APWA AZ Newsletter 2016 September
NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2016 In this issue Follow Us 2016 Newsletter Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR September 13, 2016 September 21, 2016 September 21, 2016 October 12, 2016 October 17 - 19, 2016 October 19, 2016 October 19, 2016 October 26, 2016 |
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE First, I want to thank everyone who attended the 2016 APWA AZ Annual Statewide Conference in August! What a great turn out. And a special shout out to all our Sponsors for their support and investment in our association. Finally, please congratulate all the members of our conference committee led by Co-Chairs Robin Bain and Arno Leskinen for their time, effort, and dedication. Well Done!! We are already looking forward to 2017. Welcome to September! The end of summer means it's back to school throughout Arizona. In addition to being aware around schools for back to school safety, this brings a special opportunity for all of us to promote our industry. I would like to encourage you to reach out to your middle and high school principals, guidance counselors, and teachers to offer your time as a guest speaker. There are many opportunities including career days, and STEM, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), and CTE (Career & Technical Education) classes. Now more than ever is an important time to let our students know about all their career options, both those that need college degrees and those that don’t, and keep filling that funnel of future talent. Many of our students don’t realize there is a huge need for skilled craft workers in our state, with jobs that don’t require a college degree and that pay great wages. Not everyone is destined for college, some would rather work with their hands and create – welders, carpenters, electricians, crane operators, etc. Let’s support those who don’t want to go to college as much as we support those who do! APWA’s National website offers suggestions and tools for school outreach. http://www.apwa.net/outreach For our college bound students, ASU’s civil engineering and construction programs are at record enrollment and producing top quality graduates, as are the U of A and NAU programs. Get your high schools in touch with ASU’s civil and construction program recruiter, Whitney Hatfield at 480-965-2801. And, if you want to fill your staff with these quality graduates, ASU career fairs (10/4 – 10/6 for Engineering and General Construction, 10/13 for Heavy/Civil Infrastructure) are filling up now. Contact Matt Eicher at 480-727-6474 to get your organization into the mix. http://arizona.apwa.net/EventDetails/7287 Sincerely, MEMBER NEWS
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Name and Title: Louis Martinez, Director of Operations and Maintenance, Lake Havasu City, AZ With APWA Since: 2/2/16 Describe your job responsibilities: Water Division, Wastewater Division, Municipal Services Division- (MSD- Street & Traffic Fleet, Parks,), Airport, Transportation (Havasu Mobility) What was your favorite project to work on in the last 10 years? 2011 Strategic Asset Management Plan, ABCWUA Where have your travels taken you?: Canada, England, France, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, all across the US (more than 40 States)- Miami, Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, San Jose, Austin, New Orleans, Dallas/Ft Worth, West Palm Beach, Portland/Eugene, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Denver, Albuquerque Name one thing not many people know about you: Former University of New Mexico Men’s Rugby Head Coach (Division I) APWA NEW MEMBERS
FEATURE ARTICLE Intelligent Transportation Systems – A Look at Where We Have Come From and Where We Are Headed By Don Tappendorf, Michael Baker International History of ITS in the Phoenix Metro Area Intelligent Transportation Systems have been under development within the Phoenix Metropolitan It is interesting to look back on those early days and reflect on where technology was then compared to where it is today. In the early 1990’s as the first systems were being designed and deployed, twisted wire pair communications (copper) cable was the communications medium of choice. Single mode fiber optic cable was just coming onto the scene, was very expensive, and the optical equipment was cost prohibitive to deploy at the field element level. Single mode fiber was only considered feasible for “long haul” communications applications. Incident detection was built into the system through detector loop stations at 1/3 mile intervals, as very few people could afford the luxury of owning a cell phone. The typical design included Variable Message Signs (VMS), Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTV), mainline detection, and ramp metering. Over the years, ADOT has continued to deploy freeway management system technology on other routes as the urban freeway system expanded and matured within the Phoenix metro area including on SR 51, Loop 101, Loop 202, SR 143 and US 60. By 2020, ADOT will complete the deployment of FMS on all urban freeways, with the 202 South Mountain Freeway and SR 303L being the last two freeways to have FMS installed on them. It will have been almost a 30 year journey to deploy FMS throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Meanwhile, most local agencies joined the ITS bandwagon, and began their own deployments of fiber optic communications along their arterial grid systems starting around the year 2000. Many local agencies established their own traffic management centers, where each agency monitors traffic flow at intersections through the use of CCTV, monitors their traffic signal systems health and operation, and adjust signal timing during peak periods and during special events. All of these systems have benefitted the traveling public by providing a more efficient system for moving people and goods throughout the local community. Where Are We Going? While much has been accomplished in the area of ITS deployments in the Phoenix Metro area in Almost weekly it seems that we are reading the latest article about autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, self-driving vehicles, truck platooning and the like. Consider some of the headlines from the last several months:
Clearly the automotive industry and the ride sharing companies are investing billions of dollars to be the first, the fastest, the safest, or the most unique autonomous vehicle out there. It is clear that autonomous vehicles are on the horizon and will be here sooner than we ever imagined. But as transportation planners, engineers, and policy makers, will we be ready? Let’s look at some of the assessments as to the scope of the work to be done, deployment timetables, and potential costs.
This article has just scratched the surface as to the future of ITS in Arizona. But it is abundantly clear that as a community of transportation professionals, we have more to accomplish in the next 30 years than what we have accomplished in the past 30 years. The task ahead is formidable. The deployment costs will be considerable. Our transportation leaders and politicians will need to be forward thinking and strategic and willing to invest in our future. INDUSTRY NEWS
When you think of sustainable projects, you typically think of LEED certified or vertical projects. Now more than ever, we can find horizontal projects that are certified in sustainability through Envision™. Below are sample sustainable infrastructure design and construction projects around the Country provided by HDR. Also, don’t miss APWA’s September luncheon on the 21st featuring a roundtable discussion focusing on “Sustainability in Arizona’s Public Works, Today and Tomorrow.”
Only two projects shown, please click here to view all of the projects. NEWS
Attend the half-day AZBEX 2016 Public Works Conference and learn about upcoming opportunities in the design & construction industries. Hear from owners, prominent design firms, and key players about what work is coming up and how you can capture your share. October 5, 2016 from 12-4pm at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale. Tentative Program Segments Include:
Following the program AGC AZ, APWA, AZBEX, and AzTA will host an on-site joint mixer from 4-6pm. (Included in conference ticket price. Separate tickets can be purchased for those who only wish to attend the mixer.) For more information and to register, visit conference.azbex.com or contact Rebekah Morris at (480) 709-4190 or rmorris@azbex.com. Arizona Town Hall Financing Arizona's Future Streets, water and an educated workforce - all of these factors are essential for Arizona's future and all of these factors require government revenue. The fall Town Hall on "Financing Arizona's Future" will be held on November 13-16 at the Hilton Phoenix/Mesa in Mesa, AZ. For more information, click here.  Arizona Association of County Engineers Western Region Conference Hot topics from around the region will be discussed at this year’s annual conference being held on October 26-28, 2016 at the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin, NV. |
Area for nearly 30 years. ADOT conducted their first study which recommended developing a Freeway Management System in 1986. In 1987, ADOT executed the first contract with a consultant to begin designing the Freeway Management System on I-10 and I-17. Several implementation design projects ensued, including the design of ADOT’s Traffic Operations Center (TOC). In 1995, ADOT had their ribbon cutting ceremony for the Traffic Operations Center and the first two phases of the Freeway Management System were live and operational.
the last nearly 30 years, the challenges and opportunities that lie before us for the next 30 years are staggering. Technological advances are occurring faster than they can be deployed. The areas that are being discussed for deployment locally in the ITS arena include Integrated Corridor Management, Adaptive Ramp Metering, Predictive Traffic modeling, Wrong-Way Vehicle detection, Variable Speed Limits, Managed Lanes, Autonomous Re-identification detection systems, and video analytics, to name a few.
