1/18/2013

Transportation Research Board
Director Ness takes ITD successes to national audience
Improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) were featured as a national model at the Transportation Research Board meeting in Washington, D.C. Monday (Jan. 14). Director Brian Ness spoke along with directors of the Michigan, Rhode Island and Delaware departments of transportation at a session titled “Current Strategies for State Department of Transportation Leadership.”
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Leadership
Director Ness earns WTS Transportation Leader of Year honor
In recognition of his efforts to transform ITD and create a leaner, more responsive organization, Director Brian Ness has been named Transportation Leader of the Year by Women in Transportation. The Treasure Valley chapter will present the award Jan. 31 at its annual meeting and awards ceremony.
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Innovative project
URS, Sand Creek Byway receive WTS innovation award
An ITD project that brought more than a half-century of debate and planning to a resounding conclusion was selected to receive the Innovative Transportation Solutions Award for 2012. URS will accept the honor for its engineering and consultation work on the U.S. 95 Sand Creek Byway project that was completed in June.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Quick license reinstatement preserves school field trip
Charles Ridley (name changed to protect identity) was in a state of near panic recently when he called ITD’s Division of Motor Vehicles. He almost could feel the anticipation of grade school students as they awaited a 10 a.m. field trip departure. But a standard practice of verifying driving privileges indicated that his license was not valid ...
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Outstanding Customer Service
Drivers praise ITD for keeping highways safe, passable
During the recent flurry of snowy and icy highway conditions, ITD’s road maintenance crews received several compliments on their road-clearing efforts that improve safety and keep traffic moving. Following are some of their comments, compiled from several sources:
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Preparing for tomorrow
Surveying, testing begin for three I-84 interchange projects
Preliminary work to design replacement interchanges at Meridian, Broadway and Gowen roads is scheduled in the Treasure Valley as weather conditions permit. Over the next month, motorists likely will experience intermittent nighttime lane closures and shoulder restrictions on Interstate 84 in Meridian and east Boise as crews test soils and survey for reconstruction of the interchanges.
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Public involvement
Hearing set on proposed route for U.S. 95 realignment
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 23, on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the U.S. 95 Thorncreek to Moscow realignment project. The hearing, from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow, will be in an open-house format.
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Employees
Winter weather slip hazards
Winter can deliver hard landings, injuries and lost work. Many cold-weather injuries are the result of falls on ice-covered streets, outdoor parking lots and sidewalks. Getting around on the Headquarters or district complexes in icy conditions calls for planning, caution and a little common sense.
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Public workkshop
Workshop planned on marketing to construction industry
Construction contractors and suppliers can learn how to market their services and products to prospective project owners and general contractors at free full-day workshops coming to three Idaho locations. The ITD-sponsored program will be presented by Steve “Kiwi” Hunt of Trico Construction Inc., as part of the department's DBE Support Services.
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Employee health
Influenza season in full swing coast to coast
In this week’s FluView report, some key flu activity indicators continued to rise, while others fell. It’s too soon to say exactly what this means, but some regions may have peaked, while other parts of the country are still on the upswing.
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Aviation history
Author captures history of backcountry airstrips
Twin Falls pilot Steve Mulberry flipped through an Idaho author's thick new book on backcountry aviation, pausing at a 1970 photo from a mountain airstrip.In the 557-page hardcover "Bound for the Backcountry: A History of Idaho's Remote Airstrips," those moments of recognition might be plentiful for any pilot with experience in the Idaho backcountry.
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Legislature
Encore (1-11-13): Governor delivers annual State of the State, Budget Address
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter delivered his fifth State of the State and Budget Address to legislators Monday on the opening of the 2013 session. His 55-minute address focused on sustaining Idaho’s recent economic growth, providing more local authority and for revisiting education reform.
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Redevelopment
Encore (1-11-13): Tree removal part of new 30th Street corridor project
The Ada County Highway District recently began work on a joint development project with the city of Boise that will reshape a portion of ITD’s Headquarters campus. Removal of trees next to Rose Street, near ITD’s East Annex, is part of a widening project for the new corridor.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (1-11-13): Print shop rises to challenge of quick turnaround
A storm of a major proportions pressed down on the department’s print shop in Boise last month, demanding long hours and a quick project turnaround. Planners in District 2 contacted Gail Grenz, manager of ITD’s print shop, in early December to announce the impending project.
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Technology
Encore (1-11-13): Cyber Security develops new high-visibility alert
E-mail “phishers” looking to capture e-mail credentials or other personal and professional information have become masters of disguise. Often their attempts appear as legitimate security notifications, and occasionally they sneak through department’s e-mail filters.
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