2-Organization Overview.pdf

ACQUISITION AND

RELOCATION SERVICES

ON CALL

April 25, 2025

SOLICITATION NO: BPM006797

Organization Overview Tierra Right of Way Tierra Right of Way Services, Ltd. (Tierra), was founded in 1989 as a small real estate acquisition and relocation consulting fi rm in Arizona and has steadily expanded over the past 35 years to offer comprehensive right of way, environmental planning, cultural resources, and geographic information system services throughout the western United States.

Tierra now maintains eight offi ces in four states to serve a wide range of municipal, County, State, Federal, and Tribal agencies; telecommunications, utility, energy, and mining companies; and private developers. Tierra’s Tucson and Phoenix offi ces are at the heart of its land services. As an Arizona company, 100% of activities under this contract would be provided by professional staff members who are full-time residents of Arizona, ensuring the maximum return on investment to the Arizona economy.

Services

» Real Estate/Right of Way

» Project Management

» Route & Site Feasibility Studies

» Title Research & Analysis

» Property & Easement Acquisition

» Relocation Planning & Assistance

» Local, State & Federal Permitting

» Uniform Act Compliance & Reviews

Tierra’s specialists are well versed in the extensive Federal, State, municipal, and Tribal rules and regulations guiding growth and development and routinely collaborate with agencies, other project stakeholders, contractors, subcontractors, and project owners to ensure effi cient, fully compliant outcomes that meet or exceed project goals.

Tierra has over three decades of operation in the real property and right of way industry in Arizona and beyond. We maintain a staff of experienced senior management and knowledgeable professionals capable of completing the tasks associated with the scope of work. Throughout our history, Tierra has negotiated with public and private property owners, commercial property owners, attorneys, corporations, homeowners’ associations, trusts, school districts, developers, water companies, fuel companies, and telecommunications providers for both Federally and non-Federally funded projects. We have worked in conjunction with engineers, surveyors, planners, environmental specialists, appraisers, title specialists, and many public agencies to ensure the success of their projects.

Tierra has served as an on-call provider for right of way services to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) since 1999. Under previous ADOT contracts, Tierra has acquired more than 750 parcels and completed more than 600 relocations. Specifi c services have included coordination and analysis of property titles, coordination of appraisals, negotiations for acquisition, residential relocation assistance for multiple parcels with all types of homes and tenants, and business relocation assistance for multiple parcels, including several operations with environmental concerns.

Specifi c project experience is provided below and is intended to provide an overview of our experience working directly with ADOT.

Tierra Organizational Chart

Project Manager Shenique Colby

Project Manager Danny Rodriguez

Director/Lead Project Manager

Corey Long

Sr. Right of Way Agent David Barraza

Associate Director/Lead Project Manager

Myrlene Francis

Sr. Right of Way Agent Angelica Gutierrez

Sr. Right of Way Agent Denise George

Right of Way Agent Holly Bristol

Vice President Leslie Findlay

Right of Way Agent John Huntley

Sr. Right of Way Agent Nickie Widder

Sr. Right of Way Agent Greg Wittenburg

Project Manager Nancy Madden

Right of Way Agent Alejandra Victoria-Lopez

Right of Way Agent Diana Molina

Right of Way Agent Danielle Reiley

Right of Way Agent Taylor Scott

Right of Way Agent Kendahl Shepherd

Sr. Right of Way Agent Cherisse Young

Tierra Project Experience

Indian School Road and 35th Avenue Traff ic Improvements (TI) – Arizona Department of Transportation

The project will make safety and transit improvements to a busy intersection on U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue) at Indian School Road and 35th Avenue. The completed project will have an elevated Indian School Road and 35th Avenue intersection.

The elevated intersection will pass over U.S. 60 and railroad tracks parallel to the highway, allowing for better traffi c fl ow on U.S. 60 and eliminating traffi c crossing over heavily used railroad tracks. The project incorporates aspects of two other projects to potentially be completed by Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix, which has caused the project to be highly publicized.

As of March 2025, Tierra has been assigned 18 acquisitions, consisting of partial or full acquisitions, and 128 relocations. These include complex business relocations, including a structural steel company, gas station, and several restaurants; many simple business relocations with operational staffs of one to fi ve individuals; 12 residential relocations; and multiple move-only relocations. Ten of the residents lived in uncommon, nontraditional living quarters and required the replacement housing of last resort. An additional 400–600 move-only relocations from a self-storage facility have also been assigned to Tierra.

Tres Rios Freeway, SR 303L SR 202L – Arizona Department of Transportation

The Tres Rios Freeway, State Route (SR) 30, will create a new 4.5-mile segment of highway that will ultimately connect Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway) and SR 85; the highway will provide an Interstate 10 (I-10) bypass to relieve traffi c on a congested interstate corridor. Highway improvements include three general-purpose lanes in each direction, a new interchange at SR 30 and Loop 202, drainage improvements, new lighting, new bridges, and noise walls. This project crosses both private and public land that will include multiple relocations of businesses and residential properties.

As of March 2025, Tierra has been assigned 22 acquisitions and 29 relocations.

The relocations include nine residential owner-occupants, six residential tenants, six nonresident owner business relocations, and eight business relocations. The residential owners own ranch-style residences with outbuildings, barns, and other real property improvements on 1–2 acres, which require carve-out calculations.

I-10 Country Club and Kino Parkway TI Project – Arizona Department of Transportation

Tierra is currently working with ADOT on the design-build of the I-10 Country Club to Kino Parkway Traffi c Interchange (TI) Improvement Project in Tucson. This is the fi rst project to come out of the I-10 and SR 210 Transportation Design Concept Report that was completed in 2020. This project will reconstruct I-10 to three general purpose lanes in each direction between Kino Parkway and Alvernon Way and four general purpose lanes in each direction west of Kino Parkway to just east of Park Avenue. It will also reconstruct the traffi c interchange at I-10 and Kino and construct a new traffi c interchange at I-10 and Country Club.

Tierra was selected by ADOT to provide acquisition and relocation services for 24 acquisitions, two sign acquisitions, and 14 relocations (with additional acquisitions and relocations to be added to the current project) for this Federally funded project that impacts multiple properties. The properties are a mix of residential and a wide variety of commercial businesses, which adds to the complexity of the project.

Currently, Tierra’s agents have completed the relocation of a Tucson Gem Show business, including $2M in gemstones, and has successfully relocated a garden landscaping and nursery business, which included the move of exotic plants, cacti, trees, and a fabrication center.

I-10 Widening at Picacho – Arizona Department of Transportation

The highway improvement project provided safety and transportation upgrades to Interstate 10 near the Town of Picacho. The project widened the portion of I-10, removed an “S” curve in the highway, brought the highway closer to railroad tracks to create a better transportation corridor, included a new interchange with SR 87, and created a fi rst-of-its-kind dust detection zone in the area north of Picacho Peak. The project impacted approximately 60% of the town and was completed in two phases.

During Phase I of the I-10 widening at Picacho, Tierra completed a relocation plan that addressed 155 parcels of residential, commercial, and vacant land. Following completion of the relocation plan, Tierra provided acquisition services for 35 properties and relocation assistance for more than 55 displaced residents and businesses.

For Phase II of this project, Tierra completed 39 full acquisitions and 12 partial acquisitions. Additionally, Tierra completed the relocation of 64 residential and business displacees. Due to the rural location of the project and limited nearby residential properties, Tierra staff used a wide radius when locating and providing comparable replacement residences. Many of the residents in the project area had limited resources; therefore, Tierra staff provided extensive relocation assistance and advisory services to the displaced residents for this project.

Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway – Arizona Department of Transportation

The Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway Project expanded the existing Loop 202 regional freeway system in Maricopa County by an additional 22 miles and provided an alternate route between the east and west valleys of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The project crossed private and public land and was the largest single ADOT construction project ever undertaken in Arizona, as well as the fi rst major public-private partnership undertaken by ADOT.

The project impacted varying types of property throughout the 22-mile footprint, including commercial, industrial, rural residential, urban residential, farmland, and vacant land. As such, Tierra worked with many types of displacees and property owners to complete the project’s right of way clearance. Additionally, the project’s right of way activity was completed in phases, fi rst under the direction of ADOT and then under the public-private partnership for additional acquisitions and relocations as well as clean-up activity. Tierra completed right of way activity under ADOT guidance and within a tight timeline and was able to secure additional work under the public-private partnership. Tierra completed several complex business relocations throughout the project, including a refrigerated and frozen food distribution warehouse and a large equipment rental business.

Tierra completed acquisition services for 54 parcels and aided with several acquisition-related items, such as payment for crop losses, billboard relocations, and purchase of personal property throughout the project. Tierra completed more than 120 relocations, including 22 residential owner-occupants, 19 residential tenants, 20 nonresident owner business relocations, 19 business relocations, and 44 move-only relocations from industrial properties.

U.S. 60 Thunderbird TI – Arizona Department of Transportation

The project improved the traffi c interchanges at U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue) and Thunderbird Road. Prior to the project, southern access to and from U.S. 60 was cumbersome, required multiple turns to get from Thunderbird Road to the U.S.

60 intersection, and prone to traffi c congestion. The project reduced the number of turns needed to travel between Thunderbird Road and the U.S. 60 intersection, and created an improved approach; these improvements reduced congestion and improved traffi c fl ow.

Tierra successfully acquired 44 commercial and residential parcels. Tierra agents also completed relocations for six businesses, including a cabinet manufacturing company; 16 nonresident owners; and 17 residences as part of this project. The residential relocations included relocations from mobile homes, some owned as personal property. One residential relocation included a hoarder’s personal property and moving a double-wide mobile home to a replacement lot.

SR 189: International Border to Grande Avenue – Arizona Department of Transportation

Through our on-call acquisition and relocation contract, Tierra was tasked with multiple acquisition and relocation projects, including assisting ADOT with acquisition of 27 properties and relocating businesses in support of the SR 189:

International Border to Grande Avenue Project in Nogales, Arizona. The project improved a 3.75-mile section of SR 189 in Nogales and built a fl yover ramp connecting SR 189 to northbound I-19. It included work between the Mariposa Port of Entry and Grand Avenue, including the interchange at I-19. The plans for SR 189, known locally as Mariposa Road, also included widening the exit ramp from southbound I-19 to SR 189; a raised median along SR 189; and improvements at the intersections with Grand Avenue and at Target Range Road.

State Route 189 is a critical route for international trade with Mexico. The $134M project benefi ted North American trade and tourism while making Mariposa Road safer for drivers and the community. The fl yover ramps connecting SR 189 with I-19 eliminated the need for commercial trucks to stop as many as three times between I-19 and the international border.

Most all of the acquisitions were from very large produce warehouses where semi-truck access was needed 24 hours a day. Communication between the property owners and ADOT was constant.

One of the acquisitions involved the drive-through and inside play area of the local Carl’s Jr. fast food restaurant. Because the project was a design-build, Tierra was able to communicate with ADOT to advise of the impacts. ADOT was able to redesign and avoid the indoor play area, minimizing the acquisition to only the drive-through.

The project itself was on a very short timeline for negotiations and required Tierra to work with the small but strong and tight-knit local community bordering Mexico. Tierra provided clear, concise, and timely communications through the acquisition process, effectively and consistently communicating in both English and Spanish and completing the required negotiations in the required time frame.

I-10: SR 85–Verrado Way – Arizona Department of Transportation

Tierra provided right of way services to ADOT for the segment of I-10 between the Watson Road and Miller Road interchanges in Buckeye, Arizona. The overall project expanded I-10 from two to three travel lanes in each direction and improved the interchanges at Watson Road and Miller Road to diverging diamond interchanges.

Tierra completed 23 partial acquisitions and one sign relocation during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I-10: Prince Road to Ruthrauff Road – Arizona Department of Transportation

Tierra provided right of way services to the state in support of the I-10: Prince Road to Ruthrauff Road Project. ADOT upgraded a two-plus mile section of I-10 by increasing capacity, reducing congestion, and improving traffi c fl ow on this highly traveled corridor in Tucson. Besides widening that portion of I-10 to four lanes in each direction, the project also reconstructed the Prince Road Traffi c Interchange so that Prince Road will pass over the Union Pacifi c Railroad tracks, thus relieving motorist of the inconvenience of the 40–60 trains that pass daily through this area of Tucson.

The project updated the on and off ramps to provide better connections and access. Because of this, the acquisition of property was needed from the Prince of Tucson RV Park. The project consisted of the acquisition of 14 parcels—some total and some partial—and temporary construction easements. Tierra provided relocation assistance for 15 permanent and temporarily displaced occupants. An acquisition of a portion of the RV park required temporary relocations of some park residents. Project circumstances turned the temporary relocations into permanent relocations from the Prince of Tucson RV Park.

Tierra worked with then ADOT Project Manager Steve Wilson to coordinate an open drainage facility to be converted to an underground drainage structure designed to support vehicle weight to allow the land to be recaptured for RV space use.

On Call Right of Way Agents – Arizona Department of Transportation

Since 2014, Tierra has had the privilege of holding several consecutive contracts with ADOT for supplemental services/embedded staff members working at ADOT offi ces. At one point, Tierra employed 14 agents under this contract. Many have moved on to other government positions, retired, moved, or vacated the positions they held at ADOT. Currently, we employ three right of way professionals who are based at ADOT offi ces, two of whom have been employed with Tierra and working at ADOT offi ces since the inception of the contract in 2014. Our employees placed under this contract are of the highest caliber. Tierra’s staff are consummate professionals who are highly knowledgeable in their profession and are well-respected members of the ADOT team. Tierra-employed ADOT contractors have performed high-level project and management work on dozens upon dozens of projects over the past 11 years. The on-site Tierra agents are wonderful ambassadors for ADOT and are representative of the quality individuals that we strive to hire and retain throughout all our business service lines. This additional service line to ADOT has been a wonderful and fruitful addition to the scope of services we typically provide under our other on-call contracts.