12/30/2011

Highway safety
Fatalities on pace for 50-year low
Idaho motor vehicle fatalities on pace for 50-year low As 2011 winds down, Idahoans can be thankful that motor vehicle fatalities in the state have declined dramatically, according to preliminary ITD statistics. With less than a week remaining in 2011, Idaho’s motor vehicle fatalities are on pace to be the lowest recorded since the state began tracking the statistics in the early 1960s.
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Highway safety
Traffic crashes claim high cost on society
Brent Jennings, PE Highway Safety Manager In the United States the annual societal cost of traffic crashes is $300 billion, more than three times the $98 billion cost of congestion, according to a report released by the auto club AAA. This report highlights the far-reaching economic impacts traffic crashes have on the nation and encourages that highway safety is made a top priority.
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Planning
Outreach planner to streamline public involvement decisions
From planning to construction and through maintenance, the public’s needs, concerns and questions must be considered and addressed. It’s all part of ITD’s efforts to improve public safety, enhance mobility and support economic opportunities.
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Volunteers
Education outreach activities to include more volunteers
For more than five years, ITD education outreach volunteers have shown countless Idaho young people that engineering and transportation-related activities can be interesting and sometimes even fun.
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Highway safety
One Team targets impaired holiday drivers across the Northwest
Local law enforcement agencies are using a new tool in the effort to locate and stop impaired drivers on Idaho highways this holiday season.
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Highway safety
New approach considered for spring breakup battle
Every spring, when the road surfaces begin to thaw, heavy loads can inflict serious damage to some of our highways. D-3 Maintenance is taking the lead in investigating methods to avoid this damage in frost-susceptible roads. In addition to D-3 involvement, the Spring Breakup Team is composed of ITD representatives from D-1, D-2, D-5 and D-6.
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In Memorium
Chuck Spickelmire succumbs to brain cancer
District 1, ITD mourn passing of Chuck Spickelmire District 1 employees are mourning the loss of Chuck Spickelmire, who died December 21, at his home after a valiant, two-year battle with brain cancer. He was 57.
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ITD Mailbox
Accolades
* Extension much appreciated * Superior DMV service
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2011 in review
Encore (12-23-11): News that made headlines in the 2011 Transporter
The Transporter takes a look at transportation and employee news that made2011 a landmark year for the department. Under the guidance of Director Brian Ness, the department completed an organizational transformation, and introduced a number of new measures to improve efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability and customer service.
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Transportation board
Encore (12-23-11): Board Chairman Darrell Manning announces retirement
Darrell V Manning announced his retirement this week as chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board. Manning has chaired the seven-member citizen board that oversees the Idaho Transportation Department since 2007. The chairman of the board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
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Highway safety
Encore (12-23-11): Annual kids calendar honors friends on a mission
The heartbreaking tragedy of a son lost to a traffic crash 10 years ago brought Phyllis Easteppe and Mary Hunter together as best friends and highway safety advocates. A decade of their efforts to save lives on Idaho highways was recognized last week during a ceremony in the Headquarters auditorium, marking the release of the 2012 Highway Safety Kids Calendar.
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DMV
Encore (12-23-11): GARNET project moving forward in modernization
The 3M sessions have already proven useful in looking at our processes both for today and the future. Along with the discoveries made during the JAD sessions and use case review, several business processes and forms have been or will be changed.
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