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Idaho Transportation
Department

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P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563

 


Board approves participation in career/job fairs

ITD joins a number of other public organizations in applying for discretionary funding from the Federal Highway Administration for On the Job Training/Supportive Services Program activities. Partners include the Idaho Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, local school districts, the Associated General Contractors, FHWA, and other agencies and groups.
 
They hope to receive $45,000 in each of the next three years to organize and deliver five Highway Construction Career Fairs annually.
 
Details of the program were outlined for members of the Idaho Transportation Board when they met in Boise last week (March 18, 19).
 
The purpose of the fairs is to partner with industry, education and government to promote the career opportunities available in the highway construction industry to Idaho students. Participating groups hope to receive the first $45,000 in federal funding for the project this month.
 
The transportation board approved adding three Highway Construction Career Fair projects to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program in anticipation of receiving the discretion funds.

Other board discussion

Criteria for Sand Shed locations and spacing
Steve Spoor, Maintenance Services Manager, provided an overview on the history of establishing stockpile locations and the need for sand sheds. The need for sand sheds stemmed  from the Environmental Protection Act requirements and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s concern of ITD salt storage practices/contaminations.
 
Since 2004, ITD has built 25 sand sheds, with priority given to sites located near water. The current backlog of sand sheds to be constructed is in excess of 10.
 
Most of the department’s stockpile sites were acquired when right-of-way for that roadway was being purchased. Locations were determined to optimize efficiency and were based on the capacity and coverage of trucks.  A single axle truck can cover 13 miles maximum, but 10 miles is the most advantageous. A tandem axle truck can cover a maximum of 20 miles, but 15 miles is ideal.
 
Weigh in Motion/Automatic Vehicle Identification (WIM/AVI) Technology
Reymundo Rodriguez, Commercial Vehicle Services Manager, reported that it would cost approximately $675,000 to install WIM/AVI at the Sage Junction POE site. An additional $250,000 may be needed at each location for 300 feet of concrete pavement to ensure the best results.
 
ITD operates two WIM/AVI – East Boise POE and Lewiston POE. The systems are used as a sorting tool that allows those customers whose credentials and vehicle weights and measurements are legal to bypass the POEs at mainline speeds.
 
A 2001 study quantified the benefits of this technology in Oregon. The conclusion was that a commercial vehicle participating in a pre-clearance system saves approximately four minutes at every pre-clearance site. This results in reduced costs of fuel and time.
 
A significant safety benefit also results from carriers with known history of good safety, weights, dimensions and credentials compliance authorized to bypass the pre-clearance site. This allows enforcement personnel to concentrate on carriers that are required to report to the weigh stations, which are more likely to need the time and attention of enforcement personnel.
 
ITD had a plan to install WIM/AVI technology at its POEs, but because of a lack of funding, the plan has been modified to repair and rehabilitate the two current systems.

Published 3-27-9