NOGALES – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s first-of-its-kind international truck safety training program is adding another innovation to its resume: focusing instruction on commercial truckers from the maquiladora industry.

At the request of operators of border-area plants in Mexico making goods for export, ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit recently offered its first International Border Inspection Qualification training session for the maquiladora industry in Hermosillo, capital of the Mexican state of Sonora.

“Expanding to maquiladoras demonstrates that our partners in Mexico see as much value in this safety training as we do,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Interest from the maquiladora industry also means the safety and economic benefits we have seen in this program’s first year will multiply.”

Maquiladora factories import certain material and equipment without duties or tariffs. Goods are assembled, processed or manufactured using that material and then returned to the U.S. The industry employs about 34,000 people in Sonora near the Arizona border.

ADOT’s Border Liaison Unit developed the International Border Inspection Qualification program to help make Arizona roads safer and to support international trade by training Mexican truck drivers and mechanics – in Mexico – about the safety regulations they must follow to drive on U.S. roads.

The 469 drivers who have completed the training since it began a little more than a year ago have crossed the border nearly 5,500 times but have had only 12 significant safety violations that required trucks to be stopped for repairs.

“Arizona is leading the nation in developing innovative ways to make our ports of entry safer and more efficient - it's been a priority for Governor Ducey since day one,” said Juan Ciscomani, Senior Advisor for Regional and International Affairs to Governor Doug Ducey. “This kind of proactive approach implemented by ADOT and supported by the Arizona-Mexico Commission, under Governor Ducey's leadership, drives Arizona's border to move at the speed of business and supports international commerce in the state."

Following Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance guidelines, which are the standard across the U.S., this training stems from ADOT’s use of the Arizona Management System championed by Governor Ducey to have all employees continuously improve state agencies’ value to their customers.

The Hermosillo session was the 18th held in Mexico since International Border Inspection Qualification training began in summer 2017.

The program also has expanded beyond locations near the Arizona border and Hermosillo, with training offered in Mexicali and Ensenada in Baja California and in Caborca, Sonora, at the request of trucking companies in those areas.

PHOENIX – Changes are in store for motorists traveling along 59th Avenue south of Interstate 10 with work starting on frontage roads between Roosevelt Street and Lower Buckeye Road in west Phoenix as part of Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway construction.

The Arizona Department of Transportation project is creating 2.5-mile frontage roads to maintain northbound and southbound access to businesses and residences adjacent to the freeway.

With various traffic shifts and lane restrictions planned along 59th Avenue for this construction, motorists should consider alternate routes such as 51st and 67th avenues. While business access will be maintained at all times during freeway and frontage road construction, delays are likely.

Currently, crews are relocating various underground utilities (cable, water, power, sewer, gas) along the 59th Avenue alignment prior to construction of the frontage roads.

To complete the freeway and frontage roads from Roosevelt Street to Lower Buckeye Road, more than 1 million cubic yards of dirt needs to be moved, compacted and graded. The one-way frontage roads will include two travel lanes in each direction and will have traffic signals at each major intersection.

During construction, motorists should slow down, obey the speed limit and allow extra travel time.

The South Mountain Freeway will provide a long-planned direct link between the East Valley and West Valley and a much-needed alternative to I-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.

You can stay informed about the South Mountain Freeway project and sign up for updates and weekly traffic alerts at SouthMountainFreeway.com.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s pilot Interstate 17 wrong-way vehicle alert system being tested in Phoenix has been recognized with a Government Innovation Award from GCN, an information technology industry magazine.

Governor Doug Ducey, who has directed ADOT to advance efforts to develop wrong-way vehicle countermeasures, including the I-17 system, said the award recognizes the state’s commitment to public safety.

“Too frequently we see reports of another death on our highways due to a wrong-way driver – often one impaired by alcohol or drugs,” Governor Ducey said. “Arizona has taken meaningful steps to crack down on wrong-way driving, and we are proud to lead the way among states for developing and testing measures that make our roads safer and protect innocent drivers.”

In addition, Governor Ducey championed a new law that has wrong-way drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol face felony charges.

The first-in-the-nation system being tested on 15 miles of I-17 uses thermal cameras to detect and track wrong-way vehicles while also immediately alerting ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. This can save troopers valuable time in responding to incidents rather than waiting for 911 calls from other motorists.

“ADOT is working alongside several other state agencies to explore every viable option when it comes to detecting and preventing wrong-way vehicles,” said Dallas Hammit, ADOT’s state engineer and deputy director for transportation. “While we know that no system can be designed to completely prevent wrong-way drivers, the I-17 system is a significant step forward in these efforts.”

The system also allows ADOT to quickly warn other drivers about wrong-way vehicles via messages on electronic freeway signs.

The pilot project is allowing ADOT to evaluate how technology can be used to reduce the risks associated with wrong-way drivers before expanding it to other freeways.

“This technology so far has shown great promise,” said Brent Cain, who leads ADOT’s Transportation Systems Management and Operations division. “With a commitment to helping every driver get home safely, our entire team has worked tirelessly to generate and research ideas and then design, implement and test this system.”

Thermal cameras have recorded more than 30 detections of wrong-way vehicles, mostly along I-17 off-ramps located within the project’s boundaries between the I-10 “Stack” interchange near downtown and the Loop 101 interchange in north Phoenix. Most the drivers in those incidents have turned around on an off-ramp without entering the mainline lanes of I-17. 

The system’s 90 thermal cameras are positioned to detect wrong-way vehicles entering off-ramps or traveling along I-17. Through the computerized decision-support system, the pilot project also is designed to trigger new illuminated wrong-way signs with flashing red lights aimed at getting the attention of the wrong-way driver.

This technology cannot prevent all wrong-way crashes from happening. The primary goal is reducing the risk of serious crashes by alerting AZDPS and ADOT to wrong-way vehicles much faster than waiting for 911 calls from other motorists. While technology holds promise for reducing the risk of serious crashes, it can’t prevent impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel.

PHOENIX – In another example of the Arizona Management System producing results for taxpayers, the Arizona Department of Transportation recouped $6.6 million for damage to the state highway system during the fiscal year that ended June 30. That’s more than double what the agency recovered four years before and reflects continuous increases since then.

ADOT accomplishes this through its Insurance Recovery Unit, which has a goal of saving Arizonans from bearing the cost of repairs when individuals or firms are responsible for damage to the highway system. Comprised of professionals with insurance industry backgrounds, the unit reaches out to the responsible parties and their insurance carriers to recover the repair costs, which include labor, equipment and materials.

The money recovered goes into the State Highway Fund.

One case of damage that made headlines last year illustrates the value of this work: An over-height vehicle struck a girder and sign at the Interstate 17 bridge over Seventh Avenue in Phoenix (show in the photo), requiring extensive repairs along with traffic restrictions. The Insurance Recovery Unit has documented $361,430.15 in repair costs so far, and the recovery process will begin when the final total is available in the coming weeks.

“Making sure those who damage state property are held accountable protects Arizona’s investment in its highway system,” said Ted Howard, deputy director for ADOT’s Administrative Services Division, which includes the Insurance Recovery Unit. “Applying principles of the Arizona Management System has enabled us to dramatically increase insurance recovery to the benefit of Arizonans.”

Championed by Governor Doug Ducey, the Arizona Management System challenges every state employee to continuously look for ways to improve agencies’ value to customers, including taxpayers.

Process improvements within the Insurance Recovery Unit include reorganizing operations to have separate teams tasked with researching responsible parties, sending requests and negotiating the final amounts recovered. Before that, each adjuster in the unit handled all aspects of a claim.

“Now we have the best individuals in the right jobs,” said Jim Cupp, who leads the Insurance Recovery Unit. “The efficiency of this model has allowed us to greatly increase recoveries with the same number of employees.”

In fiscal 2014, the unit processed 1,400 claims to recoup more than $3.1 million in damage to the state highway system. For fiscal 2018, the unit handled 2,652 claims to recover $6.58 million. That’s up from $5.41 million in fiscal 2017 and $4.94 million in fiscal 2016.

The recovery process begins when law enforcement responds to an incident in which guardrail, a bridge or some component of the highway system has been damaged. The officer will mark the damaged item with a sticker that has the incident report number on it. When ADOT is notified of the damage and makes the repair, a member of the Insurance Recovery Unit will contact the responsible party or their insurer to file a claim.

Since July 2013, ADOT’s Insurance Recovery Unit has processed more than 12,000 claims.

PHOENIX – For the past 93 years, some of the best professional photographers have provided stunning images to Arizona Highways magazine, produced by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Those photographs of landscapes, wildlife and more have helped win the magazine international acclaim.

Now, it’s your turn to share this state’s beauty.

Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in the magazine’s annual photography contest. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 15.

Photos will be judged in three categories: landscape photography, macro (close-up) photography and wildlife photography. All photos must show Arizona.

"The photo contest is a wonderful way for photographers to celebrate Arizona," said Arizona Highways Photo Editor Jeff Kida. "From the macro submissions to the sweeping landscape images we receive, it's clear that these shooters have a passion for exploring our beautiful state."

Kida will judge entries based on the quality of composition, framing, light and an overall “wow” factor.

Photographers submitting the three best photos will win prizes. First prize is an in-state photo workshop valued at $2,500. Second- and third-place winners will receive prize packages from Tempe Camera valued at $500 and $250, respectively.

The last grand prize winner, from Bernhard Michaelis of Flagstaff, captured long shadows on a cinder field near the San Francisco Peaks. Tina Wright of Anthem won second place for a photo of Cathedral Rock looming over a stormy panorama in the Sedona area.

For more information, please visit the contest website: ArizonaHighways.com/photography/photo-contest.

To learn more about Arizona Highways magazine and to see all of last year’s winners, please visit ArizonaHighways.com.

TUCSON – Nearly halfway through a three-year environmental study, state and federal transportation officials want your input on a proposed Sonoran Corridor connecting Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 south of Tucson International Airport.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration will hold a public information meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, to hear public comments and suggestions for the Sonoran Corridor. The meeting will be held at the Desert Diamond Casino, 7350 S. Nogales Highway in Tucson. A presentation will begin at 6 p.m.

The Sonoran Corridor has been designated as a high-priority corridor under the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. It would support and connect the economy of southern Arizona and the entire state. It also would reduce travel distances south of Tucson and relieve congestion at the current interchange of I-10 and I-19 southwest of downtown Tucson.

State and federal officials are identifying and studying a range of possible corridors along with the opportunities and constraints of each. The study considers the potential social, economic and natural environment impacts of the alternatives, as well as the impact of not building a freeway in this area.

The Tier 1 Environmental Impact Study is a three-year process developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Expected to be completed in 2020, the Tier 1 study is evaluating multiple 2,000-foot-wide corridor alternatives that would connect I-19 and I-10 south of the Tucson International Airport.  The study will evaluate a no-build alternative and multiple build alternatives to determine a recommendation that is based on technical analysis and other factors, including public input.

A future Tier 2 environmental study would advance the Tier 1 recommendations to identify the specific project alignment, effects and mitigation. There is no timeline or funding identified for the Tier 2 study.

For more information about this study, please visit azdot.gov/SonoranCorridor.

The meetings are part of the public involvement process that allows the community the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments and concerns about potential locations for the proposed corridor as well as environmental considerations, impacts on wildlife habitat and cultural resources, and other modes of transportation that may be considered.

Public comment also is welcome through Oct. 26 in several ways:

• Email: [email protected]
• Toll-free bilingual information line: 855.712.8530
• Mail: Sonoran Corridor Tier 1 EIS Study Team, c/o Joanna Bradley, 1221 S. Second Ave., Mail Drop T100, Tucson, AZ 85713

The Sept. 26 meeting is a follow-up to public meetings held in Tucson and Sahuarita in June 2017.

PHOENIX – Arizona veterans who find themselves in the challenging situation of being homeless now have the opportunity to get a driver license or ID card without paying a fee.

Under a new state law that took effect this month, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has the authority to waive the $25 fee associated with getting a license or ID.  Several other fees, including those for a license suspension or revocation, a road test for drivers moving to Arizona from another state, among others, may also be waived.

“Having a license or ID card is essential to so many aspects of life and this new law will make it easier for less-fortunate veterans to get one of those credentials,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards. “Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to serve our nation, and the MVD is proud to assist homeless vets in this way.”

 

“Since most assistance programs require identification, getting an ID knocks down huge barriers for our homeless veterans,” Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Deputy Director John Scott said.  “This is important, especially for chronically homeless veterans, who can now access resources to help them stabilize.”

To qualify for the waiver, the MVD will verify the customer’s status as a veteran. In addition, the customer must provide a statement on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs letterhead or a statement on the letterhead of a verified provider of homeless services that the customer has been homeless within the past 60 days.Arizona law relies on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of homeless as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes a location not meant for human habitation, or a temporary or emergency shelter.

For more information: azdot.gov

PHOENIX – As drivers on Interstate 10 pass Ina Road in Marana, they have a clear view of a blank space in the middle of a new bridge that soon will carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

That small space – where the exit and entrance ramps to westbound I-10 will connect with Ina – is the last major piece in a two-year project to improve traffic flow and driver safety in northwest Pima County.

September marks the start of the final six months on a project that began in February 2017, with completion scheduled by early March.

ADOT is overseeing $128 million in improvements, which are funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

Crews are primarily finishing work that has already started, including creating a new westbound Ina Road bridge over the Santa Cruz River. Girders were put in place earlier this summer, and the concrete deck is set to be poured overnight Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13-14. The eastbound bridge at Ina Road will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights for the deck pour on the westbound bridge.

The westbound Ina Road bridge is expected to open to traffic in January. The eastbound Ina Road bridge, opened in late 2017, is temporarily carrying both directions of traffic.

East of I-10, crews are beginning to work on curbs, gutters and sidewalks before paving begins on Ina Road. The bridge over I-10 is scheduled to open in early 2019. About that time, westbound traffic on I-10 will be moved to new lanes that are currently under construction.

Before work began, Ina Road crossed under I-10, and drivers frequently had to stop for passing freight trains. After completion, Ina Road will cross over I-10 and the railroad tracks. Both Ina Road and I-10 will have an additional lane in each direction to accommodate increasing traffic, with Ina Road improvements reaching west across the Santa Cruz River to Silverbell Road.

The improvements are designed to keep pace with growth in the Marana area while reducing congestion on Cortaro Road.

After work is complete at Ina Road, a similar project is scheduled to begin at Ruthrauff Road. That project will include widening I-10 to four lanes, widening Ruthrauff to two lanes in each direction and building a bridge to carry Ruthrauff over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.  Ruthrauff will be closed at I-10 throughout the 24-month project.

PHOENIX – Motorists who use Interstate 10 at night in west Phoenix should allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes due to restrictions near 59th Avenue, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Crews will continue construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway interchange. I-10 will be narrowed to one lane overnight as follows:

• Eastbound I-10 narrowed to one lane near 59th Avenue from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday nights, Sept. 9-11, for bridge construction.
• Westbound I-10 narrowed to one lane near 59th Avenue beginning from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights, Sept. 10-13, for bridge construction.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions will occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site ataz511.gov or call 511.

PHOENIX ‒ A project to preserve the pavement and make improvements along a 12-mile section of US 191 east of Safford will begin Monday, Sept. 10.

Drivers on a section of US 191 between US 70 and SR 75 should expect significant delays between mileposts 139 and 151 through early 2019. The location is east of Safford and south of Morenci.

Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be milling the road surface, sealing cracks, building up shoulders, repaving the road surface and adding guardrails and rumble strips.

The roadway will be reduced to a single lane in the work area, with flaggers and pilot cars directing traffic. Restrictions are expected to be in place from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The work zone is about 20 miles south of a separate project to realign US 191 near the Morenci mine and create a tunnel that will keep mine trucks and private vehicles safely apart while moving mine vehicles more efficiently. That project began in August and is expected to be completed in December.