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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

 

10-19-7

Transportation Board
Draft of proposed access plan to be presented
The transportation department plans to introduce legislation during the 2008 session that will govern access to state highways resulting from the state’s continued rapid growth in residential and commercial developments. Staff members will outline plans for the department’s proposed Transportation Access Plan (TAP) when the board convenes next week in Boise for its monthly business meeting. It is planned for Wednesday and Thursday at the Headquarters in Boise.
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Environment
ITD, partners receive one of AASHTO's highest awards

ITD and a coalition of public and private partners dedicated to saving the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population recently earned one of the highest awards given by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The Henrys Lake Fish Passages Project Team received an AASHTO President’s Transportation Award for Environment during the organization’s 2007 annual meeting held in Milwaukee, Wis., last month.
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Highways
Ceremony officially opens new four-lane segment of U.S. 95
With two bolts, a couple of nuts and several twists of a wrench, construction on a 16-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 95 between the top of the Lewiston Hill north to Thorn Creek Road ceremoniously ended Thursday. Bruce Sweeney, vice chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board, and Jim Carpenter, district engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department at Lewiston, did the honors by erecting the last sign, mile marker 320, on the $55 million project.
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Research
Pavement management tops list of 11 funded projects
ITD’s 14-member Research Advisory Council identified 11 proposals for funding, including three pooled fund projects, and is looking for alternatives to conducting four other projects, said Research Program Manager Ned Parrish. Council members, representing a cross-section of ITD disciplines, met in September and chose a six-month pavement management system evaluation as the department’s highest priority.
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Council looks for projects that improve transportation, efficiency
Members of the ITD Research Advisory Council met Sept. 26 to discuss research proposals and priorities, narrowing an initial proposal list of 29 projects to 11 for funding and committing to fine alternative resources to conduct four other project.
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Funded projects


District 4
Employees await start of new facility
This time it is not a drill. The reality of a new District 4 Headquarters building is closer now than ever before with actual building plans being circulated in Shoshone. While the plans provided to the district are far from a final draft, the reality of a new building shows commitment by the state to likely proceed with construction this time.
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Road warriors brush up on winter techniques
The first snow of the season has already landed across the top of District 4’s highest peaks, signaling the beginning of the snow season. The Winter Start-up meeting on Sept. 12 at the District 4 Headquarters highlighted a few of the safety issues, new policies and chemical applications to be utilized this year. Drivers were encouraged to enact “no boundaries” between assigned road sections when other drivers need assistance.
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District 4 Newsletter: Interchange


Technology
Beware of awakening 'Dancing Bunnies'

Forrest Anderson, ITD Cyber Security Officer
Not so long ago in a company not so far away, Bubba was busy at work. While Bubba was busy working his computer suddenly flashed and said “Ding, you’ve got mail.” This really was not too surprising, because it always does that whenever Bubba gets an e-mail message.
The subject line of this particular message was “See the Dancing Bunnies.”
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Safety
Caution needed in battle against infections
National news reports the past week have drawn attention to a growing medical crisis – the rampant spread of staph infection that might be killing more than 19,000 victims per year in the U.S. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are far more widespread than scientists previously thought, according to a study published this week.
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ITD Mailbox
• Customer service made lasting impression
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Posted previously

Environment
ITD begins efforts to curb greenhouse gases
Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter issued an executive order this spring directing state agencies to assess energy consumption and identify measures that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). He charged the Department of Environmental Quality to coordinate efforts by all state agencies.ITD has produced a preliminary report on its facilities and transportation fleet but wants to learn about the commuting patterns and work schedules of employees.
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Technology
New Chief Technology Officer brings global perspective
Jon Pope, a three-year veteran of the Idaho Department of Lands, will embark on a new, yet similar, position Oct. 22 when he assumes responsibilities for managing ITD’s information technology program. He was chosen from a pool of outstanding candidates to become the department’s Chief Technology Officer. Dave Tolman, administrator of the Division of Administration, announced the selection last week.
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Making (web) sense of cyber security
Second of two parts:
The transportation department provides employees with high speed internet access as a business tool to be used primarily for business related purposes. Access to the Internet places a variety of content at the fingertips of ITD employees. This content provides employees many potential benefits and opportunities for increased efficiency, collaboration, research, communication, personal and professional development.
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Safety
Idaho Safe Routes program scores high in report
The new federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program has been quickly embraced by most state departments of transportation, according to a report released by the national Safe Routes to School Partnership. Safe Routes to School is a national program that creates safe, convenient and fun opportunities for children to bicycle and walk to and from their schools.

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Aeronautics
Effort launched to register pilots, aircraft
Mark Lessor attached the first poster on a hangar door in northern Idaho Thursday, inviting pilots to become part of an elite group – registered airmen. Actually, it’s more than an invitation. The campaign is intended to inform pilots and aircraft owners of an Idaho law that requires them to register with the Division of Aeronautics in much the same way drivers must obtain an operator’s license and register their vehicle.
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