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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

September 12, 2008


Research
TRB engages in information sharing visit
Peter Shaw maintained a three-day schedule this week that would rival a physician’s – non-stop appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and beyond, with few pauses. The Transportation Research Board (TRB) senior program officer, who is based in Washington, D.C., met with ITD officials and university faculty in Boise on an information sharing mission. The non-profit research organization, chartered by Congress, dispatches staff members to all state transportation departments to discuss ongoing and proposed research projects.
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Highways
Fire in the hole
Two weeks of preparation, a couple hours packing the charge, and stopping all the traffic for as little time as possible. When there’s only one road for traffic to use for a hundred miles in either direction, blasting at a place like Galena Summit has to go right the first time.

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Ceremony to close one U.S. 30 project, launch another
The Idaho Transportation Board will join elected officials and southeast Idaho residents in celebrating completion of the U.S. 30 Topaz to Lava Hot Springs widening project next week. A ceremony is planned at 11:30 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 18) about one-half mile west of Lava Hot Springs. It will serve two purposes --  formally concluding the first phase of the U.S. 30 project and initiating a new project in the corridor that will widen the highway and construct two bridges over the Portneuf River.
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ITD unveils new detour plan for incident management
ITD’s emergency program office introduced an updated Transportation Incident Management Plan late this summer that contains an important new feature – clear identification of preferred detours designed to keep traffic flowing during highway closures. Mapping detours for most of Idaho’s state highways has been a two-year process, guided by consultant Kimley-Horn, an Arizona-based company that recently opened an office in Meridian.
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Public Transportation
Independent living group teams with AmeriCorps
A statewide organization that supports independent living for Idaho’s special-needs population has joined with AmeriCorps to create an accessible transportation network. The Idaho State Independent Living Council this week announced creation of the new program through an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and Serve Idaho.
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Aeronautics
Lester delivers safety pointers at fly-in
Days spent outside and talking with fellow Idaho pilots on the runway is a favorite part of Frank Lester's job. On Saturday (Sept. 6), the safety and education coordinator with the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Aeronautics got to do just that during a fly-in hosted by the Twin Falls Fliers at Joslin Field, Magic Valley Regional Airport.
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Employees
Supplemental life insurance option available
As a benefited state employee, you have a free basic life insurance policy that is worth your annual salary  (minimum of $20,000). This plan is underwritten by The Principal Financial Group and is administered by The State of Idaho Office of Group Insurance. Along with this policy, you have an option to apply for two separate supplemental insurance policies. The first one is a direct supplement to the basic plan. This one is worth an additional annual salary (minimum of $20,000.00).  The cost is based on your age and annual salary.  The enrollment for this option is only available upon hire.  However, a health statement may be submitted for consideration.
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ITD Mailbox
• Going extra mile to help secure funding
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Published previously

National infrastructure
Funding needed to address national needs
America’s infrastructure challenges, while perhaps most evident on highways and bridges, extends far beyond transportation, explains U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.). Blumenauer joined fellow Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho for a two-hour discussion on infrastructure funding Thursday in Boise.
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Fewer layers of review could deliver projects more efficiently
Imagine what the nation’s transportation system would look like today if there hadn’t been a commitment more than a half-century ago to build interstate highways. “How could you possibly quantify the economic stimulus that we have enjoyed for 50 years?” Deputy Director Scott Stokes asked Thursday when Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) met with local officials in Boise.
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Highways
ITD working to increase nighttime sign visibility
Driving at night might get safer with traffic signs becoming brighter courtesy of new standards developed and adopted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). States have about 10 years to fully implement recent changes to the FHWA’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) that are designed to improve the minimum retroreflectivity of highway traffic control signs. 
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Public transportation
Providers log record number of trips
Idahoans who want to stretch their transportation budget by leaving personal vehicles in the garage when gas prices reached record highs are turning more to public transportation. A report recently released by ITD’s Division of Public Transportation indicates ridership increased 20 the past year. In 2007, public transportation providers recorded 159,930 trips; the number escalated to 192,152 this year.
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Weight Watchers group may be revived
Plans are under way to revive ITD’s Weight Watchers group within the next month.  Headquarters and District 3 personnel are invited to participate in the program that involves regular support meetings for people trying to shed some extra pounds.
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Emergency management
'Preparedness' event emphasizes fire safety
Fire decimated a Boise-area subdivision recently when flames roared through tinder-dry grass and brush. Ten homes were destroyed, nine others were damaged and one person perished. Homeowners can help reduce the risk of such fires by taking a number of precautions, according to the Ada City-County Emergency Management office.
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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.