7/29/2011

Realignment
Director's streamlining effort captures national attention
In a new Two-Minute State DOT Update video, ITD Director Brian Ness, says that since taking office in January 2010, he initiated a plan to improve customer service, efficiency, and accountability and save $3.5 million in personnel costs.
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Safe driving
ITD introduces new website for teen drivers, parents
ITD’s Office of Highway Safety offers young drivers and their parents an online resource promoting safe driving among young adults and provides a way for them to learn more about responsible driving. The website, at www.idahoteendriving.org, provides resources and articles about safe driving for teenage drivers, young adult drivers, parents and even children, who may one day become drivers.
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Contested case
Hearing officer denies request to reconsider ruling
Idaho hearing officer and retired district Judge Duff McKee today rejected a motion for reconsideration from opponents of megaloads of oil equipment on U.S. Highway 12, but the opponents say they'll now file another objection.
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Highways
Repairs cause weeklong detour on Idaho 55 near Marsing
Despite temperatures hovering near triple digits, Sunday began as a normal day for off-duty District 3 maintenance staff. Until about 3:30 p.m. The afternoon tranquility was interrupted with a report that an irrigation culvert had failed, bringing failure to Idaho 55 that crossed over the culvert just west of Marsing. ITD closed the road to traffic at about 4:30 p.m.
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Highways
Abandoned water line leak damage U.S. 30
Repairs will begin this week and extend into next week after an abandoned water line under U.S. 30 filled with irrigation water and caused the road to sink in on Wednesday (July 27). The pipe has been temporarily plugged by the City of Buhl water department.
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Highways
ITD probes underbelly of stately Perrine Bridge
Underneath the Perrine Bridge, as drivers put up with the bottleneck he created, Jim Holland looked up. He maneuvered the bucket on the Reach All Truck to move closer to the bottom of the bridge, for a better look at the details of its welds and to check the integrity of thousands of bolts
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Outreach
ITD schedules fall tour to meet with legislators
ITD will conduct legislative outreach meetings in each of its districts this fall to introduce the department’s new structure and outline issues that might surface during the 2012 Legislature. Although the meetings provide an opportunity to familiarize legislators with the department, the primary intent is to allow Legislators to determine the discussion topics and to ask questions of attending ITD representatives.
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Aeronautics
ITD helps with research on Friedman airport
It’s a small airport, tucked in the shadows of the Sawtooth Mountains. But it attracts a lot of attention from skiers and winter vacationers. With the assistance of ITD Aeronautics staff, Friedman Memorial Airport near Hailey hit the world tarmac this month.
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Bridges
Magazine article looks at Idaho's concrete bridges, past and future
State Bridge Engineer Matt Farrar provided an extensive overview of Idaho’s use of concrete bridges for the spring edition of Aspires – The concrete Bridge Magazine. The three-page article, “Spanning the Past and Future” and six accompanying photos were included in the “State” section of the professional publication.
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Employees
Supplemental life insurance rates to change Aug. 5
A change in monthly premiums for employees taking advantage of the State Supplemental Life policy will go into effect on the Aug. 5 paycheck. Rates are based on an employee’s age as of July 1, 2011. Employees whose age falls into a new category will notice the premium change.
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Communication
Encore (7-22-11): Transporter survey designed to make improvements
The Transporter has been an important information tool for employees since the Department of Highways became the Idaho Transportation Department in the 1970s. Like the department and the industry, the Transporter has steadily evolved. In 2002 it moved from a twice-monthly printed publication that was distributed to employees on payday weeks to a weekly online publication accessible on the Intranet and Internet.
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Employees
Encore (7-22-11): Brown-bag lunch series to focus on diversity22
ITD’s workforce is evolving, like workforces across the nation. Employees are applying fresh ideas and different perspectives to the ambitious goal of being the best transportation department in the country. Great energy comes from people with different backgrounds and viewpoints working together in new combinations and situations.
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Highways
Encore (7-22-11): Construction projects power economic engine
Highway construction projects remain one of the state’s most powerful economic engines in the midst of recovery. A report this week by the Idaho Business Review indicates how strong that engine is and the role ITD plays in fueling it. Eight ITD projects are listed in the publication’s recent Top Projects of 2011.
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Technology
Encore (7-22-11): Project Management Office receives ITRMC award
ITD’s new project management process, created as part of its commitment to improve efficiency, received a state technology award from the Information Technology Resource Management Council (ITRMC) this week in Boise. “ITD’s Project Management Office (PMO), a Center of Excellence” received the award for Data, Information and Knowledge Management.
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DMV
Encore (7-22-11): 3M working on Dealer Accounting sections
Since ITD signed the modernization contract with 3M, work on the GARNET (Giving customers a secure Automated Records Network) project has proceeded at a very fast pace. 3M experts have been on-site and spend every other week at ITD Headquarters working diligently with ITD staff.
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Planning
Encore (7-22-11): Utah's web-based planning tool to be demonstrated
John Thomas, planning director for the Utah Department of Transportation, and representatives from a Utah consulting firm will give a presentation next month on a creative web-based tool his department uses to interact with the public in project planning.
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