12/24/2014

Idaho Transportation Board
Rural construction, revenue and freight topped transportation board’s December agenda
Providing funding for rural construction and planning efforts, revenue issues and a report from the Freight Advisory committee led discussion when the Idaho Transportation Board held its monthly meeting Dec. 18 in Boise.
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Tracking Santa
The naughty and the nice can track Santa this Christmas
Beginning Dec. 24 at 2:01 a.m. EST, visitors to the NORAD Tracks Santa site (www.noradsanta.org) can use 2D and 3D tracking maps — known as Santa Trackers — to follow Santa on his annual journey around the globe.
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Districts
District 3 Christmas Party features food, toys, more food
District 3 employees and retirees celebrated their annual Christmas gathering Dec. 18. Besides a buffet-style lunch, the gathering included door prizes, Christmas basket raffle and donation of toys to the Marines Toys of Tots charitable program. Due to the sheer amount of food, the one-day buffet turned into a several day leftover de-jour, with all the fixings.
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Aviation History
Pioneers of Idaho’s Aerial Mail Routes
In Idaho, like Alaska, backcountry aerial mail contracts replaced slower dog-sled, horse- and foot-powered transportation in the early 1900s, based primarily on the demands of an increased population base in remote locations due to the establishment of mining towns. The first major contracted aerial mail carriers in the 1930s were Bennett Air Transport Company and Johnson Flying Service.
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Aeronautics
Annual Aeronautics Art Contest showcases students’ love for aviation
Students in grades K-12 can express their love for aviation through artwork during the annual aviation art contest sponsored by Idaho’s Division of Aeronautics through Feb. 27. A love affair with flight usually begins at an early age, and art may be the perfect medium to express that affection.
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Districts
Reconstruction of Cotterell Rest Area wins 2014 ACEC Engineering Excellence Award
The reconstruction of the Cotterell Rest Area on at milepost 229, about seven miles toward Utah from the Interstate 84/Interstate 86 split, has earned a first- place award from the ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) of Idaho. In addition to rebuilding the west- and eastbound restroom facilities and revamping the water and wastewater systems, crews also lengthened the entry and exit lanes to the rest area from the freeway to improve drivers’ safety.
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Department History
Encore (12-19-14): Check out more memories from ITD's 25-year time capsule
This is the second of two parts regarding the contents of the capsule. This first part explored WHO was inside (photos) - this week, explore WHAT was inside (memorabilia).
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Districts
Encore (12-19-14): Removing trees substantially improves safety along U.S. 20 corridor near Island Park
Removing trees along U.S. 20, south of Island Park, significantly improved traffic safety in the years since the tree removal. Clearing trees on each side of a seven-mile stretch of the highway several years ago, to create greater visibility for drivers, has helped reduce crashes by 31 percent.
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Accountability
Encore (12-19-14): ITD publishes new user-friendly annual report
ITD’s goal of greater transparency and accountability took a significant step forward with release of a simplified and condensed four-page annual report of the department’s activities this year. The new citizen-oriented format is more visually appealing, and includes a transportation overview, department accomplishments and performance measures, financial information, revenue trends and future focus areas. The report has been submitted for a certificate of excellence by the Association of Government Accountants.
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