12/31/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Transfer of positions improving winter maintenance on highways in eastern Idaho
RIGBY ‑ The transfer of three administrative positions from the Idaho Transportation Department's Boise headquarters office to Ashton, Mud Lake and Rigby is improving winter maintenance in eastern Idaho, says Blake Rindlisbacher, district engineer for the region.
The department recently transferred 18 vacant administrative positions across the state to such critical services as bridge inspection, snowplowing and road and bridge maintenance.
These new positions allow our snowplow drivers to concentrate on critical routes, improve safety and reduce accidents, Rindlisbacher said. Plowing and sanding on Interstate 15, U.S. 20 north of Ashton, Idaho 33, Idaho 28, Idaho 43 and U.S. 20/26 are now more steady and frequent.
The addition of a snowplow driver in Mud Lake keeps drivers in Dubois working on I‑15 rather than being diverted to Mud Lake to help clear Idaho 33 and 28. Both Idaho 33 and 28 now see more frequent passes from the snowplows as well.
An additional driver in Ashton allows the department to devote a snowplow truck each to Ashton Hill and Federal Hill on U.S. 20. Previously one driver covered both hills.
An additional driver in Rigby now plows U.S. 20, U.S. 26 and Idaho 43 more quickly than in the past. The driver covers U.S. 20 interchanges south of Rigby, Idaho 43 and helps patrol U.S. 26.
The three new full-time employees also will be cross‑trained to perform construction inspection during the summer months.
This transfer reflects the department's commitment to improve service, decentralize operations and meet Governor Otter's challenge to reduce administrative costs, Pamela Lowe, director of the transportation department, said.
Through the transfers and other savings, the transportation department reduced its fiscal year 2009 administrative costs by 6 percent.
ITD implemented more than 120 additional efficiency measures in 2008, saving the state millions of dollars. The efficiency report can be viewed at itd.idaho.gov.