January 21, 2011

Legislature
ITD makes presentation to Germane committee
ITD administrators unveiled a visual report card of the department’s quest to become the best in the country when they met with legislators in Boise Thursday. The annual presentation to the Joint Germane Committee, which included legislators from the House and Senate, included a short video that demonstrated other agencies are trying to emulate ITD’s success.
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In Memoriam
District 6's Johnson dies in weekend car crash
The Idaho Transportation Department and employees in District 6 mourn the loss of a friend and colleague this week following an automobile crash near Salmon. Terry Johnson, 54, apparently died when he lost control of his vehicle late Sunday or early Monday on U.S. 93. Search and rescue workers recovered his body from the Salmon River Monday.
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Organ donations
ITD honored for facilitating organ, tissue and eye donations
When Lacey applied for her first driver’s license in Idaho she had a dilemma. Should she check the box indicating she wanted to become an organ donor in the event of an unexpected death? Mother Diana left the decision to her daughter. Without much further consideration, the teenager checked the box. Because she did, two people are alive today and two others can see.
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Education
ITD employees to participate in Idaho Future Cities
It’s no surprise the Idaho Transportation Department will play a monumental role in shaping Idaho’s future. But one way of doing that may not be readily apparent. ITD will work with school students and adult volunteers to plan the way Idaho looks and moves as part of the annual Idaho Future Cities competition at Boise State University this weekend.
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Highways

Historic Perrine Bridge photos uncovered
About two years ago, a multitude of photos and slides were uncovered in D-4 storage of the construction of the I.B. Perrine Bridge. The pictures present a visual history of all activities from the beginning of construction in 1973 through beginning of construction of the superstructure in the summer of 1975 and completion of the bridge in 1976.
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Employees
D-4 employees raise funds for charity
Two days before the District 4 Christmas Party raffle, Randy Walgamott – who has sold tickets and collected money for years – said this year was the most money he’d seen raised. Little did anyone know D-4 would more than double the previous year’s fundraising effort
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Funding
AASHTO launches social media campaign for funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Congress begins work on a new transportation bill, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) launched a social media campaign to generate public opinion about what priorities should be included. Travelers, truckers, commuters, cyclists - anyone who uses the nation's transportation network - are invited to share their transportation comments and concerns using AASHTO's Facebook and YouTube pages.
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Encore
 Published January 14, 2011

State of the State
Governor emphasizes austerity in 2012 budget
(Presented in five parts)
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Honorable Justices, my fellow constitutional officers, distinguished legislators and members of my Cabinet, honored guests, friends, my family and our First Lady ... my fellow Idahoans. Of course I especially include in that number the thousands of our fellow Idaho citizens now serving once again in Iraq. Our prayers and our thoughts are with them and we anxiously await their return to us.
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Aeronautics
System study identifies benefits, needs for state's airports
An integral part of Idaho’s transportation system, airports face needs similar to highways for infrastructure improvements, planning and funding. The Division of Aeronautics now has a tool that will help define the future of those airports. It comes in the form of an Idaho Airport System Plan, completed in 2010 after about two years of research.
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Incident response
Motorist grateful for ITD Incident Response
Jim Cherry was driving east on Interstate 84 near the Ten Mile Interchange reconstruction area on the morning of Dec. 29 when he noticed a small white Ford Ranger pickup truck. Its driver, David A. Walker, appeared to be in distress in the right-hand lane of the highway.
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511 Traveler Services
Idaho motorists take advantage of condition reports
The snow is expected to fly again this weekend, particularly in the higher elevations, and drivers likely will be checking Idaho's 511 Traveler Services reports in record numbers for roadway conditions. Between phone calls (dial 5-1-1 or 1-888-IDA-ROAD) and visits to the website (511.idaho.gov), the system has served 2.28 million people this winter, ITD announced.
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Highways
U.S. 30 motorists can find rest again at Hagerman
The Hagerman Rest Area, located on U.S. 30 south of Hagerman, reopened to the public this week following a six-month reconstruction of the restroom facility. Enhancements to the facility include an expanded restroom building that has eight restroom stalls and accommodations for family use, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks, curbs and picnic facilities.
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Highway safety
ITD, ISP combine for holiday safety patrols
ITD partnered with the Idaho State Police and other law enforcement agencies across the state to make highways safer by funding high-visibility impaired driving enforcement patrols Dec. 17 to Jan. 3. During this campaign, Region 4 (south-central) ISP troopers focused on enforcement of impaired driving and seatbelt violations.
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