11/22/2011
ITD's new Strategic Plan focuses on customer service, safety and economic opportunity
BOISE – The Idaho Transportation Department took another step in becoming the best DOT in the country and reaffirmed its commitment to customer service with the adoption of a new strategic plan.
“This is an exciting cultural shift for the department and provides us with new opportunities,” Idaho Transportation Department Director Brian W. Ness said. “Implementing the plan will require us to think differently about how we do our jobs, prioritize our projects and budget funds.”
The plan builds on the department’s recently completed realignment effort that reduced layers of supervision, put more people on the frontlines where the work is being done and saved $3.5 million.
The strategic plan has three primary goals:
- Commit to providing the safest transportation system possible
- Provide a mobility-focused transportation system that drives economic opportunity, and
- Become the best organization by continually developing employees and implementing innovative business practices
Recognizing the department has a substantial role in creating economic opportunity is a major cultural step for the department. In the past at the department, as well as most other DOTs, economic development was determined by how many jobs were created or retained on a project-by-project basis.
“Our new strategic plan focuses on the state’s overall economic goals and then determines how transportation funds can support Governor Otter’s Project 60 program to grow Idaho’s gross domestic product to $60 billion annually,” Ness said. “Transportation investments strongly influence Idaho’s gross domestic product and the opportunities for jobs and growth for our businesses and citizens.”
The strategic plan adds emphasis to increasing safety, mobility and improving the department’s business practices as well.
“I am challenging the department to focus on a different future for these goals, not past performance or activities, and to do so with a sense of urgency,” Ness said.
The strategic plan will be implemented with oversight from the Idaho Transportation Board. The department will align its business and work plans, and employee performance plans to the new goals and performance measures.
“The plan is our road map to realizing our overriding vision of being the best DOT in the country,” Ness said.
The plan is posted on the ITD web site at itd.idaho.gov