Tag Archives: ADOT

ADOT seeks to keep public informed on projects in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF – With multiple paving and improvement projects happening in the Flagstaff area this year, the Arizona Department of Transportation wants to keep the public informed on progress and traffic restrictions with open houses this spring and summer.

Throughout April, work will begin on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff with paving and road reconstruction between Parks and Cataract Lake in Williams and reconstructing the westbound lanes west of Williams between mileposts 156 and 161. Paving and reconstruction work will also begin on Interstate 17 northbound between mileposts 312 and 340.

Also, the I-40 bridges over I-17 and Beulah Boulevard at the I-40/I-17 interchange are being revamped, requiring ramp closures and detours around the interchange.

To keep the public up-to-date on these projects, ADOT will host open houses at its facility, 1901 S. Milton Road in Flagstaff, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 9, May 8, June 12 and July 10.

Project teams will present information and answer questions on the construction schedule and traffic impacts.

Preceding the public open houses will be stakeholder meetings from 3 to 5 p.m. on the same dates.

For more information on these projects, visit azdot.gov/projects.

For questions or comments, please contact Mackenzie Kirby, ADOT Northcentral District Community Relations project manager at 928-525-6494 or email mkirby@azdot.gov.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

MVD to offer written drivers’ test online

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PHOENIX – Arizona teenagers pursuing a driver instruction permit will be able to take the written drivers’ test online beginning Monday, March 5.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is introducing the Permit Test @ Home available to parents by setting up a free personal AZ MVD Now account, which is accessed through ServiceArizona.com.

Potential drivers will still be required to pass a road skills test prior to receiving a driver license, and all permit holders must drive with a licensed driver in the front seat.

“Online testing is commonplace for things such as college courses and professional certifications, so having the Permit Test @ Home is a modern and convenient way for MVD to serve our customers,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards.

“Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many teens and the Permit Test @ Home makes the process a bit easier,” she added. “Rather than requiring teens and their parents to come to an MVD office to pick up the manual and then return for the knowledge test, MVD is making everything available digitally.”

Online practice tests have been available at www.azdot.gov/practice for a number of years, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the questions and become better informed about traffic laws and procedures. The Permit Test @ Home expands that to the actual test by establishing a secure proctoring method in which parents log into AZ MVD Now to establish an account using their driver license or ID card.

The parent or guardian will then register their teen for the Permit Test @ Home and agree to the terms. Teens must be at least 15 years and 6 months old to obtain an instruction permit. Parents must certify that they will proctor the exam fairly. For teens under the age of 18, the application for an instruction permit or driver license must be signed by a parent or guardian who is responsible for damage caused by negligence or the willful misconduct of the child.

The Permit Test @ Home requires a $7 application fee, which is the same fee applicable to office visits.

Teens will have three attempts to pass the test within 12 months.

For more information: www.servicearizona.com

After one year, online veterans’ specialty plate sales show savings

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PHOENIX – Online sales for veterans’ specialty license plates have proven to save a lot of time for both veterans and Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division employees since the convenient service launched in January 2017.

Previously, veterans’ specialty plates had to be ordered in person at an MVD or Authorized Third Party office because veterans must provide paperwork authenticating their service in the U.S. military. With the advent of new security and other technical measures, that process has been available on ServiceArizona.com for just over a year.

Because of the addition of digital access, more than 6,200 veterans’ plates have been issued online saving approximately 2,600 hours of customer visit time and 1,000 hours of employee processing time.

“The veterans’ plates not only honor veterans and their families, but also boost Arizona’s economy,” said Air Force Col. (Ret.) Wanda Wright, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director. “In 2017, the funds from the license plates went to non-profits statewide that support veteran needs and events, which impact our local communities.”

“The veterans’ specialty plate is a great resource for Arizona,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser-Richards. “Making these available for sale online allows more veterans and their families to order these very popular plates and to do it on their schedule without coming to a physical location. It’s another way MVD honors those who have served and gets Arizonans out of line and safely on the road.”

For more information: www.ServiceArizona.com.

Lane closures on State Route 89 scheduled for tomorrow in Chino Valley postponed

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CHINO VALLEY – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers that due to the weather forecast for the coming week, the planned lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89 between E Road 1 S (milepost 327) and E Road 4 N (milepost 330) for pavement repair have been postponed.

Lane closures on State Route 89 begin tomorrow in Chino Valley

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CHINO VALLEY – The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for lane closures on north- and southbound State Route 89 between E Road 1 S (milepost 327) and E Road 4 N (milepost 330) for pavement repair.

Crack-seal work is scheduled to occur from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Tuesday, February 27, through Thursday, March 1. No Friday or weekend work is planned.

SR 89 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction while work is underway and the speed limit will be reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph. Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction personnel and equipment.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

With snow forecast, don’t get blindsided on highways

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PHOENIX – With snow forecast Friday in Arizona’s high country, please don’t take lightly the power and unpredictability of a winter storm as well as the potential for it to leave you stranded on a highway.

Arizona Department of Transportation snowplows will be out in force, but driving conditions are hazardous during winter weather. A highway can close suddenly if enough snow falls in a brief period or if there are crashes, slide-offs or both. That happened during Monday’s snowstorm, when northbound I-17 climbing out of the Verde Valley closed for several hours due to a serious crash.

The safest decision when snow falls is delaying travel until the storm passes and highways have been cleared. In addition to the obvious danger if your vehicle and others are stuck on or along a snow-covered highway, stranded vehicles also make clearing the roadway much more difficult and time-consuming for ADOT’s snowplows.

Before deciding whether and when to travel, check weather reports and get the latest highway conditions by visiting ADOT’s Arizona Traveler Information site at az511.gov, calling 511 or reviewing ADOT’s Twitter feed (@ArizonaDOT). When a freeway closure or other major traffic event occurs, our free app available at ADOTAlerts.com will send critical information directly to app users in affected areas – where possible, in advance of alternate routes.

If delaying travel isn’t possible, leave prepared for the possibility that you’ll spend extended time in winter conditions. Pack an emergency kit with items like extra blankets, warm clothes, food and water, cat litter or sand for traction, a first-aid kit and a fully charged cellphone.

Those looking to head up north this weekend to play in snow should remember that highway shoulders are for emergencies only. In addition to endangering you and your passengers, parking on a highway shoulder to play in the snow can distract other drivers and interfere with first responders who may need to use the shoulder.

Those heading to popular snow-play areas should be prepared to spend significant time on the road, as traffic at day’s end is often heavy on highways including US 180 northwest of Flagstaff. Locations of designated snow-play areas around Flagstaff are available at flagstaffarizona.org/winter or by calling 1-844-256-SNOW.

Slow down and drive for the conditions you’re in. Be sure to leave extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

Give snowplows plenty of room to work. Avoid passing a plow until the driver pulls aside to let traffic by.

MVD: Buying a vehicle? Check its history

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division cautions consumers to beware of potential fraud when buying a car.

“The best defense is to do your research,” says Ralene Whitmer, MVD Title and Registration Specialist. “This is especially true for people buying vehicles from individuals. The possibility for fraud exists and it’s wise for every consumer to thoroughly look into a vehicle’s history. Reputable dealers will always be willing to provide this information, and that same standard should be expected of anyone who sells a vehicle in a private sale.”

A vehicle’s title will include information about its origin and whether it’s been stolen, water-damaged, wrecked, destroyed, or suffered other damage. In addition, some titles will be stamped “Export Only”, which means they were purchased by a dealer from out-of-state or a foreign country and they cannot be legally sold in Arizona.

“The advice from the Motor Vehicle Division is to avoid buying cars in Arizona that are stamped ‘Export Only’”, Whitmer added. “Dealers or individuals who attempt to sell vehicles with an Export Only title stamp within Arizona are breaking the law. Those vehicles can only be sold where the dealer is actually licensed. We have seen problems with this in Arizona communities that border Mexico and other U.S. states.”

Customers can get more information about title, registration and tips on buying and selling vehicles at www.azdot.gov/mvd at the Vehicle Services section.

ADOT to host Small & Disadvantaged Business Transportation Expo

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies will hold an event Thursday, March 1, offering tips and tools to owners of small businesses and companies qualifying for the agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

The DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon at Glendale Civic Center, will allow attendees to learn about project opportunities, network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including featured speaker ADOT Director John Halikowski. Also participating are the Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation departments, Valley Metro and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program helps qualifying small businesses compete for contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women and minorities.

“ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is critical to helping to reduce barriers to entry and teaching DBEs and small businesses how to fish, thrive and survive in the transportation industry,” said Dr. Vivien Lattibeaudiere, ADOT’S Employee and Business Development Administrator. “With access to project opportunities, they can become a meaningful part of building the transportation infrastructure in our state.”

To register for this free event, visit adotdbeexpo.com.

Although the expo is geared toward Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in the transportation industry.

For more on the Expo or ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761 or visit azdot.gov/dbe.

ADOT officers assist local law enforcement in two northern Arizona arrests

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PHOENIX – In addition to protecting Arizonans and infrastructure by ensuring commercial vehicles are safe to drive on the state’s highways and have proper permits, Arizona Department of Transportation officers manning commercial ports of entry coordinate with local law enforcement agencies. That partnership paid off during the past week near St. George, Utah, and in Kingman where ADOT officers helped apprehend suspects in cases involving rape and theft.

On Sunday, an ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division officer inspecting a semi at the St. George port of entry learned, while determining whether the driver’s commercial license was valid, that the driver, Thorpe G. Steel, was wanted in Utah for rape.

Stalling for time, the ADOT officer told Steel to wait in the port of entry office while he conducted a walk-around inspection of his truck. The officer contacted Utah State Troopers and continued to stall until a trooper arrived and arrested Steel.

On the evening of February 6, two individuals broke into a Kingman man’s home and stole his 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser and other items. Around noon February 7, two ADOT officers stationed at the Topock port of entry on I-40, heading back from training in Kingman, spotted what appeared to be the vehicle heading in the opposite direction.

Once they verified it was the vehicle, the ADOT officers contacted Kingman police dispatch as well as ADOT dispatch. Both ADOT and Kingman officers pulled the vehicle over on Stockton Hill Road, and the suspects were arrested without incident.

ADOT brings back exchange program aiding local transportation projects

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PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has brought back a program made possible under state law allowing local governments to build transportation projects faster and at a lower cost by reducing red tape associated with federal funding.

The HURF Exchange Program, taking its name from the Highway User Revenue Fund, allows ADOT to exchange State Highway Fund revenues for federal Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funds with eligible local governments. ADOT is required to administer most federally funded projects, but local governments taking part in the program can now administer projects themselves, facing fewer regulatory restrictions and requirements.

“This is a win-win for the state and local communities that would otherwise have to depend on ADOT to manage their federally funded projects,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Enabling local governments to administer their own projects through the HURF Exchange Program helps reduce project costs and time to completion, and allows ADOT to focus its efforts on highway projects.”

Cities, towns and unincorporated portions of counties within a regional planning area with 200,000 or fewer residents are eligible to participate in the HURF Exchange Program. Projects must be programmed as part of the HURF Exchange Program by a region’s council of governments or metropolitan planning organization, be on the federal aid system and improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of travel. ADOT will provide State Highway Fund dollars at the rate of 90 percent of the amount of federal aid programmed for eligible projects.

ADOT will review projects qualifying for the HURF Exchange Program and consult with the Federal Highway Administration to determine which federal requirements may apply. These requirements will be the responsibility of the project sponsor to fulfill and are documented in an intergovernmental agreement.

The state Legislature authorized the program in 1997, but ADOT suspended it in 2009 due to a lack of State Highway Fund revenues. Before that, the HURF Exchange Program facilitated 145 projects with a total value exceeding $90 million.

For more information on the HURF Exchange program, please visit azdot.gov/HURFExchange.