7/19/2013

Transportation Board
Transportation board holds meeting in District 6
When the Board met in Rigby on July 10, it heard about various activities and accomplishments in the region. The Salmon maintenance crew is now making its salt brine mixture instead of hauling it from District 5, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Staff is working closer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve winter maintenance efforts. Better communication is improving both agencies’ performance. The number of vehicles sliding off the road decreased.
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Highway Safety
ITD and law enforcement focus on aggressive drivers
Last year, aggressive driving contributed to more than half of all motor-vehicle crashes in Idaho, killed 66 people and seriously injured another 629. That’s why the Idaho Transportation Department will fund extra law enforcement patrols and a media campaign targeting aggressive Idaho drivers July 19 – Aug. 4.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Servatius recognized for helping Wilder greet visitors
When Michael McGarvin contacted District 3 Right-of-Way Manager Lana Servatius in late June for assistance on a compliance issue she was surprised and impressed by the quick response. The question related to upgrading community signs in Wilder.
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Highways
On the downhill side
The replacement of a 78-year-old bridge over the Weiser River south of Weiser passed the halfway point just after the holiday, with the completion of Phase I of the project and the beginning of Phase II.
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Highways
Lane closure avoided this week, maybe unavoidable later for JUMP
Crews working on an important portion of a state highway that terminates in downtown Boise avoided a closure this week, but as construction continues on a new building, they may not be able to avoid the next one. One lane of Myrtle Street (U.S. 20/26) at 9th Street in downtown Boise would have closed overnight as crews begin pouring concrete in conjunction with the Simplot JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) project that began in August 2012. That closure was avoided.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (7-12-13): Idaho setting example for motorcycle skills training
The Gem State may be leading the nation with its motorcycle skills training offered by the Idaho Skills Training Advantage for Riders (STAR) program. Idaho STAR Director Stacey “Ax” Axmaker has been invited to talk about Idaho's training program at the 2013 National Summit on Comprehensive Motorcycle Safety Programs.
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Highways
Encore (7-12-13): ITD ready to assist with wildfire traffic control
Despite an extended dry period and above-normal temperatures, the wildfire season remains relatively quiet in Idaho. Thursday, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise reported just two major fires, burning only 632 acres.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (7-12-13): An accident victim that got away
Responding to calls for assistance are not unusual for ITD maintenance workers who are increasingly considered first-responders. But Ty Winther, a transportation technician-senior in District 2, was unprepared for what he encountered on Idaho 6 the day before the Fourth of July holiday began.
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