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| Welcome
to ADOT’s East Valley eNewsletter
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LEAPIN’
LIZARDS!
ADOT FREEWAY DESIGN DELIVERS A POWERFUL PUNCH |
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urban Arizona, freeways rank among the most visible
and lasting public works of this century. ADOT bases
highway design on exploration that establishes the
baseline geographical, topographical, archeological,
cultural, and historical elements of each area. |
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As freeway expansions are anticipated, ADOT teams of planners,
architects, and landscape professionals partner with each municipality
to ensure every segment of the freeway contains design and landscape
elements that:
- Reflect
a sense of the community the travel corridor bisects.
- Are
pleasing to the senses of the highway user and the
highway viewer.
- Feature
sustainable water allocation and maintenance protocols.
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| ADOT
DESIGN SCENARIOS REFLECT UNIQUE ASPECTS OF NEIGHBORHOODS |
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“The neighborhood perspective is keenly important
in context sensitive* freeway design,” says
Joseph R. Salazar, ADOT’s project landscape
architectural designer. |
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| “It
is important to decide what areas should be screened to
maintain neighborhood privacy, and which scenic views
to preserve. In some cases freeway orientation features
clear sight lines to commercial installations, such as
large retail centers, that need to be viewable from the
freeway." |
"Once
we have gathered input from local residents and the city
or town we are traversing, ADOT presents potential design
concepts for public and municipal review and input. Throughout
this interactive process, concepts are adjusted; materials,
colors, and vegetation are discussed and selected so that
each municipality feels proud of how their segment of
highway reflects their unique municipal ‘brand,’
“ Salazar says.
*ADOT Aesthetic Guidelines for Community Enhancements |
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“The
design elements ADOT chose for the Red Mountain Freeway
beautification represent the varied lifestyle options
within the city of Mesa," says Alan Sanderson, Mesa’s
deputy transportation director.
"The galloping horse motif in the northern part of
the freeway corridor is a good representation of the rural
lifestyle in the Lehi neighborhood, and the native vegetation
chosen for the slopes of the eastern part of the freeway
preserves the sense of the desert uplands and frames the
view of the Superstition Mountains for the motorist,”
Sanderson continues.
“As each of our City Council members represents
a specific district in Mesa, ADOT held individual input
and status meetings with each of our Council representatives
to be sure that the design elements, colors, and plant
selection were representative of his or her constituents".
"City of Mesa staff was able to plan for low-water-use
vegetation and include processed effluent as a watering
source wherever possible. We were able to plan a low-water
emitter system that reduces the amount of water used as
well. It was a gratifying process for all involved, and
the result is source of pride within the community.” |
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| FREEWAY
AESTHETICS SERVE A NUMBER OF PURPOSES |
Dan
Cook, deputy public works director for the city of Chandler,
describes the cooperative efforts with ADOT for the Price
and Santan freeways.
“We wanted the Chandler segment of the freeway to
serve as a distinctive corridor within our city. We chose
some features using color and integral design elements
on our overpasses and sound walls to make the Chandler
freeway segments visually pleasing, and we included a
number of land form graphics that require no water and
little upkeep."
"We chose to enhance the landscaping by adding trees
and bushes in selected areas. We focused on low-water-use
vegetation to keep the cost sustainable over time.” |
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| FREEWAYS
CREATE A POSITIVE IMPRESSION FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT |
Jim
Phipps, city of Chandler public information officer, shared
many public meetings with ADOT representatives.
“ADOT presented illustrations and photos, samples
of actual plants and bushes, and models of design reliefs
so that residents and city council representatives experienced
the proposed design element textures and colors in ‘hands-on’
sessions," he says.
"The result has been a freeway system that is actually
as attractive as it is efficient. When we bring potential
employees or new businesses to tour the Chandler area,
they marvel at the effort put into the aesthetic detail
of our freeways. It helps our recruitment efforts because
they can see by the attention to detail that this is a
community committed to caring for its environment." |
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| ADOT's
community-sensitive design process creates freeway aesthetics
that leave a lasting and positive impression on the land
and travel corridors within the communities they connect.
For more information on ADOT’s upcoming projects,
visit ADOT's Roadside
Development Web site. |
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SAVE
THE DATE!
METRO GRAND OPENING PROVIDES NEW TRANSIT LINKS |
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The
grand opening of METRO light rail is Saturday and
Sunday, Dec. 27 and 28, when all train rides will
be free.
Station celebrations will be held Saturday from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday activities will occur
along the entire 20 mile METRO alignment. |
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There
will be music, activities and exhibits at many park-n-ride
and light rail station locations. Because we expect a
lot of Valley residents to join us in marking this piece
of Arizona history, there will be shuttle buses to get
them back to their cars if the trains get crowded. Rides
will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec.28, will offer a more low key opportunity
to explore the METRO system, its beautiful stations, and
the Valley's light rail destinations. Rides are still
free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so if you’re not big
on parties, plan to explore METRO on Sunday. Then, keep
riding free right through 2008 during METRO’s regular
service hours.
For more detailed information, go to www.metrolightrail.org |
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Our
Valley freeway system is part of the 2004 voter-approved
Regional Transportation Plan. We are working hard with
our transit partners to implement the voters’
vision and are committed to quality, safety, open communication
with our neighbors, and minimal inconvenience to the
traveling public. |
This
is your electronic connection to ADOT activities in the East
Valley.
This email list will not be shared for non-ADOT purposes.
Since the 2004 voter-approved extension of the half-cent transportation
tax, ADOT has been working diligently with local and regional
governments to implement the Regional Transportation Plan.
The Regional Transportation Plan is a comprehensive, multimodal
20 year regional plan that provides the blueprint for transportation
investments in the Maricopa County region through 2025. You
can view the Regional Transportation Plan at www.mag.maricopa.gov
This archived eNewsletter is presented as historical information.
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ADOT
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East Valley Transportation Projects
Arizona Department
of Transportation
Communication and Community Partnerships Division
Copyright
Arizona Department of Transportation 2008.
All Rights Reserved.
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