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April 30, 2010
Direct from the Director
— Thanks for the excellent work you do—
 ITD employees,
There is a special week in Idaho - a time when we say thank you for everything you do as an ITD employee.
The Idaho Legislature set aside the week of May 3rd through the 7th as Public Employee Recognition Week. I fully support the concept, but would like to think this appreciation extends throughout the entire year.
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Excellence in Transportation
 ITD honors three projects, long-time employee
Four projects that represent outstanding achievement in transportation were honored this week with annual Excellence in Transportation Awards. Director Brian Ness announced the recipients Wednesday during a ceremony at Headquarters. Categories included construction, public participation, environmental stewardship/maintenance and operations, and career achievement.
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Top 10 idea Provokers for Employee Appreciation Week
Originally written by *Roy Saunderson
Do what you can to celebrate your employees during this special week, but don't just make recognition a once-a-year affair. Examine your daily recognition practices and make Employee Appreciation the beginning of a new company attitude!
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Airport kiosk
CIP nominates information center for national award
Already a two-time award winner this year, the ITD information kiosk at the Boise Airport has been nominated for a third award in a nationwide competition sponsored by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Connecting Idaho Partners, a joint venture of URS and CH2M HILL, nominated the kiosk and informational campaign that supports the GARVEE Transportation Program.
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Transportation board
Report on public transportation program provided
Carl Root, newly appointed member of the District 2 Public Transportation Advisory Committee, summarized the public transportation options available – including those provided by the Nez Perce Tribe, in a presentation to the Idaho Transportation Board April 22 in Lewiston. A new pilot project in District 2 is being established to provide weekly service between Moscow and Elk River.
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Highways
 UI sorority knows how to clean house
Many members of Delta Gamma Nu sorority at the University of Idaho weren’t born when their predecessors first adopted a highway for semiannual cleanups. But two decades later, they remain committed to continuing the volunteer legacy as part of ITD’s Adopt-A-Highway cleanup efforts. Delta Gamma Nu has been cleaning a two-mile section of U.S. 95 south of Moscow (mileposts 340 to 342) as a way of giving back to the community.
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Shape up
 Annual exercise challenge begins Sunday
For the first time, ITD’s annual exercise challenge will leave the dusty trails, bicycle and jogging tracks, golf courses and fitness centers behind and reach for new heights this year. At least the personal reports that track progress will take to the air in “Fly Idaho."
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Employees
Activities planned to express appreciation
ITD will join other state agencies in a collective acknowledgment of state employees and their contributions and service during a weeklong celebration that begins Monday, May 3. A variety of events are planned as part of State Employee Appreciation Week. Headquarters will observe the week by providing opportunities for massages, contests and the annual exercise challenge walk.
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Highway safety
 Officers honored for going extra mile
Three Idaho law enforcement officers were honored with “Beyond the Traffic Stop” awards Wednesday (April 28) during the 2010 Highway Safety Summit organized by ITD in Boise. Sgt. Brenda Smith, Post Falls Police Department, Officer Jeremy Barnes, Lewiston Police Department, and Officer Ryan Hayes, Montpelier Police Department, received awards for traffic enforcement efforts that also succeeded in capturing criminals or stopping criminal activity.
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Motorcycle awareness
Motorists urged to give second look for motorcycles
May is Motorcycle Awareness month and rallies are planned across the state so the Idaho Transportation Department is partnering with Idaho STAR and Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety to encourage drivers to "Look Twice for Motorcyclists, They are Everywhere." Throughout May, motorists will be reminded to be extra alert and cautious when driving to help keep motorcycle riders safe on Idaho highways.
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ITD plays role in encouraging motorcycle safety
Things are indeed going well. I picked up the first of the motorcycle awareness postcards and have distributed 3,000 in just two days. We have barely begun. The response has been excellent. No one has said they would not mail out at least a few, and many folks wanted 10 to 20. We will be making them available at our 25th anniversary Motorcycle Awareness Rally on May 1st and hope to pass out 3,000 or so. Others are getting them spread out around the state.
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May in Motion
 Employees invited to try alternative commuting in May
ITD employees in the Treasure Valley can improve their fitness, save money, ease congestion, reduce air pollution, earn special recognition for the department – even get to know each other a little better this month. May in Motion, a celebration of alternative transportation, is a promotion by the Ada County Highway District’s Commuteride program and a host of Treasure Valley sponsors, public and private.
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Public transportation
North Idaho routes added to 511 Transit
Idaho’s new 511 Transit System continues to grow! With the addition of North Idaho Community Express (NICE), bus riders can now track five (5) of Idaho’s fixed route providers via the online tool. Bus riders utilizing the NICE service from Couer d’ Alene to Sandpoint can easily track the progress of the bus along the route, identify stops, and check for potential delays or schedule changes prior to heading to catch the bus.
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ITD Mailbox
• Thanks for help with driver's license
• Work on highways, cameras appreciated
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News to Share
Woods's children place at state youth bowling tournament
The State Youth Bowling Tournament was held in Coeur d’Alene this year. My son, Jonathan Wood, and his partner, Ciarra, took 1st place in the doubles competition, and my daughter, Kimberly Wood, took 2nd place in singles. On a 146 average, she bowled a 131, 246 (100 pins over average) and a 196 with handicap for a total of 718. I am very proud of them.
- Lois Wood, GARVEE Program office
Please share information about your accomplishments or those of your colleagues with the ITD community. Send contributions to the e-mail link above. |
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Question: Why is that as inspectors for ITD we are required to check contractors' certified payroll to make sure that they meet Davis Bacon ( Fed requirement) pay, and ITD workers working on the same job site are not checked for the same federal requirement?
Answer: Davis-Bacon wages are the minimum wages that can be paid to people working on federal public works projects.
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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.
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April 23, 2010
 Leadership
Director Ness adapts Tom Izzo's coaching philosophy at ITD
The strategies required for building one of the nation’s premier college basketball programs can be applied to achieving success in the corporate world and in the public sector. Director Brian W. Ness wants to incorporate the principles he’s learned from a quarter-century relationship with Michigan State University basketball to build ITD into a national leader. His vision for ITD is that it becomes the best transportation department in the country.
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Highway safety
ITD recognized for safety planning, Peer-to-Peer Exchange
ITD’s effort to save lives on state highways through a Peer-to-Peer Exchange program has been identified as a model initiative by the Federal Highway Administration. FHWA provides an extensive analysis of ITD’s November 4, 2009, peer exchange on its Web site: “Updating a Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Learning from the Idaho Transportation Department.” More than 100 professionals, committed to reducing traffic fatalities, assembled for the exchange
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 Media carry message on need for work zone safety
With 279 work zone crashes last year in Idaho, it could be argued that work zones are among the most hazardous areas on the state highway system. However, Monday morning (April 19), on the new Vista Avenue Interchange bridge over Interstate 84 in Boise, the most frightening aspect of being behind the orange barrels for District 3 project inspector Steve Erichson was being interviewed about work zone safety by three television reporters simultaneously.
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Aeronautics
 ITD moves closer to securing use of Reed Ranch Airstrip
ITD’s request to add the Reed Ranch Airstrip to Idaho’s network of state-operated aviation facilities cleared an important hurdle following a U.S. Forest Service environmental assessment (EA) and April 16 ruling. The Payette National Forest (PNF) issued a Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) for the Reed Ranch Airstrip Project. ITD initiated a request to assume operation of the airstrip more than two years ago.
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Highways
 Rockslide forces closure of Idaho 55
Rocks the size of small cars and trucks rained down on Idaho 55, covering the northbound lane and part of the southbound lane April 11 and forcing closure of the highway for major cleanup. The rock slide near McCall closed Idaho 55 for about four hours. ITD maintenance crews from New Meadows, Council and Boise removed large boulders and debris and patched the highway surface that had been damaged by the falling rock.
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Accolades
ITD claims 12 Idaho Press Club awards
ITD’s Communications staff collected a dozen public relations awards Saturday (April 17) at the annual Idaho Press Clubs ceremony in Boise. That represents the most awards ITD has received from the Press Club in nearly a decade and was twice the number earned by any other organization in the public relations division. Last year ITD received six awards.
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Speed on dirt
 It's that time of year again for Enduro MotoCross Racing in northern Idaho. Chris (Junior) Williams will be among the competitors in five races scheduled this summer. The accompanying photo shows Junior, son of District 1's Kimberley Williams, flying through the air and around the track. Race fans are invited to turn out for a few hours of fun and excitement and cheer him on at one of the following races: May 8, Sandpoint; May 21, 22, Orofino; June 11, 12, Bonners Ferry; July 9, 10, Coeur d'Alene and Sept. 5, 6, Saint Maries. Stop by and which him luck.
Please share information about your accomplishments or those of your colleagues with the ITD community. Send contributions to the e-mail link above.
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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.
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