Transportation Matters in Iowa

Archives: January 2015

Personnel updates for Jan. 2 to Jan. 15, 2015

Personnel updates for Jan. 2 to Jan. 15, 2015

January 29, 2015

Personnel_updatesInformation provided by the Office of Employee Services

 

 

 

 

Come one, come all, lend us your ideas!

Come one, come all, lend us your ideas!

January 28, 2015

Canstockphoto20097893 (1)The best ideas seem to come from groups of individuals working together to share their thoughts. DOT employees are full of great ideas not only related to their work areas, but on topics that hold a personal interest for them.

Beginning this Friday afternoon, the Performance and Technology Division is starting a regular idea exchange and they would welcome your input. Each idea exchange will focus on a particular topic. A core group of individuals with a working knowledge of that topic will be invited but don’t let that stop you from showing up. Any Iowa DOT employee is invited to attend, with their supervisor’s permission. In fact, the more fresh perspectives that can be brought to the table, the better. 

Do you see what I see? Iowa DOT's track-a-plow website a hit with travelers

Do you see what I see? Iowa DOT's track-a-plow website a hit with travelers

January 28, 2015

1-5 snowIn your mind’s eye, what does a partially covered road look like? Some may imagine blowing snow over the road, while others see ice-crusted wheel tracks. A tool being heavily used this winter allows you to actually see what the roads look like from the snowplow operator’s perspective without leaving the comfort of your home.

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 26, 2015

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 26, 2015

January 26, 2015

1-26-message-mondayLife goes by pretty fast, especially when traveling 70 mph down the interstate or on your way to the grocery store.  Always be scanning your surroundings for items that could have an impact on your drive -   animals, signs, pedestrians, stopped vehicles, lane changes - the list goes on and on.  

Notice what’s happening around you.  Observations while driving means more than just seeing things ahead. You need to be able to react appropriately.  Click here for the full web page on driving tips related to being alert.  http://www.drivingtips.org/drivingobservation.html 

Unfortunately, it only takes a split second for bad things to happen. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX5aDLqQen8&feature=youtu.be

Goal setting and strategy building in the Project Delivery Bureau

Goal setting and strategy building in the Project Delivery Bureau

January 20, 2015

Leadership4Change logoIn late 2013, the Office of Location and Environment, like many DOT offices, was facing an uphill battle to achieve its mission with flat budgets and limited resources. “There were serious challenges,” said Scott Marler, environmental resources manager, “and we were trying to determine how best to meet them.”

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 19, 2015

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 19, 2015

January 19, 2015

1-19-message-mondayYou’re not up-and-coming NASCAR driver Austin Dillon and I-35 is not the Talladega Superspeedway. So, practice safe driving and stop drafting the car in front of you.  Use the 2-second rule when following someone on a nice sun shining day. Increase this time by a few seconds during rain and even more in ice, snow and blizzard conditions.

 Leave racing and crashing to the professionals of NASCAR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWDLCPWWO2w

 

Two-second-rule

 

Shipping your goods by rail? Here's something that might help.

Shipping your goods by rail? Here's something that might help.

January 16, 2015

Rail-Toolkit-Cover.fwWe all understand that much of the cost of the things we buy is wrapped up in the raw materials, manufacturing facilities and labor used to get the products ready to be sold, but how often do you think about how much it costs to transport those raw materials to the factories and the finished products to the store?

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 12, 2015

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 12, 2015

January 12, 2015

1-12-message-mondayLast week’s winter storms were hard on our staff and snow plows.  There were 20 separate incidents involving our trucks, but luckily there were no major injuries.

Keep your distance from snow plows because the roadway is not a dance floorhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxKW2n1L9eI&feature=youtu.be

 

 

 

Semi-damage-1
Even this semi was no match for the snowplow it hit at 70 mph. Imagine if this had been a passenger car. This crash happened Monday, Jan. 5 on I-35 near Williams.
Plow-hit-on-Iowa-60
A semi hit our plow Monday, Jan. 5 on Iowa 60 in NW Iowa.
Personnel updates for Dec. 19, 2014 to Jan. 1, 2015

Personnel updates for Dec. 19, 2014 to Jan. 1, 2015

January 9, 2015

Personnel_updatesInformation provided by the Office of Employee Services

 

 

 

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 5, 2015

Zero Fatalities Message Monday - Jan. 5, 2015

January 5, 2015

1-5-message-mondayStart the New Year with good driving habits and behaviors.  Following common rules of the road and laws of the state of Iowa, drivers on Interstates and expressways should drive in the right lane and use the left lane for passing. 

Don’t be a “Left Lane Driver.”

If “Left Lane Drivers” tick you off, you are not alone.  Here is a news story from TV station in Arkansas that you might relate to.  Iowa has a similar law.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0VtUGQuUzw&feature=youtu.be

 

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