Untitled Document

ITD accomplishments highlighted in Governor's column

IDAHO AGENCY UNLEASHES THE POWER OF INNOVATION TO TACKLE HIGHWAY CHALLENGES

By Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter

Even before the Great Recession, Idaho’s highways and bridges were struggling under the weight of a huge maintenance and repair backlog and a serious long-term funding shortfall. While I wrestled with legislators and stakeholders about how to address the challenges, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) took the bull by the horns, adopting a more innovative and efficient approach to building and maintaining the state’s transportation system.

ITD Director Brian Ness led a grassroots renaissance focused on enabling and encouraging his employees to think and act more creatively, putting aside entrenched practices to get to what matters – results. Employee ideas and initiatives now are saving Idaho taxpayers millions of dollars and providing the agency with safer and more effective ways to succeed. In the process, ITD has reduced its workforce by about 8.5 percent – saving almost $60 million a year – while markedly improving public services.

What’s more, the innovation program has amassed $5 million in direct cost savings and freed up more than 100,000 personnel hours for redirection to such essential customer-service functions as clearing roads during winter storms.

When Director Ness asked ITD maintenance employees how they could do their jobs better, they responded with what became a nationally recognized program called “Swarm the Storm.” Employees meet with the National Weather Service twice a week to get the latest information on approaching winter storms. Crews then schedule snowplow drivers and equipment around times of greatest need rather than setting a daily schedule. That provides more flexibility and enables ITD to concentrate people and equipment where and when they can do the most good.

The proof of success is in the numbers. In 2010, ITD began tracking the amount of time roads were free of snow and ice during storms. The first year they were clear just 28 percent of the time. The number has jumped to 73 percent this year despite parts of Idaho enduring one of the worst winters in 35 years.

Another example of ITD innovation is the use of A-JACKS mats to protect against erosion around bridge piers used as the foundation of the Spalding Bridge along the pristine Clearwater River in north-central Idaho. Using A-JACKS in fast-moving water was a national first more than a decade ago. The mats also created safer habitat for threatened fish species in the river.

Also in north-central Idaho, a cutting edge process was developed for protecting osprey on a bridge over Dworshak Reservoir. The federally protected migratory birds were nesting over bridge saddles and preventing required safety inspections. ITD employees came up with an environmentally responsible plan to accommodate both the birds and the inspections.

ITD’s Bridge and Environmental section worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to design and install nesting platforms above the inspection sites. The Transportation Department’s Lewiston office even manufactured the four aluminum platforms.

It worked! The osprey relocated their nests to the higher perches and inspectors were able to check the bridge. This innovation may be a solution for other local and regional transportation agencies that are grappling with similar problems.

Our Transportation Department is a great example of government moving at the speed of business to maintain and improve Idaho’s corridors of commerce. Last fall, ITD was chosen by the Idaho Technology Council as one of three finalists for Idaho Innovative Company of the Year – an amazing accomplishment for a state agency competing in a private-sector arena. ITD was the first government agency ever named as a finalist for the annual honors.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) also has taken notice. ITD’s innovation program recently was selected as a best-in-class process that AASHTO will share with other state departments of transportation, many of which also are coping with funding shortfalls.

But when ITD gets funding, it’s put to use right away.

The 2015 Idaho Legislature provided new revenue in the form of the first fuel tax and registration fee increases in nearly 20 years, as well as a temporary “surplus eliminator” provision earmarking half of any unanticipated tax revenue for highway and bridge work. Those investments already are making a difference.

In just 18 months, the first 60 projects funded by the legislative action were built, and it took a brutal, historic winter to slow down a handful of others that will be finished up this spring and summer. Advancing these projects is enabling ITD to address other much-needed road and bridge repairs across the state.

ITD’s innovative spirit is an example of what makes Idaho so great. Instead of waiting for the federal government to solve our problems, or settling for shopworn methods that only contribute to our challenges, we find solutions and constantly look for ways to keep improving. Now we have one of the best transportation departments in the country, and it’s all because we understand that focusing on efficiency and unleashing the innovative power of individual employees benefits motorists and all Idahoans.