11/8/2013

Accolades
ITD receives two national Roadway Safety Awards
Two Idaho highway safety projects earned National Roadway Safety honors at an awards ceremony Wednesday (Nov. 6) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognized ITD for its Highway Safety Corridor Analysis Project and its Winter Performance Measure (WPM) System. 
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Outstanding Customer Service
Idaho’s FARS activities impress visitors
Idaho’s successful Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) recently gained new friends from across the state’s western border. Representatives from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission visited ITD’s Office of Highway Safety Oct. 16, 17 to learn how Idaho manages its FARS program and ties it into highway safety data.
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Highway safety
ITD partners with local communities to end impaired driving
ITD recently launched an initiative to end impaired driving in Blackfoot, Lewiston and Twin Falls. The effort, called Courageous Voices, encourages everyone to get involved by stepping up and speaking out to stop people from drinking and driving. Between 2010 and 2012, more than 40 percent of all fatal vehicle crashes in Idaho involved impaired drivers.
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Outstanding Customer Service
ITD gets early start on erosion, sediment control near Mountain Home
Keeping soil where it should be, and not over or in the wrong place under a highway, is at the heart of work recently conducted along U.S. 20, from Mountain Home toward Fairfield. Carl Vaughn, new foreman of D-3’s Mountain Home Maintenance area, could see a potential problem with erosion and sediment control along U.S. 20 because of fires in the area.
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Highways
Profiler van video shows friendly roadside guest
ITD pavement management engineer Karen Merrick drives every mile of state highway in Idaho. She usually makes the trips to every district in the fall, driving with district materials engineers and discussing pavement projects, successes and issues.
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Preparedness
Considerations in preparing a 72-hour emergency kit
Ada City-County Emergency Management: Fall has arrived and the crisp air and falling leaves let everyone know the holiday season is around the corner. It is a time of year when a lot of meal planning and food shopping takes place. Is this the year a new recipe will be used instead of an age-old favorite? Think beyond just holiday meal preparation and extend shopping for a 72-hour emergency kit
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Highways
Encore (11-1-13): Chief operations officer announces Division of Highways realignment
Chief Operations Officer Jim Carpenter announced last week a reorganization of the Division of Highways to improve its operations. The changes will take effect in mid-November. The Division of Highways will be divided into three divisions to reflect its commitment to all modes of travel and concentrate sections in areas with similar objectives.
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Legislature
Encore (11-1-13): ITD schedules legislative outreach series
Director Brian Ness and other ITD executives will discuss transportation and related topics with legislators in November and December as a prelude to the 2014 Legislative session.
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Highway safety
Encore (11-1-13): Get plenty of rest to avoid becoming a highway safety problem
Brent Jennings, PE: Ever hear someone say “Man, I need more sleep!” Do you agree that getting a solid five to six hours of shut eye a night will ensure you’re well rested and ready to drive? Think again, say researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Highway safety
Encore (11-1-13): Are you an Aggressive Driver or Smooth Operator?
The Chief of Police in Grafton MA, has a quiz if you’re not sure which you are, do you...
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