2/12/2016

District 1
District 1 office earns $85,000 energy rebate for LED lights along I-90
D1 recently earned an $85,411 rebate for replacing the light bulbs along Interstate 90 between Washington and Montana with energy-efficient LED lighting that creates better visual clarity for the safety of drivers. The rebate also included the switch to LED lighting in the main department office in Coeur d’Alene.
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Idaho Transportation Board
Alternative Transportation, compensation change and winter-operations update highlight Board’s Feb. 18 meeting
A program to explore alternative transportation projects, a possible change in employee compensation and an update of winter-operational systems will be discussed by the Idaho Transportation Board at its Feb. 18 meeting in Boise.
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Research
Department partnering with WTI to investigate wildlife-detection system to improve driver safety
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Research Program has initiated a project to evaluate the performance of an innovative wildlife-detection system that may bring improved safety to area highways by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, personal injury and property damage.
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Social media
Department encourages employees to follow Facebook, Twitter accounts
In the summer of 2009, the department jumped into the world of social media, opening Facebook and Twitter accounts. Since then, the agency has amassed more than 3,150 friends on Facebook and 5,530 followers on Twitter. Now comes the next step: asking employees to follow ITD.
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District 2
Early February driver assist on Lolo Pass earns kudos for D2's Johnson
Brian Bidlake and his father were traveling from Lewiston to Missoula in the first week of February when the transmission in his father's truck failed as they climbed Lolo Pass on the Idaho side of the hill. Bidlake feared the failure, at about 7:30 p.m., meant a long night in the middle of nowhere. Enter D2's Jim Johnson.
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Customer Service
Changes to Right-of-Way program produce dramatic results
When Idaho Transportation Department Director Brian Ness challenged the agency to improve its customer service and reduce costs, the department’s Right-of-Way program took that challenge and produced dramatic results.
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U.S. DOT
U.S. DOT celebrates 50th birthday Feb. 3
Six former secretaries of transportation  — including the very first (Alan Boyd) — took the stage in Washington, D.C., Feb 3 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The event marked the kickoff ceremony for a year-long celebration.
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Donate Life
April ceremony will highlight personal connections to organ donation
The Idaho Transportation Department and Intermountain Donor Services will hoist the Donate Life flag Wednesday, April 20, as part of National Donate Life Month in April. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the ITD Headquarters’ Auditorium at 3311 W. State St. Besides attending the brown-bag event, transportation department employees are asked to share their personal experiences with the life-saving program.
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Public Transportation
PTAC holds first meeting of new year Feb. 17 in Boise
The Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC) will meet new public transportation grant officers, hear an overview and update of the program, and participate in a workshop Wednesday, Feb. 17, in Boise.
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District 2
Encore (02-05-16): Osprey's new housing enables inspections at Dent bridge over Dworshak
An environmental innovation may finally allow inspection of the overhead cable saddles on the 1,500-foot-long Dent Bridge spanning the Dworshak Reservoir on the North Fork of the Clearwater River north of Orofino.
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District 1
Encore (02-05-16): ITD’s northern Idaho office first in region to be named Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador
ITD’s office in northern Idaho received the National Weather Service’s Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador designation Jan. 27, the first transportation agency in the region to receive the special status. Those designated as ambassadors are asked to serve as change agents and leaders in their communities, providing an example of preparedness to others.
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Innovation
Encore (02-05-16): ITD innovation team wants your ideas
Innovations have been critical to ITD’s success, saving more than $700,000 during the new “Innovate ITD!” effort that began in February 2014. The results from empowering ITD employees to spend more time innovating has delighted the users of the state’s transportation system – the citizens and businesses of Idaho.
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Young Leaders
Encore (02-05-16): Idaho schools earn recognition, cash for highway safety outreach efforts
Safer driving is an important benefit for young people participating in highway safety projects nationwide. Extra cash for their schools is also a big motivator.
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ITD Emergency Program
Encore (01-29-16): Training offered about managing ITD emergencies
Possible mail contamination prompted a lockdown of ITD’s main building at Headquarters in Boise on April 6, 2015. Although the powder proved to be harmless, the incident served as a wake-up call for employees and resulted in a thorough review of ITD’s procedures for evacuations and lockdowns. ITD now has a robust plan for responding.
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