ADOT's weekly ADOT Connection news bulletin helps you stay connected, informed and healthy whether you're working from home, in the field or in the office during the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly issue of The Inside Lane is on hiatus. Go to the COVID-19 Resource Center for information and assistance.

Check out these stories and more • Read what Phase 1 of ADOT's operational opening plan means for you. • See how ADOT helps disadvantaged small businesses through virtual meetings. • Learn about working remotely and using Google tools to stay connected. • Discover why ADOT employees walked more than 5 million steps.

Leadership Matters

ADOT is implementing Phase 1 I want to recognize everyone for being responsible in maintaining a safe, clean working environment … not just for you but for your coworkers. It’s important that we practice on a regular basis COVID-19 preventative measures, both at home and at work. I want to remind everyone that if you feel sick, please stay home and get well.

It is obvious that our work environments have changed. Based on job responsibilities, some of you have continued to come to the office to work. I am thinking of our maintenance crews and the Incident Response Unit whose work is generally outside, repairing our transportation system or helping with roadway incidents. Due to operational needs, some employees have split their work schedule with certain days in the office and then teleworking. For some employees, a dramatic shift has occurred where they have had to telework in order to meet childcare and caregiver responsibilities. We have asked the public to make a reservation when visiting our MVD offices to keep everyone safe.

Now that ADOT is in Phase I, what does that mean for you? Based on operational needs, we are now allowing staff to return to offices on a limited basis. Employees who can should still be teleworking, while continuing to seek guidance from your supervisor. We must continue to maintain physical distancing and recommend that you wear a facial covering to protect you and others from potentially spreading the virus. We encourage everyone to use Google Meet to stay connected with your colleagues and continue collaborating with one another. Talk with your immediate supervisor or manager on ways you can begin making plans to return to your office setting when the time is right. Make sure you read communications from your division leader as plans unfold in your area.

I want to thank everyone for being flexible and patient during the pandemic. A very special thank you to our first responders, including our crews who come to the aid of motorists, for keeping us all safe!

~ Kevin Biesty, Deputy Director for Policy

In the Work Zone

ADOT switches to virtual meetings to help small businesses The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed how ADOT assists disadvantaged and small businesses with educational and support services opportunities.

Traditional in-person meetings have been replaced with virtual sessions designed to continue providing excellent customer service.

Small Business and Workforce Development Officer Kent Lane, said while ADOT has transitioned to online programs, the goal remains the same. ADOT helps qualifying and existing small businesses compete for federally assisted contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, such as women and minorities as part of ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

“We continue in creative ways to serve our customers relentlessly,” he added.

Online DBE sessions are provided for one-on-one meetings and live webinars, but may move toward educational conferences, project opportunity expos, panel discussions and other gatherings virtually depending on conditions.

During the recent virtual Small Business Town Hall, Arizona Commerce Authority staff presented information to more than 31 DBEs and small businesses about current and upcoming funding support along with other resources available due to COVID-19.

Ongoing DBE offerings, like the 21-week Business Development Program and one-on-one business counseling, are now being done virtually, Lane said. Previously, online participation was available for businesses outside Maricopa County but any business now can participate virtually.

The DBE Supportive Services team also frequently sends e-newsletters and emails about available resources, webinars and networking opportunities offered by ADOT and community partners.

For more information about DBE, visit azdot.gov/dbe.

Answer our survey for a chance to win a prize! Do you read ADOT Connection, The Inside Lane, The Inside Lane Online, DOTCOMM or the quarterly posters? ADOT’s Internal Communications team wants to hear from you! We’re always honing our communications products to find the best ways to reach out to ADOT employees the way you prefer most. Take this short, five-minute survey by June 5 and your name will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!

Stay Connected/Stay Healthy

Google helps you stay connected The Arizona Department of Administration has added more training sessions focused on G Suite technology. Twenty additional classes are scheduled through June 26.

Visit ADOA’s site to see all of the available training on applications for Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites and Forms. There are options for various skill levels.

Learn how to use telecommuting tools Transportation Senior Lean Coach Ken Forbin will share useful tips and tools to help improve your teleworking experience at the next virtual Lunch and Learn presentation.

The presentation starts at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 28. To join, check your email for the calendar invite or use this Google Meet link.

ADOT’s Lunch and Learn events offer the opportunity for a real-time exchange of knowledge and experience in a relaxed atmosphere, which promotes learning and collaboration.

Work from home with remote access ADOT is providing a remote access service that saves the agency more than $1 million. The transition to this technology will be completed over the next several weeks. Once you have been approved for remote access, visit ADOTNet to find a Quick Reference Guide that is intended to help with the transition to the new service.

Kudos

ADOT recognizes Class of 2020 graduates Graduation looks different this year for most students, but ADOT wanted to make sure that new graduates know their accomplishments are worth celebrating.

For that reason, ADOT joined education organizations, school districts, businesses, teachers, families and others to celebrate Arizona Graduate Recognition Day on May 20 by displaying a message on ADOT’s Dynamic Message Signs.

Of course, ADOT’s message had a traffic-safety twist. It read:

GRADS: YOUR FUTURE IS AN OPEN ROAD STAY FOCUSED

Congratulations to all the graduates out there — especially the children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and siblings of ADOT team members.

Send in your employee award nominations Nominations are being accepted for the annual ADOT employee awards through June 12.

The award categories are Customer Service, Innovation, Safety, Employee of the Year, Team of the Year and Leader of the Year. These awards exemplify ADOT’s core values and Arizona Management System behaviors.

The nomination form can be found by visiting the Annual Awards Program web page on ADOTNet. You will also find tips to help you in writing award winning nominations.

What's Up @ ADOT

State balladeer croons nostalgic over Arizona highways Arizona's official state balladeer, Dolan Ellis, has spent more than 60 years bringing Arizona to life through song. He performed a few numbers and answered questions about his musical career during a visit to ADOT. View the video and read more about Ellis on the ADOT Blog.

ADOT News Releases State Route 67 between Jacob Lake and the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park reopened after its annual winter closure. As weather heats up, so does potential for wildfires along highways. Commercial Driver License holders who may have received a letter from the MVD regarding their medical certification status should verify their certification online at azmvdnow.gov.

ADOT Blog One Show Low group has a long history of keeping our state beautiful with the Adopt a Highway program. About 110 years ago, Arizona took major steps in constructing the first north-south highway, the Phoenix-to-Prescott Territorial Road. As summer is heating up, ADOT is encouraging all drivers to do their part to prevent wildfires.

ADOT Albums Check out the photos of the construction going on at the Interstate 19 and Ajo Way traffic interchange in Tucson. The Michigan Street pedestrian bridge was replaced, both I-19 and Ajo Way were widened and new sound walls were built. Construction also included a "braided" ramp alignment with the southbound Ajo Way on-ramp to I-19 passing over the southbound Irvington Road off-ramp from I-19.

ADOT Videos View an ADOT Kids video with Public Information Officer Tom Herrmann answering kids’ questions about the South Mountain Freeway.

ADOT in the News A national report shows Arizona’s bridges rank third among the entire nation. Diamond grinding, a specialized concrete smoothing process, is underway on Loop 101 to help limit vehicle-tire noise. Work is getting underway to build flyover ramps on State Route 189 (Mariposa Road) in Nogales. ADOT urges the public to help prevent wildfires on roadways.

Policy and Procedure Changes Updated Policies:

• SAF-5.03 Protective Footwear • PER-15.05 Tuition and Professional Development Reimbursement

On a Lighter Note

Where is your happy place? We want to know! Where is your happy place? The place you go to feel relaxed, refreshed and stress-free? Let’s share our happy places as a way to connect with each other and spread some goodness. Thank you to Procurement Specialist Zulema Richard for sharing this photo shown on the left of her happy place, La Jolla Beach Shores in La Jolla, Calif. Tell us where your happy place is, and send us a photo from when you were there by emailing InsideLane@azdot.gov. Check out the new ADOT Employees’ Happy Places Flickr album.

Walk for Your Health Challenge winners announced Twenty-eight ADOT employees collectively walked 5,351,440 steps as part of ADOT’s Walk for Your Health Challenge!

The virtual walking challenge was created for ADOT employees in response to Governor Doug Ducey’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected executive order.

“I was impressed by the participants’ tenacity to stick with the program through to the finish line. I’m so proud of them,” said Communications Manager Mary Currie, who coordinated the challenge.

The employees with the three highest number of steps from April 30 to May 19 were declared the winners.

Vasile Samartinean, Revenue and Fuel Tax administration senior division administrator, was the first participant across the virtual finish line with his 773,549 steps. His wife, Tina Samartinean, who is a Business Engagement and Compliance contract compliance and training officer, took second place with 580,289 steps.

“The only thing more exciting than being the first participant across the finish line is the fact that I get to share this virtual podium with my partner in crime, my wife Tina,” Vasile said.

June McEntire, a contract compliance specialist, garnered third place with 421,108 steps.

“Thanks for the opportunity to push myself and make working out more of a priority,” she said.

Kingman Port of Entry Sgt. Patrick Brock, who walked 336,873 steps, said he and his coworkers have been trying to walk more on duty to relieve the stresses and anxiety of COVID-19 issues.

Globe Construction Office Manager Karen Rork, who walked 252,878 steps, also was happy to participate in the walk challenge.

“It’s something that I have been already keeping track of so when I saw the challenge, it was easy to participate,” she said.

Other participants were Jose Alarcon, Iris Benavente, Sharon Bova, Mel Brender, Cindy Butterfield, Brandi Clemans, Andreas Cota, Gabriel Demarbiex, Kyrie Drake, Steve Haley, Linda Haynes, Kent Lane, Vivien Lattibeaudiere, Alma Lozano, Herminia Martinez, Crispina Mata, Jane Messerschmidt, Ellen Mitchell, Nancy Rangel, Jonee Rideaux, Manny Rodriguez, Francine Rubin and Jay Ziemann.

Photos: Vasile and Tina Samartinean are shown in the photo on the left. June McEntire is shown in the photo on the right.

ADOT Connection is published weekly for the employees of the Arizona Department of Transportation by ADOT Communications. Visit our archive at azdot.gov/insidelane or adotnet.az.gov/insidelane. For questions, comments, story suggestions or to request a printed copy, contact InsideLane@azdot.gov.