October 2, 2009
Stimulus grants
ITD applies for three federal TIGER grants
ITD recently submitted three grant applications totaling $169.4 million, seeking a portion of the $1.5 billion in federal stimulus funds available from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The three projects are aimed at enhancing economic opportunity by creating jobs for Idahoans and improving the efficiency of freight movement across the state.
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Technology
Cyber security awareness emphasized
ITD joins other Idaho departments and local agencies in recognizing October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). As part of the awareness campaign, ITD reminds employees to use appropriate safeguards when using the Internet and e-mail communication, whether at work or at home. October marks the sixth annual National Cyber security Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, explains ITD Cyber Security Officer Forrest Anderson.
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Cyber security sessions planned at Headquarters
Terry Pobst-Martin, Idaho’s chief information officer, will return to ITD Headquarters several times in October to remind employees of the need for online and e-mail vigilance. Past presentations in the Auditorium have drawn near capacity audiences when Pobst-Martin provided statistics about online security assaults and measures that Web users can take to keep their computers and identify safer.
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H1N1 flu
Intranet link provides access to flu updates
In an effort to improve communication for ITD employees and their families about the impending H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak, Human Resource Services has arranged for a quick link on the Intranet to access the latest updates.
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Central District Health preparing for outbreak
The Central District Health Department indicated that Sept. 1 was the official start date of the 2009-2010 influenza season, and announced recently that it has started “fresh in our H1N1 case counting. As of Sept. 18, there have been 57 confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza in the district; three of those stricken were hospitalized.
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Highway safety
Insurance company forecasts odds of vehicle/deer collisions
Nevada odds makers would flock to Hawaii but go far out of their way to avoid West Virginia … if there were bets on the likelihood that a motor vehicle and deer would collide. The chance of running into a deer in the island paradise is only one in 9,931.17. In West Virginia, however, the odds of a vehicle/deer collision in the next year are one in 39.17. Idaho lands somewhere in the middle with odds of one in 305.07.
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Mountaintop repair
District 3 crews help repair radio facility
District 3’s bridge and building maintenance crew performed some mountaintop repair work Sept. 22-23 at the request of the radio technicians at Public Safety Communications, a part of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security network and the Idaho Military Division.
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Women's Transportation Seminar
Board members to attend WTS reception
Members of the Treasure Valley chapter of the Women's Transportation Seminar will have an opportunity to meet with Idaho Transportation Board members Oct. 14 following the board's October business meeting. Tickets for the "Meet Your ITD Board Members" reception are $15 for members of the WTS and $25 for non-members.
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Highway technology
Idea would turn highways into solar collector panels
From the Idaho Business Journal
Scott Brusaw’s company has a unique idea – replace the asphalt and concrete road surfaces in Idaho and around the nation with solar panels. He envisions it as a way to provide low-cost energy, and lots of it, using a commonplace venue – the roadways we all drive on. The U.S. DOT is willing to give it a look.
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Transportation funding
AASHTO urges Congress to act on funding bill
As states push to create jobs and improve highways through the economic stimulus program, inaction on an extension of the highway and transit authorization is likely to reduce federal funding by $12 billion in FY 2010. That would reduce the program by almost 30 percent. A one-month stop-gap continuation has been included in the pending continuing resolution.
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Idaho's shrinking revenue
Governor orders calls for 'tiered' budget holdbacks
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter announced his plan today (Sept. 25) for
addressing an estimated $151 million shortfall in this year’s state budget. It
includes tiered spending holdbacks based on the nature of each agency’s mission
and a request that the Legislature use a reserve account to avoid a reduction
in public school funding.
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ITD announces $8.6 million budget reduction
ITD announced today an $8.6 million holdback of its FY2010
budget based on revenue that is not meeting projections made this spring. The
holdback is part of the department’s annual budget request due Sept. 1 of each
year. The Idaho Legislature appropriated $251 million in state
funds to the department before it adjourned in May. ITD administrators,
however, indicate current funding sources are about $242.4 million. That
represents a shortfall of 3.4 percent
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Acting director explains ITD holdback
Today (Sept.
25), Governor Otter issued an Executive Order reducing FY 10 spending authority
by an average of 4% to those agencies funded by the General Fund. ITD is not
funded from the General Fund. A memo from the Division of Financial Management
states: “The holdback does not apply to other funding sources such as
dedicated and federal funds.” ITD is a dedicated and federally funded agency.
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Optimism is a big part of recovery
Opinion by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter
One message came through loud and clear from my recent Business Summit
with representatives of all kinds of companies from throughout Idaho: There’s a
lot of optimism among business leaders that hard work, creativity and the
quality of our people will enable us to emerge successfully from this economic
slump.
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Highway safety
Three major grants will enhance state's safety efforts
ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety recently landed three grants from
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) totaling more than
$1.5 million for Idaho’s highway safety activities. OHOS was awarded $500,000 under the Section 408 State Traffic Safety
Information System Improvement Grant Program. The money will be used to improve
the traffic records systems so that other program and project decisions can be
made based on accurate and complete data.
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Charitable giving
Employees have chance to help those in most need
The State Employees’
Charitable Giving Campaign began Monday (Sept. 21) and runs through Oct. 30.
We have the opportunity each year to extend our public service commitment
to help our neighbors and our communities every day, all year long. We will have fund raising activities the week of Oct. 26. This is our
chance to join together to learn more about charitable giving process and the
people and programs that have benefited from our past contributions.
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News to Share
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Views to Share
Do you have a question related to ITD processes, policies or projects? Has something been puzzling you about why we do what we do? Share your questions using the e-mail link above and let us find the answers.
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