9/20/2013
Employees
Oct. 1 Leadership Summit to set course for ITD's future
ITD employees from throughout the state will assemble in Boise Tuesday, Oct. 1, to learn how they can become better leaders and help shape the department's future. The second annual Leadership Summit will begin in the Riverside Hotel at 8 a.m. and feature internal and external presenters. Their collective message is intended to prepare and encourage leaders and aspiring leaders.
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Accolades
Byway in tight horse race for $10,000 national prize
What began as a 10-horse race for people’s choice honors has dwindled to three frontrunners and seven also-rans. A voting blitz in the final week could send Idaho into the winner’s circle. Voting for the America’s Transportation Award and purse of $10,000 rounded the final corner and will head into the home stretch next week.
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Highway safety
Idaho Highway Safety Coalition program begins next week
Idaho’s goal of eliminating deaths and serious injuries on state highways and local roads needs passionate safety advocates to deliver powerful messages throughout the state. Toward that end, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety is rolling out the Idaho Highway Safety Coalition program Sept. 23-27 with advocate training sessions throughout Idaho.
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Environment
Birds and girders live in harmony
It’s a mismatch that rivals The Odd Couple, but by all appearances seems to work without conflict. The great blue heron is about 4 feet tall and weighs in at a scant 6 pounds, or thereabouts. The bridge is more than 1,700 feet long, 88 feet wide and tips the scales at 38 million pounds.
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Accolades
Sand Creek Byway receives regional acclaim
The U.S. Highway 95 realignment project has been named best project in the highway/bridges category by the Engineering News-Record Mountain States. Engineering News-Record is a weekly construction industry trade publication that provides news, analysis, data and opinion on projects worldwide.
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Parents over optimistic about teen driving behaviors
Brent Jennings: In many situations, we think we know what the other person’s thoughts and ideas are, but in reality sometimes our perceptions do not always align. I want to share with you some interesting information from a survey conducted by our highway safety partners from State Farm Insurance. I found this to be of interest, and I hope you do too.
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Employees
Curtain rises on Idaho's new health program
The Office of Group Insurance announces that after two years in the making, the new State of Idaho employee health promotion program is coming in just two weeks. This program is your opportunity to take advantage of resources and programs designed to help you take charge of your health and reward you for staying healthy.
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Employees
Flu season waiting at doorstep
Centers for Disease Control: Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death.
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Transit
511 Transit option gaining popularity
ITD’s Division of Transportation Performance is involved in a number of mulitmodal activities throughout the state, including a visible presence on ITD’s 511 Traveler Services system.
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Safety
D-3's Nicholson, Astorga certified as first aid instructors
District 3 avalanche forecasters Bill Nicholson and Chantel Astorga completed a special Red Cross First Aid training class in early August. All participants in the advanced course had been trained and certified to some extent previously. Astorga and Nicholson held certificates from a Wilderness First Responder class taken last October, building on certifications they’ve long held.
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Highways
Encore (9-13-13): 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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Vote now!
Encore (9-13-13): 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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Highway safety
Encore (9-13-13): 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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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
Encore (9-13-13): 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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