1/25/2013

Transportation board
Board hears report on 2012 aviation activity
Perhaps the reflection of a slow economy or high fuel and ticket prices, use of Idaho’s seven commercial airports declined in 2012, according to members of the Aeronautics Advisory Board. Members of the advisory group presented the annual aeronautics report Wednesday (Jan. 16) during the monthly Idaho Transportation Board business meeting in Boise.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Quick response keeps computer infection in check
Repairs to Idaho’s highways and bridges are readily apparent; so are repairs to buildings and vehicles. But a repair that potentially saved ITD lost time, productivity and valuable resources was made in the background where few people saw them, but everyone benefited.
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Outstanding Customer Service
POE inspectors help prevent mussels build-up
ITD’s Ports of Entry, guardians of commercial vehicles and highway safety, usually aren’t located Idaho’s rivers or lakes. But inspectors are playing a big role in protecting those resources from outside invasion. Inspectors who check drivers’ log books, illegal weights and deficient equipment also give special attention to large boats entering the state.
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Best of the best
Storm indexing process to be presented nationally
ITD’s innovative and aggressive approach to battling winter storms and documenting maintenance responses will be discussed in a national arena this spring. Storm indexing, a process developed in District 5 and adopted statewide, provides ITD with empirical data to determine the severity of winter storms and the effectiveness in clearing snow and ice from highways.
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Preparedness
ITD honored with StormReady recognition
ITD's District 4 became the first organization of its kind to receive a StormReady designation from the National Weather Service – an acknowledgement of the district's commitment to training for storm responses. District representatives received a plaque and signs from the Weather Service during an encore award ceremony last week at the Idaho Transportation Board’s monthly business meeting last week.
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Highways
Fuel tanker bursts into flames, interrupts I-84 traffic
A tanker truck carrying more than 1,500 gallons of diesel and gasoline apparently lost its driveline and caught fire late Friday afternoon resulting in closure of Interstate 84in both directions.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Incident Response drivers remain cool under 'fire'
ITD's Nick Jones and Kyle Wright assisted with traffic control and ensuring safe conditions for travelers when responding to separate Jan. 18 truck fires on Interstate 84. Jones, who operates an Incident Response truck, provided initial traffic control and then returned to Eisenman Road at Exit 59 to divert vehicles from the scene of the burning truck east of Boise.
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Public involvement
Open house draws comments about U.S. 95 options
Approximately 350 people attended a hearing in Moscow this week to listen to and comment on options for improving U.S. 95 betwen Thorncreek and Moscow. ITD sponsored the public hearing on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the U.S. 95 realignment and reconstruction project.
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Leadership
Encore (1-18-13): 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
Encore (1-18-13): 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
Encore (1-18-13): 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
Encore (1-18-13): 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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Aviation history
Encore (1-18-13): 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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