Transportation Board
Enhancement, CMAQ priorities to be presented
The Idaho Transportation Board voted last month to suspend acceptance of new proposals for enhancement and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality projects. That decision was made near the end of the 2011 application cycle and a number of applications already had been received. Since that meeting, ITD’s technical review committee prioritized the project proposals that had already been received and will present that priority list to the board when it meets next week.
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Aeronautics
FAA honors Orofino for airport improvement project
An airport improvement project in Orofino, partially funded through ITD’s Division of Aeronautics, received an award for project management and planning during the annual Northwest Mountain Region’s Airport Conference in Seattle, April 21-23.
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Teens invited to fly high in annual ACE academy
Navigation for small airplanes, visiting an air traffic control tower and exploring Blackhawk helicopters will be part of the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy for teenagers, June 23-26. ITD’s Division of Aeronautics organizes the annual academy. Thirty teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18 will have the opportunity to participate in the academy.
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Workshops help teachers integrate aviation topics
ITD's Division of Aeronautics will sponsor several two-day Teacher Aviation Workshops early this summer to demonstrate how aviation subjects can be incorporated into regular lessons. Three workshops are planned: one in Payette, June 16-17; one in Pocatello June 22-23; and a third workshop June 30-July 1 in Sandpoint. Although they are intended primarily for grades 6-12, the lessons are appropriate for all levels.
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Employees
Open enrollment begins; medical options outlined
The PPO and Traditional medical plans will continue with existing benefits and increased premium rates, and a third medical plan will be implemented.  The new High Deductible medical plan provides a lower level of benefits than the PPO and Traditional plans, but at the same premium rate as the FY2008 PPO plan.
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Dept. of Administration Employee Group Insurance Benefits

'Road Warriors' run out of steam in finale
A band of die-hard ITD employees learned Saturday (May 10) what many outlaws already knew – it’s tough to beat the law. After sweeping their first three games in the inaugural State Employee Softball Tournament, the ITD "Road Warriors" ran out of steam in the finale, loosing to the Idaho Department of Correction.
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Technology
Phased introduction of Office 2007 to begin Tuesday (May 20)
After reviewing the test results for Microsoft Office 2007 completed last week, a decision has been made to deploy Office 2007 in a multi-phased approach.  A phased approach was agreed upon because the department has computers that do not meet the minimum requirements for operating Office 2007 and because Access 2007 needs additional testing and time for modifying existing Access applications.
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Benevolence

Marshall helps in race for breast cancer cure
Connie Marshall, on the District 3 vegetation crew, was part of a group of 389 women that raised $9,725 Saturday (May 10) in the Komen Race for the Cure, a breast-cancer awareness event in Boise. The annual event raised more than $400,000 for research and education.
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Highway Safety
Campaign emphasizes buckling belts
Idaho law enforcement officers will increase patrols in an effort to reduce motor vehicle fatalities and serious injuries throughout the state during a focused seat belt enforcement campaign. The campaign begins Monday (May 19) and continues until June 1. The Idaho State Police and an estimated 30 law enforcement agencies statewide will work overtime to educate Idahoans and to strictly enforce the state's seat belt law.
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Environment
Idaho Green Expo planned Saturday, Sunday
Patti Raino, coordinator of ITD’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction committee, will participate in a comprehensive two-day Idaho Green Expo in Boise this weekend. She will help staff a booth for the Treasure Valley Clean Cities Coalition. The free expo will showcase environmentally friendly products and services and provides information that will help individuals adopt a healthier more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
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In Memoriam
Willard Boyd Rood
Boyd Rood, who served Idaho and the transportation department in many regions of the state, recently passed away at the age of 73. He retired in 1988 after three decades with ITD. He was the district engineer in Coeur d’Alene where he was involved in construction of Interstate 90, and was an assistant district engineer in Lewiston where he worked on construction of White Bird Hill south of Grangeville.
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ITD Mailbox
• Support for new public transportation paradigm
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Published previously

Motorcycle Safety

A Burden on two wheels
What makes him do it? Why would a man “blow himself up”? Is it a need for exercise, to save on gas, a hobby turned obsession? For Kip Burden, a District 3 transportation technician, it is all of those things… and more. 
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Highway Safety
Motorists urged to watch for motorcyclists
Warm weather brings more two-wheeled motor vehicles onto the state’s highways, prompting ITD to remind all vehicle drivers to be extra alert for motorcycles and scooters. May is “Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month” and ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety encourages all drivers to “Share the Road” with those smallest vehicles.
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Scenic Byways
Motorcyclist discovers beauty of 10 scenic byways
Ah, the open roads, unmatched scenery and the power of a hog (Harley Davidson motorcycle). The trilogy seems to be a perfect combination in Idaho. Diane Norton, a tourism analyst for the Idaho Department of commerce heartily agrees. Norton also doubles as a writer for Hot Pipes Magazine, a Meridian-based quarterly publication that focuses on women motorcycle riders.
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Highways
ITD's 'roadeos' to test driving skills, knowledge
They’re not your traditional rodeos – no bareback, saddle bronc or bull riding, no team roping, or steer wrestling. No eight-second counts or barrel racing, or clowns. Just front-end loaders and 10-wheel dump trucks. And some fairly intense competition, nonetheless.
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Awards
ITD receives six Idaho Press Club awards
ITD returned from the Idaho Press Club’s annual award ceremony with six honors in the public relations category last week, including a first for Special-purpose Web site. Idaho’s Scenic Byways Web site claimed top honors in the special purpose category. Public Information Officer Jeff Stratten entered the site on behalf of the transportation department and scenic byways coordinator Garry Young.
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Media training
One-day class prepares employees for media interaction
It’s not a matter of if, but when. A tired expression is nevertheless true of when to expect a phone call or on-the-spot interview from your local new media. A few brave ITD souls found it isn’t always as easy as it looks and rarely as bad as you expect.
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