Untitled Document

Planner, DoRolCo leader Ron Ker bids farewell

Ron Kerr, an instrumental part of rail and freight planning and rail project development in Idaho the past 34 years, will focus on new horizons after retiring from ITD June 21.

Ron served as the state rail planner and rail program manager at ITD since 1977. He managed rail planning and the development and implementation of rail rehabilitation projects under the now discontinued federal Local Rail Freight Assistance Program. He also was the project manager for the consolidation of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe trackage in Sandpoint which eliminated 17 at-grade rail- highway crossings.

He represented ITD on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standing Committee on Rail Transportation and served on its executive committee when he retired.

Ron received the AASHTO President’s Award in Intermodal Transportation in 1998 for his work in developing the Idaho Corridor Planning Guidebook and the Sandpoint Rail Project. He also served on Idaho Rural Economic Development and Integrated Freight Transportation Program (REDIFiT).

His wasn’t a one-track career, though; Ron also was involved intermodal planning and helped establish Idaho’s network of metropolitan planning organizations, including ones in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Coeur d’Alene and the Lewiston-Clarkston (Wash.) areas.

Ron also has been a major force in planning events for members of the Headquarters employee organization DoRolCo. Deriving its name from early distributions of doughnuts, rolls and coffee, the organization offers about four free food events each year, holiday gifts, flowers for members during times of loss and hospitalization, and a small check for members upon retirement.

As chairperson of the DoRolCo Committee for sixteen years, Ron played a major part in organizing its events.

"I have really enjoyed working at ITD, but more importantly, I have enjoyed working with all the professional people both within and outside ITD that I have been lucky to be associated with over the last 34 year," he said.

Retirement will allow Ron and his wife Linda to continue the passions they have enjoyed outside of work for many years, such as traveling and attending performing arts presentations in the Boise area. They have missed only a couple of Idaho Shakespearean Festival productions in some 35 years and are longtime patrons of the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho and the Boise Chamber Music Society.

Ron also would like to spend some time outdoors in retirement – camping, hiking and perhaps backpacking if physical condition allows.

Colleagues gathered at Headquarters Wednesday to bid him farewell and wish him an enjoyable retirement.