ADOT embraces role as environmental steward

PHOENIX, April 21, 2011 — As Earth Day celebrations take place across the globe this week, the Arizona Department of Transportation has made environmental stewardship a critical part of its mission every day.

ADOT is responsible for designing and operating projects that serve public transportation needs and to enhance community development, while preserving the environmental resources that make Arizona an attractive place for its residents and businesses.

To fulfill this commitment, ADOT has an Office of Environmental Services and an Environmental Planning Group, which consists of multidisciplinary professionals including biologists, archaeologists, planners, and noise, air quality and hazardous waste experts.

The Environmental Planning Group is focused on the evaluation of natural resources, socioeconomic issues and cultural resources during all engineering design and construction projects. The group provides assistance to ensure that each project complies with the National Environmental Policy Act and related environmental laws taking into account a variety issues, including water quality, air quality, noise impacts, historic and cultural resources, environmental justice and endangered species.

Examples of the positive strides ADOT has made in this area include the use of rubberized asphalt, the award-winning wildlife connectivity work in Northern Arizona and proactive efforts such as the Adopt a Highway program:

* Rubberized asphalt has been used to resurface highways and city streets in Arizona for more than 20 years. In addition to being more durable than regular asphalt, rubberized asphalt helps eliminate a major landfill disposal problem - used tires. Approximately 1,500 tires per lane are used for every mile of rubberized asphalt paving overlay applied at a depth of about one inch. Rubberized asphalt has the added benefit of being smoother and quieter, and was most recently applied last year on Interstate 17 north of Loop 101. More than 15 million old tires have found new life as a component in rubberized asphalt in Arizona. "Quiet Paving" is now under way on Grand Avenue and I-10 in the West Valley.

* Arizona is considered a leader in wildlife connectivity issues. ADOT and multiple agencies recently partnered to construct wildlife underpasses and elk crosswalks along State Route 260 and desert bighorn sheep overpasses near historic Hoover Dam on U.S. Highway 93. In addition to preserving wildlife, these specialized crossings protect drivers from crashes with some of the state's big game.

* Since 1988, ADOT's Adopt a Highway program has helped keep the state's roads clean through its volunteer and sponsor system. The litter abatement program collects nearly 135,000 pounds of trash a month, or about 1.6 million pounds (798 tons) of trash per year.

"After safety concerns, environmental stewardship is at the forefront of many of the decisions ADOT makes on future projects," said Todd Williams, director of the Office of Environmental Services. "We are striving to be environmental stewards and to help promote sustainability. Environmental excellence flows from cooperative planning, wise management of environmental resources, and taking responsibility for all actions that affect the environment. These practices promote sustainability, preserve environmental integrity, and prevent environmental harm to the human and natural environment."