4/18/2014

Highways
City, officials celebrate groundbreaking for Meridian interchange
The bridge from the past to the future is not often an actual bridge, but in this case it is not just a theoretical concept. It is a tangible object, a structure built in 1965 that is in the process of being replaced. And not a moment too soon, in the minds of a lot of people gathered in a corner of the Home Depot parking lot Tuesday.
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2014 Highway Safety Summit
KU researcher tells safety summit participants why people drive distracted
A big contributor to distracted driving is the human brain, said a University of Kansas researcher to more than 200 people in Boise representing law enforcement, emergency medical services and highway safety. Professor Paul Atchley, associate chair of undergraduate studies and director of the Cognitive Psychology program at KU, was a keynote speaker at the 2014 Idaho Highway Safety Summit who guided summit participants on a tour through the “distracted” brain.
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Division of Motor Vehicles
Republic of China (Taiwan), Idaho continue 30-year partnership through signing of driver's license reciprocity agreement
Representatives of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) formally signed a reciprocity agreement this week that enables citizens of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Idaho to obtain a driver's license without taking a driving skills test, if they already have been tested and licensed in their home country.
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Employees
Register now for the Exercising Safety Challenge
Register now for the 10-week "Exercising Safety" challenge set to begin on April 26. This annual activity motivates ITD employees to begin or improve their regular exercise routine. This year's theme is tied to safety and you can earn rewards for your exercising efforts. See the registration form for more challenge details and the 2014 incentives for your options.
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Business Workshop
Women business owners may learn about federal contracting opportunities at free workshop in Boise
Women who own businesses may learn how to do business with the federal government at a free workshop held at the Idaho Transportation Department from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 23, in Boise. The program begins at 9 a.m. and will feature Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Maria Contreras-Sweet, newly appointed national Small Business Administration administrator.
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Public Transportation
Public transportation group's quarterly meeting planned for April 23
The Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC) will review annual funding recommendations, a 2014 Federal Transit Administration appropriation correction, application for New Freedom Program funding to assist people with disabilities and a fund-transfer request from southeast Idaho. The meeting will be held April 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hampton Inn and Suites, 7499 W. Overland, Boise.
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Transportation Board
Encore (4-11-14) Transportation board will hold its April 16 meeting in Lewiston
The transportation board will travel to Lewiston Wednesday for its monthly meeting. In a departure from past practices, the board will not take a day to tour the district. A tour of District 2 will be combined with a tour of District 1 in July. The group will still meet in the District 2 office to conduct its business meeting.
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Highway Safety
Encore (4-11-14) Campaign, awareness month remind motorists to pay attention to driving
Distracted driving is dangerous driving and a growing problem on the nation’s highways. To keep drivers safe, states across the country are joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's first coordinated national distracted-driving enforcement campaign: U Drive. U Text. U Pay. It runs April 10-15. The full month of April is designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
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Districts
Encore (4-11-14) D-6's Ruiz earns distinguished service award
Rayce Ruiz, D-6 land surveyor, received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the Idaho Society of Professional Land Surveyors this spring. ISPLS honored Ruiz at its 2014 conference in Pocatello in March. Ruiz is a 27-year employee of District 6, where he performs boundary surveys of public right of way and private property for project development.
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511 Traveler Services
Encore (4-11-14) ITD's new 511 app has successful first week
The first week on the market proved quite successful for the latest ITD innovation – a 511 travel information app for smartphones. The new app for iPhone and Android phone users rolled out April 1. By April 8, the 511 app had seen 2,399 new users since the initial release. Of that total, 1,124 use the Android operating system, and 1,275 use Apple iOS.
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