May 9, 2008
Viewing Idaho from the seat of a bicycle
A Burden on two wheels
What makes him do it? Why would a man “blow himself up”? Is it a need for exercise, to save on gas, a hobby turned obsession? For Kip Burden, a District 3 transportation technician, it is all of those things… and more.
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Boise Bike Week emphasizes fun, safety
A week-long event that draws attention to the benefits of bicycling and a number of related activities is planned next week in Boise. Boise Bike Week begins Monday and continues through Saturday (May 17). Held in conjunction with national bike week, the Boise event promotes all forms of bicycling.
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Schedule of events
Bikes, vehicles can safely co-exist
Highway Safety
Motorists urged to watch for motorcyclists
Warm weather brings more two-wheeled motor vehicles onto the state’s highways, prompting ITD to remind all vehicle drivers to be extra alert for motorcycles and scooters. May is “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month” and ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety encourages all drivers to “Share the Road” with those smallest vehicles.
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Summit to look at highway safety trends
Trends in highway safety will serve as theme for an estimated 200 safety professionals and law enforcement officials Tuesday (May 13) when they assemble in Boise for the Idaho 2008 Highway Safety Summit, “Smart Choices Save Lives.”
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Scenic Byways
Motorcyclist discovers beauty of 10 scenic byways
Ah, the open roads, unmatched scenery and the power of a hog (Harley Davidson motorcycle). The trilogy seems to be a perfect combination in Idaho. Diane Norton, a tourism analyst for the Idaho Department of commerce heartily agrees. Norton also doubles as a writer for Hot Pipes Magazine, a Meridian-based quarterly publication that focuses on women motorcycle riders.
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Safe Routes to School
Applications accepted for grant reimbursements
ITD’s Safe Routes to School program is accepting grant applications for approximately $1 million in project funds that will be used to reimburse local organizations and jurisdictions that implement programs for improving travel to and from school. Idaho schools, nonprofit organizations, local governments and other state agencies are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent to Apply for 2009 funding to ITD by May 16.
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Awards
ITD receives six Idaho Press Club awards
ITD returned from the Idaho Press Club’s annual award ceremony with six honors in the public relations category last week, including a first for Special-purpose Web site. Idaho’s Scenic Byways Web site claimed top honors in the special purpose category. Public Information Officer Jeff Stratten entered the site on behalf of the transportation department and scenic byways coordinator Garry Young.
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Entries sought for Transportation Excellence awards
In order to recognize the exceptional contributions made to Idaho's transportation systems every year, starting this year ITD will annually sponsor the Excellence in Transportation Awards. We cordially invite you to submit an application in one of five award categories.
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Employees
Pausing to say thanks
ITD employees throughout the state basked in the light of Public Employee Appreciation Week last week, with the top prize coming in the form of a credit-card-sized PerksCard. Cards were distributed at Headquarters and at district offices, enabling employees myriad opportunities to save at local businesses. Any benefited employee who did not receive a card should contact district business managers or Human Resources at Headquarters.
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Tips offered on how to brighten your outlook
"Forty ways to climb out of your rut” has been compiled by Business Psychology Associates, the state of Idaho’s employee assistance program provider. For more information about improving your behavioral health, please visit BPA on the Web at http://www.bpahealth.com/
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Media training
One-day class prepares employees for media interaction
It’s not a matter of if, but when. A tired expression is nevertheless true of when to expect a phone call or on-the-spot interview from your local new media. A few brave ITD souls found it isn’t always as easy as it looks and rarely as bad as you expect.
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Mobility
Baby boomers will need options to maintain mobility
Health and Welfare Director Richard Armstrong spoke to a group of statewide transportation planners last week about the importance of maintaining and improving access to transportation for the thousands of vulnerable Idahoans served by the department. Public transportation providers and organizations responsible for ensuring that mobility services are available statewide met as part of the Mobility Idaho 2008 conference in Boise last week.
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Highways
ITD's 'roadeos' to test driving skills, knowledge
They’re not your traditional rodeos – no bareback, saddle bronc or bull riding, no team roping, or steer wrestling. No eight-second counts or barrel racing, or clowns. Just front-end loaders and 10-wheel dump trucks. And some fairly intense competition, nonetheless.
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Public Employee Appreciation Week
Thanks for your valued service, commitment
As most of you know, Governor Otter has designated next week Public Employee Appreciation Week, a time specifically set aside to acknowledge your efforts and to say thank you. We don’t do that often enough. Sometimes it takes a declaration to remind us of how much you contribute. On behalf of the transportation board and our executive staff, I want to let you know how much I value your service to the department and the state of Idaho.
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PerksCards offered as a way of saying 'thanks'
Human Resource Services spent the past few weeks building a jigsaw puzzle on the right side of the Intranet to pique the interest of ITD employees. The result will be formally introduced next week during State Employee Appreciation Week activities at Headquarters and district offices. It’s called Perks – extra rewards for a job well done. Perks cards – which will open the door to myriad discount services and products – will be distributed beginning Monday as ITD’s way of saying thanks to employees.
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Idaho Mobility 2008
Mobility takes giant step forward
ITD’s Division of Public Transportation rolled out a new vision of mobility in Idaho to providers and users during a conference held in Boise this week (April 30, May 1). Nearly 80 people representing public transportation interests statewide learned more about Public Transportation’s new emphasis on how best to move people instead of focusing on any one particular mode of transportation.
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Director reaffirms department's commitment to mobility
ITD Director Pam Lowe emphasized the evolving, multi-dimensional role transportation will play in Idaho’s future when she spoke this week at a public transportation summit in Boise. It was a perfect venue to discuss the transportation department’s new mission statement: “Our mission. Your Mobility.”
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Achieving desired mobility is marathon, not a sprint
Developing a coordinated public transportation system is not a 100-yard dash, but is a marathon, accomplished over a period of time with patience and persistence. That is the assessment of Dan Dirks, chairman of the Community Transportation Association of America’s board of directors. The keynote speaker for this week’s Mobility Idaho 2008 summit in Boise called on his extensive experience with public transportation in Michigan to encourage development of a coordinated plan in Idaho.
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ITD services
Print shop provides modern, cost-saving services
A computer installed with modern graphic and pagination software can make a desktop publisher out of about anyone. But a document assembled on a computer needs the press, trim and binding services of a place like the ITD print shop before it becomes a publication. The ITD print shop recently introduced some of its tools at an open hose in Boise, showing how it turns computer-created documents into publications for mass distribution.
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Motor vehicles
New driver's license testing option deployed statewide
Touch-screen testing stations that provide immediate confirmation of pass or fail on driver's license tests are available statewide as part of a technology initiative by the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Motor Vehicles. ITD received two $500,000 grants from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to purchase an Automated Driver License Testing System (ADLTS)
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Highway Safety
Caution urged as bicycles increase on Idaho highways
Warm weather and rising gasoline prices are great reasons to dust off a bicycle, tune it up and get pedaling, particularly since May is National Bike Month. Riding a bike provides great exercise, is a fun sport for the whole family and offers young riders a sense of freedom, according to Lisa Losness with ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety
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