Category Archives: Phoenix

ADOT crews now can clear travel lanes of minor wrecks

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PHOENIX – With a goal of keeping drivers and first responders safe and traffic flowing, Arizona Department of Transportation personnel are now authorized to clear or order removal of vehicles that are involved in minor crashes.

When incidents occur, ADOT coordinates with Arizona State Troopers to set up traffic control, close highways and, when necessary, arrange hazardous materials cleanup. When ADOT personnel arrive before State Troopers at the scene of a minor crash or when State Troopers ask them to do so, a new agency policy empowers them to take action to clear travel lanes.

“Quickly clearing hazards is a proven way to make everyone safer, including State Troopers, ADOT personnel and others responding,” said Brent Cain, ADOT’s director of Transportation Systems Management & Operations. “Having ADOT’s highly trained crews take action when appropriate to keep traffic moving promotes safety and reduces congestion.”

The change stems from best practices in Traffic Incident Management (TIM) strategies, including the principle of Quick Clearance.

Getting vehicles that are involved in minor crashes out of travel lanes quickly makes the roadway safer for other vehicles and emergency responders, reduces the chance of secondary crashes when traffic approaches the incident and minimizes overall traffic congestion.

State law requires drivers involved in minor crashes that don’t involve injuries to get their vehicles out of travel lanes as soon as it’s safe to do so.

State Troopers must authorize removal of vehicles involved in crashes that result in serious injuries or deaths.

Expect road work for the next four weeks on Interstate 17 between New River and Sunset Point

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Crews have completed the initial paving on Interstate 17 between New River and Sunset Point as part of a $10.8 million pavement project that began last summer. However, crews will be on site over the next four weeks as they work on sign and guardrail installations, delineators and other miscellaneous work.

Work is scheduled to occur Sunday through Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should anticipate north and southbound lane restrictions during work hours.

The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2017.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Mexican wolf captured in Chiricahua area of Arizona

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PHOENIX — A female Mexican wolf originating from an ongoing reintroduction effort in Mexico was captured March 26 on private ranch land in southeastern Arizona by the Interagency Field Team (IFT) and relocated to the Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico, where it is in good health. Management agencies in the United States and Mexico will determine the most appropriate long-term management action for this wolf.

The wolf was first sighted in the United States on March 19 by an Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife manager and again on March 22 by ranch employees. In the latter instance, the wolf exhibited minor problem behavior by not retreating after the reporting party tried to haze it out of the area. The wolf is believed to have been traveling alone, as there have been no other wolf sightings in the area.

The wolf was initially described as wearing a GPS radio collar, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department conducted an aerial telemetry flight on March 22 to detect any signal emanating from the collar; however, no signal was detected, and the collar was later found to be non-functional.

The wolf (f1530) was born in 2016 at a captive wolf breeding facility in Cananea, Mexico, and released in October 2016 in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, approximately 90 miles from the international border. The last collar radio transmission was Feb. 14, 2017, from 21 miles south of the international border with New Mexico.

Some area ranchers reported possible livestock depredations in the area. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services investigated eight livestock carcasses between March 22 and 27, to determine the cause of deaths. The results of the investigation confirmed that one was killed by a wolf, four died of natural causes, two died of unknown causes, and one was unable to be investigated because of its deteriorated condition.

Ranchers who experience confirmed wolf depredations can apply for compensation through the Arizona Livestock Loss Board. Additionally, area ranchers can receive funding to implement actions to minimize wolf-livestock interaction through Defenders of Wildlife and the Mexican Wolf Fund.

“We were decisive in our management actions because this wolf was young, alone, genetically important, and not affiliated with another pack,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle. “Future management actions may differ based on the circumstances of each scenario.”

The area where this wolf was captured is within the federal Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) in the United States. This designation was revised in 2015 and provides flexibility for managing Mexican wolves as part of an experimental population. Prior to 2015, the MWEPA extended from Interstate 40 south to Interstate 10 in Arizona and New Mexico. The 2015 revision extended the southern boundary to the United States/Mexico border to provide more management flexibility in this area.

The Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Mexican government, and the states of New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, are reviewing biological information for the development of a revised Mexican wolf recovery plan. That review focuses on recovery south of Interstate 40 and into Mexico with the expectation that populations in the two countries will be connected.

Mexico has been a partner in the recovery of the Mexican wolf since the two countries established a binational captive breeding program in the 1970s to halt the extinction of the Mexican wolf. The Mexican government began re-establishing Mexican wolves back into the wild in 2011, following their elimination from the wild in Mexico in the 1980s.

The Mexican wolf recovery program is a partnership between the Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, White Mountain Apache Tribe, USDA Forest Service, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service – Wildlife Services, and several participating counties. The Interagency Field Team (IFT) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Mexican wolf population and includes field personnel from several of the partner agencies.

For more information on the Mexican Wolf Reintroduction Program, visit
www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf or www.azgfd.gov/wolf.

Popular live-streaming peregrine camera goes dark

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s popular live-streaming peregrine camera in downtown Phoenix will unfortunately remain dark this season, after the nesting pair failed to return to the nest this breeding season.

“We have been monitoring the nest for several weeks and neither of the birds have returned, and being that it’s so late in the breeding season, it is very unlikely they will this year,” said Randy Babb, AZGFD Watchable Wildlife program manager. “This is unfortunate, given how the streaming camera resonated with the public, who were given a window into Arizona’s wildlife. Through that window, thousands of people worldwide learned about and began to have an appreciation for downtown Phoenix’s peregrine falcons.”

Last year AZGFD installed a high-definition camera, which became an instant hit with viewers worldwide as the parents cared for four eggs, with only one egg hatching – on Mother’s Day. However, the lone chick eventually fell from the nest and succumbed to internal injuries.

Ahead of this year’s nesting season, AZGFD completed upgrades to the nesting box based on input from the Peregrine Fund and other experts. The box was modified to allow the birds to get into the box more easily, which should help nesting success.

An air conditioning unit was also planned for installation to help keep the box cooler during dangerous triple-digit temperatures. Installation of the AC was generously donated by Forrest Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. in Phoenix with unit design by Otterbein Engineering. Despite efforts to renovate the box, the pair chose not to return this year.

Peregrine falcons often nest in cliffs, steep canyon walls and in urban locations, such as skyscrapers, water towers or power poles. They have been known to live up to 15 years in the wild and are considered the fastest animal on the planet, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200 mph.

Peregrine falcons have nested in the downtown Phoenix area for more than a decade and early on, the birds selected the Maricopa County Administration Building as a nesting site. Until this season, birds have used the nesting box since 2014.

It is hoped the birds will return to the nest box next season.

For more information on peregrine falcons, visit www.azgfd.com/peregrine.

MVD expands number of online road test appointments

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PHOENIX – It’s goodbye to guesswork. If you need to take a road test to get your driver license, the number of available online appointments at Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices just went up more than 30 percent.

There are now more than 900 daily appointments available statewide every business day at the MVD offices that conduct road tests. Of those, more than 600 are available at locations in metro Phoenix and Tucson – the busiest areas for MVD.

Those numbers represent the full capacity for road testing based on MVD hours of operation and the time it takes to perform a road test, which is typically between 15 and 30 minutes.

“The MVD began offering online appointments for road tests in 2016, and it’s been a tremendous success,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “One of our goals in 2017 was to fully implement this program so that people who need to take a road test can go to one of our locations with the confidence that they’ll get it done at a time that’s convenient for them. This is all about serving our customers well, making the MVD offices run more efficiently and fulfilling our vision to get people out of line and safely on the road.”

Scheduling an online appointment is as easy as going to servicearizona.com, clicking on the “MVD Office Appointments” button and selecting a time and location for the road test. Not all MVD offices conduct these tests, but locations are well distributed throughout Arizona.

MVD will still serve walk-in customers for road testing based on availability that may be limited due to high demand.

For a map of MVD offices and services provided, please visit azdot.gov/mvd and check for MVD hours and locations.

2017 fall hunt recommendations now posted on AZGFD website

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2017 fall hunt recommendations for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, bison, bear and mountain lion are now available online at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

A series of six “open houses,” where constituents can review and ask questions about the proposed recommendations, will begin next week at Game and Fish regional offices statewide. No formal presentations are planned.

  • Thursday, March 30: 3-5 p.m., Kingman, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
  • Thursday, March 30: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Mesa, 7200 E. University Drive.
  • Friday, March 31: 3-5 p.m., Tucson, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
  • Tuesday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Pinetop, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
  • Tuesday, April 4: 3-5 p.m., Yuma, 9140 E. 28th St.
  • Wednesday, April 5: 6-8 p.m., Flagstaff, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

The department annually makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The proposed recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during the Saturday, April 8, portion of its April 7-8 meeting at Game and Fish headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, in Phoenix. The agenda will be posted at https://www.azgfd.com/Agency/Commission.

ADOT focuses on patching potholes in northern Arizona after winter storm

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PHOENIX – A late winter storm this week and more precipitation expected next week have Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews in patrol-and-patch mode as they address pavement-repair needs on Interstate 40 and Interstate 17 in the high country.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

After weeks of making permanent repairs, including laying asphalt over rough stretches of pavement, crews over the next week will be out patching any potholes that have formed as a result of the latest storms. Forecasted rain showers and snow in the high country will delay other work.

ADOT responds aggressively to the annual challenge of potholes from winter weather. Crews make temporary and then permanent repairs to potholes as soon as possible.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions.

AZGFD Outdoor Expo next weekend

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PHOENIX — Arizona’s largest hands-on outdoor expo is next week and it’s FREE! The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo, presented by Shikar Safari Club International, will be held on Saturday, March 25, and Sunday, March 26, at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix. The event offers loads of activities, presentations and exhibits for everyone from novices to seasoned outdoor recreationists.

The Expo has come a long way since its 2004 inception that had only a handful of attractions and exhibitors. It is now one of the north Valley’s biggest and best-attended events of the year.

Some of the things attendees can do include:

  • View live wildlife exhibits (hawks, reptiles, small mammals, more).
  • Give kayaking a try at the “Lake Paddlemore” kayaking pond.
  • Hike a field course and learn cool camping tips.
  • Take the kids to two huge catch-and-release fishing tanks.
  • Learn target archery.
  • Try out different firearms in a safe, controlled environment on the range.
  • Learn specialty shooting disciplines – clay target, cowboy action, and more.
  • Learn from informative talks on wildlife and outdoor recreation.
  • Cowboy mounted shooting match at Royce W. Anderson Family Arena.
  • View OHV exhibits, rock crawler demos, learn about responsible riding.
  • View boating exhibits and learn about watercraft safety.
  • Visit with more than 150 exhibitors.

Admission and parking are free, but people might want to bring a little cash for the variety of food and beverage concessionaires and other vendors. ATMs will be on-site.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 26. The Expo entrance is on Carefree Highway about a half-mile west of I-17. Just follow the signs.

The title sponsor of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo is Shikar Safari Club International. Gold Sponsors are OneAZ Credit Union and Shooter’s World/Daniel Defense.

For more information, visit www.azgfd.gov/expo.

Crews continue pavement repairs on northern Arizona highways

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PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation maintenance crews are continuing pavement repairs along northern Arizona highways after winter storms.

Next week, crews will lay asphalt over existing pavement to smooth sections of Interstate 40 at milepost 156 westbound and continue this work between mileposts 169 and 172 eastbound, about 10 miles east of Williams. Patch work and asphalt overlays also will continue on State Route 89A in Oak Creek Canyon.

Potholes can pop up quickly when moisture seeps into and below asphalt, which in northern Arizona can be stressed by the combination of freezing overnight temperatures and daytime thawing. The Flagstaff area usually experiences more than 200 daily freeze-thaw cycles each year. Add heavy traffic, and this stressed pavement can break away.

ADOT has two projects coming later this year along I-40 between Flagstaff and Williams that will add a new layer of pavement in both directions.

National Household Travel Survey continues in Arizona through April

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PHOENIX – Over the past year, thousands of Arizonans have helped inform how we’ll all get around in the future by accepting invitations to participate in the National Household Travel Survey. With the survey wrapping up at the end of April, some are still getting letters asking them to take part.

The Arizona Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration are sending these invitations, most of them to households outside of metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson. The survey, conducted every five to seven years, provides an essential snapshot of transportation behaviors and trends by asking how members of a household get around on one day.

It’s important that as many households as possible participate because the answers will help state, local and federal officials decide when, where and how to invest limited transportation funding to improve roads, public transportation, sidewalks, bike paths and more.

Participation is voluntary and involves just a few easy steps. The first requires filling out a brief survey that comes with the invitation letter and returning it in a prepaid envelope. That takes about 10 minutes. Participants receive travel logs to record where members of their household go on an assigned travel day. Then they provide the information online or by phone, a process that usually takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Using a federal grant, ADOT has commissioned extra survey responses from beyond the Phoenix and Tucson areas to learn more about travel behaviors and trends in Greater Arizona. The goal is for about 80 percent of all participants to live beyond the Sun Corridor.

By law, all information provided is kept confidential, will be used only for research and cannot be sold. Names and other identifying information aren’t linked with the survey data used to create statistical summaries.

For those who aren’t invited to participate in the National Household Travel Survey, ADOT has created an online travel survey available at azdot.gov/NHTS. Information gathered through this survey will also help create a more valuable transportation system for all.