5/31/2013

Outstanding Customer Service
ITD employees receive life-saving commendations
Two ITD Port of Entry employees were among those honored today for their heroic efforts and service to travelers. Julie Roseborough and Renae Eddings from the Cottrell Port of Entry were the first to respond to a driver who appeared to be having a heart attack last summer.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Peryer, Couch, Paye named top winter mobility performers
A pair of District 3 employees (Richard Peryer and Ken Couch) and one from District 5 (Shane Paye) were recognized recently for winter driving safety and mobility, based on the department’s innovative Winter Performance Measures (WPM).
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Environment
Goat 'mowers' remove unwanted vegetation
It was a prickly situation. Weeds had to be removed, but using herbicides too near a water supply can be a dicey proposition because of federal regulations. Mowing weeds reduces them vertically, but they remain until collected, lying horizontally on the ground. And the weeds were a food source for wildfires.
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Transportation board
Preston, Chubbuck delegates discuss needs with board
Delegations from Preston and Chubbuck took the opportunity to convey their thoughts and concerns to members of the Idaho Transportation Board last week in Pocatello during its monthly business and district tour. Board members toured southeastern Idaho on Wednesday (May 22).
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Value engineering
ITD process garners prestigious AASHTO award
ITD will receive the 2013 Value Engineering Award this summer from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The award will be presented for Pre-Construction Engineering on the Interstate 84 Snake River Twin Bridges.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Doane receives community service award
Michelle Doane, principal auditor at ITD, recently received the Association of Government Accountants Community Service (AGA) chapter award for her initiative, leadership and organizational skills – both personal and professional.
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Outstanding Customer Service
FHWA division praises relationship with Internal Review
A weeklong working trip to Washington, D.C., gave officials from the Idaho Division of the Federal Highway Administration new appreciation for the service they receive back home. "After spending a week in D.C. with my other FHWA division coworkers, I realized how good Frank (Tooke) and I have it to be working with you and your team,” Randy Rhuman wrote in an email this week.
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Highways
ITD helps create smooth sailing for holiday traffic
After a weekend of unseasonably cold and wet weather, the last thing campers needed over the extended Memorial Day weekend was to jockey for positions on the speedway, better known as Idaho 55
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Highways
Sandcreek Byway mentioned in quarterly magazine
The cover of Sandpoint’s quarterly visitor’s magazine rivals that of iconic National Geographic. A wolf with penetrating eyes stares from the fork of a tree, introducing an article on “Wolves Contentious Comeback.”
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Outstanding Customer Service
ITD service ensures successful bon voyage
Having a great time on a cruise to exotic ports of call depends on a lot of details beyond booking and paying for the trip. Just ask Eric. His bon voyage almost didn’t happen – indeed, probably wouldn’t have – if it hadn’t been for the commitment to outstanding customer service by Idaho’s land-locked Division of Motor Vehicles.
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Feathery freinds
Duck rescue becoming an annual event?
After patiently tending a nest and waiting for tender bills to emerge from the eggs, a mother duck recently took her fluffy brood out for field trip at the Headquarters campus. And like last year, she marched them to a familiar water source for swimming lessons.
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Being the best
Encore (5-24-13): Mineta Institute delegate impressed with ITD programs
A representative of the prestigious Mineta Transportation Institute visited ITD last week to learn how the department operates its emergency program and to explore program innovations that distinguish it from other transportation departments.
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Accolades
Encore (5-24-13): ITD earns 10 Idaho Press Club awards
ITD outreach efforts the past year earned 10 awards, including two first places, from the Idaho Press Club. News media and public relations professionals from throughout the state gathered in Boise Saturday (May 18) for the awards presentation.
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Rail plan
Encore (5-24-13): Public invited to comment on 20-year rail plan
A draft of the Idaho Rail Plan is available for public review and comment. The draft plan guides the development of Idaho’s freight and passenger rail system for the next 20 years. It was generated from 18 months of stakeholder involvement and input.
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Highways
Encore (5-24-13): Rock patrol removes vagrant boulder from Idaho 52
Spring thaws sometimes loosen rocks and debris from hillsides above the highways, depositing material in travel lanes. The latest victim in District 3 was Idaho 52. Maintenance crews last week needed to bring in a front-end loader to push a boulder back to the highway shoulder. Removal took about an hour.
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Employees
Encore (5-24-13): Little horses invited to ITD brown-bag lunch series
Miniature horses may look like ponies but they are full-grown horses that stand a whopping three feet tall. Learn more about these amazing animals and how they are used to make a difference in the lives they touch June 5 at noon in the Darrell V Manning Boardroom and Auditorium at Headquarters.
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