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Idaho Transportation
Department

Office of Communications
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
E-mail


May 29, 2009

Transportation board
Board policy encourages 'Partnership Culture'
The Idaho Transportation Board, at its May business meeting in Pocatello last week (May 20, 21), approved a new policy, B-01-21, Partnership Culture. The policy recognizes the importance of partnerships and encourages ITD to seek opportunities for partnerships that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the department and its resources. The policy also requires an annual report to the board on partnership activities.
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Know the Road
Are 41 million drivers qualified to be on the highways?
Results from the 2009 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test released today found that 20.1 percent of licensed Americans - amounting to roughly 41 million drivers on the road - would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today. When probed on driving behavior, 30 percent of those surveyed say financial strains have triggered a desire to drive less and seek out new ways to save money.
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Common driving mistakes
How the states ranked
Take the test

Idaho drivers know rules of the road
If knowledge is power, Idaho drivers are among the most powerful in the U.S. That’s a conclusion emerging from a national survey of driver knowledge conducted recently by GMAC Insurance Co. Idaho drivers, along with those in Wisconsin, collectively scored higher on a 20-question exam than all other drivers. It was the second time in three years Idaho finished ahead of the pack.
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Highways
D-4 lends hand to ITD neighbors in Sugar City
Experience goes a long way, they say. For Tony Rigby and Jerry Bankhead, experience led them to District 6 to help mill a section of Idaho 33. As part of a cooperative agreement between the districts, D4 sent the Zipper mill and two employees to help cure a drainage problem in Sugar City.
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D-3 asked to change vehicle washing location
District 3 discontinued on-site washings of vehicles and equipment at its site in Garden City and shifted those cleaning operations to its Orchard shed. The change came after recent notification by Garden City officials that washings violated city ordinances because they result in runoff that enters the Boise River untreated.
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Employees
Paycheck stubs move to online only
Beginning with the June 12 pay date, the Division of Statewide Payroll (DSP) will no longer print the paper pay stubs for employees participating in direct deposit.  May 29th is the last pay date that you will receive a pay stub. Please see the memo and request form distributed this week by ITD Controller Gordon Wilmoth.

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Paycheck stub memo


Employee safety
Test your understanding of driving while drowsy
Driving after midnight and driving while tired are two risk factors associated with many fatal car crashes. Shift workers commuting in the early morning hours face these risks, so safe driving must be a priority. Take a quiz from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Test your knowledge of sleep, then pass the test on to your workers – particularly those who drive as part of their job.
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Survivable space
Firewise landscaping can reduce risk
Spring is here and outside is the place to be. For many homeowners, creating a relaxing, enjoyable space in the backyard is a springtime project. As part of this endeavor, the space also should be “survivable.” Whether your home is in an urban or rural setting, the landscape and maintenance recommendations associated with Survivable Space will help make your property more fire resistant.
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ITD Mailbox
• Request for assistance addressed promptly
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Published previously

Stimulus projects
Idaho among leaders in advancing projects to bid

Idaho has secured almost 78 percent of its federal transportation stimulus funding, second only to Oklahoma and well ahead of the national average of 37 percent. States must meet federal requirements to qualify for stimulus funding, one of which requires having 50 percent of funds obligated to construction projects by July 1. Idaho has obligated $148 million of the $182 million it qualifies to receive in stimulus funding.
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Employee insurance
Insurance changes announced for benefited employees
The Office of Group Insurance recently announced significant changes in health insurance coverage for all benefited state employees, effective July 1. The only change to the state of Idaho’s contract with Blue Cross will be to prescription drug coverage, says ITD Human Resource Specialist Carlin Hill.  In an effort to help employees plan for the changes, HRS distributed an e-mail message to employees Monday, outlining some of the major changes.

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Questions & Answers
Employees posed the following questions to a recent announcement about changes in state employee health insurance. Answers are provided by Human Resources Services. Please direct any other questions to Human Resources Specialist Carlin Hill.

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Employees
Survey responses will lead to positive changes

Outstanding!  That is the best way to describe the response of ITD’s employees to the Organizational Benchmarking Survey conducted earlier this year.  “The superb response of employees in sharing their insights, observations, and areas of opportunity for improvement will pay huge dividends” said Director Pam Lowe in her remarks to the department’s administrators.
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See summary of survey responses


Technology

ITD introduces video element to Web site
Navigating ITD’s Web site can be somewhat tricky for the average Internet user, especially with such diverse topics as DMV, Aeronautics, 511 and highway project information all in one place. To help guide the way, ITD has added a new feature to its home page – ITD In Motion.
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Highways
School bus drivers, ski patrol honored for highway cleanups
The driver’s seat of a school bus provides a good view of the highway, and sometimes the view isn’t pretty. Roadside litter, left by careless or uncaring motorists, became a sore spot for Bear Lake School District 33 bus drivers Judy Smith and Carole Hymas. So they decided to do something about it. They adopted a two-mile section of U.S. 89 in southeast Idaho as their home on the road.
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Submit your News/Views to Share

News to Share

Please share information about your accomplishments or those of your colleagues with the ITD community. Send contributions to the e-mail link above

Views to Share

Do you have a question related to ITD processes, policies or projects? Has something been puzzling you about why we do what we do? Share your questions using the e-mail link above and let us find the answers.