6/29/2012

Highway safety
Caution urged as Idahoans embark on holiday travel
Work that could impact travel will be suspended on all ITD highway construction projects statewide July 3-5 for the Fourth of July holiday, except in special circumstances. ITD requires contractors on highway construction projects to postpone work on any highway, except for normal maintenance operations, during the extended holiday weekend if it could delay the traveling public.
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TIGER grant
Lewiston port to receive $1.3 million federal TIGER grant
The Port of Lewiston – Idaho’s only seaport – will receive a $1.3 million federal grant to expand its dock and increase its cargo-handling capacity. It was among 47 transportation projects in 34 states selected to receive the latest round of TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) funds.
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ACE Academy
Teenagers given opportunity to look down on their world
Teenagers from throughout the state and two from Spokane learned aviation from the ground up and the sky down this week as part of the annual Aviation Career Education academy sponsored by ITD. Most students agreed the academy highlight was a flight to several rural airstrips.
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DMV
Renewals now possible 25 months before expiration
Idaho drivers and holders of state-issued identification cards can apply for renewals more than two years before their current licenses and cards expire under provisions of legislation approved this year. In the past, renewals could be requested up to 12 months before the expiration date.
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Educational outreach
Students learn advantage of school during ITD tour
ITD’s Headquarters complex looked much like a school campus recently when more than 100 young people from Canyon County’s 2C Science Camp spent a day learning about the importance of school. Department volunteers guided small groups through the East Annex where they watched chemistry, geotechnical and structure demonstrations
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Girls State
Student takes unofficial reins of ITD for a day
Alyse Hull of Rockland was one of several hundred girls from across Idaho participating in the annual Girls State program sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary last week. The one-week summer activity introduces young women to basic principles of government. Hull served as ITD director during the session.
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Educational outreach
Boy Scouts earn badges, plow virtual snow during ITD visit
Earning a new traffic safety merit badge was on the minds of 24 Boy Scouts last week, but the opportunity to take a spin in the snowplow simulator also caught their interest.
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Mobility
Public asked to weigh in on freight transportation
ITD wants suggestions from the public on improvements that would strengthen the state’s freight transportation network and improve the economy. Potential improvements to the freight system are part of the transportation department’s strategic goals to improve safety, mobility and economic opportunity.
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Highways
Construction to begin on STAR-financed interchange
A project to construct a new interchange on Interstate 90 and Beck Road is under way. The project will address the future traffic demands associated with growth at the western edge of Post Falls near the Washington state border.
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Accolades
Encore (6-22-12): Projects, individuals honored for transportation excellence
ITD presented awards for project design and development, public participation and professional contributions last week at the Idaho Transportation Board meeting in Boise. The Excellence in Transportation Awards are given annually for development, planning and implementation of transportation projects.
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Environment, safety
Encore (6-22-12): 'Living' snow fence to improve U.S. 20 safety
Drivers on U.S. 20 from Mountain Home to Fairfield will see a new structure soon in the flat landscape dominated by sagebrush, barbed wire fences, and, in the winter, snowdrifts. In mid-May, crews from ITD’s Mountain Home maintenance shed installed a 1,600-foot “living snow fence” along the highway, between mileposts 109 and 110,
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Adopt-A-Highway
Encore (6-22-12): One clean mile deserves another ... and another
Give people an inch and they'll take a mile. Give them two miles and they’ll grab four miles … or six … or more. Gretchen Sherlin and her partner and husband Mike Harkins wanted to help preserve the scenic beauty of central Idaho so they volunteered for ITD’s Adopt-A-Highway program.
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Educational outreach
Encore (6-22-12): Strauss, Tipuric promote engineering profession at e-Girls
Young women attending the e-Girls Workshop at Boise State University didn’t need to look far for a few good role models. ITD outreach volunteers Karen Strauss and Sajonara Tipuric provided a glimpse of their lives as transportation department engineers to nearly 40 young women at BSU’s e-Girls program.
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Employees
Encore (6-22-12): D-1's Rearden repeats as top driver at state 'roadeo'
Mike Rearden returned to a familiar home recently -- the winner's circle -- after winning the 2012 ITD truck roadeo. Rearden successfully defended his individual title as the department's top equipment operator. He and runner-up Mark Porter qualified for a berth at the national finals this fall in Colorado.
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Employees
Encore (6-22-12): Financial help sought for ITD burnout victim
A range fire that swept through an area near Mountain Home recently destroyed 12-15 buildings and damaged or consumed six homes, including that of ITD’s Clyde Charbonneau.
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Highway safety
Encore (6-22-12): Fatality rate declining for teenage drivers
Okay, here goes, I am going to date myself. Many (many, many) years ago my parents woke up on an early June morning, and I am sure probably looked at each other and over their cup of coffee choked those immortal words of “Oh my god, he is heading off to driver's training today.”
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