays, for people who want to get the Travel ID,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser Richards. “There are literally millions of Arizonans who may want to get this credential, so making an appointment at ServiceArizona.com to visit an MVD office and obtain the Travel ID is becoming more important as time passes.”

Arizona is one of 37 states to offer a choice between a credential that meets federal standards and one that does not.  Arizona law requires that MVD provide customers with this choice.

The Arizona Travel ID replaces the holder’s current card and is distinguished by a gold star embedded in the upper right-hand corner. This indicates the holder has verified his or her identity to meet the more stringent standards of the federal REAL-ID Act. It does not replace a U.S. passport for international travel.

When making an appointment, customers should be prepared to bring several different forms of identification. Some examples include:

• One document such as a birth certificate or valid U.S. passport to verify identity
• One document with the user’s Social Security number such as a Social Security card or W-2 form
• Two documents such as utility bills or bank statements that prove Arizona residency

A full list of acceptable documents is available online at azdot.gov/travelID.

Customers should bring documents that are consistent with each other in regards to a person’s name and other information. For example, name changes due to marriage or divorce, use of nicknames instead of given names and so forth, need to be considered when bringing in documentation.

Some Authorized Third Party dealers provide full license and ID services, including offering the Travel ID. Go to azdot.gov/thirdpartyDLservices for more information on locations and availability.

PHOENIX – With the Arizona Department of Transportation covering the cost of training and providing safety gear for participants, dozens of members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation have completed a Construction Academy that helps them launch careers in transportation.

Among other instruction, the academy offers flagger certification and safety training required to work on construction projects within and around the reservation in the Verde Valley. In addition, some participants have received training required to obtain commercial driver licenses allowing them to drive for construction contractors.

It’s another example of ADOT’s On-The-Job-Training Supportive Services Program helping expand career opportunities for members of tribal nations. In 2017, a Construction Academy sponsored by ADOT helped members of the Tucson-area Pascua Yaqui Tribe earn certification to work on tribal construction projects.

“These partnerships with tribes are a natural extension of programs designed to connect people with opportunities in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, ADOT’s employee and business development administrator. “Training offered through ADOT, through contractors, through community colleges and through other avenues connects members of disadvantaged groups, including those who are unemployed, with construction careers.”

Seven members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation who completed the most recent Construction Academy training also got hands-on experience in concrete masonry and carpentry trades through various construction projects on the reservation. In the process, those who completed all instruction offered over 16 weeks received six units of college credit in blueprint-reading, construction math, masonry and carpentry.

This latest phase of instruction, offered in collaboration with Gila Community College, expands a Construction Academy Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program that ADOT and the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s Tribal Employment Rights Organization (TERO) launched last year.

“The partnership with Gila Community College and ADOT has helped to educate and give practical skills to our tribal members,” said Brian M. Kelley, the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s TERO officer. “This was an opportunity that we needed and really enjoyed.”

ADOT’s On-The-Job-Training Supportive Services Program, part of the agency’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office, offers Construction Academy programs to help remove barriers to construction careers for members of disadvantaged groups, including minorities, women and those who are unemployed. ADOT’s commitment extends to helping participants move on to construction apprenticeships and providing support and guidance as they work toward journeyman status.

Various other Construction Academy opportunities are available around the state. Individuals also can receive training that will help them become concrete finishers, block masons, highway surveyors, heavy equipment operators and commercial drivers.

ADOT covers training costs and fees for participants and provides support including transportation and child care assistance, job-readiness training, and safety gear such as hard hats and protective eyewear.

During the recently completed federal fiscal year, ADOT’s On-The-Job Training Supportive Services Program received $112,000 from the Federal Highway Administration to offer workforce-development initiatives.

For more information or to apply for a Construction Academy, please visit azdot.gov/BECO, call 602.712.7761 or pick up materials at the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office, 1801 W. Jefferson St., Suite 101, in Phoenix.

PHOENIX – A $1 million federal grant will allow transportation agencies to better leverage data to help people get around more efficiently in Arizona’s Sun Corridor, the fast-growing region stretching from the Phoenix area through Tucson to the border with Mexico.

The Arizona Department of Transportation, the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and partner agencies will use the Federal Highway Administration grant to create Sun Cloud, a transportation data portal intended to inform infrastructure investments and improve mobility and safety in the region.

MAG, the transportation-planning agency for the Phoenix region, will serve as project manager to create the cloud-based repository and online portal for data contributed by ADOT, the Pima Association of Governments, the Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The goal: helping leaders make transportation investments that improve safety and mobility on roadways as well as streamlining the process of completing federally required environmental reviews. 

“Having accessible, usable and high-quality data and analytical tools is vital to moving people and goods more efficiently in the Sun Corridor and helping Arizona’s economy compete globally,” said Greg Byres, who leads ADOT’s Multimodal Planning Division.

ADOT was among nine state departments of transportation that received a total of $8.4 million in Federal Highway Administration Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration grants.

“Sun Cloud provides a vehicle for in-depth coordination across planning boundaries. It will help us look at the Sun Corridor as a whole to assess the collective impact of transportation projects and help us focus on specific strategies,” said MAG Chair Gail Barney, mayor of Queen Creek.                                               

Besides being a resource for transportation planning, the new online tool will be of value to businesses and members of the public. For example, instead of going to multiple agencies to seek information about a specific roadway, homeowners, university students, business owners and others will be able to easily access authoritative information in one place.

The data will involve traffic, socioeconomic and environmental details, crashes and project plans for Maricopa, Pinal, Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties. It will be in formats that enable use in mobile applications.