APWA AZ Newsletter 2015 September
NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2015 In this issue Follow Us 2015 Newsletter Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR October 21, 2015 October 28, 2015 November 10, 2015 November 12, 2015 |
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE The Congress is just over now. You are probably asking yourself how did it go? Let me tell you just a few highlights of this year’s APWA International Congress. The events started last week on Thursday August 27th. The National Board members flew in and our Arizona Board picked them up at the airport. Friday, the 28th, there was a Board reception at Four Peaks in Tempe. This started the festivities for what was to be one of the most successful Congress events in recent history. Registration started Saturday morning and the general sessions started On Sunday morning the Keynote speaker was Marcus Luttrell the Navy Seal who authored the Lone Survivor and Service: A Navy Seal at War. This was a moving and inspirational speech. Marcus shared his take on the events that occurred during Operation Redwing in Afganistan and Pakistan. The Arizona Chapter committee members helped to lead the procession from the meeting room to the Exposition floor. What an opening! The general sessions started at that time. Some additional highlights were the Get Acquainted party from 5 to 7 PM. I could talk about it for a long time. Believe me, it was memorable! Margaritas, food, Indian dancers, Mariachis, Ballet Folklorico dancers, the donkey, tequila shots and quick draw contests. Then entertainment committee outdid themselves. Then, after that there was a Presidential Reception at the Sheraton Hotel. This was the perfect ending for the first day.
Monday was a very good day as well. The kudos came in as the National Board and many
My last comment is thanks to the City of Phoenix and the Convention Center staff who helped make this happen as well.
Click Here to View More Congress Photos > FEATURE ARTICLE Impressions from Brian Usher, APWA National President
As the first Chapter to work through the new Congress MOU process from beginning to end, I know how much this was different from past shows, and I know how hard you worked with APWA staff to figure out all the nagging details. Thank you for working with us during this process.
Also, thank you on behalf of the Board Spouses who had a wonderful and exciting day exploring the wonders of Sedona with your wonderful hosts and guides on Saturday. They truly enjoyed their time with you, and the amazing scenery.
Lastly, thank you for your amazing hospitality, dedication and commitment to this year’s show. Great Job to All Brian Usher, President Click Here to View the 2015 Congress Highlight Video > Click Here to View More Congress Photos >
Honoring Our National Project Winners Two Arizona projects recently won National APWA Public Works Project of the Year Awards. Those projects were recognized and their respective team members received the awards during 2015 Congress at Awards & Recognition Ceremony and Reception on Monday, August 31st. Project Name: Houghton Road, Irvington Road to Valencia Road
The Houghton Road, Irvington Road to Valencia Road project consisted of widening three miles of Houghton Road from a two-lane roadway to a six-lane divided, multi-modal scenic parkway. Coordination with the public, a Citizens Design Review Committee (CDRC), businesses, stakeholders and elected officials started at the Design Concept Report (DCR) stage and continued through final design and construction. Important project elements included native landscaping and water harvesting, wildlife compatible crossings, upgraded traffic signals, bike lanes, and a multi-use path. Significant right-of-way acquisitions were required from the Arizona State Land Department and a few private property owners, but no resident/business relocations. The project also included identification of conflicts with a 24-inch water line, a 12-inch gas line, and electric transmission lines, drainage analysis and coordination with development projects. Extensive access management measures were implemented in order to maintain mobility along this roadway. The project included a solar-powered emergency fire signal and five traffic signals. Two signals (at Drexel Road and Poorman Road) were designed with Florida T signal (or Continuous Green T) configurations to allow southbound traffic to flow without having to stop. The project also provided multiple improvements for alternative modes including 12 bus pullouts, and a paved, landscaped multi-use path along the east side of the road. Extra wide access ramps and a special bike-friendly treatment to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists were included for all the crosswalks along the path to allow bicyclists to cross the side streets without having to walk their bikes. New multi-cell arch structures over three large washes, including Atterbury Wash, were included to provide all-weather access, and water harvesting was also incorporated along the entire project. Houghton Road by the numbers: 250,000 cubic yards of borrow; 65,000 tons of asphalt; 10,200 linear feet of 18- to 72-inch storm drain; 15,300 linear feet of water lines; 4,500 cubic yards of structural concrete; five signalized intersections; and 40 acres of landscaped area. Some of the technological innovations used in the project to improve efficiency included use of digital surface models to guide GPS-equipped grading equipment; development of 3D models to evaluate conflicts and required phasing for installation of underground utilities; use of tables (iPads) in the field to georeference electronic copies of the plans within Google Earth; and unique Florida T intersections to provide continuous traffic flow for southbound traffic (there are only two other such intersections in the Tucson area and very few in the state—these have been very well received by the public as access is provided to the side streets while maximizing mobility for commuter traffic on Houghton Road). Project Name: Julian Wash Linear Park
The Julian Wash Linear Park provided 2.7 new miles of sixteen-foot asphalt multi-use paths as part of the Loop system in Pima County. This replaced a temporary on-road bike lane portion of path with a roadway-separated safe path. The project was delivered by a CMAR team led by the Pima County Project Management Office (PMO) including Granite Construction, Kimley-Horn, and other Pima County departments. The project was funded with a non-traditional public-private partnership (P3), where the Community Benefit Healthcare Foundation provided construction funding via an agreement with Pima County. Excellent design and craftsmanship fit this path into a seemingly undevelopable, challenging, and narrow wash corridor to the great benefit of the community. The project was originally considered an undevelopable section along the Julian Wash from Alvernon to Campbell. This was an extremely narrow corridor, and without bank protection along the wash, it seemed impossible to provide a path that wouldn’t impact the wash negatively or one that would function integrally with the highly erosive wash environment. Kimley-Horn’s lead designer for this project, Scott Altherr, P.E., CFM, has an extensive background with hydrology and hydraulics, and he was able to creatively align the path through existing development, highly eroded and degraded areas, and around challenging existing utilities. The County originally envisioned this project as a series of smaller packages to be delivered sequentially as Job Order Contract projects. This resulted in a set of small packages with the intent to be field fit with prequalified contractors. In a surprise change of events, a local community health foundation approached the County searching for a project similar to the Linear Park to invest in. By creating a P3, the team was able to bring in significant federal dollars to benefit local indigent healthcare while still installing the same recreational public works improvement as originally planned. This changed the planned delivery method to a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) approach, which would still provide a prequalified contractor but additionally resulted in transparent pricing methodology and responsibility to the outside private partner. Although the CMAR team was developed late in the project, the process still allowed for a pre-construction value engineering and constructability review. The design team participated heavily, updating engineering drawings and side-by-side pricing review during the process. Although it is always recommended to start a CMAR process early in the design, the team still received significant value resulting in a net cost reduction of at least $800K from the initial GMP to the final. Though construction was challenged by monsoon season delays, it was substantially completed on time, including installation of a bridge, in the week leading up to the November 1 Opening Event. INDUSTRY NEWS SAVE International Module 1 Certification Course 40-hour Course Information Dates: December 7-11, 2015 Instructor(s) Renee Hoekstra, CVS, Managing Partner, RHA, LLC To Reserve your seat call RHA (602) 493-1947 or (800) 480-1401, email us at Patrice@TeanRHA.com or complete the registration form. MEMBER NEWS New Member Spotlight
With APWA Since: June 2015 Describe your job responsibilities: Review and track development and infrastructure design plans. Assist in the development, review, and update of master plans, standard specifications and details. What was your favorite project to work on in the last 10 years? The City of Surprise Spring Training Facility. Many residents from throughout the valley enjoy this complex. Public Works played an important role during upgrades and renovation of this important feature of the City. Where have your travels taken you?: Throughout the United States and to Brazil. Name one thing not many people know about you: I have 9 grandchildren
For more than half a century, Ames Construction has been delivering quality construction services to our customers. Founded in 1962, the company started as a small, family-run earthwork contractor that served a community. Today, Ames has grown into a full-service, heavy civil and industrial general contractor that serves customers throughout North America. While maintaining corporate offices in Minnesota, our regional offices are strategically located in multiple geographic areas in the US and Canada to support and serve our customers' ever-evolving project demands. Contact: Pamela Iacovo, 602.431.2111 x3308, pamiacovo@amesco.com APWA NEW MEMBERS
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Sunday with the EXPO of Equipment and vendors showing on Sunday at 12:00 Noon. This “Best Show in Public Works” consisted of over 70,000 square feet of exhibits and 400 vendors. There were over 6,000 attendees it was said.
attendees were talking about the first day and the support the Arizona Chapter was providing them. This was very nice to hear. I am proud of the Committee from Arizona and David and Charlene who did so much to make it happen! Thanks everyone for the work you did during the conference. Our volunteers were amazing! This was due to the extreme organization provided by Jeff Kramer and Rebecca Timmer who headed up this group. The sessions were off to a great start. The keynotes were amazing. Diana Nyad gave a very energizing and uplifting talk about her swim from Cuba to Florida. After her speech, the Arizona Chapter and the National Board helped Brian Usher kick off the new format for the Public Works Expo which is called the PWX. This was a lot of fun and inspirational as well.
I don’t have time or space to talk about everything that went on but have to say thanks to all the people who raised funds for this event, who organized it, who manned the booths, organized the events, assisted so many of the participants and made this a fabulous event! The companies and organizations that provided funding were instrumental in making this a wonderful and instructional experience for many people from around the world. 
I want to take this opportunity to again thank the Arizona Chapter for an amazing APWA event last month. All of your hard work over the past few years of preparation was so evident to all. Your volunteers were amazing, helping so many folks find their way, helping carry things, and being fantastic ambassadors for Phoenix and Arizona. The Get Acquainted Party was a huge success, the snacks in your hospitality area received huge raves, and everyone loved the backpacks. And, you not only were helpful, but you also went so far to help avoid any issues arising from the DRY heat, by letting us experience your monsoons during the first few days of the show. Not many chapters are able to control the weather that way. Good Job! 
Having worked on two previous Congress programs I know how much goes into making it feel so seamless. For all of us who attended, 2015 was an Amazing show and you can be very proud of all the great comments and reviews we have received. It is an honor to have been inducted President at the 2015 Phoenix Congress. Looking forward to seeing you all at PWX 2016. 
