8/31/2012

Education outreach
ISU students see real-world application of engineering lessons
It got up close and real for Idaho State University engineering students when they toured ITD Headquarters’ laboratories and watched how concepts learned in classrooms solve everyday transportation engineering challenges. Four graduate and four undergraduate students along with instructors traveled to Boise recently for a tour of Headquarters and District 3 facilities.
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Drive to be the Best
ITD bridge management highlighted in USDOT publication
The U.S. Department of Transportation acknowledged ITD’s new bridge management program to be one of the best in the country in Focus Magazine, its quarterly publication that accelerates infrastructure innovations. Focus pointed to the improvement of ITD’s bridge program, along with those in Michigan and Virginia as being among the most innovative.
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AASHTO
Cole named to special committee
Idaho Transportation Department Chief Engineer Tom Cole has been named to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Special Committee on Joint Development (SCOJD). AASHTO President and Michigan Department of Transportation Secretary Kirk Steudle announced the appointment.
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Yes! Idaho
Idaho honored for participation level in donor program
Idaho, with major support from ITD and its Division of Motor Vehicles, was honored this year for its level of participation in a national organ, tissue and eye donor program. Because of that participation, Idaho became one of 10 states nationwide to receive a gold medal for helping Idahoans to become donors.
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Highway safety
Report helps target highway safety efforts
Good guidance is very important to the safety and well being of our lives on a daily basis. Knowing where we are now and where we are going in the future is critical to success. If you have ever tried to put a swing set together without reading the instructions you probably know what I am talking about.
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Highway safety
School participates in national youth safety program
Congratulations go out to Mountain View High School in Meridian for being invited by the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) and selected as one of seven teams from across the nation to host youth-led teen driver safety rallies for the “Safest Summer Ever.”
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Highway safety
Boise drivers ranked second nationally by Allstate
Boise drivers are a little safer on the highway than they were last year, but there isn’t much room for more improvement, at least in rankings by a national insurance company. Based on population and the frequency of crashes, Boise drivers can expect to travel nearly 14 years without having an accident, suggests a report issued this week by Allstate Insurance.
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Road rescue
Incident response comes to aid of wayward traveler
When we first saw Vinnie, Jim Cherry of District 3’s Incident Response unit was plucking him off the freeway in early June just outside of Boise. A motorist called ITD that morning to say Vinnie had “fallen” out of a car that was traveling Interstate 84.
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Hispanic culture
How has Hispanic culture impacted you?
Piñatas, the quinceañera and salsa are fun contributions Hispanic culture has made to life in the United States and the rest of the world. National Hispanic Awareness Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Are there ways Hispanic culture has found its way into your home? Maybe it’s food, décor or through television. Let us know. Please send your experiences to steve.grant@itd.idaho.gov by Sept. 7.
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Highway maintenance
Construction to start on new Murphy maintenance shed
Construction is expected to begin as early as mid-September on a new maintenance shed in Murphy about two miles east of town. The facility will improve snowplow coverage on the rural highways and service to the residents in that area. The new Murphy shed is being built on a 10-acre parcel ITD recently acquired.
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Wildland protection
Tips available on preparing for wildfires
Firefighters are making progress on the largest wildfires in central Idaho and hope for containment in September. But those fires prompt reminders for property owners to prepare their cabins and recreational land in advance to limit damage if fires occur.
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Emergency program
Encore (8-24-12): Director explains how ITD realignment improves preparedness
ITD Director Brian Ness explained to a national audience last week how realignment has transformed his agency into a model for emergency preparation, planning and response. Ness, who became ITD’s director in 2010, is chairman of the AASHTO (American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials) subcommittee on emergency management.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary
Encore (8-24-12): LaHood pledges support for Idaho transportation, announces grants
For farmers and other businesses in the West, the Port of Lewiston, provides a critical link – through the Snake and Columbia rivers – to the Port of Portland and the Pacific Ocean. In 2011, cargo exported from the port reached 17 different countries, including 85 percent of the soft white wheat, peas and lentil grown in the region.
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School zone safety
Encore (8-24-12): New school year prompts warning for extra caution
The advent of another school year brings a significant increase in pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic near schools. ITD encourages motorists to be especially careful when driving through school zones, encountering school buses on the highway or while delivering and picking up children.
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School zone safety
Encore (8-24-12): Tips for improving safe school commuting
School zone safety is everyone’s responsibility – from parents and school officials to children and motorists, ITD advises. Increased awareness of the risks and safety measures will ensure safer commutes. ITD has compiled safety tips from a variety of sources, including the National Safety Council, and encourages parents or guardians to review them with children.
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Labor Day
Encore (8-24-12): Highway labor to take holiday for summer's last big weekend
Work that could impact travel next weekend will be suspended on all highway construction projects statewide Sept. 1-3 for the Labor Day 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 activities could delay travelers.
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Labor Day
Encore (8-24-12): Choose to drive sober this Labor Day
ITD and law enforcement officers throughout Idaho are partnering in a high-visibility impaired driving education and enforcement campaign beginning Saturday (Aug. 25) and continuing through Sept. 8.
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