Tangerine Road Paving Update

The contractor has begun paving operations along several segments of Tangerine Road.  The paving operation is scheduled to be complete by Friday, December 22, 2017.

The work will include; 

• Placing the final lift of pavement on Tangerine Road, between Dove Mountain/Twin Peaks and Thornydale Road. 
• Place the final lift of pavement at Tangerine Road intersections of Dove Mountain/Twin Peaks and Thornydale Road. 
• The contractor will also place the base course of pavement on the westbound lanes of Tangerine Road, between La Cholla Boulevard and La Canada Drive and, eastbound Tangerine Road from Thornydale Road to La Cholla Boulevard.

On Saturday, December 2 and Monday, December 4, from 6 am to 5 p.m. each day, the contractor will place the final lift of pavement along eastbound Tangerine Road, from just west of Dove Mountain/Twin Peaks through the Thornydale Road intersection. Because of the nature of this paving operation, sections of both intersections, though not at the same time, will have temporary movement restrictions to vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. 

• The paving operation will move west to east through the project.    
• Work at the intersections will not occur at the same time.
• Officers will be on site to direct traffic.
• Motorist will be redirected around the work area. 
• Access to businesses in the area will be maintained.
• Travelers in this area should plan for delays and use alternate routes.
• Restricted travel movements through the intersections will end by 5 p.m. each evening.

On Wednesday, December 6, from 9 am to 5 p.m., the contractor will place the final lift of pavement along eastbound Tangerine Road, at the Thornydale Road intersection. Because of the nature of this paving operation, sections of the intersection will have temporary movement restrictions to vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  

• The paving operation will move west to east through the project.    
• Officers will be on site to direct traffic.
• Motorist will be redirected around the work area.
• Access to businesses in the area will be maintained.
• Travelers in this area should plan for delays and use alternate routes.
• Restricted travel movements through the intersections will end by 5 p.m. each evening. 

On Wednesday, December 6, motorist driving along Tangerine Road, between Dove Mountain/Twin Peaks and Thornydale Road, will be switched to the eastbound travel lanes while the contractor places the final lift of asphalt pavement on the westbound lanes. This phase of work is expected to take approximately one-week to complete.

• Access to Dove Mountain Shopping Center will be by Dove Mountain Boulevard only.
• Access to the Tangerine Crossings Commercial Center will be by Thornydale Road only
• Access to the Legacy Apartments will be by Dove Mountain Boulevard only.
• Access to the Encantada Apartments will be by Camino De Oeste only.
• Access to Circle K will be by Thornydale Road only.
• Side street and/or driveway access along the north side of Tangerine Road may betemporarily delayed while paving equipment moves through the area and the new pavement is allowed to cure.

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.

VIDEO: Holiday Festival Walkthrough

Tomorrow is the Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting. We are in the process of getting the area ready for the festivities. We recorded a little sneak preview of what you can expect. The event is at the Marana Municipal Complex from 3-8 p.m.

Marana News: Holiday Festival Preview

The Marana News previewed this Saturday's Marana Holliday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting.

Town of Marana’s annual holiday event is expected to draw more than 6,000 attendees this year, and will take place this Saturday, Dec. 2, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex Roundabout (11555 W. Civic Center Drive).

“Our hope is that we can create an experience that will help people to build new traditions and family memories,” said Town of Marana Special Events Coordinator Monique Hagberg. “We carefully think through every element so that there is something for everyone. We want this to be a fun, festive event for the entire family.” 

The centerpiece of any holiday festival tends to be the lighting of the Christmas tree, and Marana has long embraced this tradition in the form of a 40-foot tree. Not only will the evergreen monolith act as the centerpiece of the entire gathering, but the tree is also part of a massive, synchronized light show that incorporates the surrounding area. The lighting and first performance of the show will take place at 6 p.m., and is the largest in Southern Arizona. The light show will run every hour from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning next Monday, Dec. 4 through New Year’s Eve.

Even though the event takes place in Southern Arizona, don’t be surprised to find a bit of snow in the desert at the Marana event. After a successful debut last year, the town has announced that the snow globe will make a triumphant return for a second year. According to the town, 20 tons of snow will be shipped in—leaving plenty for a snowball, sledding and maybe a snowman (or woman) or two.

“We’ve nearly doubled the amount of snow we are bringing in this year to enhance the experience of walking into an actual snow globe,” Hagberg said.

The roundabout affair will host a variety of local dancers, singers and musicians, including the Silver Steppers, Estes Elementary Ukulele club, the Marana Chamber High School Chamber Orchestra, the Mountain View High School Jazz Band and more. The live show kicks off at 3 p.m. with the Silver Steppers, and the Marana High School Symphonic Choir close the show when they take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Make sure to bring an empty stomach, because no festival is complete without a wide selection of food. According to Hagberg, the selection will satisfy any craving, from ice cream to barbecue, French pastries to authentic Hawaiian delights.

Nearly two dozen vendors will attend the event, including an “Elf Flea Market,” and The Humane Society of Southern Arizona will join Marana’s Animal Services Division with some “fur-babies” to adopt. And most importantly (to some), the red-coated couple of Christmas spirit is returning to Marana in the form of Mr. and Ms. Claus.

Read the full story at the Explorer News.

Marana News: Deer Dedication

The Marana News had an in-depth story on the new public art installation on Tangerine Road:

A family of massive deer has settled down in the Town of Marana, and they’re here to stay.

Built of metal and painted to match the surrounding environment, the deer can be found on the south side of West Tangerine Road between Camino De Oeste and Camino De Mañana. Unveiled in a public ceremony earlier this month led by Mayor Ed Honea and town staff, the public art installation at the site of the under-development Tangerine Sky Park is aptly named “Deer at Tangerine Sky Park.”

The multi-year project was made possible by the Transportation Art by Youth Program, part of the Pima Association of Governments, which granted the town $75,000. The art program incorporates art into regional transportation projects, in this case the Tangerine Corridor Project.

The artist behind the deer concept was Trevor O’Tool, who worked alongside Marana High School Welding Teacher Kenton Webb in supervising a handful of students who crafted the three fawns. With some assistance, O’Tool constructed the doe and buck.

Tony Hunter, Marana’s assistant to the town manager, said the concept developed from a brainstorming session. The desire for public art mixed well with an interest in involving the youth of the community and the PAG grant seemed to “fit perfectly” into the mix, according to Hunter.

Read the full story at the Marana News

Spotlight on Schools: Marana High singers among "best of the best"

Marana High School singers, Cassandra Brandriff and Nick Victoratos will perform at the National Association for Music Education's 2017 All-National Honor Ensembles this week at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort/Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. This is a collection of the “best of the best” high school singers.

“These outstanding artists qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and competed against top students for one of 609 spots in these national honor ensembles,” explained the Marana Unified School District in a press release.

Brandriff and Victoratos will have the honor to perform under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States. The All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir, and jazz ensemble.

Traffic Update: Camino de Oeste (11/27-11/30)

Tucson Asphalt will be paving patches on Camino de Oeste from Cortaro Farms Road to West Hardy Road beginning Monday, November 27 through Thursday, November 30. This project will lead to single lane closures over the course of the four days.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with 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. The project will 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.

 Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting preview

The Town of Marana will host its annual Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 2 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex Roundabout.

The event has grown from its humble beginnings, and over 6,000 people are expected to attend this year’s edition. The event moved from the MMC courtyard to the roundabout in 2015 to accommodate the growth and open up the event for a variety of new activities, as well as giving ample space to old favorites.

The centerpiece of the event is the Christmas Tree lighting itself. Not only is the 40-foot Christmas Tree illuminated, but it is part of a synchronized, musical light show that incorporates the surrounding trees. The lighting and first performance of the show will take place at 6:00 p.m. and is the biggest in Southern Arizona. The light show is not a one-time event, it will run every hour from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning Monday, Dec. 4 until New Year’s Eve.

Snow is back at Holiday Festival. After a successful debut last year, the snow globe returns for kids to play in. Due to the popularity, this year 20 tons will be brought in for children to play in, sled on, and make snow men with. It is our way to bring a little bit of a winter wonderland to the Marana.

Santa and Mrs. Claus return to Marana. Always one of the more popular features of the event, The jolly couple will make their arrival and then be on hand to listen to the Christmas wishes of all the good boys and girls. Make sure you are on the “good” list!

The roundabout will again host the stage and it will feature a variety of entertainment. Nine acts from the community will perform, including dancers, singers, and musicians of all ages.

A wide selection of food vendors will be on hand to satisfy any craving. Nearly 20 food vendors will be on hand, serving everything from ice cream to barbecue to French pastry to authentic Hawaiian fare.

20 non-food vendors will also be on hand. Some will be selling their wares, while others will be trying raise awareness for their non-profit organizations. The Elf Flea Market will be open for business. You will find gently used and beautifully hand crafted holiday decor at reasonable prices. All items are donated and funds benefit the Community Food Bank in Marana. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona will join Marana’s Animal Services Division, and will have some furry friends for adoption.

Musical Acts:

• 3:00 - 3:20: Silver Steppers

• 3:30 - 3:50: The Thornydale Songbirds

• 4:00 - 4:20: Estes Elementary Ukulele Club

• 4:30 - 4:50: Open Doors Community School

• 5:00 - 5:20: Marana High School Chamber Orchestra

• 5:30 - 5:50: Pointe of Grace Dancers

• 6:00 - 6:20: Christmas Tree Light Show

• 6:30 - 6:50: Mountain View Jazz Band

• 7:00 - 7:20: ShowBiz Academy of Dance

• 7:30 - 7:50: Marana High School Symphonic Choir

Food Vendors

• Bugaloo's Soft Serve

• Cafe Fancais

• Ciao Down

• Cody Coyote Kettle Corn

• Dickey's Barbecue Pit

• I & C Kitchen

• Jakesdonuts and Treat Trolley

• La Garrafa

• Marana Heritage Conservancy

• Meatball Madness

• Mona's Frybread

• Mutt's Restaurant

• Red Rock Ice Cream Company

• Ro's Rollout American Comfort Food

• Road Running Wood Fired Pizza

• Ry's Snacks

• Sonoran Mexican Cuisine

• Sugar & Spice

• Taste of Island Paradise AZ

Spotlight on Schools: Dual honors for MV's Oliver

Mountain View Head Athletic Trainer and Sports Medicine Teacher Leah Oliver received a pair of honors over the past few weeks.

At the last Marana Unified School District Governing Board meeting, she was formally recognized for being named a 2018 Arizona Educational Foundation Top 10 Teacher of the Year.

The AEF™ Arizona Teacher of the Year program spotlights the contributions of outstanding public school teachers throughout Arizona by annually recognizing 10 exceptionally skilled and dedicated pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public school teachers.

Oliver was one of just two teachers from Southern Arizona to make the top-10, and the only from the Tucson area.

Oliver was also honored by the students and staff at Mountain View high School, but naming their athletic training center in her honor. The honored Oliver with the renamed “Ms. O's Athletic Training Center” during a surprise celebration in the school’s gymnasium. Former and current students (dating back to her first class in 1989), former coaches, staff, administration, and family and friends came out to honor her.

Oliver has been an educator since 1989 and has earned a reputation as “a phenomenal teacher who truly cares for students, staff and parents.” Her sports medicine class and student athletic trainers are the most award-winning in the state

Marana 28-Mile El Tour Segment Drone footage

HawkView Aerial Aerial was on-hand at the Town of Marana’s 28-Mile Segment of the El Tour de Tucson. Their drone captured the start of the race at Marana Heritage River Park.

The video below has the full start of the 28-Mile Segment:

HawkView Aerial Solutions is a Marana-based company.

Spotlight on Schools: MUSD's Wilson honored

Marana Unified School Districts’ superintendent - Dr. Doug Wilson – was selected as the 2018 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year® for Arizona by the Arizona School Administrators.

Dr. Wilson has worked in public education for the last 36 years, and he is “humbled by this honor.”

According to an MUSD press release, Dr. Wilson “believes the ability to make a difference in the life of a child and influence the future through education is one of the noblest professions there is.”

“This recognition speaks more to the quality of the people who I am surrounded by, than anything I have accomplished,” Wilson added. “I cannot think of anyplace I would rather be, or anything I would rather be doing than serving the educational community in Marana as superintendent. The last nine and a half years working beside our dedicated teachers, support staff, administrators, Governing Board members, and parents have been the best years of my professional life… there is not a day that goes by that I am not inspired.”

The AASA, The School Superintendents Association National Superintendent of the Year® Program pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead our nation's public schools. The program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents.

Dr. Wilson will be recognized as the award recipient at the Arizona School Boards Association/Arizona School Administrators Annual Superintendents Conference in December and at the 2018 AASA National Conference on Education in February.

November Manager's Message

On Monday, November 20, I formally become the interim town manager for the Town of Marana. Thank you, Marana Town Council, for entrusting me with this responsibility. I look forward to serving this great community with the zeal and conviction we have all grown accustomed to from our town leader, Gilbert Davidson.

Gilbert took the reins as Town Manager during the dark days of the economic recession. Today, he leaves behind a community that is not only financially stable but is sought after by businesses and families who want to call Marana home. Some of us know him all too well and believe that his passion and energy to turn things around will do wonders with the state. We wish him well as he assumes the role of Arizona’s chief operating officer.

We have a great town staff and it’s an honor being a part of this team. Driven by our cultural values—dedicated service, teamwork, respect, and engaged innovation—every day is an opportunity to make Marana the choice place to live, work, and play.

These are exciting times in Marana. People of all ages are moving into our town. With two months left in the year, we have already exceeded our projections for construction of new single-family residential homes. Our challenge is to meet that demand, but also ensure that essential municipal services and quality of life remains a high priority. 

Businesses too are coming to Marana. Over the past few months we have met with executives from large corporations who want to locate thousands of new jobs in Marana. I attribute their interest in us because we’ve earned that reputation of being responsive, providing great customer service and ensuring their investments are sustainable in our community.

The holidays are upon us and that is always a fun time in Marana. Last weekend’s Turkey Trot is the start of the holiday season for many Marana residents and we are just a few weeks away from the Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting. I have seen a sneak peak of this year’s light show and like all of our signature events, it promises to be our biggest yet. Without giving away too much, we have a great slate of food trucks and vendors on tap, more snow in the snow globe and talented local performers providing the entertainment. Like all of our signature events, the Holiday Festival on Dec. 2 is a free event, making it the perfect outing for Marana families. 

This is a busy week in the Town. On Thursday we formally unveiled the deer sculptures on Tangerine Road. This is a striking public art project that not only celebrates the great wildlife in the area, it also provided Marana high school welding students an opportunity to assist the artist in putting together these magnificent metal sculptures. The statues not only add beauty to the improvements being made on Tangerine Road, but are also a terrific neighbor to Tangerine Sky Park, which is being built adjacent to the statues. 

This weekend, Marana hosts our own 28-mile segment of the El Tour de Tucson. We are proud to again partner with El Tour and are excited to show off Marana to the riders who race through the town, as well as those who are using our Marana Heritage River Park as their starting point. Whether you are a cyclist, or just want to have a good time watching the race, we encourage you to come out to the park and participate in the festivities. 

I am excited about where the town is going. Since coming on board in March of 2014, I have seen so much growth, but we’ve also succeeded in maintaining that small-town neighborly feel. I came to Marana from the Phoenix area, where I last served as Glendale’s interim assistant city manager. Having worked in local government in a variety of roles since 1988, I find Marana different in many ways. It’s at the edge of this region but the center of attention for commerce and employment. It’s a young town growing quickly but always mindful of its deep-rooted heritage and the great outdoors that surrounds us. 

There is so much going on in Marana, which is a good thing. People want to live here, companies want to do business here and Marana Town Hall will bring it all together successfully.

Jamsheed Mehta is the Interim Town Manager for the Town of Marana. The Manager's Message runs monthly in the Marana News/Explorer News, as well as on MaranaAZ.gov.

El Tour de Tucson Marana 28-Mile Segment Photo Gallery

On Saturday, November 18 the Town of Marana hosted their second 28-Mile Segment of the El Tour de Tucson. The race drew well over 300 riders, who began their journey at the Marana Heritage River Park and winded their way through north Marana before heading south on I-10 and finishing the race in Downtown Tucson. 

Photos by J.D. Fitzgerald/JDFitzgeraldphotography.com

Deer Dedication: Photo Gallery

On Thursday, November 16 the Town of Marana held a dedication ceremony for their latest public art installation. "Deer at Tangerine Sky Park" was a made possible from a grant from the Pima Association of Governments and utilized the talents of artist Trevor O'Tool, as well as welding students from Marana High School.

The steel deer statues sit on the southside of Tangerine Road, just outside of what will become Tangerine Sky Park.

Marana unveils new deer family as the Town's latest public art installation

Click to view the unveiling ceremony of the new public art installation on Tangerine Road. 

This Thursday, the Town of Marana formally debuted the “Deer at Tangerine Sky Park” art installation. The small ceremony to unveil the five metal sculptures was the culmination of a two-year project.

The sculptures are made of solid steel and feature a family of foraging deer. They are located on Tangerine Road and are part of the Tangerine Corridor Project and will serve as a centerpiece of the upcoming Tangerine Sky Park.

“This project is absolutely beautiful,” said Marana Mayor Ed Honea. “The design is beautiful; the construction is beautiful. It is something we should all be very proud of."

Town of Marana Assistant to the Town Manager Tony Hunter coordinated the project, which was funded by the Transportation Art by Youth fund through the Pima Association of Governments.

This project began with the brainstorm of "how can we get public art in the community, but also how can we get youth involved as well?’” said Hunter.

The Town enlisted the help of Marana High School welding students, who have previously created other metal art pieces for Marana. Once the students were on board, the idea was to get the community on board to help with the search for an artist.

Hunter worked closely with the Marana Citizens’ Forum, who created a Public Art Committee to help come up with project.

“They were a huge help with the project,” said Hunter, who explained the artist selection process with the sub-committee. The parameters were simple. The work had to be metal to accommodate the students' skill set, and it had to represent the Marana community.

Trevor O’Tool's submitted proposal for the deer design was ultimately selected due to how he connected his work to Marana's natural environment.

“It represented our natural environment, but also represented family and our history,” Hunter said.

“It shows how the Town and artists and young people can work together to make something that our Town can be proud of for many years to come,” Honea added.

Installation of the deer was made possible due to the Town of Marana project management team and the Tangerine Corridor Constructors. It was no easy feat to put the deer in place. Not only did they have to be placed in the alignment the artist envisioned, but the sculptures are not easy to move. The sculptures are steel and weigh several hundred pounds. The buck statue weighs over 750 pounds and had to be placed with a forklift. 

They also had to be painted to protect the metal from the elements and the landscaping needed to be completed by the project management team and the contractors. 

The Deer at Tangerine Sky Park art installation is located on the Southside of Tangerine Road, East of Camino de Oeste.

Marana High School Welding Students: Austin Bott, John Campbell, Randall Chambliss, Cameron Daily, Mikaila Rodriguez, Brandon Shulls, Scott Washington. Kenton Webb – Instructor.

Marana Citizen’ Forum Public Art Committee: Ron Hill, Angela Wagner-Gabbard, Don Duncan, Valerie Pullara, Michael Smentek.

Marana News: Marana prepares for El Tour

The Marana News previewed Marana's 28-Mile Segment of the El Tour de Tucson. 

On Saturday, Nov. 18, Marana’s Heritage River Park will be host to food trucks, music and event booths in a festive send off for hundreds of cyclists beginning one of the largest bike-riding events in the nation, El Tour de Tucson. 

“Recreation is an important part of a healthy community,” said Interim Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta. “And we take having fun very seriously.”

While Marana has always been involved with the larger El Tour de Tucson process, it only began hosting its own leg of the race two years ago. The section fits well with Marana’s health-conscious, outdoorsy ethos, as all new roads built in the city are equipped with bike lanes.

“It’s just a great event for our community,” Marana mayor Ed Honea said. “People wear colorful outfits and helmets, and even if they don’t plan on finishing the whole event, they ride their bikes for a little while just to join in the fun.”

In addition to the thousands of pedaling legs, there are multiple legs to the event: cyclists can choose to ride distances of 106, 76, 54, 37 or Marana’s stretch, the shortest, of 28 miles. 

“I feel fortunate we have the shortest leg of the race,” Honea said. “It makes things available for families and non-professionals. Moms, dads and kids can all ride together.”

There will be booths run by a local bike shop, healthy food options and a craft station for families to make signs supporting the cyclists.

Read the rest of the story at the Marana News

Turkey Trot '17 Photo Gallery

This past weekend's Turkey Trot was another successful event by Marana Parks and Recreation. Whether you ran in the race, or just want to see everyone having fun, check out the photo gallery below. 

Photos by JD Fitzgerald.

Marana In The Media: Bat Boxes

Courtesy: Sundt Construction

One major part of the Ina Interchange Project is the building of two new bridges over the Santa Cruz River. When complete, Ina Road will expand to four lanes and there will be a number of improvements both on the roadway, as well as to the Loop which runs under the bridges.

 The current bridge is also home to hundreds of Mexican bats. The bats are very important to the local ecosystem, most notably in keeping area insect populations under control.

 The Arizona Daily Star has an article on how the contractors and Arizona Game and Fish ecologist are working hard to relocate the bats from the old bridge to the new ones.

Beneath the old Ina bridge over the Santa Cruz River, which will be replaced by a pair of two-lane bridges, you can hear the high-pitched squeaks of the migratory Mexican free-tailed bat before getting a whiff of their roosts’ distinctive smell.

Though it’s the low season, Arizona Game and Fish bat ecologist Joel Diamond told the Road Runner that there’s an estimated 1,000 of the creatures packed tightly into the crevices. At high season, as many as 25,000 call the soon-to-be-destroyed structure home, while a nearby tunnel also hosts roughly 10,000 cave myotis bats.

So, where are the bats going to go when the place they’ve called a seasonal home for years comes tumbling down?

If things go according to plan, they’ll be moving right next door, into bat boxes installed under the new bridges. Game and Fish crews are sealing up the cracks every night after the bats head out to forage for the evening.

Read the rest of the story at the Tucson.com

Sundt Construction is one of the contractors working on the project and they also have a good write-up on their role in the project.

Our work to widen the interstate involves taking down and replacing the Ina Road bridge where Mexican free-tailed bats spend much of the year. It’s their hangout.

Arizona Game and Fish officials estimate about 1,000 bats spend the winter there instead of relocating to Mexico and 25,000 stick around Southern Arizona in the summer. Fortunately, the project team and Arizona Game and Fish Department have devised a plan to make sure the bats aren’t homeless.

The new bridge, which sits next to the old one, has seven bat boxes that replicate the conditions under which the mammals have been living. Each of the boxes has one-inch openings for the bats to crawl into. The boxes provide cooler conditions in the summer and warmer in the winter that bats like.

Read the full story from Sundt.com

Behind the Scenes: MPD Distracted Driving PSA

The Marana Police Department emphasizes innovation in all phases of their operation. From having the latest technology to community policing and utilizing social media to connect with residents, Marana police officers strives to be ahead of the curve.

Streaming live to an online audience, MPD Traffic Officer Bradley Clifford performed a simulated traffic stop where he helped educate the driver on the dangers of distracted driving. The Marana Police Department believes that education is the main objective when conducting a traffic stop, and have altered their philosophy regarding pulling drivers over. Since 2011, the department has pulled over more drivers, but issued less citations. The goal is to make interactions with the police a positive experience, as well as an opportunity to convey safety information to the drivers.

“This is about education,” said Marana Police Department Public Information Officer Chriswell Scott. “We are not here to jam people up with tickets. We are here to educate and get everyone to where they are going safely.”

Tucson News Now was also on-site to capture behind-the-scenes footage of the PSA. After one rehearsal to establish the logistics of the simulated traffic stop, the PSA went Facebook Live.

A key part of the campaign is educating the public that distracted driving is more than just using your cell phone or playing with the radio. Many other aspects of daily life can distract someone from the road.

“We commonly think of distracted driving as talking on the phone or texting, but it can be other things like eating in the car or thinking about a work meeting that you have and not focusing on the road,” Scott explained.

“Our lives distract us a lot,” said MPD Traffic Officer Bradley Clifford. “Our lives are very busy and our minds probably distract us more than anything else. When you get behind the wheel, please focus on safe driving habits.”

The Town has not seen an increase in accidents due to distracted driving, but Marana Police Department wants to make sure their residents remain safe. It is all part of the department’s strategy to be proactive and working with the community to enhance public safety.

Officer Clifford spoke with Tucson News Now following filming of the PSA and had some more good information on distracted driving:

Marana named top digital city

The Center for Digital Government (CDG) announced the winners of the 2017 Digital Cities Survey and Marana was named one of the top-10 Digital Cities in the United States with a population of 75,000 or less. Now in its 17th year, the annual survey recognizes cities using technology to improve citizen services, enhance transparency and encourage citizen engagement.

“This year’s leading digital cities are leveraging technology to connect disadvantaged citizens with critical information and services, promote citizen inclusion in important government processes and share government data with the public,” said Teri Takai, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “Thanks to the efforts of these innovative cities, citizens can now meaningfully interact with city government more easily than in any other time in history. Congratulations to the winners!”

The Town of Marana is committed to remaining at the forefront of technology and trying to be innovative in all forms of public outreach.

“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our residents’ experience when it comes to dealing with the Town,” said Technology Services Director Carl Drescher. “We want that experience to be first rate whether they are visiting our website, utilizing our apps, or interacting with us on social media.”

Embracing technology is another way Marana shows our commitment to top-notch customer service.

“The Town of Marana is dedicated to being a community that is attractive to residents and businesses alike, with customer service that is comparable to the private sector,” said Communications Director Vickie Hathaway. “A professional and strategic digital and technological approach is needed to match the demands, perceptions, and pace of the Town’s target audience.”

Marana was one of six Arizona cities across five categories recognized by the Digital Cities Survey, and one of just two from Southern Arizona. Marana was the only Arizona city of its size to be recognized.

Traffic Update: Cracker Barrel Road (11/13 - 11/17)

Beginning at 6 AM on Monday, November 13, until the Cracker Barrel Road paving operation is completed, Hospitality Road from the east side of Cracker Barrel Road to the Days Inn driveway will be closed to all traffic.
•              On Wednesday, November 15, from 6 AM to 4 PM, asphalt paving of the eastern half of the roadway will take place. During these paving operations, the movement of haul trucks and paving equipment will intermittently affect traffic flow where Cortaro Road, Hospitality Road, and Arizona Pavilions Drive intersect with Cracker Barrel Road. Flaggers will be present to guide motorists through these work areas.
•              Beginning at 2 AM on Thursday, November 16, traffic on Cracker Barrel Road will be shifted onto the newly paved east side of the roadway so that work can begin on the west side of Cracker Barrel Road.
•              Directional signs and traffic control devices will be set up to guide vehicles through the work area. Speed limits will be reduced to 25 MPH. Business access will be maintained during the next phase of construction.

For your safety and that of the contractor’s personnel, please comply with 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.

  Stay up-to-date on Town of Marana news, projects, and events. Visit MaranaAZ.gov, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.