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Idaho Transportation
Department

Office of Communications
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
E-mail

May 23, 2008


Memorial Day 2008

Hallowed Grounds
By Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo
The history of the United States of America records the ongoing agitation for and defense of human dignity and freedom.  In its most extreme, that struggle results in war - once, internally, but more often, externally.  American flags, particularly those smartly waving in late May breezes every year, stand as stark reminders of the cost of that freedom- millions of American lives over the past 232 years.
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Highways
ITD to help motorists on congested Idaho 55
Motorists who plan to use Idaho 55 during Memorial Day weekend can avoid the heaviest traffic by traveling outside peak travel times or using alternate routes. The transportation department's holiday traffic control project will assist motorists at the intersection of Idaho 55 and the Banks-to-Lowman Road on Monday (May 26), from noon to 6 p.m.
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Avalanche closures limited to 30 on vulnerable Idaho 21
Avalanche-related closures on Idaho 21 were significantly reduced this winter by using explosives to bring down unstable snow before it could slide and block the highway. The avalanche season officially ended last weekend. Idaho 21, one of Idaho's popular winter recreation routes and host to the most of the state's avalanches, is typically closed 60 days per year, but was closed just 30 days this winter through these pre-emptive measures.
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Idaho Power employees find 'community' along U.S. 93
For some Idaho Power Co. employees in the Twin Falls area, community is as much about how they live as where they live. They have put the company’s motto into practice the past five years as guardians of a heavily traveled two-mile stretch of U.S. 93 north of the Flying J truck stop. In three outings last year, the Adopt-A-Highway group removed 3,360 pounds of garbage from the highway shoulders.
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ITD projects garner engineering awards
Two ITD construction projects were among those honored recently in statewide competition by the Idaho chapter of a national engineering organization. The Karcher Interchange project in Nampa was awarded first place in the Structural Systems Category and U.S. 95 Setters to Bellgrove highway reconstruction/realignment project in northern Idaho was first in the transportation category.
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Highway safety
Summit emphasizes benefits of enforcement
Law enforcement officers and highway safety professionals heard a common message during the 2008 Highway Safety Summit -- that increased enforcement of traffic laws not only saves lives, but helps reduce overall crime rates and aids teenagers in becoming safer drivers.  The summit, sponsored by ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety (OHOS), was held May 13 in Boise and featured the theme “Smart Choices Save Lives.” 
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Law enforcement officers meet in Boise
Law enforcement officers designated as Law Enforcement Liaisons (LEL) to ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety (OHOS) assembled May 12 in Boise. The meeting preceded the annual Highway Safety Summit that drew an estimated 185 individuals interested in promoting safety on Idaho’s Highways.
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Traffic safety commission reviews priorities

The Idaho Highway Safety Commission met in Boise May 12to review strategies for the coming fiscal year that are designed to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries.  The meeting followed the annual Highway Safety Summit that brought together approximately 185 people from throughout the state to discuss safety issues.
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Mobilization results in 265 DUI arrests
Highway safety law enforcement mobilizations save lives, and also catch criminals and help reduce overall crime, according to ITD statistics. Numbers compiled by the Office of Highway Operations and Safety show that a statewide St. Patrick’s Day campaign targeting impaired drivers achieved 265 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and 43 underage alcohol arrests.
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Public Transportation
Foundation laid at local level for public transportation

Building on the premise that responsive, efficient public transportation systems should be begin at the ground level,  ITD recently unveiled a Local Mobility Management Network. The network is part of Idaho’s Mobility and Access Pathway (IMAP), a new management strategy for growing the state’s public transportation network that was unveiled April 30 during a two-day conference in Boise.
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Employees
Tournaments proposed to challenge your swings
Whether you’re more adept at swinging a golf club or a softball bat, the state of Idaho is considering opportunities to bring employees together in lively team competition. Tony Pirc of the Division of Building Safety wants to build on the interest and success of the first-ever co-ed state employee softball tournament by organizing a sequel this fall. For employees more comfortable on the fairways, greens (and sand traps), there may be an option of a State Employee Golf Tournament this summer.
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Environment
Projects provide mitigation for effects of construction
For ITD, planning the future of roads, leading to land takeovers and expansion, often results in disturbances to the fragile ecosystems of Idaho. More important is finding practical ways to make up for those disturbances. In District 4, there have been only a handful of road expansion projects recently that required wetland or water mitigation.
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District 4 newsletter, Interchange

Published previously

Employees
Open enrollment begins, medical, dental options outlined
The PPO and Traditional medical plans will continue with existing benefits and increased premium rates, and a third medical plan will be implemented.  The new High Deductible medical plan provides a lower level of benefits than the PPO and Traditional plans, but at the same premium rate as the FY2008 PPO plan.
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Dept. of Administration Employee Group Insurance Benefits


Aeronautics
FAA honors Orofino for airport improvement projects
An airport improvement project in Orofino, partially funded through ITD’s Division of Aeronautics, received an award for project management and planning during the annual Northwest Mountain Region’s Airport Conference in Seattle, April 21-23.
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Teens invited to fly high in annual ACE academy
Navigation for small airplanes, visiting an air traffic control tower and exploring Blackhawk helicopters will be part of the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy for teenagers, June 23-26. ITD’s Division of Aeronautics organizes the annual academy. Thirty teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 will have the opportunity to participate in the academy.
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Workshops help teachers integrate aviation topics
ITD's Division of Aeronautics will sponsor several two-day Teacher Aviation Workshops early this summer to demonstrate how aviation subjects can be incorporated into regular lessons. Three workshops are planned: one in Payette, June 16-17; one in Pocatello June 22-23; and a third workshop June 30-July 1 in Sandpoint. Although they are intended primarily for grades 6-12, the lessons are appropriate for all levels.
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Highway Safety
Campaign emphasizes buckling the belts
Idaho law enforcement officers will increase patrols in an effort to reduce motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries throughout the state during a focused seat belt enforcement campaign. The campaign begins Monday (May 19) and continues until June 1. The Idaho State Police and an estimated 30 law enforcement agencies statewide will work overtime to educate Idahoans and to strictly enforce the state's seat belt law
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Technology
Phased introduction of Office 2007 to begin May 20
After reviewing the test results for Microsoft Office 2007 completed last week, a decision has been made to deploy Office 2007 in a multi-phased approach.  A phased approach was agreed upon because the department has computers that do not meet the minimum requirements for operating Office 2007 and because Access 2007 needs additional testing and time for modifying existing Access applications.
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