9/13/2013

Highways
Rain-drenched hillside bathes Idaho 55 with mud, debris
A mudslide on Idaho 55 closed the highway north of Banks for 49 hours, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday evening (Sept. 5). A saturated hillside deposited mud, rocks, trees, and other debris. It swept across the road with enough force to push guardrail out of place.
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Accolades
Your vote needed for ITD entries in AASHTO contests
Voters will determine the fate of an ITD project that is in contention for a national award and for photographs that represent individuals who shape the nation’s transportation system. The Sand Creek Byway was chosen this month as one of the top 10 finalists for America’s Transportation Award ...
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Transportation board
Visit of Sand Creek Byway, Dover Bridge planned
The Idaho Transportation Board will revisit one of the state’s longest-planned, most costly and most acclaimed highway construction project as part of a meeting and tour of northern Idaho next week. Board members Wednesday will travel to the Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint and the Dover Bridge on U.S. 2, and will visit with the Bonner County Airport Board at the Sandpoint Airport Wednesday.
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Highway safety
ITD sponsors field test of 'CrashHelp' application
While it’s true that many accidents are caused by texting and talking on the phone, researchers discovered that those devices also can be vital in saving lives.
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Employees
Survey takes pulse of employees about exercise challenge
All ITD employees are invited to take the exercise challenge survey to determine their interest and participation level in the annual campaign that promotes wellness through exercise. The survey is open to all ITD employees, even those who did not participate in the exercise challenge, explains coordinator Pauline Davis.
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Highway safety
Correct car seat protects children during crashes
Protecting a child from injury or death is the purpose for child car seats, but selecting the correct car seat for children at different stages of their lives may be daunting for parents without help.
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Public involvement
Broadway, Gowen interchange public meetings generate input
Plans for reconstructing two major Interstate 84 interchanges attracted individuals to a trio of recent public meetings the past six weeks. The first meeting, in July, provided the public an opportunity to learn about the Meridian Interchange at Meridian Road, a gateway to the city’s business district.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Web-based meetings extend comment options
Looking for new ways to engage citizens in transportation planning beyond the traditional public-meeting format, ITD began offering online meeting options a few years ago for large projects. Recently, ITD used online outreach efforts for the upcoming I-84 interchange replacement projects at Meridian Road, Broadway Avenue and Gowen Road.
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Purchasing
Soresen named senior buyer at Headquarters
Todd Sorensen, a grants/contract program specialist in the central supply warehouse at Headquarters, was named senior buyer this week in the Business and Support Management section.
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Accolades
Vaisala acknowledges role in winter performance award
Vaisala's collaboration with Idaho Transportation Department has won a "Best New Innovative Product, Service or Application for 2013" award at the 2013 National Rural ITS Conference in St. Cloud, Minn...
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Accolades
Encore (9-6-13): Sand Creek Byway among 10 finalists for national AASHTO award
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced this week the Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint is one of 10 finalists for an America’s Transportation Award. It is among those considered for completion ahead of schedule.
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Accolades
Encore (9-6-13): Winter storm index claims national ITS innovation award
ITD’s innovative winter storm performance index and tracking program received a national award last week as the nation’s best new innovative practice. Mobility Services Engineer Robert Koeberlein accepted the award on behalf of ITD and the development team Aug. 26 at the National Rural ITS conference in Minnesota.
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Preparedness
Encore (9-6-13): ITD's emergency program to be featured in TRB publication
ITD realignment in 2011 provided an opportunity to strengthen the department’s commitment to emergency preparation and response. Changes in reporting responsibilities moved ITD’s emergency program manager under Chief Deputy Scott Stokes.
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Environment
Encore (9-6-13): ITD to transfer land to Coeur d'Alene Tribe for wetlands
ITD announced it will soon transfer the ownership, easement interests and management of five parcels of wetlands to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe. The transfer of about 160 acres, all in Kootenai County and with a value of roughly $1 million, marks the end of more than 13 years of planning.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (9-6-13): Backup systems keep communication lines open
Having an alternative “work-around” proved indispensable this week after a key telephone line failed between ITD Headquarters and the Century Link facility in downtown Boise. The exact cause was not immediately known, but technicians indicate it might have been related to a heavy rainstorm compromising a copper telephone line.
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