UDOT Region Three
2015 Outlook Region 3 Takes Team Approach to Behavior Based Safety Zero crashes, injuries and fatalities is UDOT’s top strategic goal and the Behavior Based Safety (BBS) program is part of UDOT’s effort to make safety a top priority. In order to make safety observations more meaningful and produce real dialogue, Region Three is taking a team approach. Instead of viewing BBS observation cards as an individual activity, work teams are encouraged to designate someone as an observer for the day and have that individual lead a discussion at the end of the work day. Each team member will take a turn as the observer over time. “The approach is for the observation to take place as a group rather than singling out one person,” said Steve Carnesecca, Region Trainer. Steve came up with this idea knowing that there is a tendency for staff to feel awkward about observing and critiquing another individual. The team approach is less intimidating and gets people talking about safety, which is where there is real value.
Eventually, Region Three will reach the BBS program goal for every individual to complete an observation each month. For now, having work groups designate an observer and talk about safety together supports the BBS goals and objectives. “The observation process doesn’t come easy to many of us,” Steve said. The team observation and discussion can help people see how observations work and what safety conversations sound like. The observer for the day will still fill out and submit an observation card after the group discussion. The written observation cards are helping build a database of information that can help UDOT leaders better understand the range of safety risks UDOT employees encounter.
Wolf Creek Pass Opens One Month Early Wolf Creek pass officially opened to traffic March 31, 2015. The pass typically opens around May 1, making this the earliest opening on record. The early opening is attributed to half the average snowfall this winter. Local crews estimate the snow reached about 48 inches of depth, whereas normally the pass receives around 8 feet of accumulation on average. Utah Department of Transportation, 2015 Region Three Summer News
In This Issue: More Maintenance...2 Bike Plan Ready...3 R3 Map Gallery...4 Construction Tests App...5 Myton Bench Expanded...5 Payson Draws a Crowd...6 2040 Uinta Vision...7 Zero Teaches with Trucks...8 UDOT’S North Co. Blvd...9 BYU Tests Materials...10 Survey Results Discussed...11 Staff Awards...12 New Buildings...13 Staff Breakfast...14 Flashing Right...16 Safety Lunch...17 Roadeo...18 2015 Photo Contest...20
Warm Winter Provides an Opportunity for
Maintenance Work It’s something we can all relate to — that long list of things you’d like to do if only you had time. The good news for our maintenance crews is that the light snowfall and warm temperatures in January and February allowed us to get a jump-start on our to-do list. Region Three maintenance crews performed more than half a million dollars of maintenance during the first eight weeks of 2015. Here’s a sample of what we accomplished: Crack sealing. Crews crack sealed sections of Nephi Main Street, Redwood Road west of Utah Lake, Timpanogos Highway in Highland and SR-113 in Midway, totaling more than $50,000 in labor and supplies. Crews also performed $50,000 in pot hole patching. Road sweeping and litter pick-up. The mild winter allowed us to do some extra clean-up in terms of litter control and sweeping. More than $100,000 was expended cleaning up Utah’s roads. Crews also performed almost $10,000 in tree trimming.
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Sign repair and replacement. Crews replaced or repaired signs and sign posts throughout the region in locations such as I-15 in Utah County, US-40 north of Heber and near Duchesne as well as SR-32 south of Jordanelle Reservoir near Francis. We installed all new milepost signs on Pioneer Crossing in Lehi and Saratoga Springs and on SR-129 North County Boulevard in American Fork. Region-wide, the total spent on signs the first two months of 2015 was nearly $90,000. Cable barrier, guardrail and fence repair. We repaired or replaced cable barrier and guardrail in locations such as Provo Canyon and the Mayflower area of US-40. These repairs help maintain safety on the roadway. We also repaired snow fence on SR-92 and right of way fence on I-15 between Springville and Lindon. Fence was also repaired on US-6 in Spanish Fork Canyon and US-89 near Thistle. Attenuators and delineators were replaced and repaired along several routes including a stretch of US-40 near Strawberry Reservoir. More than $100,000 was spent on repairs of these roadside features. Page 2
Bike Plan Ready for Implementation The Region Three bike committee has created a long range plan to build a safer and more connected regional bicycle network. The plan is available on the UPlan Region Three Gallery. The bike plan seeks to fill gaps in connectivity and support local plans including parallel routes on local roads. The bike committee has also committed to investing in bike detection at intersections known for high bike usage. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds are being programmed to begin implementing the bike plan this summer. Bike detection along Redwood Road is one project that will be implemented as well as striping about a mile and half of bike lanes on SR-189/University Avenue from 800 North to 2230 North in Provo. The committee also expects that the bike plan will be consulted during project scoping so that bicycle improvements can be incorporated into preservation and capacity construction projects when appropriate. Thanks to Craig Hancock for chairing the committee to reach an initial plan. Matt Parker is now designated the bike committee chair and will be the region’s primary point of contact for information about the bike plan and bicycle improvements. Road Respect held a law enforcement forum and participated in an educational event on BYU’s campus April 9. Road Respect promotes safety for bicyclists and drivers sharing the road. Maintenance Work, continued. Cleaning out culverts and drains. Our crews cleaned out culverts and drainage features in areas such as I-15 from Springville to Lindon, SR-132 in Salt Creek Canyon, SR-191 south of Duchesne and SR-87 north of Duchesne. This regular spring maintenance activity was initiated earlier this year due to mild temperatures. Nearly $40,000 in drainage activities were recorded in Region Three during January and February. Accident response and repairs. UDOT crews have an important role in making repairs and cleaning the roadway after a crash. Activities may include repair of fence or barrier, signs and sweeping. These are often recoverable expenses for the department paid for by drivers’ insurance. More than $60,000 in accident repair took place in the first two months of 2015.
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Access to Region Three Map Gallery a Click Away As part of the ongoing development and use of UPlan, Region Three now has a Gallery of maps that is accessible to the public. These maps are also useful for UDOT staff and do not require a log-in to the UPlan site. There are a couple easy ways to get there: Use the url www.udot.utah.gov/go/r3gallery or go to the UPlan homepage and click on the geographic area of Region Three in the Utah map thumbnail. We have been selective to keep the public gallery of maps to one page and currently have ten items available plus a link to internal maps that require a log in. Maps include 2015 construction projects, milepost map, bike plan and the Uinta Basin Study. The Local Government map is a key tool we are using with cities and counties to share information. The Local Government Map is also linked from the Region Three homepage on the UDOT website. Additional maps and content are available with a log-in. Aaron Pinkerton has taken the lead in developing and maintaining Region Three information in UPlan. Contact Aaron if you would like more information on the information available or a demonstration on how to use UPlan.
The Region Three Maps Gallery, accessible through UPlan, has useful information for employees and the general public.
Local Government Map in Action Teri Newell, Craig Hancock and Ervan Rhoades met with local officials and staff from throughout Duchesne County March 12, 2015. They introduced the Region Three Gallery of maps in UPlan and used the Local Government Map to facilitate discussion about upcoming projects and plans.
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Construction Projects Test New Lane Closure App Region Three is testing the new lane closure app on several projects as part of the lane closure notification initiative. The app sends a push notification to designated supervisors or inspectors on site of the construction project to confirm, cancel or change the planned lane closure. The app relies on communications consultants assigned to the project to input planned lane closures in UDOT Traffic, available on UDOT’s website or as an Android or iOS app. Once the lane closure is confirmed through the push notification to someone on-site, the lane closure is shown as live on UDOT Traffic.
The lane closure notification process applies to Region Three’s key routes: I-15, US-40, US-6 east of I-15 and SR189. The app is in a beta test phase where it is not applied to all projects on these routes; Resident Engineers and Project Managers agreed to test the app on a handful of projects taking place in Region Three such as the SR-132 reconstruction and the 20-mile pavement preservation project on US-40.
Myton Bench Project Expanded with Additional Funds The U.S. Highway 40 widening project near Myton is currently being designed. UDOT modified the project scope in response to public feedback and successfully secured additional funding to extend the project’s limits. The new limits will be from Duchesne River Bridge in Myton to Pole Line Road in Roosevelt, an additional three miles. Between 6250 South and Pole Line Road, U.S. 40 will be widened to five lanes, including two travel lanes in each direction and a center turn lane. A center turn lane will also be added to U.S. 40 between Duchesne River Bridge and 6250 South if funding alows. UDOT will also include 10-foot-wide shoulders along the entire project area. Construction is scheduled for 2017.
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Payson Public Meeting Draws A Crowd More than 90 people attended a March 2015 public scoping meeting for an environmental impact statement evaluating the I-15 Main Street interchange. The EIS project team is now preparing preliminary alternatives that range from making improvements to the interchange at its existing location, relocating the interchange, or some combination of maintaining the existing access point along with providing a new access location. UDOT is working closely with Payson City to understand future development plans and meets regularly with a working group comprised of community representatives. Matt Parker is UDOT’s project manager for the study. The EIS will eventually recommend a solution for the I-15 Main Street Interchange that meets current and future needs. Click here to see the study estimated timeline.
Matt Parker talks with Payson resident about the I-15 Main Street interchange at the public scoping meeting in March.
Historic Payson The study team provided some historical context for stakeholders to consider, and asked residents to think about the future of Payson. This photo shows the Conk Service Station on the southeast corner of 100 North and Main Street. The Crest Service Station is currently at this site. The team also presented data on the historic and projected growth of Payson. Between now and 2050, Payson’s population will more than double. Click here to see more historic photos of Payson.
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The EIS team provided data about Payson City’s historic and projected growth as part of the public scoping process.
2040 Vision Established for State Roads in Uinta Basin UDOT developed the Uinta Basin 2040 Vision and Transportation Plan to identify future needs for state roads in Duchesne and Uintah counties. The Vision includes a goal to have a three-lane road from Heber City to Duchesne and a five-lane road from Duchesne to Vernal. The Plan includes a prioritization of the identified state road needs into three 10-year phases. As state funding becomes available, the Plan will guide UDOT to make decisions in line with the Vision.
UDOT Region Three
The Vision, Plan and supporting data, including GIS layers and current and future maps, are available in the Region Three UPlan Gallery. The Gallery allows the public to better understand current conditions and future state road plans in the Uinta Basin. See the Uinta Basin Study map to view details of the vision and supporting data. Page 7
ZERO
Driver’s Ed Students Learn
Students learn about blind spots and other safety topics for driving near semi-trucks.
Zero Fatalities has partnered with the Utah Trucking Association to bring a semi-truck on site as part of safety outreach to driver’s education students. Zero Fatalities provides outreach to schools with a special focus on teen drivers. They present a Parent Night as part of Driver Education programs at Westlake High, Maple Mountain and Spanish Fork High Schools. A program for teens called “Don’t Drive Stupid” is also active at Payson High, Salem Hills High, Spanish Fork High and Springville High Schools. Parents can work with their schools to request Zero Fatalities programs. Click here to learn more about Zero Fatalities’ teen driver outreach. Be Smart. Be Safe: A parent’s guide to smart teen driving Three statistics every Utah parent should know: (1) In Utah a teen driver crash occurs every 48 minutes (2) Over 90 percent of teen crashes happen in the first few months of receiving a driver license (3) Per mile driven, drivers ages 16-19 are nearly three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than drivers ages 20 and older.
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The good news: Involved parents who set rules and monitor their teen’s driving behavior in a supportive way can cut their teen’s crash risk in half. In fact, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, teens whose parents are involved in their driving and training are two times as likely to wear seat belts, 70 percent less likely to drink and drive, half as likely to speed, and 30 percent less likely to talk on a cell phone while driving. To encourage increased parent involvement, Zero Fatalities partners with high school driver education programs to hosts Parent Nights. A Parent Night is a one hour evening presentation for driver ed students and their parents, and attendance is mandatory for both student and guardian. As you can imagine, some parents come grumbling, upset at having to sit in the school auditorium for an hour. However, they sing a different tune when they leave.
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Zero, continued.
Safe driving requires the effort of everyone on the road. During a Parent Night presenters review valuable informaRecently we received the following feedback from a grateful tion on Graduated Driver’s License Laws and essential safe mother: “I was at your Zero Fatalities presentation last night driving behavior. Zero Fatalities professional presenters at Syracuse High with my daughter and I wanted to say layer in stories, video and statistics to empower parent and thanks… and tell you what an impact your presentation had teen alike to become better drivers. The goal is to reach on me personally. I can admit I wasn’t looking forward to zero fatalities on our roadways. coming but I’m so grateful I did. I tend to not wear my seat belt and am often distracted in the car. The Parent Night presentation is free and Zero Fatalities is This presentation, particularly the videos and stories you shared, were such an eye-opener for me. Aside from what I personally took away from the evening, as a mom who’s daughter is about to get her license (which scares me)... I’m grateful that you guys take the time to show this to our young kids, to drive home how serious driving is, or ought to be.”
eager to be in every high school in Utah. If you have never attended a parent night, contact your school and request they call Zero Fatalities.
For more teen safety information, visit dontdrivestupid.com or zerofatalities.com
Coring on North County Boulevard
North County Boulevard is now a UDOT road. UDOT took possession of North County Boulevard (SR-129) as part of an agreement with Utah County. Maintenance crews placed mile marker signs along the road and our materials lab cored the pavement to gain a better understanding of the roadway condition.
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BYU Students Get HandsOn Lab Experience Baking pans, spatulas and mixers are not items you’d expect to find at UDOT. But they’re all important tools that help us preserve our infrastructure in Utah. How, you ask? On Tuesday, January 27, students from Brigham Young University’s Civil Engineering program found out at Region Three’s Materials Lab in Orem. Using oil, water, a vacuum and a lot of ovens, the students took part in hands-on training on asphalt testing and verification of asphalt mix design by baking, scooping, calculating and compacting the material. Before paving occurs on a roadway, engineers determine the appropriate materials for the project, document the specifications for a concrete or asphalt mix and test the pavement design in the lab. These tests help ensure that the road surfaces we lay down are the most efficient, longest-lasting they can be. We believe that good roads cost less: less to build and less to maintain. Through quality assurance tests at our region labs, we maximize the value of taxpayer dollars. Lab Manager William “Billy Bob” Larson said his lab invites students from BYU and Utah Valley University to take part in hands-on learning on a regular basis to enhance what they learn in the classroom. “If you don’t actually get out and do it, all your learning is just words,” Larson said. Top: A cylinder of asphalt shows school spirit. Middle: Students examine asphalt in cake pans. Bottom: BYU students pose after mixing it up in the mat lab.
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Employee Survey Results Raise Questions for Discussion Message from Teri Newell, Region Director: The 2015 employee survey reveals some of our organizational strengths and weaknesses. Nearly 700 people responded to the survey, which represents 40 percent of UDOT’s workforce; Region Three had 100 respondents, which represents 55 percent of our staff. Region Three results closely aligned with the overall department results throughout the survey.
UDOT employees clearly take pride in their work and I would like to consider how we can bring out the best in each other through improved morale. –Teri
The survey demonstrated strong support for UDOT’s strategic goals and emphasis areas. It also indicated moderate interest in employee interaction with executive leadership and the ability to share ideas and suggestions with the department’s leaders. Perhaps the most insightful survey findings relate to employee morale. The statement “I take pride in working at UDOT” scored very well (5.6), but evaluation of “Your own morale” dropped a point into “neutral” range (4.35) on the seven-point scale used to evaluate survey statements. “Overall morale at UDOT” dropped a point further (3.18) and “How morale is trending at UDOT” was one of the lowest scoring items on the survey (2.33). As I meet with groups within the region, I have been asking questions to further understand the survey results on morale. These same questions are worthy of discussion with your supervisor or your work team: Do these results reflect your experience of working at UDOT? Why do you think there is a downward trend in the perception of morale at UDOT? What do you think we can do about it? I would like to continue to hear your input on this topic. If you have thoughts or reactions to the survey results that you want to share, please email me, call or set up an appointment to meet. An anonymous note is also welcome.
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2015 Staff Awards, Nominees & Winners Employee of the Year Nominees: Craig Hamilton Rod Hess Chad Gasser Dale Fitzhugh Eldon Simpson Kelly Fugal Norm Allman Rich Allen Robert Jahn Shawn Bright Steve Steib Thad Pinkerton Wayne Cummings Kim Krein Kyle Lazenby Shawn Davis
Leader of the Year Nominees: Paul Baum Fred Priebe Jim Winn Ron Hawkins Rux Rowland Travis Garrett Wade Ramsay
2015 Winners Employee of the Year: Andrew Gwynn Andrew is a rotational engineer who is described as dedicated, proficient and a team player. He has an excellent work ethic that contributed to his on-time completion of 15 projects last year. In addition to design for these projects, he managed the schedules and coordinated with other groups. He is a quick learner and eager to learn the whole design and construction process.
Leader of the Year: Marshall Terry Marshall is the station supervisor for the Lehi shed. Nominated by his crew, Marshall is a trusted leader who has served as a mentor for many and supports training and development of his staff. He attends Trans Tech training with his crew and doesn’t complain when staff are transferred to construction. He is genuinely interested in seeing his staff succeed and trusts them to make good decisions and do good work.
Career Achievement: Gary Gibbs Gary has 31 years of service with UDOT and currently works on the Townsend construction crew. He is an inspector who knows standard specifications and drawings inside and out. He has a track record of training others and is always willing to help. You can take any question to Gary and he knows the answer. Gary is respected among contractors and his co-workers.
Congratulations to All!
Career Achievement Nominees:
Buckle Up for Safety!
Kurtis Park Neil Lundell
The primary seat belt law has gone into effect and we are committed to leading by example as a department. Buckle up every time you get into a vehicle and ask your passengers to buckle up, too.
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New Maintenance Buildings in Utah County Maintenance crews in Lehi and Saratoga Springs moved into new buildings this spring. A new tow plow shed was also constructed for the Provo-Orem crew. Photos of the Lehi shed are on page 17 and page 18 as the site of the Equipment Rodeo.
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Second Annual
Staff Appreciation Breakfast Ben Maughn went cowboy style with his Zero Fatalities bandanna handed out at the breakfast.
Michael Gardner, Dustin Wall and Shayne Hatch warmed tortillas for the perfect breakfast burrito.
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150 Employees Participate in Second Annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast The second annual staff appreciation breakfast was hosted by the mechanics’ shop crew, who served up breakfast burritos to 150 Region Three employees. More than 80 percent of region staff made the trip to enjoy breakfast together and honor the 2015 employee recognition award nominees. (See nominees and winners on page 12)
Arty Johnson, Lynda Seckletstewa and Kim Krein helped serve up the shop staff good cooking.
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UDOT’s First Flashing Yellow Right Turn Arrow Arrives in Utah County The arrows help improve access and traffic flow at the I-15, SR-92 interchange. a left into Adobe or Cabela’s,” said UDOT Region Three Signal Engineer Adam Lough. “We were seeing traffic back up and drivers getting frustrated because people who wanted to cross traffic to get to the left lane would be stopped on a green light. The flashing yellow signals a yield condition for drivers who want to move to the left lane on SR-92 as well as for the queue of traffic on the ramp.” Now when the light is green, there is no eastbound traffic for drivers to weave through to move left; and during the flashing yellow, drivers who want to move left must wait for a safe opening in the traffic flow. Drivers who want to access the SR-92 commuter lanes from the I-15 northbound offUDOT continually evaluates how to improve traffic flow through the ramp still get impatient at times, but Lough I-15/SR-92 interchange. said the flashing yellow right turn arrow has Northern Utah County is developing at a rapid pace, improved the traffic flow. “This provides a safer condition emerging as a new frontier of the high-tech industry. In adand has reduced the amount of backing on the ramp.” dition to retail attractions such as Cabela’s and the Outlets at Traverse Mountain, the area around I-15 at Timpanogos Lough developed the idea of using a flashing yellow right Highway (SR-92) has been dubbed the “Silicon Slopes,” turn arrow to address the traffic problems at this interattracting businesses who want affordable office space, change ramp. Although UDOT had never installed anything a reliable talent pool from area universities and the high like it, Lough suggested that it would be the best solution quality of life Utahns’ enjoy with a variety of outdoor recand worked with Traffic Operations Center staff to implereation options just minutes away. With all this development it. So far, he is pleased with the results. “I am always ment, UDOT continually evaluates how to improve traffic looking for better ways to do things,” he said. “It is rewardflow through the I-15/SR-92 interchange. ing to see how changes like this make people’s commute a little better.” The latest update to the interchange is also a first in Utah: crews installed the state’s first flashing yellow right turn Lough said the signal is almost always green or flashing arrow at the northbound I-15 off-ramp to eastbound yellow, but it briefly turns solid yellow and red as part of the SR-92 in Lehi. You have probably driven through dozens signal’s cycle. The red arrow is also triggered by the pedesof flashing yellow left turn arrows, where turning traffic trian button. “There is quite a bit of pedestrian traffic beyields but may make a left if there is no oncoming traffic. tween the employment centers and retail outlets on either So why does the flashing yellow right turn arrow work at side of I-15 in this area,” Lough said. “Drivers really need this interchange? to be on the lookout for pedestrians and bicyclists moving through this interchange.” “The right turn goes into a lane that takes people to the SR-92 commuter lane, but a lot of people want to make
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Safety Award Winners Enjoy Lunch In early May, thirty-five employees from eight crews were treated to lunch for their attention to safety.
Safety award winners ate at the Hub in Manila and Golden Corral in Orem (pictured above).
Inside The New Lehi Shed The Lehi crew has moved into its new station. The Saratoga Springs maintenance crew also moved into a new building this spring. See pages 13 and 18 for more photos.
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IPMEN U T Q E
ROADEO
An equipment roadeo was held May 20 at the new Lehi Maintenance Station. Twenty people participated in the rodeo, which tested drivers’ skills on three pieces of equipment: truck, loader and backhoe.
Congratulations to the Equipment Roadeo winners: Truck 1st place: Klay Steele 2nd place: Chase Steele 3rd place: Paul Sawyer
Backhoe 1st place: Travis Haynes 2nd place: Steve Steib 3rd place: Chase Steele
Loader 1st place: Justin Koyle 2nd place: Cody Allman 3rd place: Paul Sawyer
Overall Points 1st place: Paul Sawyer 2nd place: Chase Steele 3rd place: Steve Steib
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Congratulations! Best wishes to retirees Andy Anderson and Rodney “Willard” Williams!
Photo Contest It’s time to submit your photos for the second annual photo contest. Entries will be accepted between now and August 5, 2015. Send your photo or video clip to Kim Krien (kkrein@utah.gov) or Eileen Barron (ebarron@ utah.gov) along with a brief description of the location or activity depicted. Camera phone quality photos are acceptable. Help us get a good look at what takes place around the region by submitting your photos! Burning weeds: this photo from last year’s contest was taken by Brandon Warrenski, Santaquin Shed.
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