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Transportation board monthly meeting set for Nov. 13, includes ETS tour

An advisory board report, a look at recent highway safety data, a review of a rest-area project and a tour of the department’s Enterprise Technology Services will lead activities when the transportation board meets Nov. 13 at ITD Headquarters’ Auditorium in Boise.

Dealer Advisory Board
The annual report from the Dealer Advisory Board (DAB) will be presented at the board’s November meeting.

The DAB members are appointed by the governor to assist and advise the department in the administration of the Idaho Dealer and Salesman Licensing Act and to provide input on other motor vehicle-related programs. The members represent new vehicle dealerships, used vehicle dealerships, recreational vehicle dealerships, and new and used motorcycles and all-terrain vehicle dealers.

During fiscal year 2014, the DAB recommended legislative changes to the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund. The department is including the proposal in its 2015 legislative package. The DAB is continuing to address the problem of curbstoning, where unlicensed dealers sell numerous cars. It also worked on developing a method to help create a better understanding of the allowable and prohibited uses of the various types of dealer plates. The outcome was a special decal that will be placed on the back of each dealer plate that outlines the uses for each type of dealer plate. The department is working with Correctional Industries to develop and print the decals and attach them to the variety of dealer plates as they are produced.

Highway safety data
A report on Idaho’s fatal and serious injury crashes on the state highway system will be presented. The data includes an analysis of the five-year average rates.

The Office of Highway Safety focuses on infrastructure investments, driver behaviors and research projects to promote highway safety. The office uses five years of data to set goals and measure performance. This ensures one abnormal year will not imply we are doing a good job or a bad job when it comes to safety. A five-year average provides a better idea of the overall trend.

In 2013, there were 124 fatalities on the state highway system, which exceeded the five-year average of 118 fatalities. However, there were 600 serious injuries on the state system last year, while the five-year average is 661 serious injuries.

Cotterell Rest Area
When the bid for the Cotterell Rest Area in District 4 was awarded in early 2013, it was 114 percent of the engineer’s estimate. The board had a number of questions about the project and some concern with the high bid. It asked for a close-out report on the construction project. It wanted to know if the project was constructed on time and on budget.

The project was to improve the rest-area facilities along Interstate 84 to meet existing and future user demand. It was originally built in 1966. The project included a variety of work, such as upgrades to meet roadway geometrics, water and wastewater needs, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, environmental compliance and building functionality.

The initial bid was $5,587,700. The final cost of the project was $5,762,840 for a difference of $175,140. It was completed within the required 172-day timeframe.

Tour ETS
The board will also tour Enterprise Technology Services to learn more about the responsibilities of and services provided by that office.