Strategic plan
Individual, section input vital to plan
How do you fit into the transportation department’s mission, vision and strategic plan? An extensive strategic planning process that began a year ago will incorporate action items at the working level – from employees and the sections in which they work. Leadership teams have been coordinating input that relates to the department’s four focus areas.
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Efficiency report
Additional items still encouraged for annual summary
A comprehensive report that reviews ITD’s efficiency efforts the past year and projects the impacts of those efficiencies into the future will be released this fall by the Communications Office. It succeeds a 72-page report prepared last year that addressed Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s request to demonstrate ITD’s effective use of resources.
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Transportation board
Avalanche program reduces highway closures
ITD is taking an aggressive approach to prevent snow accumulations from cascading down steep hillsides and rolling across Idaho highways. Avalanche mitigation efforts last year significantly reduced the number of closure days on Idaho 21 and the Banks-Lowman highway.
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Board receives revenue comparisons, research report
Doug Benzon, ITD’s Economics Research manager, compared Idaho’s highway revenue sources with those of neighboring states for members of the Idaho Transportation Board when they met at the District 3 office in Boise last week. More than half of Idaho’s transportation revenue (58.7 percent) comes from the federal government. Montana receives 59.4 percent of its funding from the federal government, while federal funds account for only 11.3 percent of Washington’s revenue.
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Highways
Groundbreaking scheduled Thursday for Sand Creek Byway
The public will join Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, elected officials and community leaders Thursday (Oct. 30) at 2 p.m. on the site of the former Lakeside Inn in Sandpoint, to celebrate the beginning of construction on the Sand Creek Byway project.
The Lakeside Inn is located at 106 Bridge Street. Parking will be available in the City Beach parking lot located at the end of Bridge Street.
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Employees
Cindy Smith's talent makes way to art instruction book
Cindy Smith has been drawing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she studied the art instruction books of Walter Foster Publishing. Today, Smith is professional artist whose realistic drawings are often mistaken for photographs.
“I’ve taken it a little further than a hobby,” Smith said.
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Idahy Credit Union seeks to change charter status
Idahy, a credit union created primarily to serve transportation employees in Boise, has grown the past half-century into a full-service financial organization with five offices, more than $114 million in assets and more than 14,000 members throughout the state. The credit union will make an important organizational transition this fall if members approve of the change. Idahy ‘s board of directors seeks approval to move from a federal to a state charter.
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Employees reminded of guidelines on political activity
In advance of the 2008 general election, the governor’s office last week reminded state employees of limitations on their political participation. Generally, ITD and other state employees can support and work for candidates as long as they do so privately and do not infer any connection with a state agency. Participation is covered executive order and by state statue.
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PERSI calls for patience during economic storm
Just about everyone has the jitters these days because of the economy — a volatile stock market, a drop in the housing market and a rise in foreclosures, a jump in unemployment, and increased prices at the grocery store and at the pump. As bad as this sounds, many experts say we are not in a financial Armageddon. Most are advising people to sit tight, and ride out the storm.
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Engineering & education
ITD returns to Nampa school with engineering lessons
TRAC is back in the Nampa School District. Six new ITD engineers joined last year’s veteran group of volunteer engineers for training sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The Transportation and Civil Engineering program (TRAC) is an AASHTO program designed to help engineers and teachers motivate and encourage young people to pursue careers in engineering fields.
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Technology
Cyber security warns of fake anti-virus software
As cyber security officials warn computer users to watch for Internet and e-mail scams, a new one has surfaced that preys on individuals trying to protect their systems, said ITD Cyber Security Officer Forrest Anderson. The newest, rapidly spreading attack is disguised as anti-virus software.
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Safety
Parents, children urged to use caution while on candy hunt
On Halloween night, the combination of darkness, the increased number of children on the streets and motorists can create a dangerous situation. To help reduce risks for young pedestrians, AAA Oregon/Idaho suggests these basic Halloween safety tips.
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Public transportation
Ceremony planned to introduce Vandal shuttle
The University of Idaho invites the public and transportation community to a ceremony that introduces the U of I Vandal Access Shuttle. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for the new shuttle on Thursday, (Oct. 30) from 11:30 a.m. to noon just south of the Commons Building on University Avenue.
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ITD Mailbox
• Inter-agency cooperation important at crash site
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ITD positioned well to weather economic storm
Those of you who have been part of the department very long have experienced the best of times; today, unfortunately, we’re in the midst of some of our most challenging times.
I share your concern as you watch the stock market, the status of the nation’s financial institutions and, closer to home, the economic health of state government in Idaho.
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Cyber security
ITD urges computer users to be cautious
ITD joins other state agencies in observing national Cyber Security Awareness month in October, promoting safety and security when using the Internet and e-mail. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Security Division and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center sponsor the observance nationally as a way to promote consistent cyber security awareness across all states.
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Highways
I-84 bridges ideal candidates for off-site build, transport
When Jim McMinimee addressed representatives of ITD and the GARVEE Transportation Program in September, he brought the state one step closer to a new method of accelerated bridge construction. Called Self-Propelled Modular Transport, the method uses heavy-duty rollers to transport prefabricated bridge segments into place within hours. ITD will use the technology in December to transport the new I-84, Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road bridges in Nampa and Meridian.
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Aeronautics
ITD will continue to take lead in air searches
Who really carries the responsibility for the search? The county sheriff? The Civil Air Patrol (CAP)? The Bureau of Homeland Security? Who? The Division Aeronautics has formally held the responsibility for the aerial search for lost and missing airmen and aircraft since Title 21-114 was first passed in 1947. Currently, as stated in Idaho statutes, “…Search and rescue coordination shall be under the direction and supervision of the chief of the Bureau of Homeland Security within the Military Division, with aerial search operations coordinated by the department, Division of Aeronautics.
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Aero to offer flight instructor, pilot clinic in Idaho Falls
A Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic/Pilot Safety Clinic, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, will be presented by ITD's Division of Aeronautics Oct. 24 and 25 in Idaho Falls. All pilots, regardless of certificate or rating, are welcome to attend. The clinic will be at the La Ritz Hotel and Suites. Sessions will run from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 24) and from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 25).
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HRD training schedule
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Oct. 28-30 |
Basic Communication |
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Nov. 18-20 |
Intermediate Communication |
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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. |