1. Begin reviewing your business and financial needs now. Develop an operations, marketing and communications plan for your business based on ADOT’s current project information.

2. Check the www.azdot.gov/tucson10widening on a monthly basis for project updates.

3. Add adot@service.govdelivery, gordleydesign.com and elucity.com to your email server permissions list (so you can receive traffic alerts and updates for businesses).

4. Add your email address to the project email list for important updates by providing it to the project team contacts listed below.

5. If you anticipate a unique need, such as a special event, please contact Marie Miyashiro from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) business outreach team at 520.869.4363.

6. When final traffic flow maps are available, hold meetings with employees to review routes and develop talking points for customers.

7. Talk with employees now about the project and what to say about this project and communication to avoid with customers.
   
   

   What to say about the project
   Please note: construction sequencing, traffic control, closures and traffic flow maps are subject to change.

   1. Keep the end project benefits front and center - especially the improvements to traffic congestion at I-10/Prince Road and the Union Pacific Railroad double tracking and increasing train traffic through Tucson.
   2. Be realistic and positive about impacts:
   1. While the project is scheduled to be completed in late 2013, it will be completed in two major phases with construction primarily on the west side of I-10 in the first phase followed by work on the east side of I-10 in the second phase. In this way, one side of I-10 will experience significantly less fewer impacts in the phase that concentrates on the other side.
   2. Construction will NOT impact the vast majority of business access points. In the cases where it does, businesses have been working with the ADOT project team in preparation for these impacts.
   3. Access will be maintained to all businesses during construction, even those with direct impacts.
   4. Three lanes of I-10 traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction.
   5. Alternate routes like Miracle Mile and Ruthrauff Road I-10 access will be open and available for motorists to use for the duration of the project.
   6. Prince Road will remain open on the east side of I-10.

   Communication to avoid

   1. Negative comments or expressing your fears in front of employees or customers.
   2. Rumors and inaccurate information. Get your information from official ADOT sources. Refer customers to the project website at www.azdot.gov/tucson10widening.
   3. Sympathizing with employees or customers. “Oh, yes. The traffic is terrible!” Instead, empathize and offer to help. “I’m sorry you’re frustrated. Let me help by telling you the easiest way to get here."

9. Actively communicate your suggestions and ideas with the project team by emailing or calling the business and public outreach team.

10. Get to know your neighboring businesses. Support each other and share ideas that are working well for your business.

11. Partner with the ADOT project team and contractor by being the eyes and ears in the field. Business input is vital to a successful project for all.