Development Services Director Jason Angell presents on projects in Marana

Attendees at the Community Conversations meeting located at Marana Municipal Complex on October 9 were treated to a presentation from Development Services Director Jason Angell on current Marana projects. His presentation covered the new police facility, Gladden Farms Northwest Fire District station, road projects, new businesses, and more.

VIEW THE PRESENTATION

Angell’s presentation is part of the 2018 Community Conversations series hosted by the Town of Marana and located at various locations throughout the community. For each location, Angell presented a customized presentation of projects reflective of the area.

View the presentation focusing on north Marana.

View the October 1 presentation focusing on the northeast side of Marana (including Dove Mountain and Tangerine Road).

View the September 27 presentation focusing on the south side of Marana.

Haven’t had a chance to attend one of the Community Conversations? There’s one more left!

Tuesday, October 30
2:30 PM
Sunflower Village Center - Fiesta Room
9401 N. Sunflower Park Dr.

More information.

Traffic Alert: Ina Road Reconstruction

The Town of Marana will be installing utility conduits at the intersections of Ina Road and Thornydale Road and Ina Road and Meredith Road beginning Monday night (October 8, 2018) through Thursday night (October 11,2018). Work Hours will be 7:00 P.M to 5:00 A.M.  Expect lane closures and traffic delays. This work is part of Project Ina, installing conduit for irrigation and street lights.

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.

Traffic Alert: Tangerine Farms Road - Storm Repairs

The Town of Marana will be replacing trees along Tangerine Farms Road due to Monsoon storm damage. The work will be starting on Monday, October 8th, 2018 through Friday, October 19th, 2018. 

This work will take place during day time hours from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm and include a single lane closure.     

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.

START DATE:  10/08/2018                                           END DATE:  10/19/2018

DAILY START TIME:  6:00:00                                  DAILY STOP TIME:  16:00:00

SEVERITY: MINOR

PROJECT CONTACT: For questions related to this specific project, please contact Town of Marana Public Works Office at (520) 382-2536.

Travel Impact:  Light delays

Traffic Alert: Interstate 10 lane closures near Ina Road set for Oct. 8

Motorists on Interstate 10 near Ina Road should expect overnight lane closures for sign structure installations and road maintenance on Monday, Oct. 8.

Alternating lane closures are scheduled between 8 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9.

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

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 or email Projects@azdot.gov. For real-time highway conditions statewide, visit ADOT's Traveler Information Site at www.az511.gov, follow ADOT on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT) or call 511, except when driving.

Forbes honors Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

 The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain has set a new standard for desert luxury in the United States, having been named today to the Forbes Travel Guide 2018 Verified Lists of the World’s Most Luxurious Hotels and World’s Most Luxurious Spas.

Announcement of the coveted dual ranking notes that only eight properties in the world, including The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, have earned a Verified List position in both the hotel and spa categories -- with just three in the U.S. achieving this recognition for both hotel and spa. Two of the dual U.S. winners are located on the east coast, while The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain claims the only western-based double ranking.

Forbes’ “Most Luxurious Hotels” list
Forbes’ “Most Luxurious Spas” list

Forbes Travel Guide’s new Verified Lists are compiled from data gathered by the company’s incognito inspectors, who stay at the properties and evaluate them on up to 900 rigorous objective standards used to determine the guide’s annual Star Ratings, which were most recently announced in February 2018. The new Most Luxurious winners are the top 2018 performers in the specific standards that reflect detailed attention to the list’s level of sumptuous comfort, as well as luxurious choices and conveniences afforded to guests. 

Fifty-eight hotels in 17 countries have earned the new Forbes Verified List designation, representing the top six percent of 1,017 Star Rated hotels in performance on standards related to luxury. Just 30 spas in six countries have won the award, out of 269 Star Rated spas worldwide.

“This dual Forbes honor for our hotel and spa acknowledges a stellar team effort, and we are thrilled to be included,” said Liam Doyle, Area General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Our newly-unveiled resort transformation should further elevate the Forbes Five Star experience, helping to raise the bar on authentic desert luxury in the United States. We are excited to share this stunning new resort experience with guests.”

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain property transformation was unveiled this fall and includes a floor-to-ceiling makeover of its 253 guest rooms and 44,000 square-feet of meeting space, all inspired by the resort’s highly evocative Sonoran Desert sense of place.

Marana named one of state's safest driving cities

Town of Marana has been named one of the Top-10 Safest Driving Cities in Arizona by quotewizard.com. Marana was ranked 9th in the state, the highest rated city in Pima County.

Arizona is rated as the 11th safest driving state in the nation. 

The website compiled over 40,000 data points from QuoteWizard users in Arizona on speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and other citations in the last year. They then calculated the rate of incidents across each city. Cities with the lowest rate were ranked safest.

“Marana is a town of about 43,000 residents north of Tucson,” noted quotewizard.com in their release. “The town has two neighboring national parks and I-10 running through its center. I-10 is often used as a commuter route for people traveling between Phoenix and Tucson. Luckily, with that heavy use, Marana is improving both the I-10 and Ina Road, which will ease the intersection’s flow of traffic.”

The Town of Marana and the Marana Police Department have a specific strategy to help create safer drivers.

“Our focus at the Marana Police Department is driver education,” said Marana Police Department Public Information Officer Chriswell Scott. “Though the number of traffic stops in recent years has increased, the number of citations issued has deceased. Every traffic stop is an opportunity for our officers to engage the community and encourage safe driving habits through voluntary compliance with traffic laws. The Town of Marana developed the FOCUS safety campaign to educate our residents on the dangers of distracted driving. Thus far, the campaign seems to have had a positive impact on our community.”  

Kingman was rated as the safest driving city in Arizona. Sahuarita was the only other Pima County municipality to crack the top-10, finishing 10th.

Quotewizard.com is a website that specializes in the insurance industry, with an emphasis on letting consumers compare insurance companies’ rates and policies.

Read the full story. 

Marana Gastronomy Tours Season 2

 Discover Marana, the tourism and marketing program of the Town of Marana, is pleased to announce the second year of its gastronomy tour program. “The Marana Gastronomy Tour” and “A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour” explore different aspects of ancient foodways at archaeology sites and wild food flavors through tastings. Featuring ancient foodways experts, archaeologists, master foragers, master brewers, and a Master of French cuisine (Maître Cuisinier de France). 

 “A Taste of the Wild” tours include tastings of Bean Tree Farm prepared wild foods and Catalina Brewing Company and Button Brew House craft beer made with wild foods, and a wild foods walkabout with experts Carolyn Niethammer and Martha Burgess.

“The Marana Gastronomy Tour” includes guided walks at two archaeology sites by Dr. Suzy Fish (later in the season) and Allen Denoyer of Archaeology Southwest, tastings at Catalina Brewing Company, and a small plates tasting at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. The tours are limited to 12-13 people. 

Reservations with Gray Line Arizona are $99 (“A Taste of the Wild”) and $109 (“Marana Gastronomy Tour”) per person. 

“The UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation was given to Tucson because the areas surrounding the Santa Cruz River have the earliest agriculture found in the United States,” said Laura Cortelyou, Tourism and Marketing Manager for the Town of Marana. “These are the only tours where you can experience these ancient cultures at ancient archaeology sites and taste ancient flavors in craft beer and classical French fusion cuisine.” 

Marana is home to wild foods educators, chefs, and craft brewers that responsibly harvest from the 450 edible plants in the Sonoran Desert; as well as farm-to-table restaurant suppliers, BKW Farms that grows White Sonora wheat used in local craft beer and artisanal baking by Barrio Bread, and a number of beekeepers that produce mesquite and wildflower honey. 

According to Jonathan Mabry, Ph.D., President of the Tucson City of Gastronomy nonprofit organization, “The Marana Gastronomy Tour program brings to life this region’s unique ancient history, foodways, and flavors. These are reasons for its 2016 UNESCO Creative City designation, as well as the area’s many food and beverage festivals, food economy, access to biodiverse foods, and more. Sonoran Desert foods have drawn and sustained peoples here continually for more than 10,000 years, creating a culturally layered cuisine.” 

Gray Line Tours Tucson is the tour provider and a third-generation family-owned business that has provided premier tours in, and from, Tucson for more than 100 years. 

“The Marana Gastronomy Tour” and “A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour” are both approved by UNESCO Creative Cities Network member, Tucson City of Gastronomy, the first City of Gastronomy in the U.S.

Scheduled Tour Dates Marana Gastronomy Tour: Thursdays; October 11, November 8, January 24, February 21, and March 21; 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm A Taste of the Wild: The Marana Wild Foods Gastronomy Tour: Sundays; October 21, November 18, January 6, February 3, March 3, April 7; 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Marana Gastronomy Tour Reservations 

For tour reservations visit www.GrayLineArizona.com . 

For tour information visit www.TownOfGastronomy.org . 

Things to do in Marana in October and Beyond

---

---

---

---

---

---

On The Horizon

Nov 17 - El Tour de Tucson 28-Mile Marana Segment
Dec 1 - Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec 8 - Dispose-A-Med
Dec 15 - Electronic Recycling Event

Traffic Alert: New traffic signal on Arizona Pavilions

Google Streetview

Pace Electrical will begin construction on a new traffic signal at the 4-Way stop south of Cortaro Road. Work crews will be active Monday thru Friday, beginning October 1, 2018 work will begin at 7:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. and is expected to be approximately 46 days; expect delays as you move through this area.

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.

Music a focus at the Marana Farm Festival

Drew Cooper

One of the staples of Marana’s signature events is live entertainment and the Marana Farm Festival is no exception. This year the Farm Festival boasts three different live music acts.

After dinner the sun starts to go down and the stage opens up for music and dancing. All ages are welcome in the beer garden (must be 21+ to purchase alcohol) to enjoy the festivities.

6:00 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.
MCMT COMMUNITY CHOIR

This choir consists of residents from around Marana ages 13 and up. It's a free choir that brings the arts to the community in a tangible and fun way. They will be performing several pieces to kick start our live music.

 The choir performed at last year’s event and recently put on their first live musical, a performance of the Wizard of Oz. 

6:45P.M. - 7:15 P.M.
CHRIS GRAEBER

Nashville influenced singer and songwriter Chris Graeber comes by his music naturally, growing up in the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Chris has brought his music, planted roots and now calls Tucson, Arizona his home.  Chris' soothing voice wins over a crowd immediately, with tones similar to Billy Currington, and Thomas Rhett, but really keeps the crowd’s attention when he explodes into song with rich intense vocals similar to Luke Combs and Justin Moore.

7:30P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
DREW COOPER

 Cooper is an acoustic singer-songwriter who mixes a variety of American music styles citing influences as diverse as Garth Brooks and Bruce Springsteen. 

“Drew is one of those rare performers who can turn anyone who attends one of his concerts into a lifelong fan,” reads the bio on his website. “Drew’s charismatic, smiling, laughing style of entertaining can turn crowds of 12 to 12,000 into enthusiastic, on-your-feet participants in a musical journey that excites and moves people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Cooper likes to say that his music reflects his Midwestern upbringing with “the commitment to country values and strong family bonds.” Musically he takes influence from the artists he listened to as a kid, the Red Dirt scene he discovered in his early 20s and his current home in the Southwest. 

“I've always been a performer, acting, singing, just being an all around attention hog,” Cooper said.  “The more I do it, the more I love it. So far the most exciting musical experience I've had came when I wrote ‘Pictures on The Wall’. I wrote and recorded that song on a Wednesday, posted it online, and on Thursday at a gig I had a stranger come up and request that song! What an amazing feeling. My goal is to have that feeling and effect people that instantly and deeply everyday for the rest of my life. I am blessed to be doing what I love and to be able to share it with you.”

Marana Town Talk Episode 4: Lock it or Lose it, Community engagement, Marana Film Office

Left to right: Tourism & Marketing Manager Laura Courtelyou, Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott, former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson

Town of Marana has released its fourth episode of "Marana Town Talk", a new government podcast that balances education and entertainment with thoughtful commentary on local current events. 

Communications Manager Vic Hathaway and Communications Specialist Brad Allis kick off the episode with a brief discussion on current events (0:50), followed by a discussion on safety tips with Marana Police Sergeant Chriswell Scott (5:36). Listeners can then learn more about the impacts former Town Clerk Jocelyn Bronson had on the community including details on the Marana Citizens Forum (14:53), before learning more about all the interesting ways Hollywood has used the Marana landscape in the past…and present (24:28). 

audio Only

AUDIO AND VIDEO

Different departments and divisions make Farm Festival fun

A message from Town of Marana Special Events Coordinator Monique Hagberg.

The days are getting shorter and Fall is in the air. We know what that means. Marana Farm Festival is here, and Town of Marana staff is excited to invite the public to Marana Heritage River Park to enjoy a night of rodeo demonstrations, carnival rides, food, and fun.

Residents, visitors, and businesses alike can enjoy a traditional country fair with top-notch family entertainment that combines Marana’s agricultural and rodeo heritage with carnival attractions. There will be games, rides, great food, rodeo demonstrations, and a mutton bustin’ competition. Enjoy live music, explore the petting zoo, and participate in the pumpkin races. Proceeds from the pumpkin races will benefit the Marana-Foothills Optimist Club. 

There will be free parking and event entry, but fees will apply for vendors throughout the park. This year there will also be a one-dollar charge per carnival ride to help manage over-crowding. Town of Marana staff works hard to create events that are as accessible to the public as possible while maintaining costs and ensuring affordable opportunities.  

The Town of Marana Signature Events series is a multi-departmental endeavor to create unique experiences for the Marana community and includes Marana Founders’ Day, Star Spangled Spectacular, Marana Farm Festival, and Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting. It takes the combined effort of nearly every department to make each event a success. While the public can anticipate interacting with Event and Parks and Recreation staff on event day, there is a tremendous collaborative effort to make things safe and welcoming from behind the scenes.

With anywhere from 3,000 to 17,000 people in one night, there are safety concerns to be considered when designing each event. From security to medical treatment, Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District work together to ensure public safety.

The event facilities are in top-notch shape due to the combined efforts of Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff. The Traffic Division designs the best setup for getting in and out of the event as well as providing enough available parking, and the Development Services Department works hard to inspect all structures to ensure safety.

The Town’s administration staff is also hard at work making sure all vendors, partners, and contractors are formally processed so the business community can have an engaging presence at Town events.

When all departments come together seamlessly, events are a success. That is once again the goal this weekend for the Marana Farm Festival. 

For more information on Marana Farm Festival and future events, please visit www.MaranaEvents.com. Thank you to our signature event sponsor Core Construction, and additional sponsors Tucson Local Media, Trico Electric Cooperative, Pima County Farm Bureau, 5th Avenue Productions, Red Diamond Rentals, Tucson Kona Ice, Ciao Down, and Post Farms.

See you on the farm!

Marana Farm Festival is this Saturday, Sept 29 from 4-9PM at Marana Heritage River Park.

Ribbon Cutting commemorates completion of Tangerine Corridor Project

On Friday, September 21, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase Tangerine Corridor Project. Officials from the Town of Marana, the Town of Oro Valley, The Regional Transportation Authority, the Pima Association of Governments, and the contractors who worked on the project gathered for a brief ceremony that was concluded with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed everyone to the event before giving a project overview.

Marana Mayor Ed Honea discussed Marana’s involvement with the project as well as the partnership between Marana and Oro Valley on this, and many other, projects.

Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath spoke on behalf of Oro Valley, as well as the Pima Association of Governments, for whom he is the Regional Council Chair.

Andrew Rogers spoke on behalf of the Tangerine Corridor Constructors, which is a partnership between Granite Construction and Borderland Construction.

The Tangerine Road Corridor Project extends approximately 10 miles from Interstate 10 to La Canada Drive and is part of the voter-approved Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) plan. The project widened the road to four lanes, flattened the road, removing the dips and giving it all weather access. The project also included bike lanes, landscaping and a park in the Marana area.

---

GALLERY

Photos provided by Town of Oro Valley.

Parks & Recreation sees an increase in summer participation

The Town of Marana Parks and Recreation Department is currently in the midst of their Fall Into Fun + Fitness campaign, but a look back at their Summer 2018 programming shows that public participation was up.

“The hot summer months did nothing to prevent residents from taking part in the great programming we offer,” said Marana Parks and Recreation Director Jim Conroy. “This is exciting because our staff worked hard to introduce a number of new programs and the public responded to those offerings.”

Dubbed “Soak In Summer Fun” the programming from May to August saw over 2,080 registrations- a 45 percent increase in transactions compared to summer 2017. 

“The recreation team made an initiative to better serve the community by reworking popular programs and introducing new activities that specifically filled programming gaps,” said Recreation Superintendent Corey Larriva.

New programs like horse camps, speed and agility clinics, Boomer Adventure Trips, and Town-led swim lessons filled quickly. Most even had waiting lists. Returning programs like weekly sports clinics, Mini Me Tot Play, and art camps were improved upon and also had increased participation.

As each program concluded, the rec staff solicited feedback through the Town’s survey software. Over 135 surveys were completed and the average program satisfaction rating was 4.5 (out of 5) stars.

Parks and Recreation is excited about the programs being offered this fall. New programs like music lessons, Fitness on the Farm Bootcamp, Red Cross Babysitter Training, and afternoon STREAM classes join familiar favorites like guided hikes, youth and adult sports leagues, and fitness and craft classes to give people a lot of options.

“We really strive to provide something for everyone,” said Conroy. “Whether you are a big time athlete, an aspiring musician, or just want to learn something new, we have a program for you and your family.” 

Browse activities online at: http://www.maranaaz.gov/recreation.

Make Marana 2040: First round of workshops seek input from the public

Building a town or city isn’t just an idea. Be a part of building your own community with the Town of Marana General Plan 2040. 

Town of Marana is hosting the first Marana 2040 General Plan public workshops on Wednesday, October 3 at 6:00 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex, and on Thursday, October 4 at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library.

The General Plan Project team will present the Town’s past and current planning efforts, and an overview of current and emerging planning trends.  The workshop will also include interactive exercises to identify Marana’s vision, community values and future opportunities, which will help with the development of a vision statement for the community.

INVITATION

Marana marketing campaign wins national award

MARANA - Town of Marana received national recognition on Thursday, September 6 with an Award of Excellence from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for the category Photography Single-Image Use.  

The submission, labeled “Abaaa-ndon Sheep!” featured a photograph of a young competitor at the Marana Cotton Festival Mutton Busting competition holding on tightly as their sheep raced through the rodeo arena. The photograph was captured by J.D. Fitzgerald.  

The intended goal of the photograph and ensuing advertising outreach was to grow the Marana Farm Festival, promote the event as a way to celebrate the Town of Marana rodeo and agrarian roots, and to demonstrate how rodeo is not only a key component of farm life but part of the very fabric of Marana’s rich tapestry. 

The Town not only saw the size of the event grow over time, but saw a huge increase in social media interaction in posts using striking, professional images.

“Outstanding entry presentation and image,” the judges wrote.

“We made an effort to use dynamic images in our event marketing and outreach and the community really responded,” said Communications Manager Vic Hathaway. “We saw more comments and shares on our social media posts about the event, and had over 2,000 more views on our on-line photo galleries.”

Mutton busting is one of the most popular features at Marana Farm Festival, with the next event scheduled September 29, 2018. Visit www.MaranaEvents.com for more information.

The Town of Marana also won a Savvy Award for Special Events: One-Time Events from the City-County Communications & Market Association.

JD Fitzgerald is an award-winning photographer and cinematographer based out of Tucson, AZ. For over seven years JD served as a staff photojournalist winning several awards from the Arizona Newspaper Association and the Arizona Press Club. He has also produced many films local artists and advertising for small/medium sized businesses.

His clients include: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Congressman Ron Barber, Town of Marana, Marana Unified School District, Marana Police Department, and Northwest Fire District.

The City-County Communications & Marketing Association announced the 2018 winners of its national Savvy Awards Competition during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee in Wisconsin. 

The Savvy Awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. 3CMA accommodates local government organizations of all sizes and budget classes by judging entries in several different population groups.

Marana Town Hall Youth Days win national award

MARANA - Town of Marana received national recognition on Thursday, September 6 with a Savvy Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for "Marana Town Hall Youth Days". This one-time event brought Town employee kids to the Marana Municipal Complex to learn more about local government services during the initial days of the Arizona state-wide education walkouts. 

The intended goal of Marana Town Hall Youth Days was to minimize possible impacts on Town of Marana services by providing a program option for Town employees who did not have alternative child programming on April 26 and April 27. It also provided time for Town employees to find alternative child programming options for any subsequent days of school closures. 

"[The event was a] compassionate and heartfelt response to a workplace concern," judges remarked.

Kids ages 6-11 were treated to a diverse itinerary with an emphasis on public service. Fifteen to eighteen kids attended each day. Employees from Town of Marana Communications, Special Events, Police, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Water, Town Council, Town Clerk, and Engineering departments and Northwest Fire District provided educational programming based on existing lesson plans. Mayor Ed Honea also signed an official proclamation declaring April 27, 2018 as "Town Hall Youth Day". Read the proclamation.

Fifteen employees enrolled their children in Marana Town Hall Youth Days. 

"Town Hall Youth Days was an opportunity to respond to employee needs while also enriching their children's education on local government programs and services," said Communications Manager Vic Hathaway. 

Town of Marana includes education as a major component in providing quality public services to the community. Town of Marana offers recurring educational opportunities to the public including Marana Police Explorers, Citizens Police Academy, and Internship/classroom programs. Educational tours are also provided to local scout troops and classrooms, employees frequently serve as speakers in classrooms, and educational displays are prominently featured at the Marana Farm Festival and Marana Founders' Day events. 

The City-County Communications & Marketing Association announced the 2018 winners of its national Savvy Awards Competition during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee in Wisconsin. 

The Savvy Awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. 3CMA accommodates local government organizations of all sizes and budget classes by judging entries in several different population groups.

PHOTOS

Learning about Town of Marana Public Works

Marana Water Department gives a lecture on water conservation

Northwest Fire District provides a demonstration

Getting sworn in with the Town Clerk's Office

Conducting a youth council meeting

Home stretch for improvements at I-10 and Ina Road in Marana

As drivers on Interstate 10 pass Ina Road in Marana, they have a clear view of a blank space in the middle of a new bridge that soon will carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

That small space – where the exit and entrance ramps to westbound I-10 will connect with Ina – is the last major piece in a two-year project to improve traffic flow and driver safety in northwest Pima County.

September marks the start of the final six months on a project that began in February 2017, with completion scheduled by early March.

ADOT is overseeing $128 million in improvements, which are 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 bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10.

Crews are primarily finishing work that has already started, including creating a new westbound Ina Road bridge over the Santa Cruz River. Girders were put in place earlier this summer, and the concrete deck is set to be poured overnight Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13-14. The eastbound bridge at Ina Road will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights for the deck pour on the westbound bridge.

The westbound Ina Road bridge is expected to open to traffic in January. The eastbound Ina Road bridge, opened in late 2017, is temporarily carrying both directions of traffic.

East of I-10, crews are beginning to work on curbs, gutters and sidewalks before paving begins on Ina Road. The bridge over I-10 is scheduled to open in early 2019. About that time, westbound traffic on I-10 will be moved to new lanes that are currently under construction.

Before work began, Ina Road crossed under I-10, and drivers frequently had to stop for passing freight trains. After completion, Ina Road will cross over I-10 and the railroad tracks. Both Ina Road and I-10 will have an additional lane in each direction to accommodate increasing traffic, with Ina Road improvements reaching west across the Santa Cruz River to Silverbell Road.

The improvements are designed to keep pace with growth in the Marana area while reducing congestion on Cortaro Road.

After work is complete at Ina Road, a similar project is scheduled to begin at Ruthrauff Road. That project will include widening I-10 to four lanes, widening Ruthrauff to two lanes in each direction and building a bridge to carry Ruthrauff over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.  Ruthrauff will be closed at I-10 throughout the 24-month project.

More information on this project is available at azdot.gov/InaTI.