August 6, 2010
Aeronautics
Reed Ranch Airstrip joins backcountry system
Pilots now have a new opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Idaho’s pristine mountains and remote valleys – from the air and from the ground. At the same time, they can touch a colorful piece of Idaho history. With a few touchdowns and a gala “tailgate” party, the Reed Ranch Airstrip formally became part of Idaho’s backcountry airstrip system Friday (July 30).
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Wildfire
Beware of wildfire danger during hot, dry periods
From Ada City-County Emergency Management
The fire on Idaho Highway 16 last week in northern Ada County is a tragic reminder of one of a danger crested by lightning strikes. Fire is a creature of opportunity, and when conditions are right, it springs into action. Fires can take on a life of their own, seeking ways to stay alive, consuming whatever it can in order to keep growing. For this reason it is important to be aware of your surroundings.
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Highways
ITD receives excellence award for 'Northwest Passage' project
ITD's Office of Highway Operations and Safety (OHOS) received a national excellence award for its work to develop a "Northwest Passage Pooled Fund" project, The award was for "The Best New Innovative Practice," and was presented recently at the National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems conference in Huntington, W.Va., according to OHOS Engineer Brent Jennings.
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Employee safety
Driving tips for heavy construction vehicles
There are some important rules to remember when driving heavy construction vehicles on public roads. One of those rules is to maintain the proper speed of your vehicle to allow you to stop it.
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ITD Mailbox
• Outstanding responses from Highway Safety office
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Encore
July 30, 2010
Funding
Task force considers report on user contributions to highways
Initial findings from a study presented to the Governor's Task Force on Modernizing Transportation Funding this week suggest passenger cars may be paying a larger share than big trucks for Idaho's highways. The study on the equity of Idaho's highway user fees was requested by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter when he formed the transportation task force in 2009.
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Historic preservation
ITD preserves highway artifacts as window on the past
Every highway has a story behind it – or beneath it. Why was it built? Why that spot? What was there before? The answers often reveal a surprising historic perspective of movement through a landscape. Transportation corridors typically reflect ancient pathways. The same corridors used by the earliest Idahoans are the ones now widened and covered with asphalt or cement.
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Highways
ITD develops model for identifying 'health' of rural routes
ITD Director Brian Ness has issued a challenge – his vision is for the department to become the best in the nation and a model for other state agencies. What does that mean? District 6 Engineer Blake Rindlisbacher offers national attention over a district research project as an example that ITD is moving the right direction. He explained the research and subsequent interest when Director Ness and the transportation board met last week in Rigby.
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Adopt-A-Highway
BYU-Idaho band members honored for cleanup efforts
Musicians at Brigham Young University – Idaho in Rexburg are committed to bringing harmony to a highway in District 6. Members of the student-run Band Council put their instruments aside and take up litter bags twice a year to remove roadside refuse near Beaver Dick Park. A remnant of one outing serves as a constant reminder of their commitment to highway cleanups – and to their success against orchestra players in annual snow football games
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