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December 2010

Contested case hearing planned Wednesday, Thursday
ITD will hold a contested case hearing next week on a proposal to move four oversize Conoco/Phillips loads on U.S. 12 from Lewiston to the Idaho/Montana border.
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Ceremony planned for Twin Falls Alternate Route
The recent cold and wet weather has slowed construction crews as they near completion of stage II of the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route, but opening of the roadway is near enough to celebrate the accomplishment. The Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and ITD are leading a community ribbon cutting beginning at noon on Wednesday (Dec. 8) at the west end of the new Rock Creek Bridge.
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Avalanche team keeping eye on slopes, weather
The winter avalanche season officially began in the slide-prone Idaho 21 area between Banner Summit and Grandjean on Nov. 1. The District 3 avalanche crew (Bill Nicholson, Mick Riffie and Chantel Astorga) began twice-daily weather forecasting and snowpack monitoring on that date. Recent heavy snowstorms make regular avalanche monitoring critical to driver safety.
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New system will guide future investments
ITD will introduce a new management tool next week that will redefine the way it plans and tracks pavement and maintenance management activities. The new Transportation Asset Management System (TAMS) will provide a wealth of information on the state highway system and help determine how to apply resources most effectively. Use of the new management system will begin Friday (Dec. 17).
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Board seeks additional $162 million in bonding authority
The Idaho Transportation Board this week requested $162 million in bonding authority for next year to complete construction of highway improvement projects on U.S. 95 and Idaho 16. The bond request is part of the GARVEE Transportation Program approved by the Idaho Legislature. The recommendation will be forwarded to Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and would have to be approved by the Legislature
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New 'dashboard' provided glimpse of department performance
ITD’s commitment to transparency took a new visual form this week with the introduction of a database-driven Transportation System Dashboard featured prominently on the department’s website. A new graphic link directs visitors to pages that provide a current snapshot of the department’s primary performance measures. Resembling an automobile speedometer, the graphic depicts the status and desired trend for each of ITD’s performance measures.
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Chief Human Resource Officer gains international certification
Mary Harker, ITD’s Chief Human Resource Officer, recently achieved international recognition for achieving the International Public Management Association’s Certified Professional credentials. “Mary is now authorized by the IPMA-HR (Human Resources) to use the IPMA-CP or IMPA-HR Certified Professional designation,” explains Neil E. Reichenberg, executive director of the organization.
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New turn bay design brings recognition to D-3
As part of a U.S. 20 seal coat this summer, District 3 Traffic Engineer Kevin Sablan suggested and designed alterations to the intersection striping plans to essentially use excess space from the shoulders and re-stripe it for turn bays at four problematic intersections. .
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