2/7/2014
Governor's Office
Governor launches interagency rapid response team to support job growth
In an effort to "Accelerate Idaho" and expand career opportunities for Idaho citizens, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter recently named an interagency rapid response team responsible for collaborating quickly and efficiently when businesses are interested in launching, growing or relocating in Idaho.
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Enterprise Technology Services
Phone system upgrade planned for President's Day weekend
While many ITD employees will enjoy a long President's Day weekend (Feb. 14-17), a major upgrade to the phone system will be underway at the same time. Enterprise Technology Services, district IT staff and a local vendor will begin upgrading the department's phone system at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb.14, and continue through Monday, Feb. 17. The phone system, including voice mail, will be down for extended periods during that time.
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Highway Safety
Crossing the line has consequences
As hard as it is to believe, at times while growing up I would exhibit bad behavior. My mother would remind me if "I crossed the line, the consequences would not be pleasant." No truer words were ever spoken! Lane-departure crashes (crossing the line) contribute to almost half of the total economic cost of crashes in Idaho. This includes run-off-the-road and head-on crashes (the most severe types of crash). Crossing the painted line on the pavement can result in severe consequences.
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Employees
ITD Twilight Golf League forming; sign up now
Golfers ready for some fun are organizing now for the 2014 ITD Twilight Golf League. All ITD and FHWA employees and their families and friends are welcome to play in the league. Monday night league play begins April 21 and continues through Aug. 25 at Shadow Valley Golf Course along Idaho 55 north of Boise.
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Preparedness
Use portable electric generators safely
It does not take a major event for the electricity to go out in a house. A vehicle accident or a short, but intense, storm could temporarily knock out the power to an area of town. Responses to these types of events are pretty quick and backup power tends not to be an issue for homeowners. But what about a prolonged power outage due to a much larger event? A portable electric generator could be the answer.
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Educational Outreach
Free workshops in eastern and southern Idaho Feb. 11-13 show how to do business with government
Learn basic guidelines for doing business with the government at free workshops in eastern and southern Idaho Feb. 11-13. The program will feature presenters from the ITD, the Idaho Department of Commerce, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Forest Service and Mountain Home Air Force Base.
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Young Driver Safety
Safety courses offered in Pocatello, Blackfoot for young drivers
Making young drivers safer drivers is the goal of Alive at 25, an innovative defensive driving course offered this month by the Pocatello and Blackfoot police departments. The Pocatello Police Department will offer a class Feb. 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pocatello Police substation near Fred Meyer at 800 Yellowstone. The Blackfoot Police Department will offer its class Feb. 24, from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Blackfoot City Hall, 157 N. Broadway St.
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New youth safety coalition formed in Meridian
A new coalition was recently formed in Meridian to help promote youth safety, as motor vehicle crashes continue to be the number one killer of young people. Meridian Advocates for Youth Safety (MAYS) will hold its first meeting Thursday (Feb. 13) at 4 p.m. at the Meridian Police Department, 1401 E. Watertower Street in Meridian. Everyone interested in being involved in youth safety is invited to participate.
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In Memoriam
Former ISP director and ITD friend passes away at 63
The state of Idaho lost a long-time public servant in late January, and those with Idaho State Police and ITD lost a colleague and friend. Former director of the Idaho State Police, Colonel Dan Charboneau, passed away at the age of 63, following complications from pneumonia. People who knew him say, as great of a cop as he was, he was a better man.
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Legislature
Encore (1-31-14) Ness outlines progress to Senate, House transportation committees
Director Brian Ness talked about budget, structural and cultural changes occurring at ITD and the department's focus for 2014 to the House and Senate transportation committees at the Capitol Tuesday. He provided a brief overview of the governor's FY 2015 budget recommendation, a review of the department's current sources of revenue and the status of current federal funding. He discussed also ITD's changing culture, benefits of realignment and the department's strategic plan.
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Outstanding Customer Service
Encore (1-31-14) Bridge Asset Management group completes manual on evaluation of structures
The department's Bridge Asset Management (BAM) group recently completed a comprehensive manual to document what they do and how they do it. It was the perfect convergence of need and opportunity – the need came from entities, particularly FHWA, requesting the document. The opportunity came thanks to some new staff members with time to compile the manual.
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Information Techology
Encore (1-31-14) ETS team provides failover capability for critical department systems
ITD's critical information technology systems have new backup capability because of a group effort by Enterprise Technology Services staff members during January's three-day weekend. In case of emergency, ITD now has the capability to "failover," or switch, systems located at the department to back-up systems located at the State Controller's Office.
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Public Involvement
Encore (1-31-14) ITD updates Project Outreach Planner
ITD and the Office of Communications have rolled out an updated version of the Public Outreach Planner (POP). The POP is an online, interactive tool that helps guide the department's public involvement decision-making process. The newest feature of the online tool is a unique POP Tracking Workbook. The workbook is designed to help project teams track and document public involvement throughout the life of a project.
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