Untitled Document

April 2010

District 1honored for conservation efforts
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently honored ITD’s District 1 as an Imperial Habitat Partner. The award recognizes the foundation’s partners in developing conservation easements to protect and preserve wildlife habitat throughout the Rocky Mountain region.
Continue

Flight re-creation planned for Idaho Centennial observance
Imagine the sight of a motorized aircraft sharing the sky over Lewiston with hawks, sparrows and doves nearly 100 years ago. That’s where a 1909 Glenn Curtiss Model D Pusher aircraft became the first powered aircraft to fly over Idaho on Oct. 13, 1910. The memorable flight and active role of aviation in Idaho were recognized as part of a proclamation prepared by the Idaho Aviation Association and signed by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter in February designating October 2010 as Idaho Centennial of Flight Month.
Continue

Plan your tours with new Google-based bike map
Spring has sprung in Idaho and with the warmer weather many of us are waking our bikes up from their long, winter hibernation. Now is the time to start planning your trips and mapping your routes, and Idaho’s Bike Map can help you do that.
Continue

Five I-way leadership awards presented
I-way Leadership awards are offered on an annual basis to recognize leadership and innovation in the effective coordination of mobility options. The Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI) and ITD's Division of Public Transportation announce the five recipients of the 2010 I-way Leadership Awards.
Continue

Director Ness adapts Tom Izzo's coaching philosophy at ITD
The strategies required for building one of the nation’s premier college basketball programs can be applied to achieving success in the corporate world and in the public sector. Director Brian W. Ness wants to incorporate the principles he’s learned from a quarter-century relationship with Michigan State University basketball to build ITD into a national leader. His vision for ITD is that it becomes the best transportation department in the country.
Continue

ITD recognized for safety planning, Peer-to-Peer Exchange
ITD’s effort to save lives on state highways through a Peer-to-Peer Exchange program has been identified as a model initiative by the Federal Highway Administration. FHWA provides an extensive analysis of ITD’s November 4, 2009, peer exchange on its Web site: “Updating a Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Learning from the Idaho Transportation Department.” More than 100 professionals, committed to reducing traffic fatalities, assembled for the exchange
Continue

Media carry message on need for workzone safety
With 279 work zone crashes last year in Idaho, it could be argued that work zones are among the most hazardous areas on the state highway system. However, Monday morning (April 19), on the new Vista Avenue Interchange bridge over Interstate 84 in Boise, the most frightening aspect of being behind the orange barrels for District 3 project inspector Steve Erichson was being interviewed about work zone safety by three television reporters simultaneously.
Continue

Rockslide forces closure of Idaho 55
Rocks the size of small cars and trucks rained down on Idaho 55, covering the northbound lane and part of the southbound lane April 11 and forcing closure of the highway for major cleanup. The rock slide near McCall closed Idaho 55 for about four hours. ITD maintenance crews from New Meadows, Council and Boise removed large boulders and debris and patched the highway surface that had been damaged by the falling rock.
Continue

Ceremony launches U.S. 95 'Gap' project
A recent cold, damp day didn’t deter a hearty band of individuals from celebrating the official start of the U.S. 95, Wyoming to Idaho 53 project. About 30 people joined Idaho Transportation Board member and emcee Jim Coleman, Rep. Frank Henderson, Sen. Jim Hammond, and Katie Brodie, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s northern Idaho representative, in celebrating the groundbreaking of the important project.
Continue

ITD claims 12 Idaho Press Club awards
ITD’s Communications staff collected a dozen public relations awards Saturday (April 17) at the annual Idaho Press Clubs ceremony in Boise. That represents the most awards ITD has received from the Press Club in nearly a decade and was twice the number earned by any other organization in the public relations division. Last year ITD received six awards.
Continue