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October 2010

Director Ness commits to meetings with employees again next year
Shortly after becoming ITD director in January, Brian Ness made a commitment to meet as many of the department’s employees as possible. However, the extensive road trips had to wait about three months for conclusion of the legislative session. Since late spring, Director Ness completed his quest to visit facilities and employees in every region of the state, including Headquarters. It required a lot of time, energy and creative scheduling, but the results made the efforts worthwhile, he insists.
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Assessment begins after U.S. 12 diesel spill
Environmental remediation experts traveled to north-central Idaho this week to assess the impact of a Wednesday (Sept. 29) diesel spill on U.S. 12 and begin cleanup efforts. A westbound tanker truck and pup trailer, operated by Keller Transport, left the highway and overturned about 27 miles west of Powell and 136 miles east of Lewiston. An estimated 8,000 gallons of diesel spilled from the tanks.
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Idaho obligates all of its ARRA funds before deadline
ITD Roadway Design Engineer Nestor Fernandez reported Sept. 23 that all of Idaho’s $182 million (highways obligations and transfers) for 84 projects had been obligated. ITD has done an exceptional job getting projects out the door and on the ground where they are creating or sustaining jobs and improving the state’s economy. Idaho is among the nation's leaders in completing projects funded by the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA or stimulus) of 2009.
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ITD employees donate aircraft registration sticker
An airplane without a sticker is like a boy without a shoe. Not fully clothed. As a replica of the first plane to fly over Idaho soil began to take shape in Lewiston, representatives of ITD’s Division of Aeronautics noticed something missing. The recreated Curtiss Pusher, built in a Lewiston hangar, had no aircraft registration sticker. To be completely proper, one needed to be affixed to the aircraft
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The Idaho Transportation Department lost a long-time friend and respected employee when Jonathan Prahasto died in a tragic two-vehicle crash Monday near Ashton. Prahasto, 55, was westbound in a one-ton ITD pickup truck on U.S. 20 when it collided with a Peterbilt semi-truck carrying produce. “ITD employees throughout the state join with District 6 this week in mourning the loss of our colleague,” said Director Brian Ness. “I want to express to Jonathan’s family how deeply we have been touched by his loss. I encourage fellow ITD workers who knew and respected Jonathan to do everything possible to help his family through this very difficult time.
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Environment, kids benefit from leaving cars behind
If more children were able to walk and bicycle to school, everyone's morning commute might get easier with 25 percent fewer motor vehicles on the road. That's how much additional traffic is attributed to parents driving children to school each day. International Walk to School Day (IWSD) was observed around the world and in Idaho Wednesday. This year's global event highlighted a convergence of issues ranging from childhood obesity to environmental pollution and rising fuel prices that are pushing families to rethink how they travel, including daily trips to school.
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Highway safety commission plans one-day workshop
The Idaho Traffic Safety Commission (ITSC) and Idaho Transportation Department will consider proposals to improve safety on Idaho’s highways when they meet in Boise Wednesday (Oct. 20). They will look at safety concerns, plans, funding and outreach during the daylong meeting at the Doubletree Riverside Hotel. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 8 a.m.
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Centennial of Flight observance planned in Lewiston
ITD’s Division of Aeronautics will join pilots and airplane enthusiasts from throughout the region next weekend to commemorate the first powered flight in Idaho. The first flight recorded aircraft in the skies of Idaho occurred Oct. 13, 1910, in Lewiston. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter recognized that memorable flight and the active role of aviation in Idaho in February when he designated October 2010 as Idaho Centennial of Flight Month.
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ITD prohibits use of cell phones, similar devices while driving state vehicles/equipment
Safety is a key objective of ITD Executive Management. Safety is part of the department’s strategic plan; it is one of our performance measures; and it is one of the key objectives in the new long-range system plan. Since safety on the roadways receives such high attention for those who travel on Idaho’s highways, it is equally important to management that employees set an example to others and be as safe as possible.
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FHWA official: Driving culture needs to change
Reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho highways will take more than infrastructure improvements and more than the traditional focus on engineering, education, enforcement and emergency responses. Saving lives will require a cultural shift - a fundamental change in driver behavior, insists Joe Toole, Federal Highway Administration's associate administrator for safety. He was among the authorities who spoke Wednesday at the annual Idaho Traffic Safety Commission meeting in Boise.
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Madison County pair receive national safety award
Sheriff Roy C. Klingler and Lt. Cameron Stanford of the Madison County Sheriff's Office were honored this week for outstanding commitment to multi-jurisdictional law enforcement efforts in Idaho. The two received National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "Safety Champion Awards" from John M. Moffat, NHTSA regional administrator for the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. The presentation took place during an Idaho Traffic Safety Commission meeting hosted by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) in Boise.
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