Have a wonderful, relaxing Fourth of July enjoy your freedom and celebrate your independence Where does your allegiance lie? To whom or what do we claim or owe allegiance? Under the first definition, we might list some of the following: God, family, country, social, ethnic, community or even employment group. But the second definition suggests something different, carving out a specific niche for national allegiance. First of all, it dares to use the word “duty,” which, in the context of the definition, ties allegiance to citizenship – “subject of his or her government.” Continue

Holiday travel
ITD emphasizes safe driving for Fourth of July weekend
Economic conditions, largely fueled by soaring gas prices, probably will keep more Idahoans closer to home for the three-day Fourth of July holiday weekend. But many drivers still will venture onto Idaho highways in pursuit of recreation and relief from the heat. ITD joins law enforcement officers throughout the state in urging motorists to drive safely this weekend.
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Alternative schedule
Garry Young saves weekly trip by working four 10-hour days
Garry Young, manager of Idaho’s Scenic Byway program, only comes to work four days a week – but he’s still a full-time ITD employee. Like a number of other transportation department employees, Young works four 10-hour shifts each week, saving time, money and gas. He is an example of how efficiently the governor’s suggested trip reduction plan can work.
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Transportation board
Rules changes on board's July agenda in Coeur d'Alene
ITD staff members will request revisions to several rules when the transportation board meets in District 1 next week. The July business meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at the ITD office in Coeur d’Alene.
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Aeronautics
ACE academy sends teens to new heights
High school students from throughout the state assembled last week for a variety of fun, educational experiences as part of the annual Aviation Career Exploration academy sponsored by ITD's Division of Aeronautics. Participants began the week with a tour of the airport fire station and a burn demonstration. They also received an introduction to flight navigation in the classroom and toured the Boise Airport.
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Highways
July 8 ceremony to christen new interchange
About a year and a half after the reconstruction of the Franklin Interchange in Caldwell began, a dedication ceremony with local and state leaders will celebrate its completion Tuesday (July 8). The old two-lane overpass, built in 1966, has been replaced with a four-lane roadway that has dual left and dual right turn lanes. The new interchange ramps are longer and wider to accommodate more traffic at the busy intersection.
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Highway safety
Some states implement cell phone restrictions
While Idaho drivers have unrestricted use of cell phones while behind the wheel, the times are changing elsewhere in the United States as more states – and some local jurisdictions – place tougher limits on hands-on use of phones. ITD employees who travel to nearby states should be aware of restrictions outside of Idaho.
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Soaring gas prices
Tips show drivers how to get most out of a gallon
How can you reduce the effects of escalating gas prices? Following the tips provided by Cheryl Rost, manager of Employee Safety and Risk Management, can help you squeeze a little extra gas mileage out of your vehicle and leave you with a few extra pennies when you gill the gas tank.
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Wildfires
Weather turns up heat on wildfire potential
The weather patterns and environmental conditions that exist during the summer months create an  atmosphere of increased risk for wildfires. Wildfires destroy homes and thousands of acres of scenic country each year. They cost millions of dollars to fight and present an extreme risk to human and animal life.
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HRD training schedule
	Sept. 10, 11	Managing Performance
	Oct. 28-30	Basic Communication
	Nov. 18-20	Intermediate Communication
	Dec. 9-11	Introduction to Supervision
This schedule represents training classes available at Headquarters. For schedules at specific districts, please contact your EST or refer to the training calendar.

Highways
Sand Creek Byway bid of $98 million approved
The Idaho Transportation Board approved a construction bid for the Sand Creek Byway project on June 19, clearing one of the final hurdles for the largest single highway construction contract in ITD’s history. Approval came during the board’s June business meeting in Boise. Parsons RCI, of Sumner, Wash., is the successful bidder at $98.4 million.

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Transportation board
Oregon official explains mileage tax experiment
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), based on a legislative mandate to research alternatives to the traditional fuel taxes, established a unique pilot project to collect a fee based on miles traveled. James Whitty, manager of the ODOT’s Office of Innovative Partnerships and Alternative Funding, reviewed results of the 12-month pilot project for members of the Idaho Transportation Board.
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Planning
STIP available for public review, comments
The draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for fiscal years 2009-2013 is available throughout Idaho for public comment. The document identifies approximately $1 billion in transportation-related projects planned for construction through the year 2013, plus those planned for the first three bonding authorizations of the GARVEE Transportation Program as approved by the Idaho Legislature.
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Awards
Five awards presented for Transportation Excellence
The Idaho Transportation department paid homage Thursday to some of the state’s most successful transportation-related projects and most of the recipients were family members. Two of the Excellence in Transportation awards acknowledged extraordinary work in public participation – I-84, Cole to Broadway Soundwalls and I-84, Broadway to Eisenman rehabilitation. Other awards were given for transportation planning, environmental stewardship and construction.
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DMV Modernization project receives technology award
A technology project that vastly improves the exchange information between ITD’s Division of Motor Vehicles and local licensing/registration offices was named the state’s best “government-to-government” project. Gov. C.L. “Butch Otter” presented the award Wednesday during the monthly meeting of the Information Technology Resource Management Council (ITRMC) that also honored several other state agencies for innovative uses of technology.
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CADD project named semifinalist in Bentley awards
ITD’s ambitious project to upgrade an antiquated – and sometimes disjointed – computer aided drafting and design (CADD) system statewide emerged as a semifinalist in international competition this spring. The first phase of the project to standardize CADD software and improve workstations throughout the department  was in competition for the 2008 BE (Bentley Engineering) Awards of Excellence.
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Public Transportation
Board approves statewide Rideshare program
The Idaho Transportation Board last week unanimously approved the statewide licensing of “Rideshareonline.com” as a Web based ride-match system in support of local rideshare programs throughout the State of Idaho and Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter’s Trip Reduction Policy. Ride-sharing refers to carpooling and vanpooling in which vehicles carry additional passengers.
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Independent living group commended
The Idaho Transportation Board commended the Idaho State Independent Living Council (SILC) and the Division of Public Transportation for pooling and leveraging resources through an inspirational partnership with the goal of creating “Local Mobility Management Networks” throughout the state in support of efficient, effective and intelligent transportation options that are accessible and seamless.
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Safety
Keep safety in mind when celebrating the Fourth
It's time for the backyard barbecues, fireworks and fun in the sun with family and friends. Less visible to celebrants, safety professionals are thinking about E. coli, fires and heat illness. (This kind of thinking is an occupational hazard for ITD’s Safety Team!) So to help workers host safe celebrations, let's take a look at some common summertime hazards and how to address them.
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Environment
Aggressive avalanche program reduces closures, aids safety
Explosive measures were used this winter to cut avalanche-related closures in half on the state’s most avalanche-prone highway, Idaho 21. The route, one of Idaho's most popular winter recreation corridors and host to most of the state's highway avalanches, typically is closed 60 days per year. Because of an aggressive avalanche control program, the highway was closed just 30 days this winter.
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Fitness
First Lady forms team for St. Luke's celebration
Idaho’s First Lady, Lori Otter recently announced the formation of a special team that will compete in the St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration. The annual event, which takes place on Sept. 20 this year, includes a 5-kilometer run and a walk-and-stroll for all ages and all abilities for women and children.
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Highway safety
Patrols to target Fourth of July DUIs
ITD reminds drivers that law enforcement agencies throughout Idaho will participate in targeted patrols to arrest impaired drivers July 2-7. About 32 state, county and local law enforcement agencies will participate in the Fourth of July holiday emphasis patrols that are funded through a federal grant administered by ITD.
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Celebrating a long,
distinguished
career

Friends, family and colleagues pause to wish Steve Hutchinson farewell as he trades the chief engineer's desk for a life of leisure and retirement Thursday.

 

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