ITD outlines progress to senate, house transportation committees

Director Brian Ness and Deputy Director Scott Stokes presented ITD's annual report to the House and Senate transportation committees at the Capitol Thursday.

Before their presentation, Transportation Board Chairman Darrell V Manning spoke about major operational changes that have taken place the past five years, especially since Ness became director in January 2010. ITD is a more efficient organization, he explained. Gen. Manning also said he would be willing to compare ITD employees with those in any other transportation department in the country.

Senate and House transportation leaders thanked the outgoing chairman for his many years of service, both at ITD and at other agencies.

Ness and Stokes described the department's accomplishments of the past year and gave a brief overview of the FY 2013 budget request.

The director elaborated on the benefits of departmental reorganization and explained how it has made operations more , efficient, effective and transparent. He also expressed concern about the rate of employee turnover, something exacerbated by a salary structure that is not competitive with other transportation agencies.

Stokes discussed the department's efforts to become more transparent by reviewing ITD's model online performance dashboard.

After the formal presentation, legislators asked questions about deficient pavement, the condition of Idaho's aging bridges, the state rail study and funding sources for mandatory reports.

Published 1-27-2012