April 24, 2009
AASHTO
Bottom Line report emphasizes investment in transportation
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
By 2015, governments at all levels will need to more than double their spending on highways and bridges to keep up with increased traffic, freight congestion, the demands of aging highways and bridges, and the growth of the nation’s population. Transit spending would need to quadruple to serve increased ridership.
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Key findings from AASHTO's Bottom Line report
Administration
Immediate hold placed on new hires
Effectively immediately, hiring of new certified or temporary employees is on hold. Any offers that have been made will be honored. Future offers that were not extended as of now are on hold and not authorized. Any active announcements or current recruitment advertisements that are publicly advertised may proceed up to the establishment of a register. Those registers will then likewise be on hold.
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Transportation board
Project delivery team created
Chief Engineer Tom Cole announced last week the creation of a team to improve the project delivery schedule to determine the best time to schedule and deliver highway construction projects. Cole introduced Nestor Fernandez and Andrea Storjohann as co-chairs chairs of the team when he discussed its goals with transportation board members April 15, 16 in Lewiston.
Joining Fernandez and Storjohann (District 1) on the team are: Walter Burnside, Bill Shaw, Dave Amick, Randy Gill, and Amanda Hoffman from ITD and John Perry and Jason Giard from the Federal Highway Administration.
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DMV
DMV receives federal grant for driver's license, ID security
The federal Department of Homeland Security recently notified ITD and the Division of Motor Vehicles of a grant award to make security enhancements to Idaho’s driver’s licenses and identification cards. ITD originally requested $755,000 for overt and covert security enhancements to licenses and identification cards.
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Employees
Exercise challenge: Log a few miles Idaho's scenic byways
The road to improved fitness begins with a bike tour of Idaho.“In the spirit of the ‘Tour de France,’’ the 2009 exercise challenge will be a representational bike ride through Idaho’s scenic and historic byways in our own ‘Tour de Byways,” explains Pauline Davis of ITD’s Wellness Committee.
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District 3
District adopts 'residency' model
District 3 changed this week from the region-based structure under which it had operated the past few years to one based on a residency alignment. The change took effect Monday (April 20). Under the new operational format, Gary Moles will serve as Maintenance Engineer for the entire district, freeing resident engineers to focus on what they do best – construction.
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Teen driving
Programs designed to save lives of teen drivers
A split-second decision can dramatically change a young driver’s life. The decision to buckle a seat belt, choose not to drink and drive, or look both ways before proceeding into traffic can be made in less than a second. The consequences of making the wrong decision in that instant can be life altering or fatal. That’s the message Idaho teenagers are learning by way of law enforcement outreach activities and a successful teen driving safety summit held recently in Idaho Falls.
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Workzone safety
Motorists urged to use caution in highway workzones
State departments of transportation throughout the country looked a little orange recently. In recognition of the 10th annual National Workzone Awareness Week, DOTs across the nation held press conferences, video competitions, and lit up buildings and monuments in orange to raise awareness of the importance of responsible workzone driving habits.
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News to Share
Governor meets with District 3 shop workers
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter took time from his busy schedule recently to meet with ITD's
District 3 shop crew. Gov. Otter was on hand for an informal ceremony.
 Retired POE inspector, wife safe after car
gets stuck in snow
A local couple is recovering at the hospital after spending several nights stranded in the Bull Canyon area of Power County. David and Linda Stoutner of Pocatello got stuck in the snow while driving on North Bull Canyon Road Friday. David is a retired ITD Port of Entry inspector. They had no cell service in the area, and only minimal survival supplies, so they spent the night in their car.
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State Street construction might impact HQ commuters
On May 4, a six-week project will begin in earnest on a pavement rehabilitation project for the State Street and Glenwood legs of Idaho 44. It may impact your daily commute, lunch travels or errands, so we wanted to send this notice out. Work was originally planned to start this month but has been rescheduled to begin in early May. The change in schedule is due to recent wet, cold weather.
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Views to share
Do you have a question related to ITD processes, policies or projects? Has something been puzzling you about why we do what we do? Share your questions using the e-mail link above and let us find the answers. |
Management
ITD unveils accountability Web site
ITD introduced a new Web site this week that tracks the department’s progress in addressing recent audits and Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter’s executive order to document ongoing efficiencies. “Tracking our Progress” organizes ITD’s reporting process into four areas: Accountability and action plans, Reports, Federal stimulus projects and other ITD projects, such as GARVEE projects, project planning and traveler information.
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Transportation Board
Members express their appreciation
As members of the Idaho Transportation Board, we are fully aware of the many challenges you face each day in providing safe, convenient travel on our highways. It requires a level of dedication and professionalism that may not be readily apparent to those who use our system.
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Highways
Kamiah's Lennett Cantwell receives safety honor
By Kathy Hedberg , the Lewiston Tribune
With any luck, the next generation of drivers should include a bunch of them who understand more about highway safety than their parents. And if that's the case, then Lennett Cantwell, a heavy equipment operator for the Idaho Transportation Department, can claim some of the credit. For the past eight or nine years, Cantwell, 60, has been driving dump trucks and snowplows to local schools to talk to students about the many tasks performed by her agency and how to be safe around work zones.
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Highway Safety
Enforcement, safety officials discuss strategies
Progress in the battle against impaired driving and initiatives to protect teenage drivers were among the many highway safety topics covered during the 2009 Highway Safety Summit held recently in Boise. Nearly 200 law enforcement officers and highway safety professionals turned out for the annual event hosted by ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety.
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Cover girl
D-2 inspector shown on cover of Parade magazine
Susan Meisner, a 44-year-old inspector at the Lewiston Port of Entry, earns about $30,000 a year. While that’s not highly classified information, it generally isn’t commonly known throughout the country. At least it wasn’t, until this week. Meisner, who commutes to one of two Port of Entry worksites near Lewiston from her home in Lenore, was among the 18 individuals pictured on the cover of Parade Magazine (see highlighted circle above) this week as part of its annual report, “What People Earn.”
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Engineers' continuing ed. credits
Video conference to outline education changes
A statewide video conference is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, to review legislation that affects continuing education requirements for professional engineers and land surveyors. ITD joins the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE), the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the University of Idaho in presenting the discussion scheduled at locations throughout the state.
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