May 6, 2011
 State Employee Appreciation
Idaho citizens benefit from strong state workforce
Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter
There are almost 26,000 State employees in Idaho. For a population of about 1.5 million, that pencils out to roughly one in every 58 of our citizens who work for the State of Idaho. That one in 58 contributes to everything from the schools where our children and grandchildren learn to the patrols that help keep our highways safe, from our clean air and water to the outdoor recreation opportunities that so many of us enjoy.
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Administration
Mike Golden begins new era as Chief Administrative Officer
Michael Golden, a life-long resident of the Kansas City area, continued a 30-year history in transportation when he began work Monday as ITD Chief Administrative Officer. His experience in private- and public-sector transportation began after graduation from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1970. His first position at Yellow Freight System (now YRC Worldwide) was staff accountant in 1971. When he left the company 24 ½ years later he was vice president of taxation.
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WASHTO
GARVEE's Brinkman nominated for prestigious award
ITD’s GARVEE Program Manager Jason Brinkman has been nominated for one of the highest awards bestowed by the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO). The Dr. L. I. Hewes Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the highway development program by an individual actively engaged in highway development in the West with a WASHTO state organization.
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Highway safety
Rallies to promote motorcycle-car safety
Motorcycle rallies in support of greater motorist awareness of motorcycle and scooter riders are planned across Idaho for Saturday (May 7). The rallies coincide with Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month so ITD is partnering with Idaho STAR Program, Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety, the Idaho Army National Guard and the Idaho State Police to encourage drivers to "Share the Road."
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Public transportation
Idaho delegates attend RouteShare conference
The ITD Division of Transportation Performance is managing a deployment of specific technology applications at six separate transit provider locations throughout Idaho. The technologies are aimed at helping the transit providers improve their operational efficiency and effectiveness. The technology applications are being provided by RouteMatch Software, Inc. and include demand response dispatch software, fixed route management software, automated vehicle location devices and mobile data terminals onboard the vehicles
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Excellence in Transportation Awards
2011 Professional Development Conference
Accolades
ARTBA honors Interstate 84 project for community relations
A national roadbuilder's organization recently selected ITD, Connecting Idaho Partners, RBCI and the Langdon Group for an award in community relations for their work to keep the public informed of progress on the Interstate-84 East family of projects. The I-84 East family of projects also includes the Orchard Avenue Interchange reconstruction, the Broadway to Eisenman resurfacing, the New York Canal bridge widening, the sound walls from Broadway to Cole, and the ongoing Cole to Broadway freeway widening.
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Idaho 21 wildlife crossing project receives honor
The Capital City Communicators, a group of Treasure Valley public relations professionals, honored ITD and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for efforts to keep motorists advised of a wildlife crossing construction project on Idaho 21. The award in the Media Relations/News Release category was announced April 29 during a banquet in Boise. Reed Hollinshead took the lead for ITD in the cooperative media campaign with the Department of Fish and Game.
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Alternative travel
May In Motion helps take drivers off the road
It’s that time of the year again! Alternative transportation options are jump-started every Spring with our May in Motion promotion. For those unfamiliar with the event, May in Motion is a month-long promotion designed to educate valley residents about transportation issues and encourage them to use transportation alternatives.
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Employees
Farewell planned for retiring Mary Hunter
Mary Hunter, manager of the Office of Highway Safety, will bring a 28-year career at ITD to a close later this Month. Co-workers and friends will begin a slow roast in the Headquarters auditorium, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. A formal presentation is planned at 1:30 p.m. and a reception with cake and punch will follow. Mary has been a tireless advocate of highway safety, especially the use of seatbelts throughout her career. She is recognized nationally for building ITD's highway safety program into a national model. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the reception. Those unable to attend are invited to send best wishes via e-mail or cards.
External EEO office moves to Human Resources
As part of the realigning of the ITD, the external EEO office at Headquarters will report to Chief Human Resource Officer, Mary Harker. The office was scheduled to be relocated, this week, within the Human Resource office on the first floor in the Headquarters building. All contact information for office personnel (Debby, Julie and Liz) will remain unchanged.
Monica Crider
Preparedness
Severe weather training planned Thursday
A Severe Weather Spotter Training Workshop, co-sponsored by Ada City-County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service (NWS), will give the public an opportunity to learn about storm observer and forecasting. The training is slated for Thursday (May 12) in the Vernon Bisterfeldt Public Safety Building, 7200 Barrister Drive, Boise
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Encore
Published April 29, 2011
Project Development
Mary Peters outlines funding challenges
The song Mary Peters heard while scanning radio stations on a motorcycle tour put the status of transportation nationwide in clear perspective. The prophetic song title: “The End of the World as We Know It.” Peters, former head of the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, was the featured speaker this week at the 2011 Project Development Conference in Boise that attracted more than 350 participants.
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Adopt-A-Highway
District 2 honors Craigmont Lions Club
A civic organization in Craigmont that has been cleaning highways in north-central Idaho since the Adopt-A-Highway program began two decades ago was honored recently as the outstanding group of the year in District 2. Members of the Craigmont Lions Club have always committed their time, energy and resources to improving their community. It seemed a natural extension of their regular city cleanup activities to embrace the Adopt-A-Highway segment, leaders explain.
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Motorcycle safety
ITD joins campaign to promote 'Share the Road'
ITD has joined with motorcycle safety advocates statewide to encourage all drivers and riders to safely “Share the Road.” May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and ITD is partnering with the Idaho STAR program, Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety, the Idaho State Police and law enforcement agencies to remind everyone to be extra alert and cautious when driving or riding to help keep everyone safe on Idaho highways.
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May In Motion
Campaign emphasizes alternative transportation
ITD employees are invited to participate in a month-long campaign to explore alternative commuting options in May. The annual May In Motion event is organized by the Ada County Highway District and Commuteride to encourage drivers to use vanpools, carpools, public transportation or bicycles to commute between home and work. May In Motion will begin with a kickoff party Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Exercise challenge
Find hidden GEMS in 2011 fitness program
Sign up for this year’s ITD exercise challenge and discover Idaho’s Great Exercise Motivating Sites or GEMS. The 2011 exercise challenge introduces or reminds you of the many wonderful places in Idaho that are great for exercise. Now is the time to put exercise into your regular routine or to take your usual workout to new locations.
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Highways
Rust among the weeds
It’s a little like finding a historic dumpsite while hunting in the wilderness. Except most of the items left behind can’t be traced to an early settlement. Litter recently discovered along Idaho 21, about 10 miles east of Garden Valley, probably had been dumped there four or more decades ago, and were hidden from sight by vegetation.
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Employees
PERSI, Nationwide ready to help retirement planning
PERSI offers three workshops to help you understand your PERSI benefits. On occasion, “Planning for the Beach” and “Cruisin’ to the Beach” are offered at Headquarters and the district offices. In addition, representatives from Nationwide Insurance are available to assist employees who are in the brink of retirement.
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Nationwide representative available by appointment
Do you have questions about retirement? Do you need more direct answers about: 1) Identifying your retirement goals; 2) Enrolling in the retirement plans; 3) Determining your contribution level; 4) Determining your investor profile; 5) Keeping track of your plan over time. Jason Daum from Nationwide Retirement Solutions will be available by appointment only for a 20-minute private discussion.
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