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Idaho Transportation
Department

Office of Communications
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
E-mail

September 26, 2008

Idaho and the economy


Governor calls for 1 percent agency holdbacks
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter ordered a 1-percent state budget holdback today (Sept. 26), directing state agencies to reduce their spending immediately – just three months into the new fiscal year – in response to forecasts indicating revenue may fall more than $174 million below what was projected last winter.
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PERSI funds said to be stable

The Board of Directors for the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) wants to reassure members and retirees that despite recent market volatility, it remains a stable and secure fund. “Although the stock market plunge has shaken the stability of the financial system and hurt many public pension funds, including PERSI, I want to assure our members that their retirement is safe,” says PERSI Retirement Board Chairman Jody Olson.
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Transportation board
Report outlines potential effects of ozone 'non-attainment'
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Toni Hardesty presented a report on potential fallout from increasing ozone levels when she spoke via teleconference to the Idaho Transportation Board, meeting last week (Sept. 17) in Pocatello. Her report focused on the Treasure Valley’s three-year ozone average that may force the region into non-attainment status under federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
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Modernism in architecture
Conference explores architectural treasures
Imagine discussion surrounding a Wal-Mart building’s historic and cultural value. For Dan Everhart, architectural historian with ITD, it is no longer if that discussion will ever happen, simply when.  About 100 participants began preparing themselves for such a time by attending a two-day conference on mid-20th century architecture held Sept. 4-5 at ITD Headquarters.
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Employees
Two administrative rules implemented, explained
Two temporary administrative rule changes were implemented in August related to the length of time that state agencies can retain employees after extended illnesses and state policy on time away from the workplace for medical appointments. The Division of Human Resources announced the changes Aug. 20. They became effective four days later under emergency status and will be reviewed by the Legislature next year.
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Eight-week health assessment offered
Health Matters, the State Employee Wellness Program, will launch an eight-week campaign next month encouraging participation in an online personal health assessment (PHA). Also known as a health risk appraisal PHA is a confidential, simple health questionnaire that gives employees a free, customized report about what they are doing that is health wise and where they could make beneficial changes.
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Construction milestones

Guardrail installation marks end of U.S. 30 project
An industrial-strength combination wrench, a few bolts and little bit of muscle put the punctuation mark on the first phase of a highway project east of McCammon last week. Transportation board members and local dignitaries bolted the last piece of guardrail on a new three-mile stretch of U.S. 30 to celebrate completion of the first phase of Idaho’s first GARVEE-bonded project. ITD reconstructed the segment of U.S. 30 and expanded it to a four-lane divided highway between McCammon and Lava Hot Springs.
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U.S. 95 project begins north of Coeur d'Alene
As traffic ebbed and flowed with the cycles of a nearby traffic light, dirt flew from shovels marking he formal beginning of the U.S. 95, Idaho 53 to Ohio Match Road project Wednesday (Sept. 24). ITD representatives joined Connecting Idaho Partners, local officials and the public for the groundbreaking ceremony that launches the project, which is funded through GARVEE bonds.
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Public transportation
Survey planned on status of state's public transportation
ITD's Division of Public Transportation has contracted with LAN Resources, LLC of St. Joseph, Mo., to survey and report on the current status of public transportation and mobility services throughout Idaho. Idaho's Transportation Vision 2004-2034 states: "Transportation of the future must be planned, preserved, developed, operated and maintained in a fully integrated manner."
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Ridership rises again in August
Public transportation ridership continued to increase in most regions of the state late this summer as Idahoans looked for ways to offset escalating gas prices and a declining economy. The largest increase in public transportation rides occurred in District 1, from 25,098 in 2007 to 50,740, led by NICE (North Idaho Community Express) and KATS (Kootenai Area Transit), which collectively were up 258 percent (from 2,730 to 9,776). CitiLink also reported a 92 percent increase.
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ITD Mailbox
Subhead
Room for firearms seminar
• Roadside assistance appreciated
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The bottom line
• Weight a minute… help is on the way
• Dates announced for flu shots in Boise
• Mammography services offered Nov. 7, Dec. 9
• Road rage and Road Warriors to take field Saturday
• Dropping in for coffee
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Published previously

GARVEE
Idaho board to request $125 million
The Idaho Transportation Board Wednesday recommended issuing another $125 million in bonds next year to finance reconstruction and expansion of the state’s highways and bridges. The bond request is part of the $998 million GARVEE Transportation Program approved by the Idaho Legislature.
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Highways
D-5 groups honored for highway cleanups
Sections of state highway in southeast Idaho are cleaner today because of two strikingly different groups, one large and one small. Wednesday the Idaho Transportation Board honored the Bannock County Sheriff’s Inmate Labor Detail and the two-person team of Tony and Jeanne Varilone as Adopt-A-Highway groups of the year for District 5.
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ITD, Fish & Game unveil wildlife crossing Web site
As most of you know, the issue of collisions involving wildlife and vehicles is a very costly and dangerous element in our daily use of Idaho roadways. Many of us in the environmental arena have been working for a number of years to arrive at some sort of solution to cut down on the number of incidents encountered yearly.
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Charitable giving
ITD director to lead state employees' campaign
ITD Director Pam Lowe will welcome leaders from other state departments Wednesday to formally launch the 2008 State Charitable Giving Campaign that benefits non-profit organizations throughout Idaho. Lowe, who will serve as chairperson of this year’s United We Care – Idaho State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign, will encourage her peers to support the drive and work internally with their respective state employees to generate contributions
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Safety
ITD continues alliance with OSHA
ITD affirmed its commitment to occupational safety and training by extending its participation in the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Alliance Program. Director Pam Lowe joined OSHA representatives Bill Bankhead and Jerrold R. Hockett recently in renewing a three-year contract initially signed in 2005.
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Aeronautics
Pape honored for work with business aviation group
Mike Pape, director of ITD’s flight operations the past year, was honored with the “Silk Scarf” award Thursday during a luncheon meeting of the Idaho Business Aviation Association at the Boise Airport, signifying his membership in an elite aviation organization.
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HRD training schedule

  Oct. 28-30 Basic Communication
  Nov. 18-20 Intermediate Communication
  Dec. 9-11 Introduction to Supervision
This schedule represents training classes available at Headquarters. For schedules at specific districts, please contact your EST or refer to the training calendar.