12/4/2015

Department Accountability
ITD releases user-friendly 2015 annual report
Providing a simple, condensed overview of the Idaho Transportation Department's work to ensure a safe and robust state transportation system, ITD's report of its 2015 activities is now available.
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Office of Highway Safety
Strong Highway Safety Partnerships fuel strategic planning workshop Dec. 1
Yes, steps remain to be taken on the journey Toward Zero Deaths on Idaho's highways. Yet, the five-year average number of fatalities has dropped from about 237 per year when the last strategic plan was finalized (guiding 2012-2016 efforts), to an average of 197 today, showing that we are moving in the right direction.
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Public Transportation
Bathrick’s first year as PT Manager filled with challenges, achievements
Mark Bathrick took the reins as the manager of ITD’s Public Transportation Office a year ago, in mid-November 2014. In the 12 months since, the section has been completely overhauled, creating initiatives that dovetail with the department’s overall vision, fostered an environment that spurs public transportation providers toward success, and also managed to save over $600,000 dollars in annual costs.
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Mature Drivers
New data show increase in older drivers on the road
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published new data Thursday that show a record-high 214.3 million licensed drivers in the U.S., including 95.9 million aged 50 or older in 2014. 
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Highway Safety
Traffic fatalities fall in 2014, but early estimates show 2015 trending higher
The nation saw a slight decline in traffic deaths during 2014. However, an increase in estimated fatalities during the first six months of this year reveals a need to reinvigorate the fight against deadly behavior on America's roads, the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced.
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Department History
From the ITD Vault 30 years ago (Nov. 1985): Last gap in I-86 dedicated with ceremonies
After a quarter of a century and $33 million, the final 21 miles of Interstate 86 through southern Idaho has been completed. Gov. John Evans led ceremonies marking the dedication of I-86 between Raft River and the Rockland Junction west of American Falls on Friday, Oct. 11. It was the only section between Pocatello and the Eastern Oregon border where the federal freeway highway system hadn’t been completed.
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AAA
Encore (11-25-15): AAA projects national average gasoline price falling below $2 per gallon by Christmas
With motor-fuel prices heading further downward this month, the AAA motor club projects that the national average price could fall below $2 a gallon by Christmas, for the first time since the recession year of 2009.
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Culture
Encore (11-25-15): "Support" was focus of November Constructive Culture Workshop
ITD's Training and Development Center was in disarray, with Popsicle sticks, paper clippings and masking tape littering tables. For Sandy Harris, workshop facilitator, the mess was proof of another successful Constructive Culture Workshop, held Nov. 16.
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