Category Archives: Unelected Officials

Driver license service providers increase under ADOT program

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dlsamplePHOENIX – Arizona residents will soon have more options for obtaining a driver license or identification card. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is increasing the number of Authorized Third Party providers able to process driver license transactions.

Four existing businesses are scheduled to expand their operations by mid-June. Beginning April 28, Third Party MVS Services, Inc., located in Mesa, will offer driver license services. Other businesses set to add driver license services are Montes Multiple Services LLC, located in Yuma, on May 12; GG & D Financial & Check Cashing LLC, at their west Phoenix location, on May 27; and Ginger’s Title & Auto, located in Sierra Vista, on June 9. Additional Authorized Third Party businesses are expected to offer driver license services during the remainder of 2014 and beyond.

The Authorized Third Party businesses will be able to complete identification card and all phases of driver license application processing for Class D and G operator licenses, including conducting the knowledge and road skills examinations.

Authorized Third Party service providers have been successfully processing primarily title and registration transactions for more than 20 years with a limited few also conducting driver license services. As Arizona continues to grow, the expansion in the driver license program will give customers more options in carrying out this important transaction. The growth in the program was made possible by the passing of House Bill 2183 in the 2013 Arizona legislative session. This expansion means seven Authorized Third Party offices around the state now offer driver license services.

“Authorized Third Party businesses are private companies that contract with ADOT to conduct motor vehicle services, providing customers with options and expanded service opportunities. The program has grown over the years and there are now 147 locations statewide,” said Stacey Stanton, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. “ADOT oversees the businesses to ensure that stringent operational requirements are being followed and the Motor Vehicle Division provides Authorized Third Party employees with extensive training to assure proficiency is demonstrated by the businesses. Customers can feel confident using Authorized Third Party offices.”
Prior to the current program expansion, there were three Authorized Third Party offices that processed driver licenses: Academy of Driving Motor Vehicle Center, located in Tucson; Western Motor Vehicle, located in Phoenix; and MVP (Motor Vehicle Processing), located in Willcox.

In order to qualify to provide driver license processing, an Authorized Third Party must meet the requirements specified in Arizona law.

“GG & D Financial is looking forward to continuing its partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division to offer this expanded service,” said Director of Operations Ron Neagle. “We believe that both new and existing customers will greatly appreciate the convenience of driver license services being available at the same locations as the existing title and registration services.”

Utility work on I-17 north of Cordes Junction scheduled on Sunday

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Interstate 17 will be closed in both directions up to 15 minutes just north of Cordes Junction (milepost 264) at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 27 for overhead utility work.

The closures will provide a safe work zone as crews run overhead utility lines across the interstate.

ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. Law enforcement personnel will be present to enforce the closures as they occur.

Demolition of US 191 bridge over I-40 scheduled for Monday April 28

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The newly constructed bridge on US 191 over I-40 has been open to traffic for several months, now the old bridge must be demolished, which will bring the US 191 Sanders bridge and road realignment project very close to completion.

Demolishing the old bridge will begin the night of Monday, April 28 and last through the morning of Friday, May 2 with both day and night work hours.

Monday and Tuesday work will be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and during these times I-40 traffic will be diverted to the east- and westbound on- and off-ramps. Work will then shift between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, which will only require narrowing I-40 to one lane in each direction.

Officers will be present to assist motorists on US 191 and I-40 and there may be short delays for traffic using US191. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

For more information about this project, please call the project information line at 1.855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov.

Overnight work on I-17 south of Camp Verde scheduled next week

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Next week the Arizona Department of Transportation will complete paving work and remove temporary concrete barrier on Interstate 17 (mileposts 280 to 282) south of Camp Verde as part of the climbing lane project.

Drivers can expect a single lane restriction through the work zone nightly starting Monday, April 28 through Thursday, May 1. Work hours are from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and drivers can expect minimal delays and slow moving truck traffic.

During construction, bicyclists are not permitted through the project work zone as the shoulders along I-17 are closed. The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.

Although paving is complete, there is still work to be completed before the passing lane project is completed this summer.

ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Pavement work on SR 260 between Cottonwood and Camp Verde Tuesday night

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will perform maintenance work Tuesday night to improve a two-mile section of State Route 260 between Cottonwood and Camp Verde.

SR 260 will be narrowed to one lane between Thousand Trails Road and Coury Drive (mileposts 211 to 212) from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 23.

Flaggers and a pilot car will direct traffic in alternating directions using the single lane that is open. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph and drivers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes. ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Overnight work on I-17 south of Camp Verde scheduled tonight

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CAMP VERDE – The Arizona Department of Transportation will move concrete barrier on southbound Interstate 17 tonight, April 17 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. south of Camp Verde as part of the climbing lane project. 

 

Southbound drivers can expect a single lane restriction and northbound traffic will be guided through the project work zone with flaggers and a pilot car. 

 

Starting Monday, April 21 crews will begin the milling and paving work on I-17 through the project.  For the next two weeks, overnight work will require a single lane restriction in both directions and drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel times to reach their destination.     

 

Work hours are from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and drivers can expect minimal delays. 

 

During construction, bicyclists are not permitted through the project work zone as the shoulders along I-17 are closed.   

 

This project is expected to be complete by the summer 2014. 

 

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage. ADOT advises drivers to allow additional time to reach their destinations and to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. 

 

For more information, email projects@azdot.gov or call the ADOT project information line at 1.855.712.8530. To stay up-to-date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at www.az511.gov or call 511.

Concrete barrier set this week on SR 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley

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The Arizona Department of Transportation will place temporary concrete barrier at night tomorrow and Wednesday, April 15 and 16, on State Route 89 between Prescott and Chino Valley to allow crews to safely work on the widening project.

The work will take place over two nights between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers can expect minimal delays during work hours.

ADOT advises drivers and bicyclists to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Shoulder work on SR 87 north of Strawberry through April

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Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be mowing the shoulder on State Route 87 in both directions on a 12-mile segment (mileposts 278 to 290) north of Strawberry through Thursday, May 1.

During work hours each day, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., traffic will be restricted to one lane through the work zone. Flaggers and a pilot car will direct traffic in alternating directions using the single lane that is open. Delays of up to 10 minutes at a time are possible.

ADOT advises drivers to proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down, and be alert for construction equipment and personnel. ADOT works to inform the public about planned highway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

ADOT seeks input on five-year transportation plan on May 9 in Flagstaff.

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation continues to gather comments on the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program while reaching out to the public and communities statewide for their input on the direction of the program over the next five years.

The third in the series of public hearings will be held in the City of Flagstaff Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001. The monthly State Transportation Board meeting will follow the public hearing.

The Five-Year Program is updated every year and serves as a blueprint that details where, when and how regional, state and federal funding will be spent for projects over the next five years to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure. This includes highways, bridges, transit and aviation.

Much like the current Five-Year Program, the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program reflects a major focus on preserving the existing state highway system to keep it in good repair, 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. Last year, ADOT cut $350 million from the 2014-2018 Five-Year Program because of substantially decreased revenue dedicated to transportation. No additional funding cuts are forecast for the 2015-2019 Five-Year Program; however, overall state and federal transportation funding continues to be flat.

The 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program includes a three percent increase in preservation spending over the 2014-2018 Program, with a steady increase in preservation funding over the next 10 years. Preserving the system means protecting our investment of $18.4 billion; this is the estimated value of the state highway system. The funding for the 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Program looks like this:

  • Greater Arizona: $1.8 billion over five years (60 percent for preservation, 11 percent for expansion and 29 percent for modernization)
  • Maricopa County region: $1.7 billion over five years
  • Pima County region: $349 million over five years Aviation: $1.1 billion over five years

Both the Maricopa and Pima county regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales tax increases.

The 2015-2019 Tentative Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program is available for public review and comment at azdot.gov/fiveyearprogram. ADOT has developed a “how to read it” guide and welcomes feedback at fiveyearprogram@azdot.gov.

The State Transportation Board will consider all public comments received by May 20. The first public hearing was held in March in Phoenix. The third and final public hearing will be held on May 9 in Flagstaff.

The board is expected to adopt the final 2015-2019 Five-Year Program at the June 13 meeting in Willcox at the City of Willcox Council Chambers, 300 W. Rex Allen Drive.

Pavement work scheduled on State Route 89 on White Spar Road

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Delays of up to 15 minutes expected for the next two weeks

Crews will begin milling the asphalt on State Route 89 on White Spar Road in Prescott starting on Thursday, April 10, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Over the next two weeks drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes at a time between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Once the asphalt has been removed, crews will need time to build the road up in areas along the project and as a result, the existing roadway will be a dirt surface until the road is ready for pavement.

The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph through the work zone. ADOT advises drivers and bicyclists to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

The work zone will be clearly marked by temporary barricades and signage.