4/5/2013

2013 Legislature
Governor cites successful paths forward
Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter thanked members of the Idaho Legislature Thursday for addressing most of his legislative agenda and – more importantly – working through sometimes difficult debate to achieve real results for Idaho citizens.
Continue

Legislature
Resolution praises ITD progress
Director Brian Ness identified several measurements that will mark ITD’s drive to become the best transportation department in the country. One of milestones he identified was acknowledgment by the governor’s office and other state agencies that ITD is the “go-to” organization.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Winter performance measures among award finalists
ITD’s unique Winter Performance Measures, a process for evaluating winter storm maintenance, is a national finalist in the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s 2013 Best of ITS Awards.
Continue

Project Development Conference
ITD ready to put 'smarter, better, faster' to best use
The theme for the 2013 Project Development Conference in Boise this week aptly describes the status of transportation – an industry in transition, just as ITD is in transition. “Implementing Innovations: Smarter, Better, Faster” mirrors ITD’s new operational model, Director Brian Ness told nearly 200 people assembled for the biennial conference Tuesday.
Continue

Project Development Conference
2013 Excellence in Transportation Awards — Projects
The Excellence in Transportation Awards recognize exceptional achievements in the development, planning and implementation of transportation projects throughout Idaho. Award recipients were selected in a statewide competition, based on their outstanding accomplishments.
Continue

Excellence in Transportation
ITD honors three outstanding individuals
ITD presented professional awards to three employees who exemplify the best of service to the department, their profession and Idaho citizens this week. Awards were presented for professional of the year, career achievement and engineer of the year.
Continue

Transportation Board
District meetings, tours begin in Lewiston
Idaho Transportation Board members will pack their bags for the first of six visits to district offices this spring and summer; the first destination will be Lewiston for the monthly business meeting Tuesday and Wednesday (April 9, 10).
Continue

Highway safety
Law enforcement officers watching for aggressive drivers
They’re out there and you’ve seen them – bold, pushy or selfish drivers putting you and others at risk. That’s why ITD and Idaho law enforcement agencies are combining forces to stop aggressive driving through 14.
Continue

Highway safety
NHTSA presents highway safety honor to Meridian officer
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently selected Meridian police Sgt. John Gonzales to receive its Award for Public Service. The award recognizes Sgt. Gonzales’ efforts to make highways safer and his contributions to “significant progress in reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries.”
Continue

Accolades
Encore (3-30-13): Engineering magazine names Brinkman 'Rising Star'
Jason Brinkman, whose professional career at ITD has been progressively mobile, was named one of the nation’s Rising Stars in Civil Engineering by the online publication CE News based in Arkansas. The magazine, which focuses on civil and structural engineering, announced the selection last week.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (3-30-13): 'Pooling' resources helps protect environment after fuel spill
Like duct tape, small portable pools have many uses, even protecting the environment. ITD’s Incident Response crews assisted with containment and cleanup of a fuel spill on Interstate 84 in Boise last week, fulfilling their role in protecting the public, motorists and the environment.
Continue

Employees
Encore (3-30-13): Babic promoted to distinguished new position – ‘Retiree’
Communication once consisted of stone tablets and meticulous chiseling. It was a slow process, but then, life was less complicated in that era. Although Barbara Babic doesn’t recall those days, her workplace relied on typewriters and carbon copies when she joined the legion of ITD workers 26 years ago.
Continue

Highways
Encore (3-30-13): ITD's rock patrols essential highway safety practice
There’s nothing like a car-sized boulder resting in the middle of a highway to wreak havoc with your travels. Driving has its share of inherent risks, but ITD wants to do everything possible to remove dislodged rocks as a one of those hazards.
Continue

Organ donations
Encore (3-30-13): Save lives by saying 'yes'
One person can make a life-changing difference for others by saying “yes” to being an organ donor. ITD reminds driver’s license holders that April is the 10th annual National Donate Life Month and that it’s easy to register for the life-saving donor program when renewing or applying for a new driver’s license.
Continue

Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (3-30-13): D-3 crews help reduce risks of I-84 roadside fires
Fire agencies spent millions of dollars on fire-fighting efforts in Idaho last year. This spring, ITD’s District 3 is doing its part to prevent similar expenditures and the economic impacts to motorists caused by fire suppression efforts near highways.
Continue