FALL 2014
Day in the Life of UDOT Region Three A
I NSIDE : Reflections on a Career 2014 Service Awards Message from Teri Staff Helps with Road Respect Wellness Council Formed MAG Transportation Fairs Chip Seal Revealed Behavior Based Safety
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Photo Contest Winners Photo submissions reflect the impressive diversity of work accomplished by Region Three employees. Finalists were grouped into three categories: photo, video and photo series. Staff members who reached a career service milestone this year were invited to vote on the finalists, representing a cross section of the region. A $50 gift card to Cabela’s was awarded to Brandon Warenski for his photo of burning weeds on SR-68, above. $25 gift cards to Cabela’s were awarded to Chad Allinson for his video clip of tumbleweeds on SR-68 and to Brian Allen for his photo series of Provo Canyon. Honorable mention award winners were given two movie tickets and a free large popcorn courtesy of Zero Fatalities. Leslie Beck, Mote Siufanua, Chad Cowan and Ervan Rhoades won honorable mention for their photo series, which you can see on pages 6-9. UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
More Winning Photos
PHOTO SERIES Provo Canyon, submitted by Brian Allen. See an additional photo, page 3.
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PHOTO SERIES Provo Canyon, submitted by Brian Allen. See other photos, page 2.
VIDEO CLIP VIDEO CLIP Tumbleweeds, submitted by Chad Allinson. Click the image to see his video, along with some photos, on Google Drive.
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
Reflections on a Career at UDOT Region Three staff who achieved career service milestones this year were asked to share a favorite memory or experience at UDOT. Here’s what they had to say:
“Mentoring the maintenance personnel with math for the TEP program.” - Brian Phillips, 25 years “Having worked on The Largest Construction Project in the Western Hemisphere, I-15 CORE.” - Jeff Wood, 10 years “Planning, designing and building the Provo Canyon project.” -Brent Schvaneveldt, 20 years Bill Townsend, 20 years, presents at a Utah Transportation Commission tour.
“Steve Acerson’s retirement party.” - Greg Searle, 20 years “The friendships I made with those that I have worked with.” - Boyd Humpherys, 10 years “Everything I’ve seen and learned to date.” - Steve Steib, 5 years “Repairing a snow plow in the middle of the road because we couldn’t move it.” - Lynn Worwood, 30 years “A rip rap job in the Duchesne River was a good experience for the crew and myself.” - Paul Baum, 20 years
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Jeff Wood, 10 years, visits with UDOT Director Carlos Braceras
“My years working up Provo Canyon plowing snow on SR-92 provided some memories that will never be forgotten. There is nothing like driving in zero visibility along the river and switchbacks.” - Rux Rowland, 15 years
“Being on the first I-15 project in SLC from cradle to grave.” - John Higgins, 15 years
Gordon Turner, shakes hands with Pat Lowe at his retirement party, above. He retired in September after 27 years with UDOT, most recently working as a Journey Auto Worker. Gordon plans to move to Mississippi to be closer to family and open his own BBQ restaurant. Gordon’s mechanical expertise and good cooking will be missed!
Scott Lott, 15 years, worked with UTA mechanic and old friend Rodney Higginson when a bus being used for the August Transportation Commission Tour lost power steering.
“One dark night in Provo canyon during a blizzard, I was plowing up canyon and as I made the bend onto the divided section of highway near the fisherman’s parking lot I saw the headlights of a truck headed down canyon on the wrong side of the road towards me. With nowhere to go I just slowed down and hoped he would have the common sense to do the same. We passed each other without incident but it took a few minutes to calm back down.” - Jason Hayes, 5 years
More Reflections on a Career, next page.
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
More Reflections on a Career at UDOT Favorite ways to spend time outside of work:
Spending time with family Coaching my son’s baseball team Canyoneering Hunting, fishing and riding horses Camping, hiking, hunting Traveling Roasting hot-dogs and marshmallows and having s’ mores at Salem Pond at sunset while taking turns tossing the Frisbee and watching the fire Hunting behind a good pack of hounds that I have trained
John Higgins, 20 years, on a walking tour of downtown with Provo City Mayor John Curtis (far left) and others to discuss roadway and transit improvements.
Riding my Harley to see this great country Hunting, fishing and NASCAR Running on a volunteer fire/ ambulance department Being in the mountains: It’s easy to forget the problems you deal with at work or anywhere else for that matter when you’re looking down 6 or 7 thousand feet at the valley and everything is absolutely peaceful. Mountain biking, shooting, traveling
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A single word or phrase to describe your UDOT work experience: Public service Making a difference Dedication Loyalty Commitment *&^%#%%$ !! Work safe Do more with less Adaptive Innovative Good times Memorable
Les Seckletstewa, 30 years, in the materials lab.
Message from Teri Newell Thank you to all who participated in the Region Three Photo Contest.
Pictures of our everyday work help tell the story of what we do. Construction projects are visible to the public when it impacts traffic, but there is so much more that we do behind the scenes! From installing and maintaining culverts to clearing tumbleweeds from roadsides, it is our day-to-day work that makes Utah’s transportation system function. Feel free to use your camera phone to snap pictures of our people at work. We have the privilege of working in some pretty amazing places with great people; I encourage you to share your experiences using photos and videos throughout the year! – Teri Newell, Region Three Director Send photos or video clips to Eileen Barron (ebarron@utah.gov; 801-244-7412) or Kim Krein (kkrein@utah.gov) for use in region tweets, newsletters, award applications and more! Doug Bassett and Teri Newell share stories with staff prior to lunch at the summer picnic held at Soldier Hollow. See more picnic photos, page 17, 18.
2014 Service Awards
UDOT Career Theme Songs: “40 Hour Week for a Living” by
30 YEARS
15 YEARS
5 YEARS
Lynn Worwood Gary Gibbs Neil Lundell Arnold Remund Robert Garrett Les Seckletstewa Ranae Nielsen
Dale Ashcraft Jason Hayes David Jean Steven Steib John Jorgensen Matthew Garbett Paul Sawyer
25 YEARS
Michael Scott Matt Parker Scott Lott David Edds Rux Rowland Layne Thornton Justin Lazenby Marshall Terry Matthew Laycock
Brian Phillips David Skinner Deanna Mitchell
10 YEARS
Theme songs from “Gilligan’s Island,”
Boyd Humpherys Adam Ray Tami Timothy Jeff Wood Cole Giles
“Brady Bunch” and “Cops”
20 YEARS Brent Schvaneveldt Greg Searle Wayne Casper Roberto Castaneda John Higgins Bill Townsend Paul Baum
Alabama “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” from Wizard of Oz
Alexander Farrell “16 Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford
Congratulations! UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
PHOTO SERIES: Road Respect Tour Submitted by Lynda Seckletstewa
Region Three Staff Help with Road Respect Tour The annual Road Respect Tour encourages safe cycling and promotes positive interactions between bicyclists and drivers. Now in its fourth year, UDOT Region Three staff have been part of the road crew that supports the tour, including providing AC Shelby Cobra cars that attract car enthusiasts to be part of the tour and associated car shows. Road Respect is a partnership effort between UDOT, Utah Highway Patrol, the Department of Public Safety and Bike Utah. Look for the tour to come to Utah County in 2015!
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PHOTO SERIES:
Tumbleweeds on SR-73 submitted by Leslie Beck
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
CREWS ON THE JOB
Honorable Mention Photos Culvert installation near Nephi, submitted by Chad Cowan. Additional photo, p. 11
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Ten bicyclists participated in a ride at Soldier Hollow following the summer picnic in August. This organized ride earned points for Region Three in the Work Well Challenge.
Region Three Wellness Council Formed to Participate in Work Well Challenge Chaired by Matt Parker, the Wellness Council is a team of employees who work to improve the health and well-being of our staff and work-sites with simple activities and organizational changes. The Wellness Council will track points for the year-long Work Well Challenge, which you can learn about at healthyutah.org and is a partnership effort with PEHP. Points can be earned for completing a variety of health focused goals under categories such as wellness, nutrition, physical activity, mental health and tobacco. Activities like creating a one-mile walking map, organizing a bike ride or promoting wellness resources go toward earning points for the Region, which is competing with other regions and state agencies for cash prizes that can be applied to facility improvements and programs that promote health and wellness. Watch for an employee survey this fall to provide your input on what types of wellness activities would most benefit you. Crews on the Job, Honorable Mention Photo, by Chad Cowan. UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
Crews on the Job
Honorable mention photo: Chip Seal on SR-87 in Duchesne County submitted by Ervan Rhoades. See Ervan’s other photo, p. 16
Transportation and Community Planning Fairs: South County October 8, 2014 4:30-6:30 p.m. North Park Pavillion 1185 N 400 E, Provo
North County October 15, 2014 4:30-6:30 p.m. American Fork Senior Center 54 Main Street, American Fork
Central County October 22, 2014 4:30-6:30 p.m. Orem Friendship Senior Center 93 N 400 E, Orem
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UDOT to Participate in MAG Transportation Fairs Mountainland Association of Governments is holding its annual Transportation and Community Planning Fairs during October. MAG invites member cities to provide information about community plans and utilizes the fairs to invite public input on the Draft Regional Transportation Plan. UDOT will participate by providing information about upcoming construction on The Point project, seat belt safety highlighted by the Zero Fatalities team, and TravelWise information. We will display the Region Three Interactive Projects map and a looping video using photos from the 2014 photo contest. We will also share information about the region bike plan and invite response to a quick questionnaire that will help us prioritize potential bike projects. MAG is launching an interactive website called Exchanging Ideas as part of the Regional Transportation Planning process. Kory Iman had an integral role in developing the site to facilitate public input. MAG staff will demonstrate the site at the three fairs in October and accept comment through April 2015.
CREWS
ON THE
JOB
Honorable Mention Photos Compaction testing on Hole Road, submitted by Monte Siufanua
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
INDIVIDUAL PHOTO FINALISTS Top: Erosion repair in American Fork Canyon, submitted by Marshall Terry Left: Paint crew striping on US-6, submitted by Jeff Weir
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INDIVIDUAL PHOTO FINALISTS Left: Laying asphalt on US-6 submitted by Brandon Warenski
Bottom: Litter rake, submitted by Marshall Terry
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
ROADWAY 101:
Explaining the Chip Seal Process
Chip seal surfaces are applied to many of UDOT Region Three’s rural roads to seal the roadway and improve the driving surface. The process starts with putting down an evenly distributed layer of emulsified asphalt, or oil, using an asphalt distributor. Then a layer of rock is evenly distributed onto the oil, using a machine called a chip spreader. The chips are embedded into the asphalt using large rubber tired rollers. Chips that are not embedded are carefully swept off of the roadway before traffic is allowed to use the road so that vehicle damage is minimized. A few days after the chips have been placed UDOT usually applies a thin layer of emulsified asphalt called a fog coat to hold the chips in place and seal the surface. The chip seal shown here was placed on state Route 87 in Duchesne County. Chip seals were also applied this year to state Route 191 in Indian Canyon and state Route 35 between Hanna and Tabiona.
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CREWS
ON THE
JOB
Honorable mention photo: Chip Seal on SR-87 in Duchesne County submitted by Ervan Rhoades
Summer Picnic Photos The 2014 summer picnic was held Tuesday, Aug. 26 at Soldier Hollow near Heber. We enjoyed a barbeque lunch and a slide show of photos submitted for the 2014 photo contest. UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras and Deputy Director Shane Marshall joined Region Three staff for the event. Above: Executive Director Carlos Braceras greets Region Three staff as they approach the serving line. See another picnic photo, next page.
Behavior Based Safety Training Coming in November
TRAINING SCHEDULE Monday, Nov. 3 – Operations Supervisors at Region Three Headquarters in Orem Tuesday, Nov. 4- Friday, Nov. 7; Monday, Nov. 10 – Sign up for a session at Region Three Headquarters in Orem
UDOT is implementing a new Behavioral Based Safety program to improve overall workplace safety.
Wednesday, Nov. 12 – East Area Basin Crews and Jack Lyman Crew at Duchesne County Building
As the second state agency to commit to this program, the mandatory employee training in November is an opportunity to learn about this initiative and how it will be implemented.
Thursday, Nov. 13 – Last training session at Region Three Headquarters in Orem
Behavior Based Safety will be the industry standard moving forward and applies to all UDOT personnel working
on maintenance, construction or in an office work space. Training is mandatory for all UDOT employees; sign up by contacting Pat Lowe at 801-222-3450 or plowe@ utah.gov. Classes are limited to 30 attendees per day.
Training will be held 8 am to 4 p.m.
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014
More Summer Picnic Photos Top: Boyd Humpherys, Aaron Pinkerton and Justin Schellenberg are ready for lunch.
Left: Lynda Seckletstewa, Nena Woodmansee and Kim Krein chat with Deputy Director Shane Marshall.
UDOT REGION THREE • FALL 2014