January 1, 2010
On behalf of the Idaho Transportation Board and ITD's executive team, we wish you all a happy, prosperous 2010. Please drive carefully.
2009 rewind:
A look at the stories that touched transportation
Any way you look at 2009 – whether through a microscope or rose-colored glasses – the year was eventful. More accurate, it was downright the year was downright challenging. Legislative debates over transportation funding, an intense statewide budget squeeze, a governor's task force, federal stimulus funds, groundbreakings, administrative turnover, the passing of two highly revered board members ... Amid all of the challenges, ITD marked a number of major milestones. Here, in summary form, are some of the major stories that shaped 2009:
Special plates
New license plate options benefit earth/science education, Freemasons
Two new specialty license plates go on sale throughout Idaho beginning Friday (Jan. 1) to promote the charitable activities of Freemasons and earth science, lapidary education. The Idaho Gem Club will use proceeds to provide classes for children in kindergarten through sixth grade to promote understanding about earth sciences and lapidary. Proceeds from the Freemason plate go to the Grand Lodge of Idaho Charitable Fund for use by the Grand Lodge of Idaho to support its charitable activities.
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Highways
Nezperce throws party for reconstructed highway
A road opening ceremony was held Monday (Dec. 14) afternoon to officially recognize the work completed on the downtown revitalization project. A slide show was presented in the Nezperce Community Center, showing the highway, sidewalk, sewer and lagoon project work as it was done this past summer and fall. Special recognition was given to each organization that participated in the project and a plaque was presented to Jim Carpenter of the Idaho Transportation Department, tanking him and his crew.
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Lids for Life
D-3 donates yogurt lids for cancer research
Last year, District 3 contributed nearly 536 Yoplait yogurt lids to the company’s national “save lids to save lives” campaign. In the D-3 effort this fall (the campaign ended Dec. 29), district employees contributed 644 lids to the Breast Cancer effort.
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Employees
D-1 employees honored for service, retirements, mentoring
District 1 employees recently assembled for their annual holiday potluck luncheon that included, according to business manager Scotty Fellom, “fantastic food, great company and a record attendance.” It was truly a district event, with employees from Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Plummer, Mullan, Osburn, Harrison and Priest River, along with those who work in Coeur d’Alene.
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December 24, 2009
Best holiday wishes to the ITD family
 From Acting Director Scott Stokes
It has been a privilege to represent each of you the past few months as Acting Director. I appreciate all that you have done to make the department’s efforts a success during this period. I know you will do the same for Brian Ness when he comes on board in a few weeks.
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Efficiency
Reason report ranks Idaho system 14th best for performance
A national report released last week announced an ITD success that often gets lost in the daily business of operating a transportation system. ITD continues to rank among the nation’s leaders for in terms of management and performance. The Reason Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy research organization based in Washington, D.C., released its 18th annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems.
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Reason report news release
Legislature
ITD delegates meet legislators in each district
ITD representatives last week concluded a series of meetings with Idaho Legislators in all six of the administrative districts. Delegations included transportation board chairman Darrell Manning, acting director Scott Stokes, incoming director Brian Ness, governmental affairs manager Mollie McCarty, district engineers and administrative staff. They traveled to Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston on Tuesday (Dec. 15) after meeting with District 3 legislators on Monday.
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Board
LHTAC rural program helps local agencies
The needs are great and the resources limited. That was the message members of the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council delivered to the Idaho Transportation Board when it met in Boise Dec. 17. The report on the Local Rural Highway Investment Program indicates the program remains extremely valuable for local jurisdictions although it addresses only a portion of the needs.
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Construction zone
Patrols reduce crashes, expanded to I-84 east of Boise
Idaho State Police patrols in the Interstate 84 work zone between the Garrity Boulevard and Meridian Road Interchanges significantly reduced the number of injury crashes since the program began in August 2008. Injury crashes dropped from 45 to 25 in the first year of the enhanced patrols.
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Motor vehicles
New year will bring increase in many motor vehicle services
Fees for many motor vehicle services in Idaho will increase Jan. 1. The increased fees were approved by the 2009 Idaho Legislature to generate additional funds to maintain and restore state highways and to modernize the Division of Motor Vehicles' computer systems.
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News to Share
Please share information about your accomplishments or those of your colleagues with the ITD community. Send contributions to the e-mail link above. |
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