3/22/2013

Highways
ASCE gives national infrastructure D+ grade
Every family, every community and every business needs infrastructure to thrive. Infrastructure encompasses your local water main and the Hoover Dam; the power lines connected to your house and the electrical grid spanning the U.S.; and the street in front of your home and the national highway system.
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Highways
Idaho given collective 'C-' for infrastructure
The American Society of Civil Engineers shared good news and bad this week. In its overview of America’s infrastructure condition, the 2013 Report Card, the cumulative grade showed slight improvement since the last report, issued in 2009.
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Employees
Director challenges long-term employees to become mentors
Competent, dedicated employees are critical to the success of a business and an organization explained Idaho Transportation Board member Dwight Horsch Tuesday. He used 42 years of experience operating a family farm in the Aberdeen area to emphasize the role employees play in both the private and public sector when he spoke at the semiannual service awards ceremony for Headquarters employees.
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Outstanding Customer Service
DMV experts simplifying process for customers
A group of 15 subject matter experts (SME) is working diligently behind the scenes to streamline Division of Motor Vehicles processes and prepare for the conversion to a new system under the DMV modernization process. They ”have been performing a superior job during the past year,” explains DMV Administrator Alan Frew. “They have been instrumental in looking at DMV business processes and identifying areas for improvement.”
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Outstanding Customer Service
Spring conditions heighten risks of avalanches
Spring can bring chirping birds, fresh breezes and greener lawns and gardens. Unfortunately it also can bring dangerous spring avalanches. Last week was a prime example. The stretch of Idaho 21 between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit was closed from Tuesday evening through Friday morning, opened for about five hours and then closed again until Saturday morning.
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Highways
Hundreds of highway signs to be replaced
ITD will repair or replace nearly 150 highway signs along southwest Idaho roads this spring and summer as part of an annual commitment to improve safe travel. The department is responsible for providing safe roads for Idaho motorists, which includes ensuring clear and understandable information by providing proper signs.
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Bridges
Weiser Bridge replacement progressing
The replacement of a 78-year-old bridge over the Weiser River south of Weiser, which began early this month, is progressing rapidly. The work on U.S. 95 is expected to be done by the end of this year. The two-lane bridge, one of 99 remaining on the state system that were built before 1936, will be replaced with a three-lane structure.
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Highway safety
Safety restraints reduce fatalities, serious injuries
Brent Jennings: I recently got a report from the Idaho Hospital Association (IHA) that said falls were the leading cause of injury followed by motor vehicle crashes. It also mentioned the use of safety restraints were shown to decrease moderate injuries among drivers using airbag plus lap-shoulder belts by 73 percent, and by 60 percent among drivers using just the shoulder-lap belt.
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Preparedness
Governor declares Flood Awareness Week
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter proclaimed this week (March 18-22) to be Flood Awareness Week, and the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (BHS) encourages Idahoans to become informed about flood hazards and to take steps to be prepared for them Floods are among the most costly natural disasters in Idaho.
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Highway safety
Encore (3-15-13): Register now for the 2013 Highway Safety Summit
Registration is under way for the 2013 Highway Safety Summit planned for May 1-2 in Coeur d’Alene. The summit is organized by ITD’s Office of Highway Safety and provides traffic safety professionals and advocates with innovative, results-oriented solutions to eliminate fatalities and reduce injuries from motor-vehicle crashes.
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Media outreach
Encore (3-15-13): News media gets sneak preview of I-84 interchange projects
In preparation for a triology of Interstate 84 interchange projects scheduled to begin next year, ITD and the GARVEE office guided representatives from Treasure Valley news media on a tour of the corridor Monday. The media event provided reporters with information about traffic impacts, construction plans and a general timeline.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (3-15-13): ITD to weigh and photograph trucks on the fly
A permanent weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensor system on U.S. 20 in Ashton will weigh and photograph trucks as they pass by. This will streamline weight enforcement along the route, saving time and money for officers and truck operators.
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Preparedness
Encore (3-15-13): Spring thaw brings warnings of flood dangers
Ada City-County Emergency Management: Recent changes in weather patterns have made it more difficult for the reservoir managers to control flooding and manage flows for irrigation and recreation. In April of 2012 two days of high temperatures were followed by two days of heavy rain.
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Technology
Encore (3-15-13): GIS, AASHTO subcommittee to meet in Boise, May 5-8
Transportation officials in the public and private sectors will have an opportunity to explore the many contributions of GIS during a four-day seminar at the Grove Hotel in Boise. Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the symposium will be May 5-8, with technical workshops offered as a prelude on May 5.
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