3/28/2014

Transportation Board
Workshop, audits and a project request highlight March board activities
Internal Review Office’s annual report on audits, a request to add a new project to the State Board Unallocated Program and a workshop on the strategy to update the Statewide Transportation topped transportation board activities at the group’s March 19 meeting. ITD employee service awards also were distributed during the meeting.
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Innovate ITD!
ITD launches “Innovate ITD!” SharePoint tool
Enthusiastic interest and participation in "Innovate ITD!" by department employees from districts through Headquarters' staff prompted the Innovative Business Practices (IBP) team to simplify its idea collection process. The new Innovate ITD SharePoint tool and site launched today. It provides a link to submit ideas and innovation wins, or an opportunity to get inspired by a list of current submissions.
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511 Traveler Services
ITD rolls out new Idaho Traveler Services 511 app April 1
Traveler Information will be available through a new Idaho Transportation Department 511 smart-phone application (app) beginning April 1, because of work that began last year to make this vital information available to iPhone and Android phone users. Links to download the free 511 app for both types of phone may be found on ITD’s 511 Travel Information page at 511.idaho.gov.
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Districts
District 1 makes Rathdrum grade-schoolers see red and yellow
Approximately 400 grade-schoolers in Rathdrum will see a variety of new colors in May and June, thanks to the North Idaho office of the Idaho Transportation Department and 20 lbs. of wildflower seed donated for a Mother's Day planting. Early in February, ITD was contacted by Mrs. Fonda Stewart's fourth-grade class at John Brown Elementary in Rathdrum about participating in the wildflower program. That's when Andrea Littlefield and Keith Viebrock sprang into action.
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Public Transportation
New veteran's transportation program announced
A new service offered to military veterans, their families and other Idahoans to make transportation options easier to find was recently unveiled at the Idaho Statehouse. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo worked with the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI), local veterans' service groups, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, the U.S. Department of Transportation and M2 Traffic Management, LLC to establish the new transportation resource directory for Idaho, FindMyIdahoRide.org.
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Innovation
Encore (3-21-14) D-4 survey effort garners state, national recognition
“This project was full of adventure. There were railroad, canal, and river crossings; swamps to crawl and steep rocky cliffs to climb to locate monuments,” read the award application. The project included "aerial mapping and a multitude of paperwork to get the entire project described and prepared.” Who knew an old county road could be so full of challenge and intrigue? Nevertheless, the Idaho 46-Buhl to Wendell corridor is now recorded, defined, and ready for a future for roadway improvements.
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Service Awards
Encore (3-21-14) Board honors employees for service, retirements
The ITD board and the department’s executive team and employees honored colleagues who reached important career milestones Wednesday at the semiannual Headquarters Employee Service Awards program. Forty employees and 17 retirees were recognized at a ceremony held during the transportation board’s March meeting.
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Customer Service
Encore (3-21-14) District 3's Development Services singled out by Sali for praise
ITD's Development Services group in District 3 was recently the object of praise from former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali for assistance on a permitted-access request. On Feb. 25, D-3 Engineering Manager (Development), Amy Schroeder, received a forwarded call from the front desk. The person identified himself as Sali and stated that he had just had the most wonderful experience with a state agency, and that Dave Szplett had provided excellent customer service.
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Employees
ITD asphalt binder technicians achieve national certification
Congratulations are in order to Bob Engelmann, Bill Fogg, Blair Barrington and Sandra Alberti for becoming nationally certified under the National Binder Technician Certification (NBTC) program. ITD hosted the certification training with participants from other agencies and industry.
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