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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

October 10, 2008

Transportation board
Board to conclude annual district tours next week
The transportation board’s last scheduled tour for 2008 will be held next week in District 3 as part of its business meeting in Boise, Oct 14-15. Activities are scheduled to start on Tuesday with a tour of the Valley Regional Transit fueling station. In between traveling the I-84 GARVEE corridor and the Kuna Mora corridor, or proposed south Boise bypass, the transportation board also will visit the Homeland Security Office.
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Environment
Betty Butterfly to lead Idaho campaign
A monarch butterfly has begun a long adventure across Idaho, visiting classrooms, county and state fairs, clubs and organizations – anyplace she will find children with receptive ears. Betty will be accompanied by a cadre of officially christened friends as part of an ITD campaign to protect the environment and keep it clean.
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Weiser bridge
Work continues on new Idaho, Oregon link
For more than 100 years, a bridge has spanned the Snake River in Weiser. The original bridge was built in 1903. An additional span was added in 1911, and traffic signals came in 1949. In the 1950s, the bridge was replaced. Now it is happening again - by next fall, a new structure will connect Annex, Oregon to Weiser.
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Headquarters
Department schedules review by American Society of Engineers
Surveys are under way and a professional review of engineering services is coming soon as part of ITD’s on-going commitment to efficiency under the leadership of Director Pamela K. Lowe. The Department has scheduled a Peer Review with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The objective of the review is to improve the management and quality of engineering services in order to better serve the public.
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Safety
ITD affirms commitment to OSHA Alliance
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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New high-visibility clothes to be required on work near highways
Civilian clothes for anyone working in the rights-of-way on federal aid highways – whether they are ITD employees, contract workers, emergency personnel or the news media – will no longer be adequate in the rights-of-way on many of Idaho’s highways beginning next month. A new rule, requiring the use of high-visibility safety clothing, will go into effect Nov. 24
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Employees
USDOT implements new rule for drug re-testing
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new rules in June that improve protections against cheating on drug and alcohol tests. New rules include the mandatory use of specimen validity testing. Recently, the USDOT received petitions from some transportation labor and management organizations asking that the Aug. 25 effective date be postponed for two provisions of the rule concerning the direct observation of urine collections. 
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Get along better with everyone
Getting along with others leads to benefits at work and at home. You live with less stress, your blood pressure remains low, you smile more and you might even make some friends. ITD Human Resources offers good advice for everyone to follow.
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Preparedness
Fall is good time to focus on emergency plans
As summer and out-of-town travel wanes, the Ada City-County Emergency Management (ACCEM) suggests a renewed focus on emergency planning. Have you done the same level of planning for an evacuation out of your neighborhood in the case of a disaster?” Officials with the ACCEM pose the rhetorical question in the October newsletter, Emergency Preparedness Pointers.
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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

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Published previously

ITD budget
Revenue review a continual process
Budget holdbacks announced last week by Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter will not directly impact the transportation department because its revenue is not derived from the state’s general fund. But the economic conditions that prompted Otter to ask most state agencies to reduce their budget 1 percent similarly affect ITD.
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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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Highways
Two overpasses tumble in one evening
A big, and necessary, step in the eventual expansion of Interstate 84 between the Garrity Interchange in Nampa and the Meridian Interchanges occurred with a crash Friday (Sept. 26) when crews demolished both the Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road bridges over the freeway. Initially, only Robinson was scheduled to be removed Friday night , but the work was accomplished in one night to maximize public convenience.
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New foremen attend Maintenance Academy, Level 3
New ITD maintenance foremen from throughout the state recently participated in department training designed to help them better navigate maintenance policies, procedures and reference materials. The Maintenance Academy Level 3 training was an intensive three-day program offered in Boise that featured 18 presenters and covered 16 different topics.
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Project development
Two-day conference scheduled for April
ITD announced last week the 2009 Project Development Conference (itd.idaho.gov/pdc09) will be April 7, 8 at the Boise Centre on the Grove. It will focus on practical solutions for growing transportation needs. The conference is a two-day symposium covering a variety of topics appropriate for individuals responsible for planning, designing, constructing and maintaining Idaho’s roadway systems.
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Employees

The time to be generous
In many cases, the faces are not familiar. They represent parents, grandparents and children; unemployed and under-employed; home owners, renters and the homeless. Their needs often are simple, yet overpowering. The time to help them take a step toward a better life is never more important than during the current economic downturn.
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Accolades
Scenic Byways Web site claims national honor
Idaho’s 27 scenic byways tell a story of the varied history, terrain and beauty of the intermountain northwest in Idaho. The transportation department and its Scenic Byways program needed an equally impressive way to promote the byways. Their solution, the department’s graphically enhanced Web site (www.idahobyways.gov ), gained national recognition recently, capturing first place at the National Transportation Public Affairs Workshop in Nashville.
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In memoriam
Lane in Hailey named for late ITD foreman
The short street leading to ITD's Hailey Maintenance Station isn’t anything significant. In fact, it’s probably better known for also leading to an Idaho Power Company facility. But it now bares the name of an ITD foreman killed by a drunk driver in 1974.
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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.