ITD Announces the 2012 Excellence in Transportation Award Winners

Transportation Planning

Project: State St. Transit & Traffic Operational Plan

Submitting Firm: Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

Project Description:

Project Description: Ada County Highway district, City of Boise and Valley Regional Transit partnered to lead the State Street Transit and Traffic Operational Plan to develop an integration transportation and land use plan for the corridor, Identify and prioritize roadway, transit and land use improvements and provide local agencies, stakeholders and the public with steps to achieve an integrated corridor vision.

A complex model evaluated five traffic alternatives in a three tier process.

Public participation was enhanced using both community and technical committee input for public open house meetings.

Contributing Agency

Kittelson & Associates, Inc.

Key Personnel

John F. Ringert, P.E. , Kittelson & Assoc.
Sabrina Anderson, Ada Cnty. Hwy. Dist.
Kathleen Lacey, City of Boise
Kelli Fairless, Valley Regional Transit

Design: Small Project

Project: I-84, New York Canal Modeling & Mitigation

Submitting Firm: Horrocks Engineers, Inc.

Project Description:

I-84 bridge modifications that span the New York canal induced wave oscillations at the newly installed bridge piers and erosion along the eastern canal bank. Harrocks Engineers lead a collaborative team, which included the Utah State University Water Research Laboratory, Boise Project board of Control and ITD hydraulics resources to model the observed wave oscillations, the canal erosion impact and develop erosion solutions.

A scale physical model precisely simulated the wave phenomena. An innovative, nose-cone shape was added to the bridge pier leading edge, which completely eliminated the oscillation and the canal erosion.

This $600, 000 solution was well below budget and exceeded client expectations

Contributing Agencies

Boise Project Board of Control
Utah St. Univ. Water Resource Lab
ITD HQ Resource Center

Key Personnel

Bryan Foote, P.E., Harrocks Engineers
Tim Page, Boise Project Board of Control)
William RAhmeyer, PhD., Utah St. Univ
Lotwick Reese, P.E., ITD Resource Center

Design: Large Project

Project: I-84, Ten Mile Interchange

Submitting Firm: H.W. Lochner, Inc.

Project Description:

H.W. Lochner, ITD and the City of Meridian worked together to integrate the project design with the City’s comprehensive plan, exiting residencies, increasing land use values and stakeholders expectations. Lochner accelerated the right-of-way acquisition, environmental review approval and final design.

Lochner analyzed six interchange types to determine the best value design to meet stakeholder expectations.

The innovative Single-point Urban Interchange reduced the footprint, minimized right-of-way impacts, environmental considerations, while improving traffic efficiency.

Contributing Agencies/Firms

H.W. Lochner, Inc.
City of Meridian
ITD HQ Environmental Section

Key Personnel

Vance Henry, H.W. Lochner, Inc.
Tammy de Weerd, Mayor, City of Meridian
Sue Sullivan, ITD Environemtental Supervisor

Construction

Project: Topaz Bridge

Submitting Agency: District 5 - ITD

Project Description:

This project spanned many sensitive areas, it utilized flexibility and innovative design techniques to accomplish the project with minimal disturbance. Major project challenges consist of simultaneously maintaining the mainline railroad, US-30 highway traffic and the Marsh Valley canal using construction phases, while constructing bridge approaches over unstable ground prone to differential settlement and soil liquefaction.

An innovative use of geo-foam achieved a net-zero loading, which formed an economical bridgeÂ approach foundation.

The project opened ahead of schedule in September 2009.

Contributing Agencies/Firms

JUB Engineers Inc.
Terracon

Key Personnel

Tim Swenson, in memorium, ITD - D5
Joe Pihlaja, P.E. ITD - D5
Mike Stoddart, ITD - D5
Jim Porter, P.E., JUB Engineers
Clair Waite, P.E., Terracon
Dr. John Horvath, Heller & Johnson

Public Participation

Project: Eagle Road Improvement Project

Submitting Firm: RBCI

Project Description:

RBCI and ITD and produced the Department’s first ’online’ public meeting with a live question and answer session. Several creative techniques to engage the public include using QR codes to communicate information electronically.

Eagle Road project exemplifies RBCI and ITD’s joined ability to successfully gather input and conduct community education about Eagle Road’s safety improvement needs.

RBCI’s efforts during the development of the Eagle Road Improvements has set the Department up for a positive transition into construction.

Contributing Agencies/Firms

District 3 - ITD

Key Personnel

Rosemary Curtin, RBCI
Kate Nice, RBCI
Wade Chrisitansen, ITD, D3
Adam Rush, ITD HQ
Reed Hollingshead, ITD HQ
Dave Tuttle, ITD HQ

ITD Career Achievement

David R. Amick
Manager of Transportation Investments

Dave began his career with ITD over 32 years ago. He started in Personnel and then promoted to Office of Highway Safety and eventually promoted to Manager of Highway Programming in December of 1993. This move afforded him many opportunities to be innovative in adapting to the changing needs of the Department while promoting and mentoring those under his tutelage. Some of Dave’s career achievements include:

Implementation of State Transportation Investment Program (STIP) and necessary update processes including the creation of the IPA and ITIP programs used by the Districts.
Implementation of Project tracking- taking it from a mainframe server to a relational server in Access. This was an important step in tracking all statewide project funding , critical to ensuring all funding was expended.
Committed to the development of his staff by providing training opportunities (formal and informal) relating to Federal Highway funding and legislative changes.
Exemplary communications skills that enabled Dave to gain consensus within parties that often have diverse perspectives and conflicting views.

Dave has been an asset to the department and his expertise and familiar face will be greatly missed!

ITD Professional of the Year

Mary Harker
Chief Human Resource Officer

Mary’s career with ITD began over 30 years in the area of Human Resources. Some examples of her leadership and commitment to the department include:

Serving as the chairperson of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Personnel and Human Resources from 2006 to present providing ITD the conduit to develop and share state best practices.
Mission of continuous improvement of human resource (HR) programs and services to ensure that HR supports the strategic direction of ITD of being the best, and that services provide customers with value-added consultation and advice. A by-product from this mission has been national awards for several HR related efforts.
Representing Idaho as chairperson on Transportation Research Board NCHRP PROJECT 20-72 PANEL - Workforce Toolkit and contributor of numerous other national committees.
Mary is dedicated to her professional growth and that of her staff. She earned a micro MBA and many certifications within a variety of human resource disciplines. She mentors staff and provides them the opportunity and security to learn, make mistakes, and grow within their own careers.