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Board hears report on driver's education program

The Idaho Transportation Board took advantage of a day-long workshop before its monthly meeting last week to become better acquainted with a number of the department’s current projects.

Meeting Thursday (Oct. 7) at Headquarters board members learned about the driver education program, administered by the Department of Education. Driver education is required for anyone under 17 years of age who is applying for an Idaho driver’s license.

The Department of Education provides approved courses through commercial and public schools. Idaho school districts offer driver training programs in cooperation with the Department of Education. The courses are open to all Idaho residents between the ages of 14 1/2 and 21 years of age, even if they are not public school students. At age 15, students may get a license if they complete the education and the Graduated Driver Licensing law requirements.

In FY04, 17,312 students completed driver education training, which represents 83 percent of the eligible students.

AMBER Alert Grant
During its regular meeting Friday (Oct. 8), the board granted approval to proceed with planning and implementation of Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) projects in Districts 1 and 4. This request is a result of a grant ITD received from the Federal Highway Administration as part of the nationwide AMBER Alert program.

AMBER, which stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, was named after Amber Hagerman who was abducted and murdered in 1996. The AMBER program provides grants to states for installing DMS and Highway Advisory Radio equipment necessary to issue AMBER Alerts.

The $400,000 federal grant requires a 20 percent match of $100,000. ITD staff requested projects to replace an obsolete DMS on I-90 near Osburn and to replace obsolete signs at three locations on I-84 in District 4.

Additional Hearing Officers
The board approved the appointment of two ITD employees to expand their responsibilities and become hearings officers. Pat Carr, Motor Vehicle Division Special Plates Supervisor, and Maggie Ransom, Motor Vehicle Division Financial Unit Supervisor, will assume their additional duties in the near future.

Board members expressed their appreciation for the employees’ willingness to serve as hearings officers. It also recognized Gaye Hunsperger, who recently stepped down as a hearings officer. Hunsperger plans to retire soon and said she could not continue serving.

Service Awards
The board also participated in the semiannual Employee Service Awards program that recognizes workers who have reached employment milestones. A number of other awards were presented during the Friday ceremony to employees who earned state, regional and national honors.