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Department marks 2014 as year of change

ITD’s structural and cultural changes gathered momentum during 2014, and led to a year of both challenge and success for the department. Employees from throughout the organization worked smarter and more efficiently to do jobs better, provide excellent customer service and press forward ITD’s quest to be the best transportation department in the country.

From remarkable district efforts to statewide winter performance measures, ITD continued to garner national and international attention for its activities. Citizens thanked the department for DMV customer assistance, Incident Response help, avalanche abatement, highway construction and public outreach activities.

An important key to ITD’s success in 2014 was implementing the Innovate ITD campaign, which encouraged innovative thinking and a flow of fresh ideas from throughout the department. What follows is a look at some of the Transporter stories, by the month, which made the year memorable.

JANUARY
COMPASS makes transportation funding top priority
511 enhancement automates RWIS condition alerts
Idaho's award-winning winter performance measures attract UK attention
New division administrators named
ITD presents highway investment-and-safety scenario to House and Senate
Ness outlines progress to Senate, House transportation committees

FEBRUARY
Governor launches interagency rapid response team to support job growth
New youth safety coalition formed in Meridian
ITD sets Facebook record with avalanche pictures
Innovate ITD campaign wants your thoughts and ideas
Ron Wright contributes to recent National Geographic article
Motorist stranded in Florida airport gets help from Idaho DMV
Surplus ovens in District 1 go high tech at NIC in second life

MARCH
Repair of important Boise commuter route completed ahead of schedule
POE inspectors assist injured Great Horned Owl
Middleton says thanks for ITD efforts to reduce congestion
D-4 survey effort garners state, national recognition
Idaho 21 avalanche closure, clean up unusual but not unprecedented
ITD rolls out new Idaho Traveler Services 511 app April 1

APRIL
Campaign, awareness month remind motorists to pay attention to driving
ITD's new 511 app has successful first week
D-6's Ruiz earns distinguished service award
Republic of China (Taiwan), Idaho continue 30-year partnership through signing of driver's license reciprocity agreement
KU researcher tells safety summit participants why people drive distracted
Points, Crider assume new roles at department
ITD design-build project southwest of Eagle wins engineering excellence award

MAY
Merrick, Main join ITD management makeover
Szplett takes over Right-of-Way Division manager position at Headquarters
Gov. Otter boosts government transparency with public records order
Communications wins four "Best of 2013" awards from Idaho Press Club
Kimbol Allen named ITD's new District 6 engineer
Law enforcement officers investigate crashes at ITD-sponsored training
Combating 100 days of highway safety challenges
New websites help drivers navigate interchange projects

JUNE
Innovative pavement crack-sealing method unveiled by D3
Historic volatility: avalanche season features 124 slides in "Avalanche Alley"
Kudos for avalanche clean-up effort
Crash into I-84 overpass west of Burley claims life of semi driver; repairs continue
Idaho driver's license practice test app now available
Revis joins ITD as new district engineer in Boise July 21

JULY
ISP will be on lookout for impaired drivers this July 4th weekend
McClure Center releases survey on Idaho roads and bridges
Annual Johnson Creek Fly-In promotes safe backcountry operations
Director Brian Ness named WASHTO vice president
Transportation Performance services to merge with similar sections in ITD
Chubbuck Interchange project in southeast Idaho awarded for "Under Budget" design, construction
Idaho Transportation Board approves rural interstate speed increases, with annual review required

AUGUST
ITD reaches out to 100,000 Treasure Valley workers, commuters
New app speeds up sign data collection in District 1
Third Leadership Summit focuses on building the culture for a better Idaho
Opening of new Idaho 16 extension and bridge features skydivers, Corvette rides
Veterans gather at Statehouse for renaming of Interstate 84
Boss Lift recognizes ITD's support of Idaho National Guard
Mud, water overrun Idaho 21 and Idaho 25 culverts

SEPTEMBER
Another award for Linder to Ballantyne Design-Build
David Petersdorf named Maintenance Person of the Year
District 3 seeing reduction in work-related industrial accidents
Federal grant awards U.S. 95 northern Idaho project $7.4 million in TIGER funds
Winther named Safety Person of the Year
New data shows odds Idaho drivers will collide with a deer are on the decline
10 Years Ago: Ivy League experience helped shape ITD's Pemble

OCTOBER
Public outreach planning tool recognized with Gem award
Idaho to host National Association of State Aviation Officials in 2015
Idaho Transportation Department Director Brian Ness honored by alma mater
Two ITD communication projects earn awards at national DOT gathering
Innovations in Lardo Bridge reconstruction featured by FHWA social media
Moscow traffic detection equipment will gather data as part of research project with University of Idaho
Kuisti’s first year as Lewiston district engineer features challenges and achievements
Southeast Idaho trio earns Top 5 honors at Western Snow & Ice skills competition

NOVEMBER
ITD helps honor military veterans through designation on Idaho driver's licenses and ID cards
Chubbuck’s new interchange features iconic wildlife, Salmore’s vision
Sen. Keough recognizes U.S. 95 construction
Deep Thoughts: Zarate, Gordon ponder bridge over Clearwater River
Inaugural Aeronautics Pilot Safety Seminar draws 150
ITD’s awards from national transportation organization demonstrate commitment to serving public
ITD’s Communications collaborates with Highway Safety to create new holiday campaign

DECEMBER
Time has come for Annex capsule to be opened Tuesday, Dec. 9
ITD's 25-year time capsule full of memories, peculiarities of the late '80s
Check out more memories from ITD's 25-year time capsule
Road-clearing award for ITD's Jensen shows commitment to public safety
Removing trees substantially improves safety along U.S. 20 corridor near Island Park
ITD publishes new user-friendly annual report