2/15/2013

Transportation board
Board schedules review of state-owned dwellings
The Idaho Transportation Board will review the status of ITD-owned dwellings, a process required annually, when members assemble for its February business meeting in Boise Wednesday. ITD owns three wood-framed houses, 11 manufactured homes, six manufactured bunkhouses, along with two apartments at Johnson Creek and Cavanaugh Bay airstrips; the property is used seasonally.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Fuel cells support critical functions of RWIS sites
ITD’s budget request, presented to the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee this week, includes the purchase of a new hydrogen fuel cell. That prompted a question from Rep. George Eskridge (R-Dover) about how the department uses fuel cells.
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Inside exposure
Internship provides hands-on video production experience
There is nothing like practical, hands-on experience to complement textbooks and classroom instruction. Nathan Dawson, a senior at Centennial High School, understands that concept – even better now after a four-month, unpaid internship in video production at ITD. He wanted an opportunity to put into practice what he had been studying in a video production class.
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Outstanding Customer Service
ITD to play key role in reducing vehicle-animal collisions
Idaho Mtn. Express: ITD will collaborate with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Blaine County and other government or community groups to identify ways to mitigate the high number of wildlife-vehicle accidents in the Wood River Valley.
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Development conference planned April 2, 3
A two-day professional conference that highlights innovative approaches to transportation and modern project designs is scheduled April 2, 3 in Boise. The 2013 Project Development Conference focuses on implementing innovations that are “Smarter, Better and Faster.”
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Highways
Salt brine and salt-sand mixtures important to winter safety
Second of two parts: Like a well-prepared handyman, ITD has several products in its arsenal to treat highways to remove snow and ice for the safety of drivers. This week the Transporter looks at salt and sand mixtures and the use of salt brine (sodium chloride in solution).
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Accolades
Pavement on I-84 project earns Knife River coveted award
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) announced this week the Idaho Division of Knife River Corp. is one of two runners-up for the 2012 Sheldon G. Hayes Award for excellence in construction of an asphalt pavement. Knife River Corp. was recognized for the rubblization, overlay, and reconstruction of 13 miles of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 in southern Idaho between mileposts 222 and 235.
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Employees
Flapjack frenzy declared dead heat in race for pink flamingo
Eyes were set on a tacky pink prize Tuesday when representatives from the Office of Highway Safety met representatives from Transportation Performance in culinary combat at Headquarters. The two groups put spatula to griddle vying for best tasting pancake, most original pancake, biggest pancake and highest flipped pancake.
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I-Way
Nominations for I-way leadership aawards due March 1
The I-way Leadership Award is a way to recognize leadership and innovation for effective coordination of mobility options in Idaho. Three awards will be provided to a project, individual, agency or process that receives the most points based on the nomination criteria.
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Funding
AASHTO lauds president's emphasis on transportation
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Director Bud Wright commented Wednesday on President Barack Obama's reference to infrastructure investment in his State of the Union address.
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Highways
Encore (2-8-13): Upgraded signs to improve message delivery to motorists
Upgraded signs to improve message delivery to motorists ITD is upgrading highway signs throughout southwest Idaho to help improve public safety and drivers’ access to information. The project is expected to be completed by early March. The signs alert drivers to road conditions or safety issues affecting their travel.
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Highways
Encore (2-8-13): BSU avalanche research to help ITD forecasting
Boise State University (BSU) researchers Scott Havens, Hans-Peter Marshall and Jeffery Johnson are developing tools for ITD avalanche forecasters to incorporate into their daily avalanche forecasting operations.
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Highways
Encore (2-8-13): ITD uses variety of 'tools' for winter maintenance
Like a well-prepared handyman, ITD has several products in its arsenal to treat highways to remove snow and ice for the safety of drivers. Some of the products are limited to specific regions of the state. Some are used quite extensively. Some are more effective at higher temperatures and give way to other techniques as the highway surface temperatures drop.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (2-8-13): ETS employees negotiate $16,200 savings
On the surface, saving ITD $60 may seem relatively insignificant. But if multiplied by 270, that savings can become a significant impact. To the tune of $16,200.
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Highways
Encore (2-8-13): The high cost of congestion
AUSTIN, Texas - As traffic congestion worsens nationwide, the time required for a given trip becomes more unpredictable, and researchers now have a way to measure that degree of unreliability. It was introduced for the first time as part of the annual Urban Mobility Report (UMR), published this week by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).
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Highways
Encore (2-8-13): Boise-area drivers lose 16 hours sitting in traffic
A report by Texas A&M University this week ranked Boise 94th among all cities with 16 hours of congestion related delays per auto commuter annually. In other words, Boise drivers spend an extra two days of work time sitting in traffic. That translates to an extra eight gallons of gas per auto commuter and an associated commuting cost of $334.
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