Environment
ITD begins efforts to curb greenhouse gases
Idaho
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter issued an executive
order this spring directing state agencies to assess
energy consumption and identify measures that can
reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). He charged
the Department of Environmental Quality to coordinate
efforts by all state agencies.ITD has produced a preliminary
report on its facilities and transportation fleet
but wants to learn about the commuting patterns and
work schedules of employees.
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Greenhouse
gases — an overview
Scientific
research suggests that greenhouses that trap heat
in the atmosphere are contributing to global warming.
Some greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, occur
naturally and are emitted into the atmosphere both
through natural processes and human activities.
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Technology
New
Chief Technology Officer brings global perspective
Jon
Pope, a three-year veteran of the Idaho Department
of Lands, will embark on a new, yet similar, position
Oct. 22 when he assumes responsibilities for managing
ITD’s information technology program. He was
chosen from a pool of outstanding candidates to become
the department’s Chief Technology Officer. Dave
Tolman, administrator of the Division of Administration,
announced the selection last week.
Making
(web) sense of cyber security
Second
of two parts:
The transportation department provides employees with
high speed internet access as a business tool to be
used primarily for business related purposes. Access
to the Internet places a variety of content at the
fingertips of ITD employees. This content provides
employees many potential benefits and opportunities
for increased efficiency, collaboration, research,
communication, personal and professional development.
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Highways
ITD
duo performs well at annual 'roadeo' competition
Idaho
was somewhat of an anomaly at the 2007 Western Snow
and Ice Conference held recently in Greeley, Colo. Neither
of Idaho’s two representatives – Robin Freeman
of District 3 and Mike Praegitzer of District 4 –
has logged much seat time recently in a motor grader
or front-end loader.
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Damaged
bridge girders to get second life
Instead
of ending up in a landfill, girders from damaged overpasses
and interchanges are being collected by the Boise
Fire Department for a new training site. The fire
department is storing the girders on land near the
intersection of Gowen and Production roads. The department
is continuing to gather materials, and needs some
additional land to build the maze-like structure.
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Safety
Idaho
Safe Routes program scores high in report
The new federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program
has been quickly embraced by most state departments
of transportation, according to a report released
by the national Safe Routes to School Partnership.
Safe Routes to School is a national program that creates
safe, convenient and fun opportunities for children
to bicycle and walk to and from their schools.
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Fire
Prevention Month prompts suggestions
One
in four households have actually developed and practiced
a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape
quickly and safely. In 2004, there were an estimated
395,500 reported home structure fires and 3,190 associated
civilian deaths in the United States.
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Adults
urged to talk to teens about safe driving
Adults
should talk to teenage drivers about safe driving
and good driving habits as much as possible, recommends
the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). Regular
dialogue is particularly important because teens are
nearly three times as likely as all other drivers
to be involved in a crash, according to 2006 statistics
compiled by ITD's Office of Highway Operations and
Safety.
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Ten
things people don’t know about teen driving
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Aeronautics
Effort
launched to register pilots, aircraft
Mark
Lessor attached the first poster on a hangar door in
northern Idaho Thursday, inviting pilots to become part
of an elite group – registered airmen. Actually,
it’s more than an invitation. The campaign is
intended to inform pilots and aircraft owners of an
Idaho law that requires them to register with the Division
of Aeronautics in much the same way drivers must obtain
an operator’s license and register their vehicle.
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Highways
State
Communications Center reaches milestone
It
began with a vision to unite geographically diverse
Idaho through an interconnected communications system
that would coordinate emergency responses and make
travel safer for Idahoans. Three decades later, the
State Communications Center has evolved into a model
of multi-agency collaboration that is unmatched across
the nation. The center, located on the Idaho State
Police campus in Meridian, celebrates 30 years of
service this month.
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Aeronautics
May
your flight and landing always be smooth
After 20 years of flying the state’s aircraft
– with missions as varied as transporting the
governor to meetings and events, to hauling building
materials to Thomas Creek to repair the outhouse –
Ray Glidden has decided to hang up his headset. It is
safe to say that there is not an inch of Idaho that
has not attracted his gaze from on high.
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Non-pilot
Mark Young honored for aviation service
Mark
Young is not a pilot. The Oregon native drove logging
trucks, operated heavy equipment, worked as a commercial
vehicle inspector and eventually became manager of
Idaho’s Ports of Entry. But he has never operated
an aircraft. Then again, neither did his immediate
predecessor in ITD’s Division of Aeronautics.
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Information
Technology
Employees
urged to guard important resource - computers
First
of two parts:
What does Cyber Security mean to ITD employees? The
policy of the state of Idaho is to ensure the confidentiality,
integrity, and availability of information provided
to the State by its citizens. The state is required
to protect information from unauthorized access, modification,
destruction or disclosure, and to ensure the physical
security of information.
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