April 2018 interchange

Interchange April 2018

Project Development Ensuring projects stay on task

Destinations WYDOT wage analysis and alignment

By Gregg Fredrick, Chief Engineer Employee compensation is an important topic in many of the discussions that occur throughout our organization. Over the past several years, the Department has been reviewing our job classification and pay structure to ensure our employees are paid a fair and equitable salary. We have developed a plan to recognize your contributions with appropriate pay adjustments. The plan will be carried out over the Fredrick next several years.

We have implemented a wage analysis process that establishes a rational, repeatable, and consistent wage determination throughout the agency. The salary of a new or promoted employee considers the candidate’s knowledge, skills and abilities, and may be higher or lower than an existing employee’s salary. However, this is an interactive process between Human Resources and the hiring official and all salary recommendations are reviewed and may be adjusted if the experience and proposed salary do not align with those individuals currently performing the duties in the classification.

This wage analysis process has provided a basis to gain approval for several key modifications to our pay plan. Several of the initial building blocks are in place and

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others are on the horizon.

First, there were several employees who were hired immediately before the implementation of the wage analysis, and these employees may have had a higher salary if it had been established using the wage analysis determination. We were allowed to increase their salaries to reflect the experience they brought to the job.

In the coming year, we will again look at employees’ pay to evaluate their years of experience and attained skills. We anticipate requesting an equity adjustment for a larger group of employees whose rate of pay and years of service are not in line with others completing the same job duties.

Next, we have been working with the Department of Administration and Information Division of Human Resources (A&I HRD) to study select jobs to ensure the duties are adequately reflected in the evaluation and the pay range is appropriate based on the skills, problem solving, and accountability required of the position. Several of the reviews have resulted in pay adjustments for the employees performing that job. We will continue to work with A&I HRD to review other jobs throughout the Department.

Longer term, our goal is to establish a pay philosophy that will routinely review pay and identify opportunities to request an appropriate pay adjustment based on merit, position in range and market conditions to recognize and reward your accomplishments through salary adjustments within the pay range. n

Interchange

Vol. 46, Issue 4

Interchange is published for employees of the Wyoming Department of Transportation by its Public Affairs Office and a number of field correspondents.

Interchange invites submissions from all employees. Please send them to either your district correspondents or to: Carlie Van Winkle, Interchange editor, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009-3340.

The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by sending an email to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Staff WYDOT Director: William T. Panos

Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee

Editor:

Carlie Van Winkle

Contributors: Aimee Inama J.L. O’Brien Carlie Van Winkle Matt Murphy Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Laura Dalles Cody Beers Sgt. Kyle McKay

Photography: Rick Carpenter

Public Affairs Public Affairs Public Affairs District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Patrol Public Affairs

Be sure to check out the online version of Interchange at http://issuu.com/wydot.pao or click on the link found on the employee’s internal website home page.

A WYDOT PUBLICATION

Contents Features 10 WHP commissions 94th class Four sworn in as troopers

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12 Project Development Ensuring projects stay on task

14 Director Panos honored with award Panos receives prestigious Patriot Award

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Also in this issue Destinations..............................................................................2 District briefs.............................................................................4 By the Numbers.......................................................................9 Noteworthy..............................................................................14 Civil Rights...............................................................................14 Aeronautics..............................................................................15

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TechNotes................................................................................16 Wellness...................................................................................16 Training.....................................................................................17 District news...........................................................................18 Letters.......................................................................................21 Passings................................................................................... 22 Extra Mile Awards................................................................. 23 WTDEA..................................................................................... 23 Outdoors................................................................................. 24 Break Time.............................................................................. 27 On the cover:

Jim Kladianos, principal engineer and Laramie Design Squad team leader, looking over road design plans with a coworker.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Kindly recycle this publication after reading.

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District Briefs Commission awards $23 million in highway contracts in March

CHEYENNE – Motorists will soon have another way to get into Gillette from the north.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $12 million contract to Border States Paving Inc., of Fargo, North Dakota, to extend Garner Lake Road in northern Gillette to WYO 59 in Campbell County.

The commission awarded that and six other contracts totaling $23 million during its March meeting.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation decided to extend Garner Lake Road following public input concerning the realignment of a section of WYO 59 because of coal mining activities. The public asked WYDOT to extend Garner Lake Road so there would be another northern access into Gillette.

Crews will also build a new bridge over the BNSF railroad in that area as part of the project. The contract completion date for the project is June 30, 2019.

Other contracts the commission awarded included road resurfacing, traffic signal installation and landscape work.

Knife River, of Cheyenne, was the low bidder on a $5 million 10-mile pavement resurfacing and widening project on US 287 between Rawlins and Muddy Gap in Carbon County. The contract calls for the addition of a passing lane in each direction.

Crews will also do bridge resurfacing work. WYDOT is paying for the US 287 work with 10-cent-fuel-tax revenue. The contract completion date is June 30, 2019.

H-K Contractors, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, won a $3.4 million contract for a road resurfacing contract on 8 miles of WYO 390 between Wilson and Teton National Park in Teton County.

Crews will do the road work at night, so there will be minimal traffic disruptions. The contract completion date is Oct. 31.

HQ

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The commission awarded Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell, a $1.7 million contract for road resurfacing and drainage work on 4 miles of WYO 31 between Manderson and Hyattville in Big Horn County.

WYDOT is paying for the US 287 work with 10-cent-fuel-tax revenue. The contract completion date is Oct. 31, 2018.

The commission also awarded contracts for: • $284,969 to Knife River to pave 1 mile of Industrial Park Avenue in Torrington in Goshen County by Sept. 30; • $224,917 to Casper Electric Inc., of Casper, to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Hat Six Road and US 26 in Casper in Natrona County by Sept. 30; and • $133,460 to S&L Industrial, of Cowley, for landscaping an irrigation work on US 189 in LaBarge in Lincoln County

by Oct. 31.

Arrest made at governor’s residence CHEYENNE – In the early morning hours of March 6, an individual gained entrance to the governor’s residence, activated a fire alarm, then hid inside the house. Firefighters and law enforcement from the Cheyenne Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff ’s Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol responded.

The subject, identified as Antonie Lewis, was quickly discovered and was taken into custody without incident. Lewis was booked into the Laramie County Detention facility, and will be charged with aggravated burglary and criminal entry.

Neither the governor nor his family was harmed in the incident.

Gov. Mead expressed his gratitude for the fire department and law enforcement response.

There will be a noticeable, increased level of security in and around the governor’s residence for the foreseeable future.

The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation has been asked to assist in this investigation.

Road work at South Greeley, I-80 underway CHEYENNE – Crews began work March 7 to improve South Greeley Highway’s intersection at I-80.

Over the next few weeks, workers will be removing the concrete median on South Greeley Highway, which will allow for the left turn lanes for eastbound and westbound I-80 to be longer.

Work also includes replacing stoplights and the poles for those lights, and pedestrian crossing call buttons will be added.

Drivers should use caution in the work zone and expect possible delays. Temporary lane closures may be in effect during certain segments of the project.

Modern Electric is the contractor for the $324,000 project.

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Public open house held in Cheyenne CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation held a public open house meeting on March 8 to discuss two upcoming road projects in downtown Cheyenne.

The first of the two projects is Warren Avenue from Lincolnway to 24th Street.

That project is planned for 2021 and will involve a pavement overlay and upgrades to sidewalks, curbs, gutters and traffic signals.

The second project is scheduled for 2022 and involves Central Avenue from Pershing Boulevard to 22nd Street. Like on Warren Avenue, the project involves an overlay and upgrades to sidewalks, curbs, gutters and traffic signals.

Although design work has not taken place on either project, WYDOT is seeking input from residences and businesses on aspects of the project ranging from design suggestions to potential issues regarding disruptions during construction.

Input was welcomed on other WYDOTrelated issues as well.

WYDOT hosted public meeting for future bridge replacement LARAMIE – The Wyoming Department of Transportation held a public meeting March 29 to receive input on a future project to replace the Curtis Street Bridge over Interstate 80.

Current plans call for WYDOT to replace the Curtis Street Bridge in 2023.

The new bridge is expected to be wider than the current structure and will better accommodate pedestrians and bicycles.

When construction begins, it is possible that traffic will not be able to cross over I-80 at Curtis Street. In that case, WYDOT would establish detours to access either side of the interchange.

Design work has not yet taken place on this project, but WYDOT received input from local residents and businesses at the meeting.

Examples of such input included the effect construction will have on commutes or pedestrian and bicycle accommodation.

WYDOT engineers were on-hand to answer any questions about the project.

Comments were also accepted for other WYDOT-related issues.

Infrastructure maintenance and improvements underway in Casper CASPER - In an continuing effort to maintain and improve WYDOT’s infrastructure, two projects are underway in Casper.

On March 19, work began on Wyoming Boulevard (WYO 258) between Old Glenrock Highway (US 26 or E. Yellowstone Highway) and Gannett Street on Casper’s east side, to replace sections of deteriorating concrete.

Traffic will be switched to the southbound lanes; one lane, either direction plus a center turn lane, to allow for work on the northbound lanes. Once completed, traffic will be switched to the northbound lanes so that work on the southbound lanes can begin. It’s expected

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the entire project will take eight weeks, weather dependent, to complete.

Traffic switching and lane reductions will begin near Gannett Street on the south end of the project and continue to the Old Glenrock Highway. All business accesses will remain open. This will cause traffic congestion throughout the area, especially at the intersection of Wyoming Boulevard and 2nd Street, as well as truck congestion in the area of Legion Lane.

Alternate routes are suggestion during this time.

Also on Monday, March 19 work began on Interstate 25 from Curtis Street to just beyond Poplar Street in Casper.

This project will rehabilitate the interstate bridges through town.

Initially, on March 19, crews closed the passing lanes in both directions to remove the center barriers in order to make crossover lanes. Traffic was reduced to the outside or driving lanes. Access to the ramps was maintained and the speed limit was reduced to 45 mph. This will took about one week to complete.

Once the traffic crossovers were in place, crews moved traffic to the northbound lanes, one lane either direction to work on the southbound bridges. Access to the on and off ramps will be maintained, with the exception of the northbound exit ramp at Bryan Stock Trail – traffic wishing to exit at Bryan Stock Trail must use the McKinley Street exit ramp.

All on ramp traffic will be required to stop prior to merging onto the interstate.

Interstate traffic has the right-of-way.

The speed limit will remain at 45 mph during construction. The entire project is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

High-speed vehicle pursuit ends safely DOUGLAS – The Wyoming Highway Patrol was involved in a vehicle pursuit on March 3 that spanned more than 30 miles on I-25 in Converse County. A WHP trooper observed a 2013 Volvo S60 passenger car speeding 98 mph in a posted 75 mph zone near Douglas at milepost 136 on I-25.

When the trooper began pursuit, the Volvo accelerated and reached speeds in excess of 100 mph as it traveled northbound. Glenrock Police officers and Converse County sheriff deputies were notified and set up tire deflation devices

at milepost 160 and blocked the off-ramp into Glenrock.

The tire deflation devices were successfully deployed and all four tires of the car were flattened, causing the Volvo to become immobile. The female driver, 21-year-old, Fort Collins, Colorado resident Kylee Budai, was taken into custody without further incident.

Budai faces several criminal charges and is currently booked into the Converse County jail for eluding, interference with a police officer, reckless driving, no proof of liability insurance, failing to maintain a single lane of travel and speeding.

Casper area bridge work CASPER – Traffic was reduced to one lane in each direction on a portion of Poplar Street on March 6.

As part of a bridge reconstruction project to last through this summer, traffic is reduced to the two outer lanes across the bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks. This is just north of 1st Street, west of downtown Casper.

The lane reduction is necessary to allow crews to install concrete barriers down the center of the bridge. Once completed, crews will move traffic to the southbound lanes to resurface the northbound lanes. It’s expected the resurfacing should take one day. Traffic will then be moved to the northbound lanes to allow for bridge deck reconstruction on the west side of the bridge.

The lane reductions will begin just north of the 1st Street intersection south of the bridge and on the north side just south of River Cross Road. Throughout this project, traffic from 1st Street north will remain reduced to one lane, either direction. This is likely to cause severe congestion. Alternate routes are suggested such as Salt Creek Highway.

Bridge work includes widening the structure to allow for the sidewalks as well as rehabilitating the structure itself.

Once work is completed on the west side of the bridge, traffic will be moved to that side to allow work on the east side of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.

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Trucks found in violation of the trailer and/or weight restrictions are subject to Wyoming State Statute 24-1-109, running a road closure, and the driver can be fined up to $435. In addition, law enforcement could charge the driver with careless driving, which could lead to a $235 fine or reckless driving, which could lead to up to six months in jail and/or a maximum $750 in fines.

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District 3 Public Involvement Specialist Stephanie Harsha (right) and Hank Doering of Project Development prepare for the public meeting held on March 20 in Wilson to present the lower vehicle arrestor site analysis.

WYDOT changes trailer restriction sign WILSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation, with help from the Idaho Transportation Department (IDT), has replaced several trailer warning signs for Teton Pass on both the Idaho side and the Wyoming side.

IDT crews removed the old trailer warning signs on Idaho State Highway 33 (WYO 22) at mile marker 110.69, near Rexburg, and 138.79, near Driggs and have replaced them with upgraded versions. New warning signs near Victor and the state line will also be installed.

The existing sign near the Trail Creek Campground will be removed, as the “no trailer” restriction applies to WYO 22 Teton Pass, which begins at the state line.

“Idaho has always been responsive to WYDOT’s requests for assistance-whether it’s a project or operations,” WYDOT District Traffic Engineer Darin Kaufman said.

The existing Teton Pass warning sign on WYO 22 near Wilson at mile marker 3.63 has been replaced with two modified signs. Another enhanced sign has been installed near mile marker 4.9.

The new signs are part of the comprehensive efforts by WYDOT to alleviate violations and help clarify the “all trailers” restriction in the winter and the “overweight tractor trailer” restrictions year round.

Photo: WYDOT

JACKSON – The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) hosted a public meeting at the Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community Center, 5655 Main Street in Wilson, on March 20, 2018, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to share with the public WYDOT’s research on a second vehicle arrestor location on Teton Pass and present an opportunity to the public to provide feedback on the project.

The purpose of the first arrestor was to eliminate the potential of head-on crashes with vehicles that have lost their brakes and have tried to use an existing truck escape ramp located on the opposite side of the roadway.

The first vehicle arrestor project on WYO 22 at reference marker 7.4 was let to contract in late 2015. This arrestor has been used three times within seven months of its opening by vehicles experiencing brake failure.

Steep grades exist over 5.2 miles of WYO 22 prior to the town of Wilson.

With a long descent, one arrestor won’t be able to capture all of the errant vehicles that lose their brakes. Accidents are still occurring after numerous other safety devices have been implemented.

“Having one arrestor a few miles below the pass has shown to capture runaway vehicles and prevent accidents.

An additional arrestor somewhere else will further reduce the risk and danger to the driver, passing motorists, pathway users, as well as the residents of Wilson,” WYDOT District 3 Engineer Keith Compton said.

WYDOT presented its evaluations and research at the meeting and solicited public comment on the project.

Photo: Nicole Alonzo

Teton Pass arrestor public meeting

New trailer warning signs were installed outside of Wilson along WYO 22.

Hams Fork Road will see overlay, slide repairs KEMMERER – The Wyoming Department of Transportation will be gearing up for more work on WYO 233, Hams Fork Road, this summer and beyond.

Significant slide activity has added two more projects in the area.

Hams Fork Road – WYO 233 WYDOT is continuing to work with contractor Knife River Corporation Northwest on resolving issues concerning last summer’s project on WYO 233, Hams Fork Road. The work included grading, full depth reclamation, chip seal and miscellaneous work on 17.73 miles beginning at about road marker 2. Due to some issues with pot-holing and general surface deterioration, WYDOT has decided to let a separate contract for an overlay on the section.

WYDOT will be applying a one-inch leveling course on the full length of the project, from about milepost 2 to 20, and then following the leveling course with a 2-inch top lift of plant mix.

“We have a set of final plans for the new overlay. It should be let to contract in April,” WYDOT Resident Engineer Jennifer Hoffman said.

The completion date for all paving items will be Aug. 1. However, the planned overlay will not be addressing the two slide areas on the Hams Fork Road at

BASIN – More than $1.96 million in highway, bridge and fencing improvements is part of the second phase of improvements between Lovell and Emblem on WYO 32.

Fencing work started recently on the project, according to Michael Miller, Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer in Basin.

The WYO 32 project is between mileposts 100 (Foster Gulch) and 112.72 (WYO 32’s intersection with WYO 295).

“When complete, this rural highway will see new fence, bridge rehabilitation on the Foster Gulch, Sand Creek and Coon Creek bridges and an asphalt pavement mill and overlay,” Miller said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we make these improvements to WYO 32.”

Prime contractor is Mountain Construction Company of Lovell. Contract completion date for this project is Oct. 31, 2018.

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Photo: WYDOT

North Federal project underway in Riverton

Movement at the Lake Naughton Slide, or the “Ten-Percenter” Hill.

RIVERTON – The start of $13.96 million in highway improvements on North Federal Boulevard began March 19.

Prime contractor S&S Builders, LLC of Gillette and its all-Wyoming construction team will begin squeezing northbound and southbound traffic to a single lane in each direction near the Washington Avenue/Federal intersection.

“We expect the contractor will be working between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, weather permitting, until further notice,” according to WYDOT Resident Engineer Robert Scheidemantel of Riverton. “Citizens are reminded that left-hand turns inside the work zone will not be allowed for the duration of this project.”

Expected work includes the start of concrete demolition by one crew on the east-bound lanes of North Federal Boulevard between Washington and Park.

A second work crew is expected to begin

excavation and installation of sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer lines later in the week.

The contractor’s work schedule shows concrete paving between Washington and Park beginning in early May. Scheidemantel said Washington Avenue will be closed beginning Monday on the east side of Federal Boulevard. “This closure will be necessary as the contractor begins removing asphalt and concrete in this location starting Monday, weather permitting,” he said.

The $13.96 million North Federal Boulevard (US 26/WYO 789) project bid was awarded to S&S Builders, LLC, of Gillette last September.

The project has two phases. The southern phase is scheduled to be built in 2018 — between Washington Avenue and Forest Drive. The northern phase of the project is scheduled for 2019.

By contract, S&S Builders is required to maintain two-way traffic at all times during construction. The contractor may close access to landowners and businesses only with permission of the landowner, business owner, and WYDOT. Weekly project progress meetings begin at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 22, in Riverton City Hall. Each public meeting will include time for public comments and questions.

Photo: WYDOT

Fencing work kicks off WYO 32 highway improvement project

mileposts 12.5 (City Dam Slide) and 16.7 (Lake Naughton Slide).

City Dam Slide The City Dam Slide on Hams Fork Road at milepost 12.5 is a result of settlement of the roadway over the years.

WYDOT maintenance crews have been addressing the movement with frequent patching jobs. WYDOT geologists are working on a potential fix that will include constructing a toe berm at the base of the slide on the west side of the road.

This work will likely include a detour, or a one-way signal controlled traffic. This slide repair job will be let in September of 2018 and will likely be constructed in 2019.

Lake Naughton Slide This slide on the Hams Fork Road is located on the “Ten-Percenter” Hill. The settling of the roadway has resulted in a very uneven roadway surface. WYDOT is planning to remove some of the material on the slope to take weight off of the slide.

Crews will then replace the road bed itself with layers of good gravel and geotextile fabric. Work will be done under traffic with daytime flaggers. This project is also in the September 2018 letting and will likely be constructed in 2019.

“Since the plans for the two slide repairs on WY 233 (Hams Fork Road) won’t be finished before the overlay is complete, we will put only a bare minimum amount of pavement on those areas in 2018,” Hoffman said.

However, WYDOT will be paving those slide areas with a full 3 inches of plant mix as part of the slide repair projects in 2019, to match the adjacent overlays that will be completed in 2018.

“Ideally we would have let all this work at the same time, to avoid this sort of doubling up, but since slides by nature are unexpected and usually require more design time, it wasn’t an option,” Hoffman concluded.

The start of road improvements March 19 on North Federal Boulevard in Riverton.

WYDOT receives $16.6 million federal grant for final segment of Beartooth Highway Basin – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently awarded the Wyoming Department of Transportation a $16.6 million TransporBriefs continued on page 8 April 2018

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tation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to reconstruct the final 1.6 mile segment of the Beartooth Highway (US 212) in northern Wyoming.

The grant will bring the entire stretch of US 212 up to modern standards and will complete the reconstruction of the full 67-mile length of the highway.

The USDOT selected the Beartooth project based on several criteria including safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, quality of life and environmental sustainability. It also selected the Beartooth project based on the innovation of the project and partnerships involved.

“We’re pleased that the federal government awarded this grant for this important stretch of road,” said WYDOT Director Bill Panos. “This work and these funds are vital to ensure the integrity of the road in years to come.”

WYDOT is part of the Beartooth Steering Committee, which also includes the Montana Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Yellowstone National Park, U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming and Montana Congressional staff, and other federal, state, and local officials, tourism and community development organizations, and several nongovernmental organizations. This group has been working together to address the needs of the Beartooth Highway for nearly 25 years.

“The planning, design, construction and funding for these series of projects required extensive partnership and coordination,” said Gregg Fredrick, WYDOT chief engineer. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of everyone involved. The road is not included in the state highway system, which means a partnership like this is vital to getting this road reconstructed.”

Officials decided to break the reconstruction of the highway into seven segments and used a variety of funds to cover the costs. This is the second time WYDOT received a TIGER grant for the Beartooth Highway.

This final phase of reconstruction extends from milepost 24.5, just west of the Clay Butte Lookout turnoff, to milepost 26.1. The work will include widening the road, improving road surface and drainage, replacing substandard bridges,

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constructing retaining walls to minimize environmental impacts, adding guardrails and signage, improving shoulders for bicyclists and adding roadside pullouts.

Crews are currently working on a section of road between milepost 28.4 to 31.5, also part of segment four, which officials anticipate will be completed by fall 2018. That project is $13.8 million and addresses similar issues.

Outage scheduled for US 14-16-20 tunnel lights near Cody CODY – The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation cut power for about six hours March 6 to the lights inside the big tunnel on US 14-16-20 west of Cody.

Drivers were advised to heed to the signs at each end of the tunnels, advising people to “Turn Headlights On For Safety” when driving through the tunnels.

“The signs are black and white, which means Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers may cite drivers who don’t comply with the signs’ message. It’s a good idea to turn on your lights for safety’s sake, and turning your headlights on will definitely improve visibility during tomorrow’s planned power outage,” said Cody Beers, WYDOT public involvement specialist in Riverton. “Drivers are also reminded of the 35 mph speed limit when driving through the tunnels.”

Tuesday’s outage is necessary, according to BuRec Area Manager Carlie Ronca, “to perform breaker maintenance.”

The BuRec power outage will take place on the 6.9 kV power line near the tunnels. The power line is also connected to a BuRec transformer, which in turn feeds a Western Area Power Administration metering cabinet. This cabinet feeds another power line, which feeds the Wyoming Department of Transportation tunnel lights and exhaust fans.

closed from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 7:30 a.m. to noon on March 1, according to Clint Huckfeldt, Wyoming Department of Transportation area maintenance supervisor in Thermopolis, Worland and Ten Sleep.

During the closure, traffic was routed across the US 20/WYO 789 bridge just north of the Culbertson structure on the south edge of Worland.

The steel-truss style Culbertson bridge is inspected every two years by WYDOT bridge inspectors.

WYDOT owns and maintains 1,938 structures in the state, including the Culbertson bridge in Worland.

Each of these structures, as well as the 847 bridges owned and maintained by the towns, cities, counties and other state agencies, are carefully inspected at least once every two years by teams of highly trained WYDOT bridge inspectors.

There are exceptions to the two-year frequency. Bridges requiring posted load restrictions are inspected annually. Additionally, bridges having certain levels or types of deterioration or with specific details that may affect the safe usage of the structure receive special inspections designed to closely monitor their unique condition.

Bridges require periodic maintenance to remain safe and serviceable, and WYDOT inspections help to identify those elements needing repair or replacement. When a condition is found that may affect the ability of the structure to carry the anticipated loads, a rating is completed and traffic crossing the structure may be limited until the condition can be corrected or the bridge is replaced.

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Culbertson bridge annual inspection required closure WORLAND – Wyoming Department of Transportation bridge inspectors conducted an inspection of the Culbertson bridge in Worland.

The bridge over the Big Horn River

Photo: WYDOT

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The Culbertson bridge over the Big Horn River in Worland.

Total number of employees: As of March 6, 2018

1,903

One month ago

1,920

One year ago

1,934

WHP Total number of highway fatalities: As of Month 22, 2017

109

One year ago

61

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WHP commissions th 94 class

Photo: Rick Carpenter

By Kyle McKay, WHP

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The Wyoming Highway Patrol recently commissioned four recruits to the rank of trooper upon the completion of their intensive training academy. During their academy, the new troopers were instructed in a variety of classes including firearms, commercial carrier, physical training, RADAR/LIDAR, emergency vehicle operation, custody and control, crash investigation and other pertinent training. The members of Class 94 that were new to law enforcement participated in more than 1,210 hours of academy training.

All troopers take an oath to protect and serve all citizens of this great state with courtesy, professionalism and integrity as Wyoming’s troopers represent the agency brand of “Guardians of the Cowboy State.”

The new troopers participated in their swearing-in ceremony in front of family and friends at the Wyoming Supreme Court on March 15. The ceremony marked the 94th graduated Wyoming Highway Patrol Academy.

Elijah T. Ellis-Hathaway – Gillette Trooper Elijah Ellis-Hathaway is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After high school, he enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Oklahoma State University. Following college, Ellis-Hathaway served four years on active duty as an Army transportation officer with the 3rd Infantry Division. Ellis-Hathaway’s hobbies include hunting and motocross racing. He is married and is excited to make Gillette his new home.

Ellis-Hathaway is honored to be joining the Ellis-Hathaway WHP family and is looking forward to serving the people of Wyoming.

Top awards for Class 94 Colonel’s Leadership Award: Trooper Caleb Hobbs Top Academic Award: Trooper Elijah Ellis-Hathaway Top Fitness Award: Trooper Elijah Ellis-Hathaway Top Firearms Award: Trooper Benjamin Hockett Most Improved Fitness Award: Trooper Benjamin Hockett

Caleb J. Hobbs – Hanna

Trooper Caleb Hobbs grew up in Brigham City, Utah. He served a church mission in Raleigh, North Carolina, and then started college at the University of Utah majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism. He had a career in Hotel Management for 15 years before starting his career in Law Enforcement in Wayne County Utah. Hobbs then came to Wyoming to begin his law enforcement career in Baggs. Before coming to Wyoming Highway Patrol he spent two years with the Carbon County Sheriff ’s Office. He and his Hobbs wife have six children – three girls and three boys. Hobbs spends much of his free time involved with his family, church activities, camping, hiking and hunting. He is excited to work with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and serve the amazing people of Wyoming.

Ben Hockett – Lander Trooper Ben Hockett was born and raised in Lander. After high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served five years on active duty. During his enlistment he was assigned to the newly created VMM-161, which was the first MV22 squadron on the west coast. In 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he earned a Purple Heart. Following his service in the Marine Corps he worked as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service serving in Hockett Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona. He enjoys being outdoors, fly fishing, hunting and backpacking, and he is thankful for the opportunity to serve in his hometown of Lander.

Andrew J. Kelly – Rock River Trooper Andrew Kelly was raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

After high school he worked for Sierra Trading Post and obtained an associates degree in criminal justice from Laramie County Community College.

Kelly’s hobbies include backpacking, camping, outdoor photography, dirt-bikes and anything that takes him into the wilderness. He is excited to be working for the Wyoming Highway Patrol and is looking forward to serving the citizens of Wyoming. n Kelly

Class 94 surrounded by seasoned Wyoming Highway Patrol officers. Pictured on the Wyoming Supreme Courthouse staircase front row from left: Col. Kebin Haller and Lt. Col. Shannon Ratliff; row 2: Maj. Keith Groeneweg, Trooper Elijah T. Ellis-Hathaway and Maj. Joshua Walther; row 3: Trooper Caleb Hobbs and Trooper Andrew K. Kelly; row 4: Capt. Derek Mickelson, Trooper Benjamin D. Hockett and Sgt. Kyle McKay; and row 5: Sgt. Momen Elazizi, Sgt. Randy Starkey and Lt. David Wagener.

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By Aimee Inama

Project Development ensures WYDOT projects stay on task 12

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yan Drake isn’t waiting until after college to get real-world engineering experience.

As a junior majoring in civil engineering at the University of Wyoming, Drake has so far reviewed actual handicapped-accessible, road overlay and other road construction project plans as a member of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Design Squad located on the campus of the University of Wyoming.

Drake and 10 other students are part of the Design Squad, which is a part of Project Development. The squad functions like the other six squads in Project Development by designing projects and ensuring the plans are accurate, so the project can be advertised and constructed.

“This program is the perfect opportunity for college students like me to gain valuable experience,” Drake said, of Cheyenne. “We’re working on actual projects and applying what we learn in school.”

Project Development’s purpose is to put together construction plans. It’s a process that can consist of a reconnaissance and survey phase, preliminary design phase, final design phase and a contract phase. Each phase involves numerous WYDOT programs that have their part in making the project come to life.

Jeff Brown is head of Highway Development, which Project Development falls under. Under Brown, Sandra Pecenka and Andrea Allen, Project Development engineers, oversee the Project Development Section. Pecenka and Allen oversee the seven design squads and the Design Software Support/Utilities squad.

“These two women are the oil that keeps the design wheel running,” Brown said. “They take care of a lot of coordination with other programs and with the districts. If hurdles come up, these two knock them down, so the squads don’t come to a screeching halt.”

As with the other design squads, the Laramie Design Squad helps keep the design process moving forward by designing or reviewing projects that will eventually get constructed.

Jim Kladianos, principal engineer and Laramie Design Squad team leader, said the students work 20 hours per week as part of the squad, which has its own office space at the university. Kladianos and design team assistants Dee Bennett and Alan Moore, all WYDOT employees, provide the guidance and oversight for the Laramie Design Squad.

“We’ve got an extensive training program,” Kladianos said. “I teach them the fundamentals of roadway design, and my assistant squad leaders teach them computer drafting and roadway design.”

WYDOT’s Laramie Design Squad has been a cooperative educational unit with UW’s College of Civil and Architectural Engineering for about 40 years. Kladianos, who is also an adjunct professor at UW, has been with the Laramie Design Squad since 1982, having previously worked in WYDOT’s Bridge program.

“The students who work for the Laramie Design Squad actually help produce the contract plans for highway construction projects,” Kladianos said. “They’re gaining real-world design experience on actual projects when they’re working for us in the design squads while they’re still students.”

About 50 percent of Laramie Design Squad graduates are hired by WYDOT, depending on job openings. Out of that number, about 20 percent are still working for the department after several years.

April 2018

The other Laramie Design Squad students also said they liked the experience of working on real-life projects.

“It’s such a great program because you can get experience while in college,” said Presleigh Hayashida, who is graduating in May with a degree in civil engineering and a minor in sustainability. “Jim is a great teacher, and it’s wonderful that we can learn from professionals like him.”

Students Michael Ramberg and Adam Duerschmidt agreed.

“I’ve helped work on an overlay project and a handicappedaccessible project while still in school,” Duerschmidt said. “Programs like this help us see firsthand what it’s going to be like as an engineering professional.”

The cooperative agreement between WYDOT and the university will continue. WYDOT and the university are looking to expand the program, making it even better for both entities.

“This program not only benefits WYDOT but also the University of Wyoming and its students,” said Gregg Fredrick, chief engineer for WYDOT. “The cooperative efforts between WYDOT and the University of Wyoming will continue as we look for ways to enhance this unique program and build a stronger relationship with the University.”

The design squads

Project Development typically works on about 100 to 120 design projects per year. Those projects come from recommendations from the districts that are subsequently included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), a six-year plan that contains construction projects throughout the state.

Pecenka and Allen each have four squads under them. Under Pecenka, there are three design squads led by principal engineers Ed Douma, Jason Potter and Larry Crosby, and a Utilities and Design Software Support squad led by Principal Engineer Keri Bohlmann.

Under Allen, there are also three design squads led by principal engineers Kladianos, Paul Depew, Hank Doering, and a Consultant Administration squad led by Kevin Stogsdill.

“Our design team leaders and their teams ensure day-to-day engineering is getting done on the projects,” Brown said. “They’re making sure the projects are getting done.”

Although all the squads do design work, the Utilities and Design Software Support squad’s role deals mainly with software support and training of Microstation and utility agreements.

The Design Software Support section supports Microstation, which is software WYDOT uses to create its project designs, and provides training for employees of Geology, Bridge, Traffic, Right of Way and all the districts.

The Utilities section handles all the utility agreements that may be needed for a project. For example, if a project needs to have electrical power for a traffic signal, Utilities is the one that would handle getting that agreement, Pecenka said.

If a project deals with city utilities and underground utilities within a city, the Utilities works on that.

“With all of our projects, we look to see if there will be any utility conflicts,” Brown said. “The utilities group works to get all utilities addressed within a project before it starts.”

The Consultant Administration squad works with contractors if WYDOT needs to use them for design work.

Design plans

Project Development works with each district and almost all

programs within WYDOT such as Bridge, Traffic, Materials Lab, Geology, Environmental Services and others. Each program typically has their piece that gets added into a design.

“Project Development is a melting pot,” Brown said. “Everything comes to them. They work with every program and every district. They put the entire road design package together. We touch about 95 percent of projects.”

Throughout the year, the squads are working on various stages of a project’s design plan. How long it takes to complete those plans depends on the project. A simpler plan could take as little as two weeks to complete if everything comes together smoothly, but something large scale like the North Sheridan Interchange project could take much longer.

“A large construction project may take a few years,” Allen said.

But for each set of plans, Project Development follows the design process flowchart to get the official document of record.

During the process on larger projects, Project Development prepares the final reconnaissance inspection report, develops quantities of bid items for cost estimates, works with the surveys, issues preliminary plans, develops a preliminary inspection report, conducts value engineering studies if required, participates in public meetings if required, issues grading plans, develops a grading inspection report, issues right-of-way and engineering inspection plans, develops an engineering inspection report, issues right-of-way and utility plans, issues final design plans, checks the plans, issues PS&E (plans, specifications and estimate) plans. On smaller projects, Project Development takes the District’s Engineer’s recommendations with input from other Programs and puts together final design plans and PS&E plans.

All PS&E plans are given to Contracts & Estimates to prepare for advertisement and bidding and then Transportation Commission awards the project.

“It takes a tremendous amount of time to get those projects ready for construction,” Brown said. “The set of plans are the official document for a project. It’s what the contractors bid on.”

A particular design plan could get put on hold or delayed depending on factors like environmental and cultural concerns as well as emergency situations that may make another project more urgent, Allen said.

A labor of love

When looking back at the projects Project Development has been involved with, there are several that stand out for Brown, Pecenka and Allen such as the Togwotee Pass, North Sheridan Interchange and Jackson South projects.

Often times projects that start off one way may end up changing after the public-meeting process.

“There are a lot of public meetings involved with complicated projects,” Brown said. “We try to accommodate the public as much as possible. The public meetings are vital because we want to educate the public about why WYDOT may be doing a certain project. But we also want to get their input and hear their concerns. Public input shapes a lot of these jobs.”

When looking at the jobs they’ve done, Brown, Pecenka and Allen said they know WYDOT has made a difference in the lives of the people in Wyoming for the better.

“There’s a great sense of accomplishment when a job gets let,” Brown said. “I look back, and I do feel proud that I was involved.” n

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Noteworthy

By Aimee Inama For his support of the U.S. military and those who serve, WYDOT Director Bill Panos recently received the Patriot Award.

Max Carré, vice chairman of the Wyoming Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presented Panos with the award during the March Wyoming Transportation Commission.

ESGR is a U.S. Department of Defense program created in 1972 to “promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment,” the ESGR indicated.

Maria LaBorde, WYDOT Internal Review manager, nominated Panos for the award. LaBorde is also a major in the Air National Guard and works as a logistics planning and program officer coordinating equipment for the Army and Air national guards.

LaBorde, who has served in the Air National Guard for 18 years, said she’s pleased with the support Panos and her other supervisors have given her over the years.

“This award is a way for me to recognize Bill for being supportive and flexible when I am called to serve,” LaBorde said. “I think it’s vital that we recognize our bosses for being supportive of the military.”

The ESGR gives the Patriot Award to employers who supports guard members, reservists and their families. The way they show support includes providing flexible schedules, allowing time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absences.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

WYDOT Director Bill Panos receives Patriot Award

Vice Chairman of the Wyoming ESGR Max Carré presents Director Bill Panos with the Patriot Award. WYDOT Internal Review Manager Maria LaBorde, who is also a major with the Wyoming Air National Guard, was on-hand at the presentation.

“This is one of the highest awards we give,” said Carré. “Guard and reserve members nominate supervisors like Bill who have shown support for the military. Those who receive the award can be direct supervisors or in the case of WYDOT, the head of the department.”

Panos said he is pleased with the award, adding that those who serve in the military are dedicated individuals who serve and protect the country.

“I am so grateful to those who serve in the military,” Panos said. “Not only do they answer the call to serve the citizens of Wyoming, but also the citizens of the entire country. The men and women of the military should be honored for their sacrifices and dedication.” n

Civil Rights Americans with Disabilities Act

By Mitzi Krois, Civil Rights Program The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Program is to ensure that recipients of federal-aid, including state and local entities that are responsible for roadways and pedestrian facilities, do not discriminate on the basis of disability in any highway transportation program, activity, service or benefit they provide to the public; and to ensure that people with disabilities have equitable opportunities to use the public rights-of-way system. In short, it guarantees that pedestrians with disabilities have the opportunity to use the transportation system in an accessible and safe manner. The Civil Rights Office is tasked with ensuring that the goals, objectives and requirements of ADA are being met and addressed within the organization.

Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is committed to the advancement of ADA in our public rights-of-ways and facilities, with the ADA transition plan (a living document

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that chronicles WYDOT’s overall plan to remediate identified barriers), the development of an ADA advisory committee and the continued collaboration between sections to enhance ADA across the state.

If you have any questions, comments or would like more information about ADA or any of the other Civil Rights programs, please do not hesitate to contact the Civil Rights Office. n

Aeronautics State competing for place in federal unmanned aerial systems program Earlier this month WYDOT Aeronautics Division, on behalf of the State of Wyoming, submitted an application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration Pilot Program (UASIPP). According to the Information Screening Request sent out by the FAA, the “Program is expected to provide immediate opportunities for new and expanded commercial UAS operations, foster a meaning-

Something new needed in air service

By William Swelbar, Research Engineer, MIT International Center for Air Transportation, and Chief Industry Strategist, Delta Airport Consultants, Inc. Against many odds, the leadership at the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is embarking on a new age, state-supported air service development program to maintain commercial air in the state. Across the country, and in Wyoming, maintenance of small community air service requires new thought to differentiate one market from all the others seeking air service in a zero-sum game.

Small community air service as we have come to know it, and depend on it, has gone through many iterations since the industry was deregulated in 1978. Whereas in the past, solutions to air service problems could often be found.

Today, solutions to the structural headwinds facing small community air service are not obvious let alone abundant. The most prevalent headwind is a shortage of pilots to fly the smaller regional aircraft designed to serve the nation’s smaller markets like those found in Wyoming.

Beginning in 2017, the Regional Air Service Alliance, of which WYDOT is a member, estimates that the U.S. regional industry will be 500-600 pilots short of flying anticipated schedules earlier in the year. This will propagate at least through 2026. Additionally, between 2017 and 2026, nearly 26,000 pilots at the largest eight U.S. carriers including FEDEX and UPS will retire.

Stated another way, 26,000 pilots will be needed just to maintain the system at the size it is today – not grow the system.

Moreover, there are only 17,000 pilots flying at the regional carriers today. It is the regional carriers that have historically been the source of pilots for the larger, mainline carriers. Without legislative and/or regulatory relief at the federal level, the regional industry is forecast to be on 40 percent of the size it is today by 2026. It is virtually certain that all nine of Wyoming’s airports would not survive. Rather the respective communities would lose access to the commercial air transportation system as well as their potential to maximize economic development.

The headline story for much of the past decade has been a decrease in the number of departures at most U.S. domestic airports – particularly at small community airports. The beginnings of the pilot shortage can be credited for some of the decrease.

Since 2005, nearly 2 million departures have been reduced from

ful dialogue on the balance between local and national interests related to UAS integration, and provide actionable information to the Department of Transportation (DOT) on expanded and universal integration of UAS into the national airspace system (NAS). The purpose of the Program is to foster mutually beneficial partnerships with government, UAS operators, and other stakeholders to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the NAS.” Should Wyoming be one of the five applications selected to participate in the program this summer, it would provide immediate opportunities for the state and local communities to attract UAS businesses into the state for testing, application and economic opportunities. n

the domestic system. This is a dilemma for smaller communities.

Business travelers prefer/need a backup in the event of a schedule disruption at the local airport. With schedule reliability a real concern for many, the decreasing number of departures only makes small community markets more vulnerable in the event there is an airport with a better schedule offering within a reasonable driving distance. The lack of reliable air service throughout Wyoming has arguably been a primary issue in keeping certain Wyoming airport a viable option from an air travel consumer’s point of view.

WYDOT’s leadership understands full well the winning attributes for a successful air service offering that entices both the business and leisure traveler to use the service offered. This time, WYDOT is not seeking air service for the sake of having air service.

It is about finding the right air service provider that will provide code sharing and interlining attributes as part of the package. Importantly it is also about attracting air service that is reliable and not settling for less.

Code sharing and interlining significantly improve the customer experience. The practice gives the consumer the ability to buy one ticket to the desired destination as well as check their bag all the way through without having to check it again at the connecting airport.

Without code sharing and interlining, the economics of the service are challenged to provide the utility that customers in larger markets are afforded each day. Further, these service attributes mitigate the risk any new service faces by giving the service the very best chance of being successful – and hopefully sustainable without state support – over the long term.

Herein lies the rub. If the local communities with commercial air service do not use the service, then the community and the region the airport serves will most certainly lose the service.

Given the constrained market conditions in the industry, the aircraft assigned to the market not using the service will be moved to an alternative market that will use the service.

A lot of arduous work has gone into finding the right solutions that will bring the right connections and the right service attributes to make the service successful. If WYDOT is successful in procuring funds to support the air service program, then the real work begins. And the work begins with the customers that would naturally use the nine commercial air service airports. The mantra becomes: “USE IT OR LOSE IT”. n

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TechNotes

Is there an easier way to get work done when I’m not in the office?

By Dan Tolman, IT Program Manager

In today’s business environment we are seeing more and more people wanting to do work on the go. In this article we’ll discuss some of the challenges that make this difficult and some of the technologies that help overcome these challenges.

In the traditional corporate environment we find lots of desktop systems connected to ports in the wall. On the other side of the wall you’ll find a network of cables connecting all these systems to switches and servers that are designed to store and process the data that we work with on a daily basis. While these type of configurations are still fairly common, they are all built on legacy technology and don’t adapt well to today’s mobile workforce.

In addition, the need to protect the data in these environment becomes increasingly important as it has become the “norm” to see headlines talking about the latest data breach and the millions of dollars it will cost to mitigate the damage caused.

How is it that so many people are able to be seemingly productive on the go? Today’s mobile devices utilize newer

Wellness

Plant now for fresh garden vegetables on the table in summer

By Carlie Van Winkle Summer is just around the corner and in this state, time to start planting indoors for a bountiful summer and fall harvest.

Homegrown vegetables are far superior to those found in supermarkets, in both taste and vitamin content.

If you are thinking of starting your own “salad bowl” garden, some seeds need more preparation time than others.

Wyoming falls into hardiness zones 3 and 4 making planting a tricky affair if you aren’t planning for success. For example, in zone 4, tomato seed should be planted in starter trays during the first few weeks of April. Once the seedlings have sprouted, they can be moved outside between May 1 and June 15, or just after the last frost. Other seeds preferring an early indoors start are peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, celery and cauliflower.

Leaf lettuce is easy to start outside in the garden once the chance of frost is over, although some varieties will tolerate frost.

Leaf lettuce is a cool-season crop, doing well with warm days and cool nights. Since lettuce grows very quickly, it should be planted at staggered intervals – a dozen seeds or so each week – to have a nice crop each week throughout the summer.

Other cool-season crops you can plant outside are spinach, sweet peas, beets and carrots. These seeds will do well in spring

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connectivity methods and while there are connectivity options to gain access to internal systems from mobile devices they are sometimes cumbersome to use. Why does it appear so effortless for some? This all comes down to the technologies being used. Many businesses are getting rid of their legacy technologies in favor of newer technologies that support more flexibility and mobility. Often times these newer technologies are “cloud” based. Instead of being locked away in a highly protected network, these companies are contracting with “cloud” providers to store and process their data.

The State of Wyoming has contracted with Google as a cloud provider. Today every state employee with an email address has access to cloud based business tools. These tools provide easier access, easier sharing and collaboration features that didn’t exist in the past. Employees who have embraced these new technologies are enjoying a more flexible and mobile work environment. These tools aren’t a perfect fit for every solution, but with a little bit of effort and willingness to try something new, most users will find added value. By storing and working with your files in Google Drive, you make your data available anywhere you have an internet connection. In this case you also have the added protection of multifactor authentication. By utilizing the new Google Drive Filestream client you can work with your Google Drive data through a mapped drive just like if it was a local file server. If you would like to learn more please reach out to your IT support staff who will be happy to help. n and again in August as the day and evening temperatures begin to cool.

If you live at higher elevations in Wyoming, you may have a chance of frost into the summer, so having cold frames, blankets or other insulated protective materials on hand will help keep your plants from getting the brunt of the freeze overnight.

Gardens like sunshine, so create south-facing garden beds for optimum sunlight. Plant taller plants, i.e. sweet corn, further north in your garden area and the shorter plants like summer squash and lettuce, toward the south to give each plant optimum amounts of sunlight every day.

With any garden, remember to have fertile, well tilled soil with good drainage to prevent your seeds and plants from sitting in water, causing the plant to wither.

Good luck in starting your seedlings for your summer salad. n

Training TC3 e-learning is now on the WELL

By Todd DePorter Recently acquired e-Learning from the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council (TC3) is coming to the WELL in April 2018. According to its website, “TC3 is a technical service program within AASHTO that focuses on developing training products for technical staff in the areas of construction, maintenance and materials.” Its mission is to “Develop, maintain, and provide effective access for a quality training curriculum to enhance the competency of the nation’s transportation technical workforce, with the focus on construction, maintenance, and materials.”

TC3 breaks its training into six categories. They include Construction, Materials, Maintenance, Traffic and Safety, Pavement Preservation, and Employee Development. Two examples of the training WYDOT employees will have access to are Chip Seal Best Practices and Flexible Pavement Preservation Treatment Series: Micro-Surfacing. Additionally, many of the training courses include professional development hours assigned to each training event, which may qualify as continuing education credit for some professional certifications.

TRANSPORTATION CURRICULUM COORDINATION COUNCIL WYDOT employees can now access TC3 training content through the WELL instead of through TC3’s webpage directly, either by going directly to the TC3 Catalog in the Find Training tab or narrowing down by subject. Additionally, the WELL will have an internet link to TC3’s webpage so employees can view TC3s other offerings and training content. This link can be accessed by going to the External Links tab in the WELL and clicking on TC3.

Please contact Training Services at dot-training@wyo.gov if you have any questions. n

Training @ a Glance Coming in May: Date Class

Check out these upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT-U, the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) and the new WELL.

PMI Competency

Location

5/8/18

Leadership Imperatives

Leadership

WYDOT-U

5/9/18

Project Management

Judgment & Decision Making

WYDOT-U

5/16/18

Avoiding Supervisory Liability

Developing Others

WYDOT-U

5/17/18

Hiring Smart: Staffing for Optimum Performance

Developing Others

WYDOT-U

5/21/18

WY Supervise (New Supervisors & Emerging Leaders)

New Supervisor Orientation

WYDOT-U

Coming in June: Date Class

PMI Competency

Location

6/4/2018

KNOW WY (New Employee Onboarding)

New Employee Orientation

WYDOT-U

6/13/2018

Fun of Thinking and Acting Like an Effective Leader

Judgment & Decision Making

WYDOT-U

6/14/2018

Successful Performance Management

Developing Others

WYDOT-U

6/19/2018

Franklin Covey’s The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity

Personal Effectiveness

WYDOT-U

Visit the Training Services intranet page for more information.

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District News Welcome

Service Awards

Joleen Camacho, Patrol Dispatch; Emily Carter, Patrol Dispatch; Hunter Hinckley, Geology; Mikaela Smith, Driver Services-Cheyenne; Lief Swanbom, Geology; and Steven Weinberger, Facilities-Building Maintenance.

Bryan Wenger, Equipment-Administration – 25 years; Richard Diefenderfer, Patrol Dispatch – 20 years; Chelsey Lindsay, Budget-Federal Aid – 10 years; Cori Schrinar, Purchasing-Buying – 10 years; and Nicole Alonzo, Program Performance – 5 years. n

Promotions and Transfers

Tyson McMillion, Sunrise Elementary sixth grader and son of William “Mac” McMillion of Facility Management, took third place at the regional history fair in Wheatland and earned a spot at the state history competition. His exhibit, “The Division of Berlin” highlighted the difference both physically and ideologically by the well-guarded Berlin Wall from 1961 to 1989. McMillion was the only student from Cheyenne to qualify for the state competition in Laramie in April.

Schrinar

Alonzo

ea Pl

Wenger

ading!

Re

Tennant

le Afte yc

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se Re c

Christopher Irwin, Materials-Surfacing; Chance Johnson, GIS/ITS; and Cheyenne Tennant, GIS/ITS.

Photo courtesy of Mac McMillion

Headquarters

District 1

Promotions and Transfers Gregory Barnes, Rawlins Maintenance; and David Munoz, Cheyenne Traffic-Striping.

Service Awards Jimmy Swingle, Laramie Maintenance – 20 years; and Mark Urban, Cheyenne Construction – 20 years.

Congratulations Trooper Tyler Chapman has been appointed to the position of lieutenant overseeing the Rawlins and Wamsutter areas of WHP Division “H”.

Chapman started his career in March 2004 and is a veteran trooper with vast experience and training. He has been a Crash Team member for many years and is currently ACTAR (Accreditation Commission For Traffic Reconstructionists) certified. Chapman brings a historical work ethic along with his team and personal approach, positioning Division H in good hands moving forward.

Chapman began his new assignment March 1. He replaces Lt. Bob Garner who retired in December 2017.

Jared Humphreys of Rawlins Maintenance Crew 1041 has passed his Level II Water Treatment Plant Operator test and is now certified. n

Rides

Classic? Hot rod?

Late model?

Two wheeler?

Get those photos in by

05/15/18

carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov Munoz

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Chapman

Humphreys

District 2

Welcome Samual Blaney, Lusk Port of Entry; Michael Fischer, Telecom District 2-Radio Shop.

Service Awards

Photo: Pennie Bliss

Patrick Nelson, Douglas Maintenance – 25 years; Debra Cain, Driver Services-Torrington/Lusk – 20 years; Joshua Simonson, Casper Maintenance – 10 years; Marc Wheeler, Traffic-Electrical – 10 years; Wade Wintermote, Douglas Construction – 10 years; and David Leeling, Casper Mechanics – 5 years.

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Congratulations

Congratulations to Dave Leeling for five years service with WYDOT. Leeling is a heavy equipment mechanic in the Casper shop. Leeling (left) received his certificate from District Equipment Supervisor Terry Uhrich.

Photo: WYDOT

William “Smokey” Auyer retired March 1 after 32 years of service to the state. Auyer was a senior construction and field survey specialist in Douglas.

Auyer began his career with WYDOT as a temporary employee in Wheatland in July 1987.

He celebrated his retirement at his party with coworkers on Feb. 28.

The Casper office celebrated District Construction Engineer Mark Ayen’s 50th birthday with cake and festivities on March 21.

Scott Elliott was selected as the heavy mechanic supervisor in the Mechanics program in Douglas, effective March 16.

Elliott has worked with WYDOT since 2005 and most recently as a senior heavy mechanic.

District 3

Welcome

Retirements

William Cleveland, Pinedale Maintenance; David Fox, Pinedale Mechanics; and Trevor Hurd, Evanston Construction.

Patrick Varland retired March 15 as Douglas shop foreman after 32 years of service at WYDOT. Varland, a Cheyenne East High graduate, also served in the U.S. Navy in the western Pacific as a 2nd class petty officer.

He worked various jobs upon returning to Wyoming and began his WYDOT career as a diesel mechanic in Douglas.

Coworkers hosted a party for him on March 15 in the Douglas office.

Promotions and Transfers Kurt Kuhlmann, Rock Springs Construction.

Service Awards

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Photo: Jeff Goetz

Kurt Anselmi, Jackson Construction – 20 years.

Former Highway Patrol K-9 Basil is enjoying retirement! Basil retired last year and has been spending his days with Highway Patrol K-9 State Coordinator Barry Tippy.

Kuhlmann

Anselmi

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District 4

Welcome Susannah Skiles, Driver ServicesSheridan/Buffalo.

Promotions and Transfers Jared Despain, Gillette Construction; Rex Markley, Gillette Mechanics; and Blaine McCart, Buffalo Maintenance.

Service Awards Lawrence Konetzki, District 4 Maintenance Staff – 40 years; Kevin Legerski, Sheridan Patrol – 25 years; William Torrance, Telecom District 4-Radio Shop – 20 years;

Brian Brownell, Sheridan Mechanics – 15 years; Dawn Trautman, Sheridan Port of Entry – 10 years; and Joseph Yalowizer, Sheridan Port of Entry – 5 years.

Congratulations Samantha Mitchell who recently became a CVSA Level III Inspector at the Gillette Port of Entry upon the completion of her Level III training.

Against The Storm By an ornery mouse. Actually, many people know me, they just wish they didn’t.

It seems like yesterday, but it was years ago. I took on this job where some of my work was plowing snow. I’m out there many long days, often nights and weekends, too. Making it better for traveling people.

Doing the job I signed up to do.

Against the storm. I’m out working against the storm. Making a way for people to get someplace safe and warm. Against the storm.

Against the storm.

Mitchell

The years have rolled on past. I’m often out there all alone. Surrounded by elements of danger. Staying out until that danger is gone. Sometimes you can lose your way. It can be hard to see the road.

But, the compensation of a job done can be worth more than what you’re owed.

Against the storm. I’m out working against the storm. Making a way for people to get someplace safe and warm. Against the storm.

Against the storm.

Markley

McCart

Torrance

Brownell

There are many newer methods now. But are they really better? Chemicals spread ‘round, may keep dust down, but snow gets slicker when wetter. I’ve lost my enthusiastic past. Feel I’m stumbling through the mire. Back then, the old-timers warned, “Son, they’ll ruin your youthful fire.”

Against the storm. I’m still out working against the storm. I’m an old man now, but holy-cow, still working against the storm. n

Konetzki

Legerski

Trautman

Yalowizer

District 5

Welcome

Service Awards

Paul Boedeker, Dubois Maintenance – 30 years; Glen Thomas, Thermopolis Maintenance – 20 years; Barbara Archibald, District 5 Maintenance Staff – 10 years; and

Shaffer

Thomas

Timothy Arthur, Thermopolis Mechanics.

Promotions and Transfers Chad Shaffer, Shoshoni Maintenance.

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Brian Martin, Lander Construction – 10 years.

Congratulations

Martin

Archibald

Trooper Travis Hauser was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by Col. Kebin Haller. Hauser has been appointed the new Division “I” supervisor that covers Fremont County and will oversee operations in the Lander and Riverton areas. Hauser has been with Patrol Hauser since August of 2007.

He is a WHP veteran with a proven track record for quality

Letters

Service Award Recipients

Kind call from citizen Eric Wiles, Hulett crew leader, received a call on Feb. 28 from a woman who just wanted to compliment the Hulett crew.

“Whenever there is snow, the crews get the roads cleaned right away and since I travel a lot, I greatly appreciate all that WYDOT does.”

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Anonymous caller

To all WYDOT employees and the WTDEA, I would like to send my most sincere gratitude for the donations I received from my WYDOT family during my surgery.

I am truly humbled and thankful for you all in thinking of me during my difficult time. Thank you.

District 5 work and strong leadership abilities. Those who know Hauser easily recognize his enthusiasm and high level of passion for the WHP while always remaining humble.

Hauser replaces Lt. Lee Pence, who transferred to lead Division “N” in the Cody and Powell areas.

Photo: WYDOT

Spike Smith

District Equipment Manager Daren Wagner congratulates Cort Jones on completing his FOS and weld testing to become a master technician.

Pittman

Photo: WYDOT

Daren Wagner was selected as the district equipment manager for District 5 in Basin as of Feb. 6.

Wagner has worked for WYDOT since October 2006, most recently as the shop supervisor in Cody.

Thank you for the well wishes and generous donation of sick time leave.

It was greatly appreciated!

Clay LeDoux Kaycee Maintenance

Service award luncheons are held by the Transportation Commission for employees celebrating milestones of 25 years of service or greater.

Service award recipients at this month’s luncheon (from left): Spike Smith, 25 years; Brian Wenger, 25 years; Bill Gribble, 40 years; Kevin Legerski, 25 years; and Paul Boedeker, 30 years.

Brian Pittman was selected as the area foreman for District 5 in Basin as of Feb. 15.

Pittman has worked for WYDOT since October 2003, most recently as a senior staff technician in Basin.

Thank you, WYDOT family

Wagner

Thermopolis shop supervisor Brandon Blakesley congratulates Dustin Harvey on completing his FOS and weld testing to become a master technician.

Oops!

Dubois retiree Dave Riebe was reported as serving 17 months with the state. It was actually 17 years. We apologize for the misprint in the March Interchange and any inconvenience it may have caused.

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Passings Thomas A. Fanter

Thomas Fanter, 70, of Cheyenne died Feb. 27.

He was born November 14, 1947 in Woodstock, Illinois.

Thomas served in the U.S. Navy and began his career with the WYDOT Highway Safety Program in Fanter November 1969. He retired after 32 years of service to the state.

He was a member of the Cheyenne Frontier Days HEELS and had served on the Indian Village and Security committees.

Services were held March 6.

Walter T. Kingham Walter Thomas “Tom” Kingham, 72, of Cheyenne passed away Feb. 23 at the Medical Center of the Rockies.

He was born Jan. 11, 1946 and attended schools and graduated in Casper. He attended the University of Wyoming, earning his degree in Petroleum Kingham Land Management.

For a brief time, worked for WYDOT and eventually leaving to operate Cloud 9 Bar and Grill.

Memorial Services were held March 10.

Deborah Reed Deborah “Debbie” Reed, 64, died Feb. 22 at her home. While at WYDOT, she was an administrative assistant from October 1983 until her retirement in June 2006.

Services were held March 2 at the Faith Bible Chapel.

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Steven Ronning Steven L. Ronning, 67, of Cheyenne died Jan. 30. Ronning was born Sept. 2, 1950, in Cheyenne.

He joined the U.S. Navy and did a tour in Vietnam. After the Navy, he did little jobs until he began his career at the Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predeces- Ronning sor agency, and retired May 2011 from the Planning Program.

He loved being in the mountains, either fishing, cutting down trees or just spending time at the cabin with his wife.

Services were held Feb. 6.

Floyd Smith Floyd “Gene” Smith, 85, died peacefully Feb. 14 at his home in Meridian, Idaho, surrounded by his family.

Smith was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Wheatland and enjoyed a typical boyhood, growing up in both Wheatland and Sheridan. The Smith unexpected death of his father when he was 12 saw the end of those carefree years as he stepped up to be “the man of the house.” The ensuing summers he spent as a cowboy on his uncle’s ranch with his summer’s earnings going to his mother to support their struggling family.

When he graduated Wheatland High School in 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was originally stationed in Hawaii at Barbers Point on O’ahu. He was an avid photographer during his time in Hawaii, catching the true beauty of O’ahu and Waikiki Beach when there was only one hotel. He was also based in the Philippines where he was a navigator on a reconnaissance plane during the Korean War. He was always proud of his service in the U.S. Navy.

At the end of his enlistment, he returned to Wyoming and joined the telephone company as a lineman working out of Lander. It was there that he

met his future wife, Faith. They moved to Wheatland where Smith began his career with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Smith learned to survey and to manage the various construction and maintenance projects in the district. When I-25 was built through Wyoming, he managed the project on either side of Wheatland.

In 1970, he was promoted to managing construction and maintenance projects statewide and moved to Cheyenne. After 33 years with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, he retired and soon moved to Eagle, Idaho, to be closer to his grandchildren and family.

Smith was always pursuing new adventures and hobbies. He was an avid baseball fan and shared his love with his son, Ron, coaching several baseball teams.

He brewed his own beer using Wyoming spring water. Thompson was an avid fly fisherman and tied his own flies. He loved to hunt deer and ducks and took up reloading. When Thompson took up archery, the whole family joined him in this hobby. With a friend, he built a canoe that he took whitewater running. Thompson also took up rock collecting, cutting and polishing his “finds” to make jewelry.

Throughout his life, his passion for photography was always there. Every fall, he’d explore the Green Belt and Kathryn Albertson Park with his daughter, Debbie, to photograph the beautiful fall foliage.

His values of honesty, hard work and perseverance as well as the desire to explore new interests were passed on to his children and grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was held March 7 at Holy Apostles Catholic Church, Meridian.

David E. Thompson David Ellis Thompson, 81, died peacefully Feb 25 with his wife, Judith, at his side. He was born May 27, 1936, in Burke, South Dakota.

The youngest of seven siblings, he was raised on the family farm through his early years. His family relocated to WaucoThompson nda, Illinois, where

he attended school. He graduated from Wauconda High School in 1954. There, he met the love of his life, Judith Winkler, and the two were married Feb. 4, 1956.

In 1960, the couple moved to Oak Park, Illinois, where Thompson worked as an auto mechanic, eventually owning two service stations.

Thompson moved his family to Laramie in 1983, and began his career as a mechanic for the Wyoming Department of Transportation and moonlighted as a bundle carrier for the Laramie Boomerang, a job he continued beyond retirement.

Dave enjoyed the great outdoors, Laramie and all the people he met. He was a seasoned storyteller and was always poised for a good joke. He was a classic car enthusiast with a vast knowledge about cars. He was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, but most of all, he valued and loved his family.

A celebration of life was held March 4 at First Christian Church. n

s

S tate E mployee

SERG

up

Retirement Gro

Gather with other state retirees monthly.

SERG meets at noon the second Monday of each month at the Cheyenne Radisson.

The gatherings include a brief business meeting, social luncheon and an educational program.

Extra Mile

AWARDS

Congratulations to our January, February and March recipients!

WYDOT salutes the following Director’s Extra Mile Award recipients. The award is presented to individuals who have traveled the “extra mile” in service to WYDOT.

January Shawn Burke Dave Chapman Susan Elliott Sara Ellis Candace Garman Jeff Goetz Stephanie Harsha Audrey Hobbs Keri Jenkins

Andrea Jones Andrew Klingenberg Dave Luegering Andrew Pascoe Kim Peters Katie Pfister Matt Sanders Laura Schei Carlie Van Winkle

February Jesse Burgess Shane Carraher Richard Demoney Mark Kelly Carl Moody Cheryl Porter

Scott Prettyman Dale Roberts Ken Sharp Thomas Slack Josh Todd Shawn Varland

March

Contacts for further information:

Melissa Defratis

Roger Nelson – 634-1881 Ron Labreque – 632-8240 Donella Marrs – 635-5858

For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Katherine.Castaneda@wyo.gov.

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Photo: Sarah Rickgauer

Outdoors

Photo: Mike DeLeeuw

Sarah Rickgauer and her husband, Robert, took this photo in October at Hog Park Reservoir just west of Encampment.

Photos: Chase Cimburek

​ arson DeLeeuw, 13, son of Mike DeLeeuw with Procurement C Services and retired Management Services employee Rhonda DeLeeuw, shows off his fall turkey. He hunted the bird in Laramie County.

Chase Cimburek with Rock Springs Construction recently climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland. Ben Nevis is the highest point in the United Kingdom at 4,411 feet.

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Photo: Cody Beers Photo courtesy Candace Garman

Photo: Tiffanie Young

Photo: Cody Beers

Baylor Beers, sophomore at the University of Wyoming majoring in engineering and son of District 5 Public Involvement Specialist Cody Beers, caught brown and rainbow trout while fly fishing the Wind River during his recent spring break.

Tiffanie Young with Highway Patrol was standing next to a stream in Vedauwoo and saw this garter snake catching a fish. It snatched the fish from the water and took it back to its nest for dinner.

Candace Garman, with Program Performance, spent some time soaking up some vitamin “sea� in Kauai, Hawaii, this past February.

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HOME IS WHERE

YOUR HEART IS

So let’s get you into the home where your heart belongs.

With a variety of loan options and available resources, WyHy will help you find the right financing partner to help you purchase a new home.

• Conventional,VA, FHA and USDA home loan options • Loan-to-Value up to 100% • 10, 15, 20 and 30-year terms • Housing Counselor Tool • Easy online access to make payments, check your balance and more • Interest Saver Program where you can shave years off the life of your loan!

• Pay your home loan off sooner with our Streamline Mortgage product • Preferred Realtors and Realtor Rebate Programs available

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WyHy.org/Home Loans • 307-638-4200 memberservices@WyHy.org

Break Time Time to take five!

Sudoku is easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3-by-3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

5 8 2

3

6

7 4

3 5 6

6 3 2 7 7 1 8

9

7 6 5 3 2 8 5 9 3 2 8

Answer to the March 2018 Break Time photo find:

5

3 2 9 1 5 8 9

6 3

Interchange subscription issue? Update your address:

1) Complete and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, or 2) Send an email to Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

Add me to the mailing list

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Change my address

Remove this address; person no longer lives here or is deceased.

Name change, I am a family member of a deceased employee, but I would like to continue receiving Interchange.

Name Current address City, State, Zip Previous address City, State, Zip

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Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340 Address Service Requested

Pre-sorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Cheyenne, WY 82009 Permit No. 24