July 23, 2010

ITD formally introduced a new concept in interchange traffic flow today (July 23) when it opened a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) at Interstate 84 and Vista Avenue in Boise.
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Aeronautics
Reed Ranch Airstrip formally opens to aviators Friday (July 30)
Aviators can plan to land at a new destination in scenic Idaho after the Reed Ranch Airstrip opens for public use Friday (July 30). The airstrip, in rugged north-central Idaho’s Payette National Forest, is about 18 miles east of McCall in the South Fork Salmon River drainage. The Reed Ranch Airstrip will become the 31st backcountry airstrip maintained by ITD’s Division of Aeronautics. The U.S. Forest Service owns another 22 airstrips, and about a dozen backcountry airstrips are privately owned but open for public use with prior permission.
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Employees
Agreement to revised computer use policy required
Over the last couple of years, many things have changed related to the use of computer systems. These trends have opened the door for myriad threats to network and system security, and for the potential violation of employment laws. With this in mind, it is the intent of ITD to ensure ethical, efficient and productive utilization of all computer resources within the agency.
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ITD trainer wins magazine award for basement remodel
Tony Loomer is beginning to feel right at home. But it took a lot of effort. Loomer, 39, a training specialist for ITD’s Human Resource Development section, and his wife Cindy, 38, moved into a classic ranch-style home in 2004 with the intent of adding their personal touches – basically a complete remodel. Their basement transformation was ambitious and innovative. Early this month the project was featured in the July-August issue of “This Old House,” a publication about restoring and remodeling homes.
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— Accolades —

To Ken Angell, Human Resource Development
I’m writing to you to commend your team member, Tony Loomer. At the end of the recently past month of June, I was at the last minute assigned the responsibility  to be the IT technician to cover the AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators) Conference in the absence of the original technician nominated for this task... Tony’s help made the ITD team shine greatly at the recent AAMVA Conference in Boise this year. Tony ran the extra mile without hesitation and always with a friendly, knowledgeable and professional attitude in helping us with this project.
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Road Rage claims 3rd at state tourney
ITD’s softball team, composed primarily of District 3 and Headquarters employees, placed third among 28 Slow Pitch softball teams, representing 32 state agencies. The team went 4-1 overall in the state tournament, which started in late May and resumed July 10 after being rained.
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Public Transportation
CTAI to explain future transit needs to governor's task force
The Community Transportation Association of Idaho will provide an estimate of Idaho’s unmet public transportation needs next week when it meets with a governor’s task force subcommittee. CTAI will give a presentation Wednesday for the Public Transportation Subcommittee of the Governor’s Taskforce for Modernizing Transportation funding. CTAI's cost estimates are based on the current unmet strategies outlined in I-way’s 17 local mobility plans, interviews with public transportation providers and the transportation plans of the five metropolitan planning organizations in Idaho.
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Moscow provider added to 511 Transit
Idaho’s new 511 Transit System now includes the transit provider, Regional Public Transportation, Inc. (RPT), which does business as Valley Transit and Moscow Valley Transit, in its online data system. RPT provides service between Lewiston and Moscow, within Moscow, and some other surrounding communities.
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511 Transit introduces new telephone feature
Bus riders throughout Idaho can access public transit provider information online and by calling Idaho's 511 Traveler Services system. A recent upgrade to the 511 telephone system gives callers the ability to identify their location, select a preferred transit provider and then be connected directly to that provider for bus schedule and route information.
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Education
E-Girls workshop demonstrates career opportunities
Pretzels and Twizzler licorice sticks made for great snacks and useful construction materials for young women, grades 8-11, attending Boise State University’s annual e-Girls workshop in June. BSU hosted the event as an introduction to engineering for 57 young women this year. The workshop featured Barbara Morgan, astronaut educator, and activities facilitated by representatives from BSU, NASA, Idaho National Laboratory, Hewlett-Packard, Micron Technology Foundation and the transportation department.
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ITD grant helps fund weeklong engineering camp
From the Moscow-Pullman Daily News
MOSCOW - Fifty science-minded teenagers from across the country are experiencing university life for the first time during the University of Idaho's Junior Engineering, Math and Science program on campus in Moscow. The two weeks of engineering and problem-solving classes and activities culminated in the JEMS Summer Transportation Institute, in which students designed working scale-models of energy-efficient vehicles.
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Highways
Half of Garrity bridge reduced to rubble
The westbound (northern-most) portion of the Garrity Boulevard Interchange bridge was demolished last week as part of a major expansion of Interstate 84 in the Treasure Valley. The middle section had been removed earlier, and the eastbound portion (the southern-most piece) is due to come down in late December or early January.

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Encore
July 16, 2010

Direct from the Director

Becoming the best transportation agency in the country

ITD employees,
Recently I began a series of Direct from the Director messages that elaborate on specific elements of my vision for the department. In this Direct from the Director I will discuss the second vision element:

ITD is transparent and accountable and delivers on its promises

Our effort to become a national leader in the transportation industry and a model for other Idaho state agencies demands that everything we do takes place in an open arena where people can assess our progress and hold us accountable for results.

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Highways
Only one traffic fatality reported for July 4 weekend
Preliminary numbers from the Office of Highway Operations and Safety (OHOS) show that only one fatality occurred on Idaho highways during the July 4 holiday weekend. It is not known yet whether impaired driving played a role in that death. Last year, 65 people died on Idaho highways because of impaired driving and 265 people suffered serious injuries, according to ITD statistics.
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Employees
Bicyclists conquer heat, Bogus Basin road
Nine ITD employees joined four each from the Ada County Highway District and the Federal Highway Administration and an FHWA spouse for a grueling test of stamina July 8. The second annual climb took them from Highland Elementary School at Bogus Basin Road and Curling Drive to the parking lot at Bogus Basin Ski resort.
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Technology
E-mail system migrating to new server
Enterprise Technology Services this week began converting ITD’s e-mail system from a 2003 Exchange server to newer technology that uses a 2007 Exchange server. The differences for users are relatively minor and will provide added benefits to our end users, explains ITD Chief Technology Officer Jon Pope. The upgrade is necessary in order to replace “end-of-life” computers to ensure the system remains reliable.
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