April 29, 2011

Thanks for all you do!

It is time for Public Employee Appreciation and Recognition Week at ITD. During the week of May 2 – May 6, we have the following activities planned for ITD Headquarters and Aeronautics. Please take the opportunity to participate in these fun activities.
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Project Development
Mary Peters outlines funding challenges
The song Mary Peters heard while scanning radio stations on a motorcycle tour put the status of transportation nationwide in clear perspective. The prophetic song title: “The End of the World as We Know It.” Peters, former head of the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, was the featured speaker this week at the 2011 Project Development Conference in Boise that attracted more than
350 participants.

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Transportation board
Elected officials thank ITD for good working relationships
Members of the Idaho Transportation Board met with officials from the cities of Moscow, Bovill and Lewiston as part of the monthly board tour and business meeting in District 2 last week. All of the local officials expressed appreciation for the good working relationship they have developed with ITD. They also praised the assistance that District 2 staff provides and thanked the board for recently completed projects in their respective communities.

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Adopt-A-Highway
District 2 honors Craigmont Lions Club
A civic organization in Craigmont that has been cleaning highways in north-central Idaho since the Adopt-A-Highway program began two decades ago was honored recently as the outstanding group of the year in District 2. Members of the Craigmont Lions Club have always committed their time, energy and resources to improving their community. It seemed a natural extension of their regular city cleanup activities to embrace the Adopt-A-Highway segment, leaders explain.

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Motorcycle safety
ITD joins campaign to promote 'Share the Road'
ITD has joined with motorcycle safety advocates statewide to encourage all drivers and riders to safely “Share the Road.” May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and ITD is partnering with the Idaho STAR program, Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety, the Idaho State Police and law enforcement agencies to remind everyone to be extra alert and cautious when driving or riding to help keep everyone safe on Idaho highways.
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May In Motion
Campaign emphasizes alternative transportation
ITD employees are invited to participate in a month-long campaign to explore alternative commuting options in May. The annual May In Motion event is organized by the Ada County Highway District and Commuteride to encourage drivers to use vanpools, carpools, public transportation or bicycles to commute between home and work. May In Motion will begin with a kickoff party Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Exercise challenge
Find hidden GEMS in 2011 fitness program
Sign up for this year’s ITD exercise challenge and discover Idaho’s Great Exercise Motivating Sites or GEMS. The 2011 exercise challenge introduces or reminds you of the many wonderful places in Idaho that are great for exercise. Now is the time to put exercise into your regular routine or to take your usual workout to new locations.


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Highway safety
Enforcement campaign results in 1,169 actions in Region 4
ITD, Idaho State Police troopers and other law enforcement agencies recently concluded a campaign to stop aggressive drivers and remind drivers to "Stop Speeding Before It Stops You." The high-visibility aggressive driving patrols ran from April 7 to April 18. During the campaign, Region 4 Idaho State Police troopers focused on enforcement of speed limits and traffic laws and citing those drivers who were unbelted. 

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Highways
Rust among the weeds
It’s a little like finding a historic dumpsite while hunting in the wilderness. Except most of the items left behind can’t be traced to an early settlement. Litter recently discovered along Idaho 21, about 10 miles east of Garden Valley, probably had been dumped there four or more decades ago, and were hidden from sight by vegetation.


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Disaster designation considered after floods
The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS) has been working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the counties impacted from the flooding and landslides of March 31 through April 11.  Because of the damage, Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter has declared a State of Emergency in support of Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties. 

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Employees
PERSI, Nationwide ready to help retirement planning
PERSI offers three workshops to help you understand your PERSI benefits. On occasion, “Planning for the Beach” and “Cruisin’ to the Beach” are offered at Headquarters and the district offices. In addition, representatives from Nationwide Insurance are available to assist employees who are in the brink of retirement.

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Nationwide representative available by appointment
Do you have questions about retirement?  Do you need more direct answers about: 1) Identifying your retirement goals; 2) Enrolling in the retirement plans; 3) Determining your contribution level; 4) Determining your investor profile; 5) Keeping track of your plan over time. Jason Daum from Nationwide Retirement Solutions will be available by appointment only for a 20-minute private discussion.
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Credit union offers resources for retirement
What does retirement look like for you? Do you dream of sunny beaches and sleeping in but feel it’s unachievable. Are you so busy with daily living you haven’t had time to envision retirement? Many people lost money in their retirement plans during the recent economic meltdown.
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Drive under way to benefit Idaho Food Bank, Idaho Humane Society
DOROLCO, ITD’s employee organization at Headquarters, is conducting a food drive for the Idaho Foodbank and Idaho Humane Society through Friday (May 6). Foodbank barrels and boxes for pet food will be in the lobby of the main building and annex. The Idaho Foodbank’s most needed items are canned meals such as chili, soup, stew, etc. and canned meats. The Idaho Humane Society will accept canned or dry pet food.


WTS scholarship
WTS kicks off youth scholarship fund May 5
The kickoff to the WTS Scholarship Fund will be Thursday (May 5) at a luncheon at the Owyhee Plaza. Proceeds from the event, which also includes a presentation from the students of Frank Church High School regarding the proposed SW Boise Route Plan, will go toward the WTS scholarship fund. Maryanne Jordan of the BoiseCity Council, president of College of Western Idaho, Bert Glandon, and Nampa Mayor Tom Dale also will headline the event.


ITD Mailbox
• Thanks for providing shredding site
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Encore
Published April 22, 2011

Driver's licenses
DMV preparing to introduce new driver's license process
ITD’s Division of Motor Vehicles staff is making final preparations in the transition to a new system for issuing driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards. Known as “central issuance,” the updated system will issue cards from a central, secure location instead of over-the-counter. The licenses and cards will have a new look and state-of-the-art security features, all designed to avert counterfeiting and reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud.

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Realignment
New division completes consolidation
Randy Kyrias, administrator of a new, consolidated division announced this week the conclusion of realignment efforts affecting ITD’s Division of Public Transportation as well as the Division of Transportation Planning. The intent and spirit of the realignment was to strategically position staff and resources to respond to the vision for ITD as communicated by Director Ness, implement our Long Range Transportation Plan known as “Idaho on the Move,” and also become a performance-driven department.
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Airports
Jerome County produces model land use plan
Land use plans by their very nature are attempts to strike a balance between diverse – often competing – interests. Introduce the unique requirements of a public-use airport into the land use mix and the process can become even more complicated. Airspace, aircraft noise and “incompatible uses” require special consideration when developing comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances.

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Aeronautics
Applications accepted for annual ACE academy
Navigating small airplanes, controlling air traffic and exploring Blackhawk helicopters are all part of the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy, June 20-22, hosted by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics. Teenagers will have the opportunity to participate in the academy, which is open to high school students ages 14-18. Applications must be postmarked by May 1. Extensions may be available upon request. Enrollment is limited to 30 participants.

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AASHTO
Director Ness chosen to chair safety, emergency committee
ITD Director Brian Ness was selected to serve as chairman of an American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) committee that focuses on security and emergency management. The committee is charged with promoting awareness and education about transportation security and emergency management issues nationwide by preparing guidance of supporting materials and research and through special meetings and conferences.

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ARTBA
Association rolls out new transportation website
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association has rolled out a new interactive website full of information about the job-creation impacts of federal transportation investment on the national and state economies. The data show the number of American jobs that could be at risk if the House and Senate fail to take action on a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill this year. A reauthorization has not occurred since the 2005 transportation law known as "SAFETEA-LU" expired in September 2009.
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ARTBA website reports on transportation impact in Idaho

Accolades
Commuters like new Horseshoe Bend striping
Last summer, ITD tried a different pavement-marking plan on Idaho 55 on the south side of Horseshoe Bend Hill as an effort to reduce the number of crashes historically seen in that section. Since there was no observed benefit or reduced crashes, the striping crew put it back the way it had previously been in response to customer comments.

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