In recent years, podcasts have become an increasingly popular source of news and information, especially as audiences make their commutes. Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) took advantage of this recent trend by launching their very own podcast, Drive Idaho.
In keeping with the spirit of innovation, the agency completed a planning and environment linkages (PEL) study on the I-15/US-20 Connector. Last year, the project received the FHWA 2022 Environmental Excellence Award, which recognizes exceptional efforts in environmental efforts and partnerships beyond typical transportation projects. The PEL study played a crucial role in redesigning the I-15/US-20 corridor to ensure safe and reliable travel for future generations.
ITD keeps the public informed one episode at a time
The Idaho Transportation Department is committed to keeping their public well-informed about ongoing projects and initiatives using virtual public involvement (VPI). VPI refers to the tools and platforms used by a transportation agency to better engage their public and receive feedback. VPI approaches grant DOTs the opportunity to enhance communication and collaboration among stakeholders, expand engagement, accelerate the project delivery process and much more.
In recent years, podcasts have become an increasingly popular source of news and information, especially as audiences make their commutes. Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) took advantage of this recent trend by launching their very own podcast, Drive Idaho.
ITD launched the Drive Idaho podcast in 2019 to teach listeners about the agency’s core mission areas: mobility, safety and economic growth.
Following a monthly release schedule, the podcast includes over 40 episodes and has accumulated over 20,000 downloads to date. Each episode is unique and offers listeners valuable insights on legislative changes affecting transportation, updates on upcoming construction and operation changes and much more.
The podcast structure includes a brief news segment covering the most prominent stories across the state followed by an interview segment. The interview is conducted to further discuss the episode’s focus topic. The interviewees range from ITD staff to local business owners, community members, or other stakeholders. Throughout the episode, ITD takes the time to address and answer listener questions. At the end of each episode, ITD provides listeners with the agency’s contact information in case anyone wants to get involved.
The agency wins an award for environmental excellence
Last year, ITD was honored with the 2022 FHWA Environmental Excellence Award for their work on the I-15/US-20 Connector planning and environmental linkages (PEL) study. For over two decades, the Idaho Falls community had been unable to come to an agreement on how to move forward with the improvement of the junction and corridors of Interstate 15 and U.S. Highway 20.
ITD took an innovative approach to the longstanding issue by collaborating with local agencies to conduct Idaho’s first-ever Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) study. PEL is a collaborative approach to decision making that takes into account environmental, community and economic goals in the early stages of planning.
Within the study, the agency reported the potential impact of multiple plans and removed the ones that had a negative impact on the community or environment. This process, which would have taken up to ten years, was reduced to just three due to the removal of plans that would have impacted a veteran’s memorial park, a Tribal burial site and historically disadvantaged communities. The success of this project has led to the creation of five additional PEL studies across the state.
SOURCES: ITD, FHWA
