IDAHO NATIONAL TRANSPORTER Idaho
Transportation
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ITD honored as Employer of the Year, The Idaho Transportation Department is a pretty good place to work. That was the assessment of the Treasure Valley chapter of Women in Transportation, which presented ITD with the Employer of the Year award during at Thursday ceremony in Boise. Acting Director Scott Stokes accepted the award on behalf of the department. WTS cited the department’s outstanding leadership and its record of support for women in the transportation industry as reasons for the award: Enhancement of the Transportation Industry Record of Affirmative Action at all Levels Two of the six assistant district engineers are women, and women work in the district construction regions at all levels, including office managers and principal technicians. ITD has increased minority hiring and reduced the department’s underutilization by 2.5 percent. Continuing Education Opportunities Women Internship Opportunities WTS Support ITD, along with Stanley Consultants, also received a WTS award for Innovative Transportation Solutions for its Interstate 84/Vista Interchange. The interstate is the backbone of the Treasure Valley’s transportation system. The Vista interchange is a major access point for the airport, the city of Boise and the region. Built in 1969, the interchange was unable to efficiently handle the current volume of traffic. The existing structure over I-84 also interferes with widening of the interstate. ITD proposed redesigning and rebuilding the existing diamond interchange into a Single Point Urban Interchange. Stanley Consultants was selected as the prime consulting group responsible for the project’s preliminary and final design. Stanley completed both designs in just nine months. A traditional schedule would have taken two years. A component to success of the project was coordination. In addition to coordinating with ITD and Connecting Idaho Partners, Stanley also worked with the Ada County Highway District, the city of Boise, Boise Airport and adjoining I-84 design teams. Stanley received a performance award from ITD/CIP for its design efforts. Construction on the interchange began in July and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Photos: ITD was honored as the Employer of the Year award by the Women in Transportation Society's Treasure Valley chapter (top). Pictured (l to r) are; Nestor Fernandez; Fran Hood, Scott Stokes, Monica Crider, Greg Laragan and Sonna Lynn Fernandez. Acting ITD Scott Stokes accepts the award from Lisa Vernon, WTS chapter president (bottom). Published 12-04-09 |