Spotlight on Schools: Awards and Certifications

Several Marana Unified School District educators and staffers earned awards or certifications over the past month. All of these honorees have dedicated themselves to their schools, their district, and in turn, the Marana community

Dondi Luce, Twin Peaks Elementary principal, is a finalist for the 2018 Woman of Influence Awards. Dr. Luce has been ranked in the top three in the Education Champion category. Dr. Luce will be honored as a finalist at a special dinner and awards event on Wednesday, March 7, where the 1st place winner will be announced. Tucson Local Media’s publication, Inside Tucson Business, has been honoring outstanding women in our community annually since 2004.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) announced that Ms. Kelly McGarity, a Social Studies teacher at Marana Middle School who has worked in the Marana Unified School District since 2001 has received national certification in Generalist/Middle Childhood.

National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential in which teachers have met the profession’s highest standards and have the knowledge and skills necessary to advance student learning. Similar to certification in fields like medicine, National Board Certification is a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that ensures that Board-certified teachers have proven skills to advance student achievement.

Aimee Katz, DeGrazia Elementary School teacher, is one of two teachers in Tucson nominated for the prestigious 2017-2018 LifeChanger of the Year.  This is not only exciting news for DeGrazia Elementary but for #maranaschools. LifeChanger is a national program that recognizes educators for the positive difference they make in the lives of their students, for being a leader in the school community, for exemplifying excellence as an educator and for creating a nurturing atmosphere in our schools.

Beth DeWeerdt was selected as the Marana Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year. DeWeerdt is in her tenth year teaching in MUSD and is regarded as an outstanding educator and a leader by her peers. Her exemplary teaching at Quail Run Elementary is evident in her work with students, in her support of colleagues and in her positive outlook on life.

Dena Reninger, Tortolita Middle School Counseling Secretary was the 2018 Support Staff of the Year, while Christina Noriega, MUSD Family Resource Coordinator, as the 2018 Exempt Employee of the Year.

James Attebery was been selected as a finalist for the 24th annual Arizona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Circle K Corporation “Outstanding High School Faculty Awards Program,” which honors outstanding high school teachers in Southern Arizona. He was honored at a pre-game recognition ceremony at the Arizona men’s basketball game on Saturday, January 27. He will also be recognized at a special Awards Banquet held at the UA Hall of Champions on Friday, March 2, where the Teacher of the Year will be announced.

Please see the MUSD Website for the latest information and news on the school district. 

Marana PD Awarded 3 DUI & Speed Enforcement Grants

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has awarded the Marana Police Department three grants that total $85,000 in overtime funding.

DUI/Impaired Driving Enforcement Grant – GOHS has awarded the Marana Police Department with $40,000 in grant funding to conduct DUI enforcement throughout the Town of Marana.  The goal of the funding is to reduce alcohol and drug-related driving, fatalities, and injuries through enforcement, education, and public awareness. 

Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant – GOHS has awarded the Marana Police Department with $30,000 in grant funding to conduct speed and traffic enforcement throughout the Town of Marana.  The goal of this grant is to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries resulting from speeding, aggressive driving, red light running and other forms of risky driving behavior through enforcement, education, and public awareness. 

Know Your Limit Grant – GOHS has awarded the Marana Police Department with $15,000 in grant funding to expand additional educational programs and intervention techniques beyond our outreach programs already in place with local schools and the Citizen’s Academy. Marana PD officers will be going out to events where alcohol is served and providing public awareness and education on the effects of consuming alcohol.

The Marana Police Department would like to thank the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety for continuing to help make the Town of Marana a safe place for citizens to live, work, and shop.

Cracker Barrel Road Restrictions Jan. 29 - Feb. 2

From Monday, January 29 through Friday, February 2, traffic movement along Cracker Barrel Road will be restricted to northbound, one way travel only from south of Hospitality Drive to Arizona Pavilions Drive so that surface drainage improvements and pavement repairs can be completed. Traffic control devices and directional signage will be set up to guide motorists through the work zone. Business access will be maintained during construction.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with all traffic control devices, flagging personnel, and/or detour signs. Travel time through the project area may increase during construction so please adjust your schedule accordingly. Construction may restrict traffic lanes and create congestion. Taking alternate routes is suggested.

If inclement weather or other events cause delays, the work may be rescheduled without further notice.

Three new parks projects underway

January will be a busy month for Marana Parks and Recreation. Three new projects will begin, including the construction of two new parks.

Work will ramp up on Tangerine Sky Park. The 17-acre park just south of Tangerine Road near Dove Mountain will become the largest park facility in Northeast Marana. The park had a groundbreaking ceremony last spring and much of the work to prepare the land for development has been completed, but the actual construction of the park’s amenities has just begun.

“There will be a little bit of something for everyone,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy.

The new park will have a number of popular features, including two dog parks and two playgrounds. The playgrounds are designed for children of different ages, one for preschoolers and the other for older kids. One of the playground features that will be unique to the area will be a zipline themed swing that will travel a length of 30-feet.

“The park is surrounded by mountain views on all size,” Conroy added. “It will be a very unique experience.”

Other features include a basketball court, three ramadas, a perimeter walking path with connectivity to the multi-use path on Tangerine, as well as connections to the Tangerine Sky neighborhood.

The park is due to be completed late spring or early summer of this year.

Preliminary work is also beginning on the new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. With the success of the splash pad in north Marana, a second splash pad was needed and will fit in perfectly at the already popular park.

The new splash pad will be located close to the existing playground and ramadas, making it a great option for those wanting to host a spring or summer birthday party.

“Splash pads are crazy popular right now and we think this will be a wonderful attraction for the park,” Conroy said.

The overall size of the new facility will be 90-feet in diameter, with 56-feet of it the actually splash pad surface. There will also be plenty of shade and integrated seating within the facility, giving additional relief on hot days.

The third project will bring a new amenity to one of Marana’s oldest neihgborhoods. The Honea Heights neighborhood will be getting a new pocket park. The new park will have a basketball court, a playground, and a turf area/open play area. There will also be a ramada and a grill.

“We think this will be a major upgrade to the area,” said Conroy. “We are looking at ways to bring additional amenities to some of our older neighborhoods and this is a great first step.”

Another major project slated to begin this quarter is the new disc golf course, which will be built adjacent to the El Rio Preserve. The project is a partnership between the Town of Marana and Pima County, and will utilize local disc golf enthusiasts as caretakers of the new course.

Council Reviews Downtown LDC Draft: Download and comment now

The Town Council met for a Study Session on January 9 to review the downtown portion of the draft Land Development Code (LDC).

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Jamsheed Mehta, the Interim Town Manager, introduced the draft document to Council, focusing on Downtown and Mixed Use Zones and noting that the earliest vote on the document would be in March. If adopted, the code would help realize Council’s stated objectives for downtown, including creating local character and developing an identity for the town center. The Town’s adopted long range plans all call for this land use upgrade, to enable the vision of the community.

The downtown LDC serves a market segment that the Town is missing — a walkable main street. Places that have adopted similar laws that enable walkable neighborhoods have experienced significant economic development. With the first infrastructure phase of Marana Main Street and roundabout underway now, enabling land use is the next step.

Today’s portion of the LDC is part of an overall revision to the LDC, which will rezone everything in town except for the specific plans. Initial LDC meetings with landowners and the development community have been positive.

Frank Cassidy, the Town Attorney, got into more details on the workings of the proposed land development code for Downtown and Mixed Use Zones. The code is an optional overlay zone that creates an extra choice for any downtown landowner to opt in. Because of Prop 207, no change in property rights will be made without any property owner’s written consent.

Specifications for the two newly proposed zones, Downtown (DT) and Downtown Neighborhood (DN) are dimensional things – like heights and setbacks – and if the developers meet it, there is no argument. It’s giving the developer the express service that otherwise would take months.

This version of the code is an initial draft, so the Council study session was a time to give feedback and ask questions. Council recommended that the code proceed to Planning Commission, at the next regularly scheduled meeting on January 31, at 6:30 p.m.

For an overview of the whole process, go here. To provide feedback on this draft code, go here.

Westbound I-10 traffic switch at Ina Road set for Jan. 27-28

Motorists on Interstate 10 near Ina Road should expect lane restrictions for a traffic shift the night of Saturday, Jan. 27.

The following restrictions are scheduled from 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, to 5 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, to allow crews to place concrete barrier and perform striping work:

• Westbound I-10 will be reduced to one lane between Orange Grove and Cortaro roads (mileposts 250-247).
• The left lane of eastbound I-10 will be closed between Cortaro and Orange Grove roads.
• The on-ramp from Orange Grove Road to westbound I-10 will close. Drivers will be directed to Sunset Road to access westbound I-10.

The travel restrictions will allow crews to switch westbound traffic from the westbound frontage road to the newly constructed travel lanes that will ultimately be used by eastbound traffic.  Both east- and westbound drivers will utilize the newly constructed lanes while the westbound half of the traffic interchange is replaced.

Drivers should proceed through the work zone with caution, slow down and watch for construction equipment and personnel. 

The project to reconstruct the interchange at I-10 and Ina Road includes an overpass of I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. In addition, both I-10 and Ina Road will be widened in the project area. Learn more on the project website.

Managed by ADOT, the project is funded by the Regional Transportation Authority of Pima County. The voter-approved, $2.1 billion RTA plan will be implemented through 2026. Details about the full plan are available at RTAmobility.com.

Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other unforeseen factors. For more information, please call the ADOT Project Information Line at 855.712.8530. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT’s Traveler Information Site at az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except while driving. 

Marana wins Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

The Government Finance Officers Association is pleased to announce that the Town of Marana, Arizona, has received GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2017-2018 budget.

“This award reflects the Marana’s continued commitment to providing the public with detailed information on how their resources are allocated to important services and infrastructure investments,” said Marana Finance Director Erik Montague.

The award represents a significant achievement by the Town. It reflects the commitment of the Marana Town Council and Town Staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as:

• a policy document
•  a financial plan
• an operations guide
• a communications device

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

There are over 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA's website. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association servicing the needs of more than 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management. The association is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Washington D.C.

Two Marana resorts earn high honors

With great places to stay, fun things to do, and close proximity to Interstate 10 and the rest of the region, Marana is a great vacation destination. Two Marana based hotels were recently recognized for their commitment to service and luxury.

The White Stallion Ranch Resort and the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain ere udged to be among the top-25 in two categories by TripAdvisor.

The White Stallion Ranch Resort was ranked 19th for Best Service in TripAdvisor's "Travelers' Choice Awards for Hotels" while the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain was the 25th most luxurious hotel in the United States. 

The winners are based on reviews collected by TripAdvisor over the past year. 

For more information on all of the great travel options within Marana and the surrounding areas, check out discovermarana.org

Spotlight on Schools: Ross earns certification

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) announced that Ms. Sarah Ross, a teacher at Marana High School, has received national certification in Music/Early Adolescence Through Young Adulthood.

Ross has taught Fine Arts/Choir since 2007

National Board Certification is an advanced teaching credential in which teachers have met the profession’s highest standards and have the knowledge and skills necessary to advance student learning. Similar to certification in fields like medicine, National Board Certification is a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that ensures that Board-certified teachers have proven skills to advance student achievement.

Ross is involved with the Marana Community Choir and Marana Community Theater who have performed at several Town of Marana events.

Learn more about the great teachers and programs within the Marana Unified School District

Marana News: Learn to fly at the Marana Regional Airport

This story by Jeff Gardner originally appeared in the Marana News.

There are more than 250 aircraft at the Marana Regional Airport. Some of the vehicles are military, some are private and some are educational. 

Tyler and Tasha Sturges run their business, Volare Helicopters, from the Marana Regional Airport. They offer sightseeing tours, special events and helicopter training.

“You’d be surprised at the range of people who want to learn to fly,” Tyler said. “It takes a certain amount of confidence, but with enough practice, there’s no one who can’t learn.”

Tyler views learning to fly helicopters professionally as a kind of trade school for himself, an alternative to a traditional university. To him, it’s a cheaper and faster process. The FAA requires 40 hours in the air for a pilot certificate, and 150 hours to be a commercial pilot. Tyler completed this in about two years.

“I feel like some people view flying as a kind of ‘rich person’ thing,” Tyler said. “But if you look at the numbers, it really isn’t.”

Read the rest of the story at the Marana News.

Tangerine Road Traffic Update: Jan. 21

Beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, January 21, through 5 a.m. Monday morning the contractor will put traffic control in place to shift motorists onto the newly paved westbound lanes at the intersection of Tangerine Road and La Cholla Boulevard. Travel lanes on La Cholla Boulevard, south of the Tangerine Road intersection, will be shifted to the west.  There may be intermittent restrictions while this traffic control is set in place.

Traffic will remain in this new configuration while the contractor continues work on the eastbound (south-side) lanes of Tangerine Road.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana Water involved in two award winning projects

Marana Water Department had a role in two projects that earned a Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Ground Awards. The awards honor community leaders, real estate projects, and economic development oriented programs that overcame great obstacles through unlikely and atypical collaboration.

Marana Water was involved in the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System (NWRRDS) and the Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge.

For 2017, the MPA received a list of over 50 projects, whittled them down to a top-20 and then gave awards for the top-10 projects.

The Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System is an agreement betwen Town of Marana, Oro Valley, and Metro Water to move stored Central Arizona Project water from northern Avra Valley near the Marana Airport to the northside of the Tucson basin. This will help to reduce groundwater withdrawals and allow the north area of the Tucson Basin aquifer to recover from decades of native groundwater pumping

“As local water providers and local water users, maintaining and keeping a healthy aquifer system in the Tucson Basin and the Avra Valley sub-basin is critical not only to our current operations but to our future operations for the community as a whole,” said Marana Water Director John Kmiec.

The NWRRDS will lead to the construction of a groundwater withdrawal well field, a large diameter pipeline and a two-million gallon capacity reservoir. From that reservoir, each water provider will move their water to their respective service areas.

The project will be completed in 2025. Metro Water, the lead agency, began property acquisition in 2015 and that will continue until approximately 2018 when the design phase will begin. Construction is likely to begin in 2022.

The Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge was the 2017 Water Innovation Challenge project, whose goal is to increase public awareness about water quality and the potential for potable reuse in augmenting local water supplies. The team consisted of Marana Water, Pima County Wastewater, Tucson Water, the University of Arizona, Arizona Community Foundation, CH2M, and Carollo Engineering.

With a prize of over $300,000 and several hundred thousand more in resources and In-kind support, the team changed state rule that at the time prohibited direct potable reuse, designed and built an advanced water purification treatment plant in a semi-trailer, and verified the purity of the water. All in less than eight months! They partnered with local brewers across the state to make beer using recycled wastewater. The hope was that by producing great tasting beer, will launch a statewide discussion on water reuse and help change the public’s perception on the concept of purifying recycled wastewater to produce safe, high-quality drinking water.

Dragoon Brewing Company in Tucson had the winning beer with their Clear Water Pilsner. Tucson’s Crooked Tooth Brewing Company’s Tamarind Sour Brown won the People’s Choice Award, while Gilbert’s Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company was the runner up. 26 brewing companies from 12 municipalities competed in the contest.

Marana Police Department issues fitness challenge

The Bod Pod will be used to measure body fat and lean muscle mass. 

The Marana Police Department believes they are the fittest public safety agency in Southern Arizona and are willing to prove it. Marana PD has issued an open challenge to see who can gain the most muscle, and lose the most body fat.

Marana PD issued the Pride 4 the Patch “Fit 4 Duty, Fit 4 Life” Fitness Challenge on Facebook, and already a number of surrounding public safety agencies have accepted. The response has been so well received that they are hoping to expand the challenge next year, possibly statewide based on the feedback from Marana PD Sgt. Scott: “We have had some agencies from the Phoenix area tell us they want in.”

On Tuesday and Wednesday, participants will have their body fat and muscle mass measured as a baseline via a Bod Pod examination. Three months later, participants will again be tested a final time and learn how much fat they have lost and how much muscle they have gained.

“This is an excellent gauge of physical fitness,” Scott said. “It is more than just losing pounds; we are measuring actual fat lost and muscle gained.”

MPD is encouraging first responders to maintain healthy levels of fitness. As a matter of historical fact, first responders are prone to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and myriad other health related problems. Providing them with the tools necessary to combat these issues will place them on the right track to enjoying long and healthy lives both during and after their career in public safety.

Three sworn personnel from each agency with the highest percentage of change from their baseline measurements will be counted as ambassadors for their agencies towards the competition. The agency with the overall highest percentage of change is the winner, and will rightfully claim the “Championship Belt” for the year. The belt will be displayed at the winning agencies headquarters.

As of Friday afternoon, personnel from Marana PD, Oro Valley PD, Tucson PD, Sahuarita PD, AZ DPS, Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Golder Ranch Fire District, Northwest Fire District, Pima Regional SWAT, Tucson FD, US Probation-Tucson Office, Pima County Sheriff’s Department-Corrections, University of Arizona PD, Pima Community College PD, and Pascua Yaqui PD have committed to this challenge. They anticipate over 160 personnel from the various agencies participating.

Tangerine Road Traffic Update Jan. 15

On Monday, January 15 the contractor will begin preparing the roadway for paving operations at the intersection of Tangerine Road/La Cholla Boulevard. The following traffic restrictions will be in place from 6 a.m. Monday, January 15 through 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 16:

• Traffic will be shifted and travel lanes reduced to one-lane in each direction.
• The traffic signal will cycle through one direction of travel at a time.
• Right turn movements from westbound Tangerine Road to northbound La Cholla Boulevard are not allowed, all other turn movements will be permitted 
• Motorists should expect delays and use an alternate route when possible.  

Landscaping and utility adjustment work along the westbound lanes of Tangerine Road from Camino de Oeste to the end of the project, west of the Dove Mountain/Twin Peaks intersection, will continue through January 24, 2018. Motorists should expect intermittent daytime lane restrictions around the work area.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana Police Officer named an "Unsung Hero"

Marana Police Department Officer Erin Ysaguirre was honored as one of four Unsung Heroes by the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation. The award is given for going above-and-beyond in their service to the community.

Ysaguirre and the other officers selected for the award were picked because of their dedication to their jobs and for helping the community. The honorees were recognized Wednesday, January 10, at the University of Arizona’s Hall of Champions.

Ysaguirre was recognized for her contributions to the community, both on and off duty. Her commitment to providing “unparalleled service” as a member of Marana PD, while also participating in events like Tip a Cop, the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and Special Olympics while off-duty were factors in earning the award. Ysaguirre volunteered as an instructor and represented Marana PD at Camp Fury. Camp Fury is a partnership between local public safety agencies and the Girl Scouts. The camp exposes teen girls to careers in public safety with hands on training. Ysaguirre is a regular instructor with Marana PD, Field Training Officer and mentor to newer officers. She volunteers at her daughter's school and regularly teaches at Marana PD's Citizen's Academy.

The Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation is a nonprofit foundation, which was previously known as the Tucson Police Foundation. The “Unsung Heroes” award was established in 2003 and only awarded Tucson police personnel, until this year, which is the first the award was open to other local agencies. Ysaguirre becomes the first Marana PD officer to win the award

The mission of the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation is to raise funds to help purchase equipment, technology, and officer safety training for law-enforcement agencies.

Ysaguirre has been with Marana PD since 2010. Before joining the Marana PD family, she was an officer with Flagstaff PD for three years.

Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation-SALEF

Tangerine Road Traffic Update

On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the contractor will complete work on the traffic signals at the intersection of Tangerine Road and La Cholla Boulevard. All traffic signals at the intersection will be de-energized while the work is completed.

• Officers will be on site to direct traffic through the intersection.
• Motorists should plan for delays and use alternate routes when possible.
• Work is scheduled to be completed in one day.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact Kathy or Nanette at (520) 623-3073 or by email at info@tangerineroad.info. We look forward to working with you throughout the project, and encourage any feedback to ensure the Project Team can deliver a beneficial project for the whole community. 

For more information on this project, please visit www.tangerineroad.info. For more detailed schedule information please click here.

Please be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians in the area and ensure that dogs, horses and other animals are not in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all.

Marana looking for volunteers for Board of Adjustment

The Town of Marana is seeking four qualified citizens for open positions on the Board of Adjustment with terms beginning  March 1, 2018 and expiring February 28, 2022 .

The Marana Board of Adjustment is a 7-member quasi-judicial body of citizens whose main functions are (1) to hear and decide citizen appeals from the Zoning Administrator's interpretations of the Marana zoning regulations; and (2) to consider citizen requests for variances from Marana zoning regulations.

Applicants must be Marana residents.

Scheduled meetings are at 2:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers, or as needed.

The deadline to submit an application is February 1, 2018.

All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt. 

Applications are available at http://www.maranaaz.gov/boards-commissions and can be submitted online.  Call 382-1960 or 382-2655  for more information.

Planning Commission to hold on-site meeting

The of the Marana Planning Commission will hold an on-site meeting that is open to the general public to discuss the consideration for the development of the Abrazo micro-hospital.

The Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at or after 12:30 PM at the northwest corner of Cortaro Road and Cerius Stravenue in the I-Hop parking lot.

The public is welcome at the meeting and are encouraged to give their opinions on the project. Action may be taken by the commission on this item or any other items on the agenda. Revisions to the agenda can occur up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. Any revision can be found at www.maranaaz.gov on the Town Clerk page under Agendas, Minutes and Recent Actions.

Egg Nog Jog 2018 results, photos, and video

Nearly 300 people rang in the New Year by participating in the Town of Marana’s Egg Nog Jog. The annual road race added a new distance, featuring both 5K and 10K races.

There were some serious runners taking part, as well as some people who just wanted a fitness based start to the year. Some dressed up to celebrate, while others brought their four-legged friends to take part. Some ran, some walked, some did something in between. There were plenty of other activities for both the runners and their well-wishers, including the ever-popular fun photo booth.

The race started at 9:18 a.m. with a burst of confetti to keep the festive atmosphere going.

Ina Road Update: Jan 8

Everyday more progress is being done on the Ina Interchange Project. Last month eastbound traffic was moved from the old roadway to the new surface and that paved the way for the old roadway to be dismantled.

Last week crews finished demolishing the old bridge at Ina Road. In its previous incarnation I-10 travelled over Ina Road. Now, Ina Road will travel over I-10 and the Union Pacific Rail Road, making it safer as and faster. It is similar to the project at Prince Road.

With the old bridge down, the new bridge can be completed. The bulk of the bridge on the west side of the freeway is complete, and eastbound traffic travels under the structure.

Another milestone in the project will be met by the end of January as westbound traffic will move to the new eastbound pavement. This will allow three lanes in both directions until the project is complete. Once the westbound traffic is moved the bridge and new westbound pavement can be completed.

When the work is complete in early 2019, I-10 will have four lanes in each direction, Ina Road will be two lanes in each direction and there will be two bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10, each carrying two lanes of traffic.

ADOT is overseeing the $128 million project, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River.

For more information on the project, visit azdot.gov/InaTI.