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Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email



Journey produced major achievements, puts department in position to move forward

To my ITD colleagues

I have decided to retire from Idaho state service, as director, with my last official work day to be Aug. 25 (today) .

I have recently been approached with two potentially significant career opportunities and do not feel it is appropriate to pursue these negotiations while fulfilling my duties as director.

The last three years have been an exciting journey in building and modernizing our transportation system and agency to help Idaho meet the challenges of the 21st century and remain competitive in the world economy.

We have completed and broken ground on many needed transportation projects in partnership with the private sector and our customers. But equally important, we have initiated, advanced or completed 26 initiatives that will help Idaho transportation and ITD meet the demands of our future. In partnership with the governor, Legislature, employees, industry leaders, cities, counties, highway districts and association networks, as well as, critical federal and university partners, we have for our citizens:

  • Helped conceive and bring to reality the Connecting Idaho Initiative, the largest single transportation improvement program in the history of the state. Projects are already beginning.
  • Created the most innovative and secure use of GARVEE bonding yet implemented in the country. The Idaho approach is being investigated by others now looking at similar programs.
  • Established a unique transportation public/private partnership in Program Delivery with Connecting Idaho Partners to expedite project delivery without increasing the staffing levels in government. This new partnership holds the real potential to streamline the way we do business in developing projects
  • Advanced the concept of operating the transportation system to improve customer service and safety by:
    • Implementing one of the most extensively used 511 systems yet deployed in the country
    • Proposing the next generation of consolidated public safety and transportation operations centers
    • Developing plans for technology sharing across the state
  • Streamlined the State Transportation Improvement Program to consolidate five documents and processes into one, developed on the same schedule for all modes. Improved fiscal responsibility by prioritizing transportation spending for five-year periods into the future with a focus on preservation, safety, and affordable system expansion.
  • Brought a focus to safety through the first Zero Deaths Workshop held in the state of Idaho.
  • Created the forums on Transportation and Aviation Investment to bring a broad and diverse audience to together to make recommendations to the board on proposals to address the critical need for improving funding for transportation.
  • Provided Idaho a voice in national issues facing transportation by participating on and leading several national committees.
  • Advanced the modernization of the department’s technology systems which support our financial, engineering, DMV, and emerging Operations and System Planning and Management functions. A plan has been established, progress made, and a new streamlined an enterprise management function created.
  • Streamlined the organizational structure through selected consolidations to improve service and make better connections between functional units in the Department.
  • Advanced and had approved over 30 legislative initiatives to streamline and modernize Idaho Code to help the department carry out its responsibilities more efficiently, improve safety in the system, and support Idaho’s economic growth.
  • Proposed a framework for a performance management system to establish an ongoing link between the IT board and department performance.
  • Instituted annual Legislative outreach meetings and internal communication through annual visits to every district, in addition to board tours, and a First Friday column in the Transporter.
  • Improved employee compensation with the most significant improvements made in the last 10 years.

The recent discussions and reviews by the board can create a good platform from which to focus organizational development into the future.

My family and I have enjoyed Idaho and its people, the professionals in the department that are truly dedicated to public service, and the professionals in the private sector who are working with us to deliver the best transportation system possible to the citizens and businesses of our state.

We wish all of you only the best as you continue the journey; you have my pledge to assist the board and the department during the transition.

Sincerely,

Published 8-25-06