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Three-day board meeting begins with performance workshop

The Idaho Transportation Board will discuss the department’s performance management process and progress toward compliance with a governor’s executive order on the first day of a three-day meting next week in Boise.

The Tuesday workshop will focus on “continuous improvement: our efforts to be an industry leader.” The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the District 3 office on Chinden Boulevard.

A report will include information on each measurement driver: what it is and why it is an important performance indicator. The results from tracking the measures in the first quarter will be reported, followed by the benchmarks and history for each measure and concluding with plans for the next reporting period – October through December.

Updates on the Statewide Transportation Systems Plan and the Management Systems will highlight the “accountability” discussion.

Board members will meet Wednesday in executive session at Headquarters to discuss personnel issues. The session is not open to the public.

The board’s monthly business meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the auditorium at Headquarters.

Other business discussion

Annual report on “Speed Zone Changes by City Ordinance”
Throughout the state, there are 63 locations in 33 cities where cities have imposed speed limit changes that have gone against the recommendations of the department since legislation was enacted in 1997. That legislation allows incorporated cities to establish speed limits within their jurisdiction on sections of the State Highway System. ITD retains authority to establish speed limits within highway sections that access control Types 4 and 5.

The results from studies done since implementation of city-imposed speed limits through 2009 suggest drivers are more inclined to disobey city-imposed speed reductions. The data shows better conformance to speed limits established by standard engineering practices. Most drivers travel at speeds they consider reasonable, prudent and safe, with limited respect to the posted speed limit, according to the report.

No definite conclusions can be made on collisions because of information is limited, however, preliminary observations show crash rates in speed zones established by city action have not changed when comparing pre-speed zone reduction data with post-speed zone reduction data.

Technology Transfer Center overview
The Idaho Technology Transfer, or T2, Center serves as Idaho’s Local Technical Assistance Program. It is an educational and information clearinghouse for the local highway jurisdictions. The board will hear a presentation on the T2 Center, which was established in 1986 within ITD. From 1996 to early 2009 it was housed at the University of Idaho. It recently moved to the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council.

The center plays a critical role in advancing the local surface transportation system and is a partner for training and technical assistance throughout the local transportation community. Its four focus areas are safety, infrastructure management, professional development and continuous improvement.

One of the center’s successes is the Idaho Road Scholar Program, which provides a way for local transportation professionals to be recognized for successfully completing a series of training courses.

The curriculum gives participants the fundamentals of safety, management and advanced technologies, as well as exposure to a variety of other transportation-related topics. Each person has four years from the sign-up date to complete the course requirements for each of the two series of programs. Level I, or the Road Scholar, requires completing nine core classes and two electives for a total of 76 hours of training. Level II – Road Master – consists of eight core classes and two electives, totaling 84 hours.

As part of the presentation to the board Thursday, Carl Vaughn will be recognized for his recent completion of the Road Scholar Program. Vaughn works at the Hammett maintenance facility.