9/2/2011

Security
Painful lessons of Sept. 11, 2001, remain a decade later
Robert Feeley, Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security The tragic events that unfolded 10 years ago, on September 11th, left an indelible mark on America and brought the realities of international terrorism to our homeland.  In Idaho, the tragedy brought home the need to prepare for not only natural disasters, but also the ones caused by those who seek to harm our people, infrastructure and institutions. 
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Highways
Construction projects take break for Labor Day weekend
Highway construction projects take break for Labor Day weekend Work that may impact travel will be suspended on all ITD highway construction projects statewide for the Labor Day weekend, except in special circumstances. In most cases, work will resume Tuesday (Sept. 6) or Wednesday (Sept. 7). ITD requires contractors on highway construction projects to postpone work on any state roadway, except for normal maintenance operations, during the extended holiday weekend if the work would delay the traveling public.
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Highways
Rockfall project to result in lengthy U.S. 95 closures
A safety project to remove loose rock and secure a steep slope above U.S. 95 will result in significant daytime closures at the top of White Bird Grade, beginning Sept. 20. The highway will be closed to all vehicles for intervals up to 90 minutes on weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. for rockfall mitigation. Closure periods are scheduled to accommodate U.S. Postal Service mail trucks and local school bus schedules.
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Administration
ITD launches study of office spaces at Headquarters
ITD launched a space needs analysis of the Headquarters office complex last month to ensure the most efficient use of work areas under the new organizational structure. As a result of the realignment process, some supervisors now work in locations that are not immediately accessible to the employees they supervise.
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Highways
Eastern Idaho highways to be filled with bike racers Sept. 10
More than 1,000 riders from throughout the country are expected for the 29th annual LoToJa bicycle classic that begins in Logan, Utah, cuts through southeast Idaho and finishes north of Jackson, Wyo. The course takes riders on U.S 91 to Preston and north on Idaho 36 to the junction with U.S. 89, north of Border, Wyo.
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Highway safety
Patrols for impaired drivers planned for holiday weekend
ITD reminds motorists to make the right choice and not drive impaired this Labor Day weekend. Law enforcement officers throughout Idaho are on the lookout for impaired drivers as part of a nationwide Labor Day mobilization targeting drunk driving under way through Sept. 6.
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Construction
Topaz bridge project, foam fill featured in ASCE magazine
A project that uses unique fill material on the approaches to the new Topaz is featured on the cover of Geo-Strata magazine. The publication is produced by the American Society of Civil Engineers and focuses on unique construction techniques. Construction of a new Topaz Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad and Portneuf Marsh Valley Canal east of McCammon incorporates large foam blocks as fill material for the bridge approaches
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Multimodal
Hot air baloon makes unexpected landing at Headquarters
As if to emphasize the multimodal aspect of transportation in Idaho, a hot air balloon visited the ITD Headquarters complex this week. It made an unexpected landing on a lawn between the Annex and Mailroom, drawing a small crowd of new admirers. It wasn't the first balloon to land on the lawn -- and perhaps will not be the last.
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Employees
Credit union prepares to open Meridian branch
Icon Credit Union, created as a financial institution for state transportation employees, has extended its reach in the Treasure Valley to Meridian. Construction of the new branch is finished and will formally open Sept. 12. The new branch is located at 485 W. Overland Road, next to the Meridian Lowe’s Home Improvement Store and across from Roaring Springs Water Park.
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Funding
AASHTO joins President in urging funding solution
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) this week joined President Barack Obama in urging Congress to extend legislation to fund Federal highway and transit programs as a prelude to completing a new reauthorization bill.
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National attention
Encore: (8-26-11) ITD generosity helps create junk removal empire
You never know what will attract national attention. Sometimes you don’t even need to pursue notoriety, it just lands in your lap. ITD played a minor role in a television segment that aired this week on ABC’s Nightline news magazine program. But you had to listen carefully to hear it.
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Aeronautics, highways
Encore: (8-26-11) ITD partners team up for first backcountry airstrip paving
A unique partnership of ITD highway personnel, workers from its Division of Aeronautics and a private contractor combined to accomplish something never done before in Idaho. ITD celebrated completion of a paving project on a section of the Stanley airstrip this week. It is the first of the 31 airstrips owned or operated by ITD to receive an asphalt surface.
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Highway safety
Encore: (8-26-11) Idaho STAR reports motorcycle crashes declining
Motorcycle crashes and fatalities on Idaho roadways are down, according to information released by Idaho STAR, the state’s motorcycle rider-training program. Initial numbers for 2011 appear to be substantially lower in comparison to prior years, based on unofficial first- and second-quarter.
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Employees
Encore: (8-26-11) Gregorys make ITD a family affair
Sometimes a last name is so common that you may not realize the connection immediately. Sometimes it takes years to figure it out. Richard Gregory retired from ITD’s District 3 Special Crew in 2008. Years earlier, Jeramie Gregory came from eastern Idaho to the Marsing shed. Same last name, but “Gregory” is not at all uncommon.
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Employees
Encore: (8-26-11) NCPERS open enrollment accepted through Nov. 30
PERSI retirement members are eligible to purchase additional term life insurance through HealthSmart NCPERS (underwritten by Prudential). The downloadable brochure details the coverage available. If you are interested in applying for this coverage please fill in the sections of the enrollment application (last page of the brochure), print, sign and date and return the completed form to Human Resource Services or your District Business Office.
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Highways
Encore: (8-26-11) Four projects request federal scenic byway funds
Funding has been requested through the Federal Highways Administration’s scenic byway program for four projects in Idaho, according to ITD’s Division of Transportation Performance. A newsletter distributed last week by the division lists the following excerpts from the application narratives for each of the successful projects.
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