|
Journey
produced major achievements, puts department in position to move forward
To
my ITD colleagues
I have decided to retire from Idaho state service, as director, with
my last official work day to be Aug. 25 (today) .
I have recently been approached with two potentially significant
career opportunities and do not feel it is appropriate to pursue these
negotiations while fulfilling my duties as director.
The last three years have been an exciting journey in
building and modernizing our transportation system and agency to help
Idaho meet the challenges of the 21st century and remain competitive
in the world economy.
We have completed and broken ground on many needed transportation
projects in partnership with the private sector and our customers. But
equally important, we have initiated, advanced or completed 26 initiatives
that will help Idaho transportation and ITD meet the demands of our
future. In partnership with the governor, Legislature, employees, industry
leaders, cities, counties, highway districts and association networks,
as well as, critical federal and university partners, we have for our
citizens:
-
Helped conceive and bring to reality the Connecting
Idaho Initiative, the largest single transportation improvement program
in the history of the state. Projects are already beginning.
-
Created the most innovative and secure use of GARVEE
bonding yet implemented in the country. The Idaho approach is being
investigated by others now looking at similar programs.
-
Established a unique transportation public/private
partnership in Program Delivery with Connecting Idaho Partners to
expedite project delivery without increasing the staffing levels in
government. This new partnership holds the real potential to streamline
the way we do business in developing projects
-
Advanced the concept of operating the transportation
system to improve customer service and safety by:
-
Implementing one of the most extensively used
511 systems yet deployed in the country
-
Proposing the next generation of consolidated
public safety and transportation operations centers
-
Developing plans for technology sharing across
the state
-
Streamlined the State Transportation Improvement
Program to consolidate five documents and processes into one, developed
on the same schedule for all modes. Improved fiscal responsibility
by prioritizing transportation spending for five-year periods into
the future with a focus on preservation, safety, and affordable system
expansion.
-
Brought a focus to safety through the first Zero Deaths
Workshop held in the state of Idaho.
-
Created the forums on Transportation and Aviation
Investment to bring a broad and diverse audience to together to make
recommendations to the board on proposals to address the critical
need for improving funding for transportation.
-
Provided Idaho a voice in national issues facing transportation
by participating on and leading several national committees.
-
Advanced the modernization of the department’s
technology systems which support our financial, engineering, DMV,
and emerging Operations and System Planning and Management functions.
A plan has been established, progress made, and a new streamlined
an enterprise management function created.
-
Streamlined the organizational structure through
selected consolidations to improve service and make better connections
between functional units in the Department.
-
Advanced and had approved over 30 legislative initiatives
to streamline and modernize Idaho Code to help the department carry
out its responsibilities more efficiently, improve safety in the system,
and support Idaho’s economic growth.
-
Proposed a framework for a performance management
system to establish an ongoing link between the IT board and department
performance.
-
Instituted annual Legislative outreach meetings and
internal communication through annual visits to every district, in
addition to board tours, and a First Friday column in the Transporter.
-
Improved employee compensation with the most significant
improvements made in the last 10 years.
The recent discussions and reviews by the board can create
a good platform from which to focus organizational development into
the future.
My family and I have enjoyed Idaho and its people, the
professionals in the department that are truly dedicated to public service,
and the professionals in the private sector who are working with us
to deliver the best transportation system possible to the citizens and
businesses of our state.
We wish all of you only the best as you continue the journey;
you have my pledge to assist the board and the department during the
transition.
Sincerely,
|