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Board reviews funding distributions, elects new vice chairman,
hears annual reports

The Idaho Transportation Board workshop on April 27 summarized the FY16 program, reviewed changes in pavement and bridge conditions, and recommended funding distributions for FY21.

The pavement condition on the state highway system is expected to decrease to 84 percent in good and fair condition by 2020 from a high of 87 percent in 2011. This will still be above the goal of 82 percent in good or fair condition.

Currently, 76 percent of bridges are in good condition. That is expected to increase to 79 percent by 2020 due to the additional funding scheduled for bridges in the next few years. Even with a higher emphasis on bridge projects, the average age of the department’s bridges is expected to increase from 44 years in 2015 to 46 years in 2021. It was also reported that there are 112 commerce-restricting bridges; however, 43 are under construction or planned to be improved by FY20.

The Strategic Initiatives Program focuses on projects that improve safety, mobility, or economic opportunities. The projects are awarded on a competitive basis statewide based on an analysis to determine their benefits and return on investment.

The board concurred with staff’s recommendation to target $135 million for pavement, $87 million for bridges, and $44 million for the Strategic Initiatives Program in FY21.

At its business meeting on April 28, the transportation board elected a new vice chairman and heard annual reports from the Office of Internal Review, Human Resources and the Wellness Program. The department’s spring service awards were also presented during the meeting at ITD Headquarters.

Vice chairman
At the board business meeting on April 28, the board elected Lee Gagner as the vice chairman. Gagner was appointed to the board in 2008 and is currently serving his 2nd six-year term. Gagner is a builder/developer and entrepreneur from Idaho Falls. He also served in the legislature from 1997 through 2004. He is the current chairman of the Board Subcommittee on Adjustments to the State Highway System and serves on the Right-of-Way Access Management Subcommittee and the Audit Subcommittee.

District 1 Board Member Jim Coleman served as vice chairman since 2012.

Internal Review annual report
The Office of Internal Review provided its annual report. The number of employees in the Office decreased from 5.5 to 3. Seventy-three external assignments were completed last year. A review of overhead rates resulted in a two percent reduction on $30.3 million in contracts, for a $230,000 savings to ITD. Internal activities consisted of an Aeronautics’ follow-up, training on grant management, a project service order contract management review, and a district records inspector/independent assurance technician close-out.

The 2016 work plan includes reviewing 60-80 overhead rates, updating the Management Control System process, division budget reviews in conjunction with the Financial Planning and Analysis Office, assisting with the project accounting close-out process, and follow-up on the District Records Inspector review.

Human Resources and Wellness Program Annual Report
Human Resources reported on the structural changes, with six managers overseeing safety, Civil Rights, training and personnel issues. The group has been focusing on ensuring supervisors hire the right people for the right positions, promoting a constructive culture, holding employees accountable through performance plans, and improving the hiring and interviewing process.

The Wellness Program continues to offer a variety of preventive health care benefits. It provides education, resources and events to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Some of the activities conducted last year included on-site health clinics, flu shots, and the annual fitness challenge. There were 510 exercise challenge participants with 324 achieving the 60-hour level. ITD employees participated in Blue Cross of Idaho’s wellness incentive, earning a total of $71,000.