5/2/2014

Headquarters
Merrick, Main join ITD management makeover
Karen Merrick and Carl Main became the latest additions to the ITD Headquarters' facelift, accepting promotions to the top spots in Construction/Materials and Design/Traffic April 28. Merrick is the new Materials/Construction engineer for the Division of Engineering Services. Main is the new Design/Traffic engineer.
Continue

Headquarters
Szplett takes over Right-of-Way Division manager position at Headquarters
The makeover at the top of the ITD Headquarters' structure continued with the promotion of Dave Szplett to the manager position for ITD¹s Right-of-Way section. Szplett¹s first day on the job was Monday (April 28). Karen Merrick was serving as joint manager of pavement performance and right of way until the realignment. Szplett is the first full-time manager for this division in some time.
Continue

Districts
Pair of young ITD intern engineers finish first, second in regional competition
A pair of young engineers with ITD experience recently placed at the top of a weekend-long engineering competition involving 19 regional colleges and universities. Lauren Nuxoll (currently a District 3 intern) finished in first place as leader of a team from Boise State University, while Kyle Staab (a summer intern at District 2) co-led a second-place squad from the University of Idaho in the ASCE Pacific Northwest Conference.
Continue

Highway Safety
Learn about bicycle, pedestrian and traffic safety issues Tuesday at Headquarters
Confusion about traffic laws regarding bicyclists and motorists may lead to serious injury and death. Idaho Transportation Department statistics show that one Idaho bicyclist was injured or killed every 27 hours during 2013, which is nearly one per day. ITD and local bicycle- and pedestrian-safety advocates will host an open house from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at ITD Headquarters.
Continue

Governor's Office
Gov. Otter boosts government transparency with public records order
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter signed an executive order last week creating an ombudsman position in his office to review and begin the process of improving how governments in Idaho respond to public records requests from citizens and the news media.
Continue

Transportation Board
Encore (4-25-14) Board learns about area transportation issues at Lewiston meeting
Regional public-transportation activities, work to improve truck safety on Lewiston Hill, commerce concerns about restrictions on Idaho 55, partnerships with the city of Moscow and an airport runway project led discussion at the transportation board’s April 16 meeting in Lewiston.
Continue

Headquarters
Encore (4-25-14) Points, Crider assume new roles at department
Tom Points and Monica Crider will assume new positions within the department before the end of the month, following their recent promotions announced April 17. Crider will be the new contracting services engineer and Points the new transportation systems engineer.
Continue

Headquarters
Encore (4-25-14) GIS completes updating department’s milepoint logs
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) section at ITD has generated new and current milepoint logs, using Network Manager, the linear referencing system for the department. Milepoint logs contain "events," such as bridges, passing lanes, intersections, historical sites and overhead utility crossings, that occur along state highways and local highways that receive federal aid.
Continue

Highways
Encore (4-25-14) ITD design-build project southwest of Eagle wins engineering excellence award
The reconstruction of Idaho 44 from Linder Road to Ballantyne Lane, completed in October 2013, won an award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Idaho at their Engineering Excellence awards luncheon April 14 in Boise. It was ITD's first design-build project. Central Paving was the contractor and Horrocks was the lead designer.
Continue

Aeronautics
Encore (4-25-14) ACE Academy offers teenagers chance to learn about careers in aviation
Navigating small airplanes, controlling air traffic and exploring Blackhawk helicopters are all part of the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy, June 16-18, hosted by ITD's Division of Aeronautics in Boise. Thirty teenagers will have the opportunity to participate in the academy, which is open to high school students ages 14-18. The deadline for submitting applications is May 9.
Continue