| Good News Stories from Around the State |
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| College intern program reaches across the state and the country |
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In 2011, the ODOT College Internship Program caught the attention of more than 750 applicants — an 83 percent increase over 2010. A corresponding 35 percent decrease in available positions, however, made this year’s group of interns one of the most selective cohorts to date. Still ODOT is the benefactor: in 2011 we saw a diverse pool of candidates with a vast array of training in the technical disciplines. These results demonstrate the success of the program’s efforts to promote ODOT to highly talented candidates as a competitive transportation internship. Participants this past year represented 22 different colleges and universities from seven states.
“The best part about my internship has been traveling all around eastern Oregon and working under the guidance of a talented professional engineer,” said engineering intern Patrick Conro, a recent graduate of Boise State University working in Region 5’s surveying unit. “I have become very interested in hydraulics because of this internship… I like working for ODOT and would love to eventually obtain a full time position.”
Participants have not only had the opportunity to grow professionally and gain hands-on experience, they also had opportunities to enjoy some of the great experiences our state has to offer. Some participants went white-water rafting, attended Portland’s annual Waterfront Blues Festival, and other uniquely Oregon events. Once back at their respective colleges and universities across the country, we hope participants will share their experiences with others, inspiring more of “the best and the brightest” to consider a future career with ODOT.
We are now recruiting for interns for 2012. Visit www.odotjobs.com and search for "intern."
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| We love parades and fairs |
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About four dozen ODOT employees and family members once again volunteered to represent the agency during Union County Fair events this summer.
For starters, about two dozen adults and kids joined celebs Vince and Larry, the Crash Test Dummies, to walk, ride or drive La Grande’s main drag during the Union County Fair Parade. The drivers brought some of the region’s big rigs, such as dump trucks, an antique grader and a big snow blower. Those walking the route passed out candy and paper fans, while Vince and Larry waved as they rode in style in the back of an ODOT pick-up.
At the fairgrounds, another couple dozen employees helped staff the ODOT fair booth over the four-day event. Volunteers dispensed information about local projects, updates on maintenance activities and of course, passed out prizes to anyone willing to spin the safety wheel and answer a transportation safety related question.
Each year, ODOT’s involvement in the county fairs, parades and community events across the state gives parade on-lookers and event goers a chance to see some of our equipment up close, talk with staff members and learn some important safety tips.
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| ODOT wins award from Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs |
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The Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs named ODOT “Public Agency of the Year” at its annual luncheon in May 2011. OAME’s Sam Brooks and Jorge Guerra presented the award to Office of Civil Rights Manger Michael Cobb during the event. According to OAME, the award recognizes the agency’s efforts to “promote Oregon’s minority businesses, helping to promote entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities.”
ODOT has increased its outreach to disadvantaged business enterprises, women-owned, minority-owned, and emerging small businesses over the past five years. Several different programs have funds set aside specificially for Oregon-based small businesses. To learn more, visit www.odotsmallbusinesssupport.org.
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| Gregor wins AASHTO President's Award |
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Senior Transportation Analyst Brian Gregor of the Transportation Planning Analysis Unit has won the 2010 AASHTO President’s Transportation Award for his innovative program, GreenSTEP (Greenhouse Gas State Transportation Emissions Planning model). Gregor researched and developed the first version of GreenSTEP and applied it in work he did for the Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee of Oregon’s Global Warming Commission. One of GreenSTEP’s many assets is that it can quickly test different scenarios of policy and technology variables — a particularly valuable quality in the rapidly evolving area of transportation greenhouse gas emissions.
In making the award, AASHTO noted winners are "…recognized for their hard work and dedication, as well as their contribution to the legacy of essential and innovative transportation projects that every American can be proud of."
Gregor served as the primary technical resource for the Land Use and Transportation Subcommittee and received exemplary marks for his ability to help the group work through complex ideas and data. Congratulations, Gregor, on this well-deserved national award!
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| Old weigh station finds new home |
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Brookings weigh station waits for new home
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The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Division took recycling to another level recently as a former weigh station began the transformation into a garden shed. Senior Motor Carrier Enforcement Officer Kelly Worthington had the honor of turning over the weigh station’s keys to the Brookings-Harbor Garden Club.
“This is a win-win situation,” said Motor Carrier District Manager Sven Johnson. “When this weigh station was built, it wasn’t in the middle of the town. It wasn’t practical to stay here. Moving to the edge of town improves both our safety and operations.”
The Brookings-Harbor Garden Club has begun converting the former weigh station building into a gardening shed, complete with a potting bench, new paint, new shelves and new locks. Active in the community since 1970, the Brookings-Harbor Garden Club also tends gardens for the Welcome to Oregon sign at the California border, the Harris Beach Welcome Center, and the Chetco Valley Historical Society Museum.
A $2.4 million highway project, completed in August, 2010, reconfigured the intersection of U.S. 101 and Constitution Way and added a traffic signal. The project included construction of a new weigh station roughly four miles further south on U.S. 101, so the old weigh station had to find a new home. It looks like it did!
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| DMV reduces time it takes to get vehicle title |
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DMV has shortened the time it takes to “turnaround” a vehicle title request. Employees knocked two days off the process, and though it took time and commitment from people in a variety of units to make it happen, it’s an accomplishment that benefits everyone.
One of DMV’s customer service goals has been to send vehicle titles to owners within 21 days after DMV receives their application forms and fees. In April, 2010, the Processing Services Group set a new goal: 19 days. By July 1, 2010, the team had reached its goal. Getting there required cross-training staff members, moving several processes to more efficient locations, adding an element to new-hire training, and more, including continual communication.
“The new, faster turnaround was the result of a number of efforts from throughout the service group over more than a year’s time,” PSG Manager Kathy Hanson said. “Everyone had a part in making this level attainable and will have a part in the future in keeping it sustainable.”
Now, Oregonians are getting faster service and DMV employees are pleased to provide it!
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| Weather, road condition site helps users navigate |
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Site celebrates 10 years of service in 2010
ODOT's road condition, incident alert, weather and travel information Web site, www.TripCheck.com, receives compliments from users nearly every day. Here are just a few examples of people writing in to say how helpful the site is:
- Ron A. of Midland wrote, “I am a truck driver for over 30 years in the lower 48 states, and ODOT Trip Check is the easiest to use and very concise thanks for a great job.”
- Tracy wrote, “I love TripCheck! It’s so much easier to use than [others]...Thank you for this great service!”
- Norma in Coos Bay wrote, “A recent article in the local paper said that the only comments you get are complaints. So here is a THANK YOU for the recent addition of the cameras in the Coos Bay area.."
- The Johnson family of La Grande wrote, “We just wanted to thank you all tremendously for your hard work. We use the cameras almost daily and view road closures and map legend info via the Web site. …we really, really appreciate it. Thanks for a great job everyone!”
- Jim C. of Pacific City wrote, “Your Web site is terrific. I am at the Minneapolis St. Paul airport and checking how I could get home during this ice storm (if I actually had a flight). This Web site tells me there is no way to get from PDX to Pacific City, so why stress out in Minneapolis. This system of cameras and closure notifications is excellent. Thank you.”
We LOVE hearing that TripCheck.com and our 5-1-1 system helps travelers in so many ways. Thank YOU, Oregonians!
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| Truck inspection "saved my life" |
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Driver and family appreciate inspector's diligence
Larry Armstrong, a driver for Parkway Transport Inc. of San Antonio, Tex., wrote in to praise Motor Carrier Enforcement Officer Roxanne Graves for “saving his life.” He said Graves gave him the red light to park as he weighed at the La Grande scale. While she was inspecting his truck, she found a cracked rim on his steer axle. Armstrong was very worried because in the past he had a blowout on a steer axle tire resulting in an accident that totaled his truck. Graves…put him out of service for the cracked rim. Then…the tire company employee told Armstrong that tire rims usually crack because of being overloaded or metal fatigue from age. Armstrong was afraid it was metal fatigue, and he would make changes immediately. He was very pleased with the thoroughness of Graves’ inspection. He travels up and down steep canyons everyday and wanted Graves’ manager to know that she saved his life. He said his wife and 13-year-old daughter at home that thank her, too!
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| Short-term Emerging Small Business project yields long-term results |
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New de-icer containment at Cornelius Pass
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Teamwork creates new projects for small businesses around the state
Several dozen Oregon companies received an unexpected boost in late spring from ODOT’s Emerging Small Business program. As the biennium — and the budget — neared its end, staff scrambled to put a final $1 million in the hands of qualified small businesses. The catch: the work had to be completed by June 30. In these economic times, however, that didn’t seem like a problem. And because staff members from across the department teamed up and worked like a well-oiled machine, it wasn’t a problem at all — it was a veritable boon!
Jerry Hoffman, ESB program manager, fired off an urgent email in early May asking for help in finding appropriate projects for what he called the “ESB Short Term Project Initiative.” Call your prospective ESB bidders, he said, at least three of them and preferably five, and explain the potential projects you’ve got — and don’t forget to add the June 30 completion deadline. Call some of the companies that haven’t yet gotten bids. And did I say, don’t forget the June 30 deadline?
In just over a week, Maintenance and Facilities team members came up with 87 projects offering small contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses. The project team selected 40 (46 percent) for funding with an estimated value of $1,042,550. As of June 30, the team — including the small businesses — had accomplished the following:
Approved betterment orders: 40
Contracts awarded: 40
Value of awarded contracts: $775,337.18
Work started: 40
Projects complete: 39!
The final project (at the Sage Hen Rest Area) had to be suspended when a vendor couldn’t get the picnic tables delivered on time. All other work at Sage Hen, however, was complete.
Projects ranged from replacing culverts on Oregon 99 to painting an older facility in Meacham, from pouring a concrete pad in Warrenton to improving sidewalks along the North Umpqua highway. (Below is a photo of a new fence under the highway at Nyberg; work was performed by A2 Fabrication, a woman-owned emerging small business. Above photo shows the new de-icer containmer built by Universal Builders, a minority-owned emerging small business.)
All 40 projects were awarded to Oregon firms certified as emerging small businesses. Ten of the 40 (25 percent) were women-owned and/or minority-owned. There were even some first time companies taking advantage of the opportunities, like Miller Factors, a landscaping company that won a contract to do landscaping on I-5 in the Portland area.
“They’ve done really well,” said Chad Gordon, ODOT District 2A Maintenance assistant manager. “This has been a great opportunity for these small businesses to get their feet wet, so to speak. It gives them a chance to gain confidence, and we get some projects taken care of at the same time.”
In the end, it appeared the ESB Short Term Project Initiative was a raging success: for Oregon small business, for the ODOT team that came together to deliver it, and for Oregonians in general. Just the kind of win-win-win situation we like at ODOT!
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| Veteran thanks incident responder for assistance |
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Help from state program greatly appreciated
John W. sent in his praise recently for the work of Region 2 Incident Responder Joe Scheiman. John wrote, “I am writing this letter to commend one of your Incident Responders, Mr. Joe Schieman…For the first time in my life driving, I had a flat tire…I am a disabled veteran and it was impossible for me to change it…Officer Ratcliff asked if I had a spare and I said yes so he said let’s change it. Right behind him was Mr. Schieman and his fully equipped truck. This was a total shock to me for anyone from the state to offer to help in this way. Mr. Schieman was very courteous and polite to me and my family. To me he exemplified what it means to be a state employee. I want to say thank you to Mr. Schieman and to the state for having this program and people that really help…Thank you Mr. Joe Schieman, you are a rare breed, keep up the help, some of us really appreciate it.”
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| Eastern Oregon couple appreciates ODOT's roadside help |
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A blown tire leaves them leary; an ODOT crew member calms their fears
A Region 5 incident responder recently helped an Enterprise couple with a flat tire, and they sent in a note of gratitude. Steve and Jeanne Hughes wrote, “We…wish to express our deepest gratitude…to the young ODOT worker…he is a great employee to have on your work crew! While heading to Ontario on I-84, our front passenger-side tire exploded and there was no emergency lane…We had just passed this young gentleman 1 1/2 miles back…[we were] looking to get out of harm's way when he pulled his truck behind ours… shielded our vehicle from traffic with his truck and assisted my husband in changing our tire…I truly appreciate what this man did to rescue us from what very likely could have ended in tragedy…We are here today because of this man’s efforts to assist us “two oldies” on the highway with a flat tire that day!...Thank you so much for having such a great human being on your crew!”
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| Native plants getting help from...highway folks? |
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ODOT Archaeologist Kurt Roedel transplants dogbane
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Archaeologist shows why ODOT's work isn't just about highways
Don Ivy of Oregon’s Coquille Tribe recently sent in his praises for ODOT’s Maintenance and Archaeology teams, noting the careful work we’ve been doing around native plants. He wrote, “…I was also pleased on Saturday to see camas happily expressing itself along highways and freeways all the way to Portland. Thanks to ODOT District road crews, et. al. for their sensitivity as well.”
Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to support another native plant, through a partnership with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Dogbane, or Apocynum Cannabinum, is a plant native to North America and has been used for thousands of years by Native American Tribes. In the Willamette Valley, large harvestable sections of dogbane are becoming more difficult to find.
“People purposely try to eradicate dogbane,” said Robert Kentta, cultural resource director of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. “They see it as a weed. Some people also think it’s toxic for livestock.”
To the Tribes, dogbane is a key component in their way of life. The plant’s reddish-brown fibers are gently stripped from twigs and twisted into a strong string that can be used in everything from creating fishing nets to weaving intricate baskets.
In 2007, Kentta contacted ODOT archaeologists Kurt Roedel and Mary Turner to inform them that the important plant was growing in a narrow strip of right of way along Oregon 99W north of Corvallis. The precarious location was unsafe for Tribal members to harvest and was subject to yearly sprays of herbicide by District 4 Maintenance.
Roedel and Turner worked with District 4 crews to preclude spraying for one year to allow the dogbane to grow large enough for transplant to a safe location. In the meantime, Roedel and Kentta looked for suitable areas to transplant the dogbane. Working with several county, state, and federal agencies, they located a safe and accessible location in a Department of Fish and Wildlife preserve.
Early this spring, supporters gathered to transplant about 150 plants from the right of way to the wildlife preserve.
Tribal members will monitor the dogbane over the next few months. If it thrives in its new home, more plants may be transplanted to the same location or to similar spots in other protected areas.
“This project has benefits for everyone involved,” said ODOT Archaeologist Roedel, who volunteered his time for the project. “It demonstrates a good interagency spirit of cooperation.”
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