August interchange 2013

Interchange a WYDOT publication

August 2013, Vol. 41, Issue 8

Quiet Zones

Peace and quiet in railroad towns

Letters

Gracious thanks to WYDOT and WHP from film crew I just finished a Chevy ad that was permitted on (the Wyoming side of) Beartooth Pass . . . We put together an exceptionally tight application with extensive pictures of each requested location, including associated parking areas and detailed explanations of our needs and forest use intent . . .

We had running shots requiring long stretches of highway in a number of locations that made WYDOT permitting a challenge . . . we had an inexcusable number of changes and demands after the permit was issued but prior to shooting. Without hesitating, Dave Cooper of WYDOT managed every detail with professionalism and a smile. Our experience with Dave Cooper and WYDOT was . . . impressive.

I must include the Wyoming Highway Patrol officers assigned to provide public and production safety, led by Lt. Phil Farman, in my praise. On short notice he provided three officers every day, working long hours in challenging conditions and managed to make every single crazy production change work for us and for his staff. Every detail was handled with ease and an easier smile.

Our experience working in Wyoming, with the government entities that allow us to film on their lands, should serve as a model for Montana agencies to emulate; not only for professionalism but for their business like attitudes and behavior as well.

(This email message was edited for brevity.)

Jim Ward, Expedition Films

Interchange Nice website, WYDOT! I am traveling through Wyoming and looked at your road construction projects to help me determine my route. You have a wonderful description on your website.

Thanks for making it so easy to determine my route. Great website.

Vickie Boutiette

Gratitude for Kemmerer P.O.E. hospitality I wanted to give a big thank you to Joe Lewis at the Kemmerer Port of Entry, for all his help.

We blew out two tires on our camper, and he was very willing to help us out.

Thanks again.

Jenifer Weeks

Heartfelt thanks for the sick leave donations I would like to thank everyone for the donated sick leave.

I appreciate it very much. Thanks again.

Greg Powell Trade Specialist 1, Laramie

Motor Vehicle Services– a joy to do business with Laura (Brewer), Thank you so much for everything you have assisted me with. You are so professional and friendly. I hope that your supervisors realize what a valuable employee you are.

Please call me if you need anything regarding the new tags.

Again, thank you for your help.

Sincerely, Chance West

Continued on page 7

Submissions deadline for the September issue of Interchange is:

August 16, 2013

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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, WY, 82009-3340. The Public Affairs Office may also be contacted by phoning (307) 777-4165, faxing (307) 777-4289, or sending e-mail to carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov

Staff WYDOT Director: John F. Cox Public Affairs Manager: Doug McGee Editor/Art Director: Carlie Van Winkle Contributors: Bruce Burrows Public Affairs Dave Kingham Public Affairs Carlie Van Winkle Public Affairs Ross Doman District 1 Jeff Goetz District 2 Stephanie Harsha District 3 Ronda Holwell District 4 Cody Beers District 5 Sgt. Stephen Townsend Patrol Photography: Rick Carpenter Public Affairs

Also in this issue: Letters.....................................2

Contents 8

District briefs.........................4 WYDOT by the Numbers......6

18

Extra Mile Awards................7 Training at a Glance............7 District news.......................13 Passings................................16 Noteworthy........................ 17 HR Happenings..................19

12

WTDEA................................. 20 Break Time.......................... 23

10

8 Buick Special

Refurbished 1954 WHP replica wins award

10 Railroad Quiet Zones

Peace and quiet in railroad towns

12 GeoBabelFish 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.

Interactive map from GIS

18 Macros simplifying processes

Document generator improves consistency On the cover: A train approaching the railroad quiet zone crossing in Lusk.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

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District Briefs Fuel tax funds in use

Cheyenne – The first project to be funded with the additional fuel tax revenue WYDOT will receive this year is among the six contracts totaling $13.4 million awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission during its July teleconference meeting.

McGarvin-Moberly Construction of Worland won that contract with a bid of $3.8 million for milling off deteriorating pavement and replacing it with a new layer of pavement and a final chip seal on a 10 mile-section of WYO 28 between the Sublette County line and the South Pass Rest Area south of Lander. WYDOT will fund the project with the additional $4 million in revenue it expects to receive in September as a result of the fuel tax increase that took effect July 1. The contract completion date is July 31, 2014.

Lovell’s Mountain Construction won a $2.9 million contract for a pavement overlay with some shoulder widening and isolated reconstruction on three miles of WYO 32 immediately south of its junction with US 14A west of Lovell. The work is scheduled to be done by Sept. 30, 2014.

Jerry Bornhoft Construction of Riverton was the low bidder at $2.8 million for reconstruction of nearly a mile of Riverview Road between Agusta Drive and Rein Road in Riverton. The project will include replacing one bridge and realigning two curves, along with some work on the lower portion of Hill Street. The contract completion date is July 31, 2014.

Oftedal Construction of Casper submitted the low bid of $2.3 million for landslide mitigation work at three locations on US 26 between Moran Junction and Dubois. The project will include constructing a rock buttress at the base of one continuing slide, and embedding steel casings into two new slides on the slope above the highway. The work is expected to be done by Nov. 30, with the planting of some trees to follow next spring.

Simon Contractors of Cheyenne won a

HQ

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$1.5 million contract for milling off worn and deteriorating pavement on seven miles of US 14-16 north of Gillette and replacing it with a new layer of pavement

by Sept. 30, 2014.

S & L Industrial of Cowley won a $21,000 contract for installing signs at ports of entry around the state notifying boat owners they must stop at the ports to have their boats inspected. The signs are part of a cooperative effort with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to prevent the introduction of invasive aquatic species into the state’s waters. The contract completion date is Nov. 30.

Highway Patrol’s “I-80 Challenge Highway Safety Initiative” Cheyenne – The WHP teamed up with other law enforcement officials from California to New Jersey for a special “I80 Challenge Highway Safety Initiative” to ramp up enforcement of life-saving traffic safety laws during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Between July 24 and July 31, WHP and other law enforcement officials serving the I-80 corridor across the U.S. cracked down on drivers who were speeding, driving drunk or distracted, or not wearing their seat belts. A zero fatality rate for the eight-day period was the goal.

Local law enforcement and highway safety officials say too many lives are lost on I-80 from those who violate the most basic traffic safety laws.

“It’s sad to see a summer vacation end in tragedy because someone chose to violate or ignore traffic laws meant to prevent crashes and save lives,” said WHP Lieutenant Colonel Shannon Ratliff. “For this event, we will show zero tolerance because we want zero fatalities in our state.”

This safety initiative targets a heavy summer travel period when the rate of fatal and injury crashes on I-80 is higher than any other time of the year.

Wyoming experienced 120 traffic deaths in 2012. Of those traffic deaths on Wyoming’s highways, 44 percent were not restrained at the time of the crash. More than 31 percent of the fatal crashes in-

volved alcohol/drugs and of that number 61 percent were not properly restrained.

Nationally, in 2011, more than 21,000 passenger vehicle occupants across the nation were killed in traffic crashes. Of those fatalities, 52 percent were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes. Approximately 9,900 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, with more than 3,330 killed in fatal crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly 10,000 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has partnered with the WHP to implement combined highway safety law enforcement campaigns which focus enforcement on multiple traffic safety laws at one time.

Chip seal operations nearing completion Cheyenne – WYDOT officials advised motorists in the Cheyenne area that chip seal season is underway on state roads.

The Capital City’s own Knife River Corporation is the contractor for the work which continued into early August.

Chip seal operations on WYO 211 (Horse Creek Road) from milepost 8.4 to 17.6 and WYO 219 (Yellowstone Road) from milepost 2.0 to 5.5 were finished in late June through early July. The 1-25 east service road (Hynds Blvd.) from milepost 1.1 to 3.7 and WYO 225 (Otto Road) from milepost 348.4 to 359.3 were completed mid-July.

WYO 223 (Terry Ranch Road) from milepost 0.0 to 5.7 and the I-25 service road (also Terry Ranch Road) milepost 0.0 to 2.7 and the U.S. 85 east and west service roads (near the port of entry on South Greeley Highway) saw completion following Cheyenne Frontier Days.

The chip sealing work WYDOT does each summer repairs damage, provides a skid-resistant surface, and saves taxpayer money by preventing water from get-

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ting into the pavement through cracks and potholes. This extends the life of the roadway by five to seven years.

Motorists are urged to be alert when driving through chip seal work zones.

They should watch for flaggers, pilot cars, and slow to obey the posted speed limits.

They should also increase the distance between the cars that they’re following to minimize the possibility of damage caused by loose gravel.

Pavement improvement project nearly complete south of Thermopolis Thermopolis – A $1.24 million asphalt overlay project is nearly complete between Thermopolis and Wind River Canyon on U.S. 20/ WYO 789.

McGarvin-Moberly Construction Co., of Worland is the prime contractor on the 2.5-mile project between mileposts 128.35 (the north edge of the Big Horn River bridge south of Thermopolis) and 130.85 (near the WYDOT office in Thermopolis).

The final phase of work began in late July with seal of the shoulders of the improved roadway.

Roadway work on this project included grading, milling of asphalt on each end of the project, asphalt paving, chip sealing and other work on 2.5 miles of U.S. 20/ WYO 789 between Wind River Canyon and Thermopolis.

Contract completion date for the Wind River Canyon-Thermopolis pavement overlay project is Sept. 30.

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Bridge rehabilitation project begins in Hot Springs, Big Horn, Park counties Worland – Rehabilitation of three bridges is now under way in three counties in the Big Horn Basin, according to Bryan Strasser, WYDOT project engineer in Worland.

Prime contractor Reiman Corp., of

Cheyenne has started work on bridges in Big Horn and Hot Springs and Park counties.

Temporary traffic signals are in place, with single-lane alternating traffic, currently at the Bighorn Lake causeway east of Lovell on U.S. 14A at milepost 56.89.

“A 12-foot width restriction was put in place, and motorists found traffic delays of three to five minutes,” Strasser said.

Strasser said repairs to the concrete bridge deck were completed in mid-July.

“At that point, no traffic delays will occur until an epoxy overlay is placed on the bridge in September,” he said.

Another set of temporary traffic signals were placed, with single-lane alternating traffic, at the railroad overpass bridge on U.S. 20/WYO 789 south of Thermopolis at milepost 128.47 near the Bighorn River.

Strasser said concrete bridge deck repair, expansion joint replacement, new deck drain installation, and girder reinforcement is ongoing at the bridge near Thermopolis. “Improvements are scheduled to be completed in August, and the concrete barrier will be removed. An epoxy overlay on the bridge and installation of new guardrail is scheduled in September,” he said.

Repairs on the Shoshone River bridge (Corbett Bridge) on U.S. 14A began July 22. The bridge is located at milepost 6.52 between Cody and Powell.

“This phase of work will include replacement of expansion joints on either side of the bridge, and work will include an epoxy overlay and maintenance of the bearing pads at a later date,” Strasser said.

“Construction will take place on half of the three-lane bridge at a time with one driving lane open in each direction.”

During the improvements at Corbett Bridge, a 10-foot width restriction will be in place. “Larger loads will be able to pass through the project only with advance notification and coordination with the contractor,” Strasser said.

The $1.8 million contract has a completion date of Oct. 31 for bridge rehabilitation on five bridges.

Traffic delays scheduled on Togwotee Pass wetlands project Dubois – Wetlands construction throughout the Togwotee Pass corridor between Dubois and Moran Junction is under way.

Traffic delays of up to 15 minutes were expected near the Wind River pit at milepost 27.1, 27.1 miles east of Moran Junction, and at a waste area at milepost 30.1 near Moccasin Basin Road, according to Kaia Tharp, WYDOT resident engineer in Dubois.

Other wetlands work is currently ongoing throughout the Togwotee Pass corridor.

“Next spring, the contractor will be planting willows throughout the Togwotee Pass corridor,” Tharp added.

Monthly meetings are scheduled at 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Blackrock pit, and citizens are invited to attend.

Prime contractor for the $2 million wetlands project is Gale Lim Construction of Blackfoot, Idaho. Partial completion date is Oct. 31, with final contract completion date being June 30, 2014.

Mortimore Lane chip sealing scheduled near new bridge Lander – Chip sealing of Fremont County Road 20 (Mortimore Lane) was completed mid-July on both sides of the new bridge over the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River.

The new $1.05 million Mortimore Lane bridge was constructed last year, and Mortimore Lane reopened to traffic last October.

The bridge connecting the west end of Mortimore Lane to Sinks Canyon Road (WYO 131) was washed out during the high water/flooding conditions of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River in 2010. Funding for construction of Mortimore Lane bridge was provided by federal Emergency Relief Funds (90.49 percent) and the State of Wyoming through the Office of Homeland Security (9.51 percent).

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Briefs continued from page 5 Cannon Builders Inc., of Blackfoot, Idaho, is the prime contractor on the bridge construction project.

Construction activities have included grading, draining, placing crushed gravel base, asphalt paving, chip sealing, construction of the bridge structure, and other work on Fremont County Road 20 (Mortimore Lane) beginning at reference marker 2.25 in the Town of Lander.

Chip sealing between Dubois and Diversion Dam underway; Rosie’s Ridge wrapped up Dubois – WYDOT workers are applying the chip-seal finish to 22 miles of U.S. 26/287 between Dubois and Diversion Dam. Chip sealing is performed by evenly distributing a thin base of hot oil on an existing pavement surface and then embedding finely graded gravel into it. The gravel is evenly distributed over the seal spray, then rolled into a smooth pavement surface. Leftover gravel is swept off the roadway.

“Please slow down for safety’s sake,” said WYDOT chip sealing foreman Shane Wilson of Thermopolis. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during this important work, which cost-effectively extends the life of our highways.”

WYDOT’s chip sealing effort is scheduled to continue throughout August in the Big Horn Basin. Sealing is scheduled on U.S. 14 between Greybull and Shell, and near Burgess Junction; WYO 295 near Willwood; WYO 32 and WYO 33 near Lovell; WYO 120 north of Cody; and U.S. 16 between Worland and Ten Sleep.

The Rosie’s Ridge project on the Togwotee Trail (U.S. 26/287) west of Dubois also began July 22 and wrapped up the last week of July.

Chip sealing of the Rosie’s Ridge section of U.S. 26/287 will complete 38 miles of highway improvements in the Togwotee Trail corridor between Dubois and Moran Junction.

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Chip sealing underway on Girl Scout Road near Ten Sleep Ten Sleep – A $1.8 million pavement improvement project is wrapping up as 5.92 miles of WYO 436 (Girl Scout Road) near Ten Sleep is receiving a chip-seal finish, according to Kelly Erickson, WYDOT project engineer in Worland.

The pavement improvement project includes the entire segment of state highway on Girl Scout Road. It includes milling of existing asphalt, placing crushed gravel base, asphalt paving, chip sealing and other work on 5.92 miles of WYO 436 (Girl Scout Road) beginning at milepost 0.00 and extending to milepost 5.92, the end of the state-maintained highway.

Mountain Construction Co., of Lovell is the prime contractor on the project.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded the $1.8 million bid to Mountain Construction last October.

Contract completion date is Aug. 31.

Erosion repair project scheduled to start on U.S. 14/16/20 near Yellowstone National Park Cody – Erosion repairs began in late July at four locations on U.S. 14/16/20 near Yellowstone National Park, according to Todd Frost, WYDOT resident engineer in Cody.

Prime contractor Hinckley James Inc., of Cowley started work 5.95 miles east of Yellowstone’s east entrance.

“This is erosion repair from the flooding from two summers ago,” said Frost.

Other erosion repairs on the $814,000 project are expected at mileposts 0.49, 0.67 and 4.32.

The contractor’s scope of work includes grading, placing rocks and other work at the five locations between Yellowstone National Park and Cody.

Contract completion date is Oct. 31.

Paving crew working near Buffalo Bill Reservoir on U.S. 14/16/20 Cody – A WYDOT asphalt paving crew worked on U.S. 14/16/20 near Buffalo Bill Reservoir west of Cody into July.

The paving crew patched areas of the roadway with more than 3,700 tons of hot-mix asphalt on U.S. 14/16/20 near Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

The WYDOT hot-mix asphalt patching work continued between Cody and Meeteetse on WYO 120 with nearly 2,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt paving.

The WYDOT crew moved to work east of Lovell on U.S. 14A mid-July and to U.S. 310 between Greybull and Lovell July 23. The crew’s summer work continued on U.S. 14/16/20 between Greybull and Cody, and on WYO 31 near Hyattville.

The WYDOT paving operation consists of a paving crew, a roller operator and numerous WYDOT trucks hauling the hot asphalt.

Total number of employees: as of July 2, 2013

2,029

One month ago

2,067

One year ago

2,058

Letters continued from page 2

Training ata Glance

The kindness of Laramie We had the misfortune to have a traffic accident at Junction 311 on Interstate 80, and we were stranded in the road for six hours (waiting for our useless hire car company to send another car).

In that six hours, we could not believe how wonderful your citizens are.

First of all, Billie Marie Schmidt, from the roadworks agency, who came and stayed with us and made sure we were allright and kept coming back to check on us.

Secondly, Lt. Tom Pritchard dealt sympathetically with all our accident paperwork, drove us to get a coffee and sandwich, then returned to check if we were okay, helped us get hold of the man who was meant to be bringing a new car, returned and took us for more coffee.

The other thing was that several people stopped to ask if they could help.

We could not believe the kindness and compassion we received from everyone.

We are from the U.K. on vacation in your wonderful country, and although the accident upset us, our abiding memory will be the kindness of Laramie people.

Please give our grateful thanks to everyone.

Here are upcoming training opportunities from WYDOT University and the Transportation Learning Network (TLN) Date Class Location Aug 1 Aug 6 le Aug 7 r ip de r T ea

H Aug 8 Aug 13-16 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 27

Coming up in August 2013: Sep 4-5

Crucial Conversations

Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne Cheyenne

To register, or to find out more details, call the Training Program and talk to David Talley (777-4792), Jim Boyd (777-4791) or Rhonda DeLeeuw (777-4790).

Extra Mile

Joan and Stuart Quarmby

AWARDS

Runaway truck ramp under construction on U.S. 14

Congratulations June 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.

Photo: WYDOT

Runaway truck ramp construction on U.S. 14 above Shell Falls is underway. This photo, taken on July 15 shows the ramp cut into the mountainside. WYDOT employees in photo are, from left, Engineering Technician Fred Willert, Basin Resident Engineer Ben Steed, and District 5 Construction Engineer Keith Compton.

Improving Your Ability to Deal w/ Conflict The Fun of Thinking and Acting Like a Leader Change for Good! How to Let Go of a Bad Habit and Create a Better One Intentional Leadership Conversations The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Relationships and Teams Strengthening Your Emotional Intelligence The Practical Coach

Cheryl McGee Robert Scheidemantel For more information about the Extra Mile Award or to nominate someone, contact Janet Farrar at janet.farrar@wyo.gov or Mel Anderson at mel.anderson@wyo.gov.

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It was a hot summer afternoon. Several young

ladies stroll by, dressed like 1950s pin up dolls and there are rows of glimmering windshields that belong to beautifully restored vintage cars. A sign welcomes spectators to the annual

Rods-n-Rails car show in downtown Rock Springs. As you look down the street, a clump of people begin to form around one of the vehicles.

“Does the siren work?” A stranger asks.

“Hey its even got lights on the back!” Another exclaims.

“Is this what patrol cars really looked like back then?” a child asks.

The polished 1954 Buick Special four-door Sedan stands out with its striking black top and glossy white body paint. It stood out so much, in fact, it won Best Classic Car that day at the Rods and Rails car show.

“Its a pretty sweet ride,” Lt. Scott Keane commented later, as he stood next to a 1954 Buick Special.

“Everyone loved it,” Keane added.

This Buick is not your everyday classic car. This Buick has been restored to look like a typical state patrol car from the 1950s with sirens, lights and even a vintage radio.

“The car is true to the period in which it would have been used,” Keane said.

More than a decade ago, the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association made the decision to restore a classic patrol car to its original glory, commissioning Lew Wright, a antique car aficionado, to do the restoration work.

Wright was a longtime trooper who retired in Lander in 2005 after 30 years of service.

“The idea was to build a period car from the ‘50s. I think that it was important, it was kind of a tribute to the past,” Wright said.

Wright got to work immediately. He began researching the classic patrol cars of the

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Photo: WYDOT

Photo: WYDOT

First place classic car trophy from the Rods and Rails 2013 competition in Rock Springs.

Lt. Scott Keane standing next to the first-place winning WHP 1954 Buick Special.

1950s, sifting through large boxes of photographs and calling on retired troopers and their families.

“The local libraries and archives weren’t able to give me more than a few pictures here and there. Most of the photographs came from retired troopers,” Wright added.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol was created in 1933 to police the growing population of vehicles traveling Wyoming’s roads. During the fifties, the Highway Patrol invested in many brands of cars, including Ford, Mercury, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler Hudson, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and, of course, Buick.

Finally, Wright came across the Buick Special. The car belonged to Riverton local Jack Miller, who collected classic cars and who was a frequent regular of the Fremont County Fair Parade. Miller kindly donated the car for restoration.

“It definitely wasn’t the cheapest model available at the time, but it wasn’t the most expensive Buick available either. A car like this would probably be for a lieutenant or a captain,” Wright explained.

Although the car itself was never used as a patrol unit in the ‘50s, everything on and in the car is true to the era and original to the Buick.

With a tight budget, Wright hunted for the best deals on parts and services, seeking donations and doing as much of the work he could alone. Soon the car received its classic paint job, with the black top and white body.

“Lots of people back then called them skunk cars,” Wright said with a laugh.

Wright completed the work in about two years. The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association’s first thought was to keep it within their ranks, but soon after realized the car would provide the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Highway Patrol with more public service opportunities and it was sold to them.

Since then, the car has made several appearances in many parades, car shows and festivals statewide, including Cheyenne Frontier Days.

“I just think it’s important to show the public this piece of history, this piece of the highway patrol, and for them to think about the guys who drove this kind of car and to appreciate the history,” Wright said.

– Stephanie Harsha

1954 Buick Special Engine: 264 CID V-8 (Nailhead) with Carter WCFB 4 bbl Carburetor

Transmission: Dyna-Flow 2-Speed Automatic

Suspension: Front Suspension-Coil springs and shock absorbers Rear Suspension-Coil springs and knee action shocks

Radio: 2-way Motorola Twin-V, FM low band, 2-Channel

Lights: Twin Spot lights, fog lights, rear deck lights

Radar: Stephenson Radar Company Model T-63 Speedalyzer (It is meter and needle type stationary X-band radar)

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Quiet Zones

Projects bringing a little peace and quiet to railroad towns A lot of Lusk residents have been sleeping a little more soundly lately, thanks to the recent implementation of what is known as a railroad “quiet zone” in the Niobrara County seat.

Establishment of a railroad quiet zone means the engineer of an approaching locomotive normally will not have to blow the train’s horn to warn motorists or pedestrians that a train is approaching a crossing.

Since July 12, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) engineers have no longer sounded their horns when approaching Lusk, thanks to the advent of the quiet zone which involves two-at grade rail crossings. One silenced crossing is located on the east side of the community at Third Avenue and the other is on the west of side of town at West Griffith Street.

The quiet zones offer an alternative to the federal requirement that train horns be sounded within a quarter mile of a crossing, which typically translates to about 15 to 20 seconds prior to train entering the crossing. The horns are necessarily very loud (averaging between 96 and 110 decibels) to alert motorists near the crossing of the train’s imminent approach. The use of train horns has an obvious safety benefit, but the downside is significant noise pollution and its impact on those residing in the surrounding area.

To be eligible for an upgrade to quiet zone status, a railroad crossing at a minimum must have protective gates that automatically drop, as well as flashing warning lights that activate when a train approaches. In addition, there is a “constant warning time” requirement whereby circuits installed into the railroad track are

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capable of sensing the approach of train and measuring its speed and distance from the crossing; this provides the public with a consistent advance warning time and helps reduce motorist delays.

Quiet zones can be classified into two basic types. The preferred type involves installing a barrier such as a median on the cross road immediately in front of the gates. The medians are designed to prevent a risk-taking driver from attempting to drive around the end of a lowered gate to slip across the tracks just ahead of an approaching train.

The other type of quiet zone, most often implemented where there is not enough space for medians, makes use of “wayside” horns,” which are akin to loudspeakers mounted along the sides of railroad tracks adjacent to the crossing. Wayside horns are directional, effectively “aimed” at the crossing, and thanks to their proximity to the crossing, require much less volume than the train horns.

Interest in establishment of quiet zones has been building in numerous Wyoming communities over the past several years.

A milestone in the process was a WYDOT-sponsored

Train Horn

Wayside Horn

Decibel Contour Map

Decibel Contour Map

500’

Train Direction

Horn Volumes

90 Decibels or louder 80-90 Decibels

1000’ 1500’

500’

1000’ 1500’

Train Direction Circles indicate distance from rail crossing. Maps illustrate the directional nature of wayside horns, as well as the greatly reduced area affected by warning horn loudness (80 Decibels or greater).

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Wyoming Quiet Zone Study completed in 2009, which identified the state’s most disruptive railroad crossings located in communities with a population of more than 100 people and more than two trains passing through daily.

Quiet zone study teams included Dan Kline and Bill Thompson of WYDOT’s Planning Program who worked with personnel from consultant firm R.L. Banks, A quiet zone crossing in Lusk utilizing a barrier median in front of the gates. along with representatives from railroad companies BNSF and UPRR, the Federal Railroad Administration and the local community stakeholders. Major factors considered included local population, the number of at-grade railroad crossings and the frequency of trains passing though. A total of 84 public crossings in or near 34 rail-served incorporated Wyoming communities were assessed.

Study results included the relative need for railroad quiet zones in each community.

General community and statewide costs for railroad quiet zones were outlined and a priority ranking formula by community and or/corridor for implementing quiet zones was established. The study is posted in PDF format on the WYDOT website (under the Engineering and Technical Programs - Railroads tab).

Matters progressed in 2011 when, the Wyoming Legislature approved a $5 million appropriation to fund quiet zone improvements. The legislative appropriation included a requirement for local communities to match anywhere from 5 to 50 percent of the project cost depending on the assessed value of the county in which the participating community is located.

“This is both a quality of life and a safety issue,” said Gregg Fredrick, WYDOT’s assistant chief engineer for engineering and planning. “The communities benefit from the reduction in noise from train horns, but motorist safety at railroad crossings is not diminished.”

“Many of the trains are coming out of the coal mines up in the northern part of the state and are going through smaller communities,” Fredrick said. “That legislatively approved match really makes it affordable for those towns to establish quiet zones.”

– Bruce Burrows

Quiet zone project list (Significant WYDOT role in planning and in some cases, project implementation) Lusk - medians. WYDOT project now complete and quiet zones now in effect at two UPRR crossings.

Torrington - wayside horns. WYDOT-supervised work is in progress at seven BNSF crossings in and near town; installation will be complete this fall and quiet zone in effect by end of the year.

Newcastle - medians and wayside horns.

Median is in place at BNSF crossing at 2nd Street, wayside horns coming soon at two other BNSF crossings (Walker and Main streets); both will be operational by end of the year.

Cheyenne - medians. WYDOT and UPRR partnership in preparatory work at Southwest Drive crossing; could be in place by early next year. A second location is 24th Street crossing on BNSF; City of Cheyenne is lead agency for design and construction of medians.

Worland - wayside horns. WYDOT is supervising procurement of equipment for installation at four BNSF crossings.

Moorcroft - medians. Work expected to begin soon; Town of Moorcroft is handling contract administration.

Ranchester - medians and Thermopolis medians and wayside horns (likely); both projects in still in planning phase.

Note: Quiet zones established with minimal WYDOT involvement are already in place in Sheridan and Gillette and on F.E. Warren Air Force Base just outside Cheyenne.

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ITS/GIS introduces GeoBabelFish, Intranet Viewer

viewing spatially enabled data as GIS layers. The GIS layers include administrative boundaries, LRS routes, LRS equations, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) projects, airport locations, bridges, WYDOT employees now have access to two landslides, and traffic counts. new Web-based applications, GeoBabelFish and The Intranet Viewer provides an LRS layer that Intranet Viewer, created by Geographic Informaallows users to display reference markers along state tion System (GIS) staff. GIS is a division of the highways and other routes. The LRS layer includes GIS/ITS Program. roads within the state, county and local street jurisdicGeoBabelFish is an application that translates tions with routes broken down by category, ID number between common data types used at WYDOT. and direction.

For example, the application enables a user to A “Tools” tab is available for extended queries. The start with a common road name such as I-25 and “Identify Route Location” tool enables users to click on cross reference it to WYDOT’s Linear Referencing the map and have the nearest LRS route and reference System (LRS). The results of the data translation marker returned. The “Locate Route” tool allows users can be tailored for a specific section of the route to enter a LRS route and reference marker. The results Simply navigate to the GIS as delimited by reference (mile) markers. In this are located and displayed on the map. The “Measureexample, I 25 between mileposts 30 and 40 yield home page on the WYDOT ment Tools” allows users to make linear, point or area employee site to find the LRS values of ML25B, ML25D and ML25I. Internet Viewer for GIS data. measurements.

Other data translations available in GeoBaThe Intranet Viewer was developed using ArcGIS belFish are LonServer map services and ESRI basemaps. The basemap gitude/Latitude, gallery includes streets/roads, aerial imagery, shaded relief and WYDOT Maintenance Sections, topographic maps. and the Public Land Survey To reach the applications, click the star-shaped Intranet icon System (PLSS). All of the data on the computer’s desktop. From there, click the ITS/GIS/TMC can be cross-translated with tab and select the GIS Home Page link. The applications can also one another. GeoBabelFish be directly accessed via the WYDOT network. GeoBabelFish is includes a help feature with at http://insidegis/GeoBabelFish/WYDOT.html and the Intranet definitions of each data type, Viewer at http://insidegis/viewer/intranetviewer.html. parameters for entering Users with questions or who need assistance with the applidata, and the results of the cations can contact Mariah Drake or Trenton Rawlinson in the given translation.

GIS/ITS Program. n The Intranet Viewer is a Web-based application for Viewing different reference markers, devices or safety hotspots is as easy as opening drop down menus and selecting an array of items to show on the map.

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n August 2013

District News Headquarters

Welcome Alison Helgoth Ragan, ITS/GIS; Laura Miazga, Driver Services-Policy and Records; and Andrew Wallerstein, Facilities Management-Custodial.

Promotions and Transfers Dalene Call, Highway Safety; Marian Scott, Motor Vehicle Services-Registration/Title; and Ryan Shields, Bridge Engineering Design.

Service Awards Merri Burkett, Aeronautics-Airports – 35 years; Susan Palmer, Highway Development-Project Development – 35 years; William Wilson, Highway Development-Engineering Services – 30 years; Paul Bustos, Office Services-Printing – 25 years; Lenard Fulmer, Driver Services-CDL – 15 years; John Goyen, Highway DevelopmentPhotogrammetry/Survey – 15 years;

Klief Guenther, Patrol-Safety and Training – 15 years; John Jerkins, Patrol-Capitol Services Protection – 15 years; Christine Grant, Planning-Programming – 10 years; Steven Lund, Motor Vehicle ServicesRegistration/Title – 10 years; Adolph Narvais, Facilities Management-Grounds – 10 years; Jody Brewer, Office Services-Files – 5 years; Robyn Eifert, Financial ServicesAssets – 5 years; Philip Harris, Telecom-WYOLINK – 5 years; and Lois Neckel, ITS/GIS – 5 years.

Call

Burkett

Retirements

Goyen

Grant

Eifert

Neckel

Harley Downs, Traffic; Paul Huck, Bridge Engineering Design; Rayette Laird-Reece, Motor Vehicle ServicesRegistration/Title; Evelyn Perry, Highway Safety; and Robert Tompkins, Highway Safety.

District 1

Welcome Ethan Rhodes, Highway Development-Project Development-Laramie Design Squad.

Promotion and Transfers Kaylee Lonn, Rawlins Construction.

Service Awards Amy Brooks, Laramie Construction – 10 years; Tyler Jones, Elk Mountain Maintenance – 10 years; and Christopher Litvinoff, Baggs Maintenance – 5 years.

Retirements Tony Sherlock, Laramie Maintenance.

District 2

Welcome Richard Steffens, Casper Maintenance.

Service Awards Steve Olson, Traffic-Electrical – 40 years; and Daniel Jaskowak, Casper Maintenance – 30 years.

Olson

Jaskowak

District 3

Promotion and Transfers Lawrence Duran Sr, Farson Maintenance; and Eric Loveland, Afton Mechanics.

Service Awards John Reed, Cokeville Maintenance – 35 years; and Bradford White, Evanston Patrol – 15 years.

Reed

August 2013

White

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Welcome Kristina Coleman, Driver Services-Gillette; and Paul Killian, Gillette Maintenance.

Promotion and Transfers Bruce Kent, Pole Creek Maintenance; Michael Kuzara, Pole Creek Maintenance; Rex Markley, Gillette Mechanics; John Morbeto, Gillette Maintenance; and Nicholas Woods, Sheridan Maintenance.

Service Awards Gary Mellor, Newcastle Construction – 30 years; Vicky Gearhart, Buffalo Construction – 25 years; Darwin Mitchell, Gillette Mechanics – 25 years; John Broad, Sheridan Patrol – 15 years; Dwayne Hunt, Gillette Patrol – 15 years; Dustin Hockett, Buffalo Maintenance – 5 years; and Ronald Wagner, Buffalo Construction – 5 years.

Retirements Barry Bowersox, Gillette maintenance crew leader. Bowersox retired from the Gillette maintenance crew with 32.5 years. He began his career with WYDOT in 1980 as a maintenance worker in Saratoga and then worked his way up to heavy equipment operator. In 1986, he transferred to Sheridan to become the guardrail foreman, he then transferred to Moorcroft to become the crew leader in 1990. In 1995, he transferred to Gillette and became the area crew supervisor where he has remained until his retirement. Bowersox Bowersox enjoys downhill skiing, training horses and plans to spend his retirement being active in his church and traveling to new places with his wife and family.

Gary Hulet, Pole Creek Maintenance.

Hulet began his career in maintenance at Burgess Junction 39 years ago, but quickly transferred to Pole Creek where he remained for more than 30 years. Hulet and his wife, Bunny, Gary Hulet enjoying his retirement celebration. have two children and two grandchildren. We wish him well in his retirement.

Donald Mathew, Sheridan Construction.

Mathew began and ended his career with the Sheridan construction crew. We wish him well in his retirement.

Donald Twing, Buffalo Maintenance.

Twing has spent more than 40 years with WYDOT. “Forty-one years, 10 months and three days to be exact,” said Twing.

Twing began his career in 1971 with the Mathew Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, on the maintenance crew at the Pole Creek highway camp. Eight years later, Twing moved from Pole Creek to Buffalo where he later became foreman at the maintenance office.

Nearly everything has changed since he was hired four decades ago. The snowplow that Twing used at Pole Creek had wooden door frames and was basically a snow plow on the front of a dump truck. There were no computers, no technology. Now, snowplows are highly technological with computer readouts and wing cameras. Computers on the desks may have thrown managers in the 1990s for a loop, but not Twing. He saw the computer on his desk as a challenge.

“After about 35 years, I was getting bored anyway,” joked Twing.

Twing remained a resource for all

Photo: Ronda Holwell

District 4

From April 1 to July 1, District 4 celebrated several retirements. The years of experience in leadership leaving WYDOT in those months is staggering. (L to r) Dave Mullen, District 4 construction engineer – 40 years; Gary Hulet, Pole Creek maintenance crew leader – 39 years; Don Twing, Buffalo maintenance crew leader – 42 years; and Barry Bowersox, Gillette maintenance crew leader – 32.5 years. A grand total of 153 years service – WOW!

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n August 2013

Photo: Ronda Holwell

Photo: Ronda Holwell

Continued on next page

Don Twing with his new fishing pole/golf club a former employee built him.

District 4, cont.

What did you do this summer?

William White, Gillette Construction.

White and co-workers celebrated with cake and coffee on his last day of work, June 3. White leaves WYDOT with 24 years of service. He began his career with the Wyoming Highway Department as an engineer in Wheatland after graduation from the University of Wyoming. About a year later, he transferred to Gillette. White worked on various projects throughout his career and leaves behind many friends with WYDOT. He is looking forward to spending his retirement with his wife, Nancy, and family.

those he supervised. He’d help those in the field do the best job they could do by finding information for them.

“He knows the weather better than the weathermen,” said Mike Leibee, a coworker of Twing in Buffalo maintenance.

Twing has enjoyed the people he has worked with over the years. He has made an impression on so many of his fellow workers, he is referred to as “Daddy Don.” Many co-workers will joke while Twing is in the room, but each of Twing’s crew members has high praise for all he has given to the group.

Submit your fun photos for the next WYDOT Outdoors!

Submissions deadline for

Buffalo maintenance crew leaders, past and present. (L to r) Dustin Hockett – 5 years; Don Twing – 42 years; Jay Hook – 30 years; and Denny Hogard, 44 years. A combined total of more than 120 years service to WYDOT.

Photo: Ronda Holwell

Photo: Ronda Holwell

WYDOT Outdoors:

Bill White and Josh Jundt, Gillette Resident Engineer, sharing a laugh at White’s retirement party.

09/13/13

carlie.vanwinkle @wyo.gov

District 5

Welcome Robert Crum, Meeteetse Maintenance.

Service Awards

Photo: WYDOT

Pamela Leach, Driver ServicesLander/Dubois/ Riverton – 30 years; Kim Kurasz, Dubois Maintenance – 15 years; and Bryan Strasser, Worland Construction – 5 years.

Celebrating Independence Day in Cody, WYDOT style.

Kurasz

Photo: WYDOT

(Above) Cody maintenance workers Joe Klein, Jerry Fritz, Mike Stroble and an unidentified unicycle rider stood by the first-place winning “motorized vehicle” entry in the Cody Stampede Parade on July 4.

WYDOT, with the help of Kidz on the Move, decorated snow plows and celebrated plowing efforts this spring inside Yellowstone National Park.

(Left) A WYDOT plow truck sports the first-place placard and ribbon behind the cab on the dump bed.

Also visible on the truck is a large photo thank you sign for helping open Yellowstone.

August 2013

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Retiree Gail Money, who was involved in building a substantial amount of interstate highway in northeast Wyoming, died July 4 in Buffalo. He was 87.

Money served with the Wyoming Highway Department, WYDOT’s predecessor agency, for 34 years before in retirement in the fall of 1987. He was resident engineer based in Buffalo for more than 25 years and during that time, supervised most of the construction of I-25 and I-90 in Johnson County, as well G.F. Money with grandas some sections of I-90 in Campbell daughter Sidney Hall. and Sheridan counties.

Rich Hall, is an area crew Money’s passing came only a month supervisor in Sheridan. after the deaths of two other WHD retirees, Clifford Holwell and Loren Smith, who had worked on the original sections of I-90 in Sheridan County. (See July 2013 Interchange.)

Money grew up in York, Neb. Following his high school graduation, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he moved to Montana, where worked as a petroleum bulk plant operator. Money relocated to Wyoming in 1951, where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Cody as a land surveyor prior to joining the Highway Department.

He was a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, Good Sam’s Club and served as a City Councilman for Buffalo as well as on the Buffalo Planning Commission.

Funeral services for Money were conducted July 11 in Buffalo.

Survivors include his son Kerry, a construction manager and surveyor with WYDOT’s engineering crew in Buffalo and his son-in-law, Rich Hall, area maintenance supervisor for WYDOT District 4 based in Sheridan. n

Ernest Paul Grow Ernie Grow, a recently retired maintenance foreman, died July 1 in Gillette.

Grow, 68, stepped down last November after two decades with the Gillette maintenance crew. He had started with WYDOT in 1992 and was promoted to equipment operator in 1997. Two years later, was promoted again, to crew leader.

Grow was a Michigan native, a graduate of Detroit Technical School, and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Grow He moved to Gillette in 1984 and worked in the oil fields prior to joining WYDOT. Grow was a member of the American Legion and New Life Wesleyan Church in Gillette, where memorial services were conducted July 5. n

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n August 2013

Photo: Rick Carpenter

Passings Gailand “G.F.” Money

Photogrammetry and Surveys Manager Curtis Clabaugh, right, speaks during the summer meeting of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Geospatial Data Acquisition Technologies in Design and Construction. Clabaugh hosted the meeting July 15-17 in Cheyenne.

Buckle Up,

BU Tough Guy

Noteworthy

Nation’s road conditions show slight improvement; North Dakota, Kansas and Wyoming have the best, most costeffective highway systems Los Angeles – As Americans hit the road for the Fourth of July holiday, they were driving on slightly smoother roads, crossing fewer deficient bridges and spending less time stuck in traffic jams according to Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report.

Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-owned roads in 11 categories, including pavement condition on urban and rural Interstates, urban traffic congestion, deficient bridges, unsafe narrow lanes, traffic fatalities, total spending per mile of state roads and administrative costs per mile. The study’s rankings are based on data that states reported to the federal government for 2009, the most recent year with full spending statistics available.

Nationwide there was small progress in every category except for pavement condition on rural arterial roads. These improvements were achieved at a time when per-mile expenditures dropped slightly. Despite receiving stimulus funding from the federal government in 2009, spending on state roads decreased slightly, by 0.6%, in 2009 compared to 2008.

“It’s hard to believe it when you hit a pothole or see a bridge in Washington collapse, but the nation’s roads are getting better,” said David Hartgen, author of the study and emeritus transportation professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“There are still several states struggling and plenty of problem areas. But you make the case that overall America’s roads and bridges have never been in better shape.”

Among the states plagued with problems are New Jersey and California. New Jersey spends $1.2 million per mile on its statecontrolled roads. That’s nearly twice as much as the $679,000 per mile that the next biggest spending state—California—spends.

North Carolina, home to the nation’s largest state highway system, spends $44,000 per mile on its roads. South Carolina spends just $31,000, the lowest per mile rate in the nation, according to a Reason Foundation study of all 50 state-controlled road systems.

Drivers in California and New Jersey may be wondering what they are getting in return for that money. More than 16 percent of urban Interstate pavement in each of those states is in poor condition. Only Hawaii ranks worse, with 27 percent of its urban Interstate pavement rated as poor.

Not only are California’s Interstates full of potholes, they are also jammed—80 percent of the state’s urban Interstates are congested. Minnesota has the next highest percentage of gridlocked Interstates, with 78 percent of urban Interstates deemed congested.

In terms of overall road conditions and cost-effectiveness, North Dakota has the country’s top ranked state-controlled road system, followed by Kansas (2nd), Wyoming (3rd), New Mexico (4th) and Montana (5th), according to Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report.

Alaska’s state-controlled road system is the lowest quality and least cost-effective in the nation. Rhode Island (49th), Hawaii (48th), California (47th), New Jersey (46th) and New York (45th) also perform poorly.

Vermont’s roads showed the most improvement in the nation, improving from 42nd in the previous report to 28th in the new overall rankings. New Hampshire (27th) and Washington (24th) both improved nine spots in the rankings.

Minnesota system plummeted 17 spots in the rankings, from 25th to 42nd and Delaware dropped nine spots to 20th. Massachusetts had the lowest traffic fatality rate, while Montana had the highest.

Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report Overall Performance and Cost Effective Rankings: 1. North Dakota

26. Utah

2. Kansas

27. Alabama

3. Wyoming

28. Vermont

4. New Mexico

29. Maine

5. Montana

30. Michigan

6. Nebraska

31. Wisconsin

7. South Carolina

32. West Virginia

8. Missouri

33. Iowa

9. South Dakota

34. Illinois

10. Mississippi

35. Louisiana

11. Texas

36. Arkansas

12. Georgia

37. Florida

13. Oregon

38. Oklahoma

14. Kentucky

39. Pennsylvania

15. Virginia

40. Maryland

16. Nevada

41. Colorado

17. Idaho

42. Minnesota

18. New Hampshire

43. Massachusetts

19. North Carolina

44. Connecticut

20. Delaware

45. New York

21. Tennessee

46. New Jersey

22. Indiana

47. California

23. Arizona

48. Hawaii

24. Washington

49. Rhode Island

25. Ohio

50. Alaska

For data from previous years, please see Reason’s report examining 20 years of U.S. highway data and trends.

Reason Foundation is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing free minds and free markets. n

August 2013

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Noteworthy Highway Development employee develops document generator

In creating the document generator, Phillips placed the body of information from each letter into a document, bookmarked it and then saved it to 12 different Word document templates, depending upon the category the letter fell into. A VBA was written to create heading formats, carbon copy names and an ability to call in any of the bookmarked text found in the previously created 12 document templates. In addition, a spreadsheet was created that could parse individual names into to and from categories as well as additional names to a carbon copy listing.

Areas of text to be edited by the sender appear in red and a draft watermark can also be added if several people need to read and add comments to a letter without marking up the original.

Although this one document generator seems to be a small feat, it has accomplished much. The number of letters on program servers has gone from 57 to just 12 plus the document’s macro, saving server space and headache for the user looking for a particular letter template. By using the macro, a new document is created each time and the originals remain unchanged. An administrator may update the macro or one of the 12 templates to make changes rather than making changes to every document needing the change. A shortcut icon may be placed on a user’s desktop to launch the document template quickly without the need for searching through the server directory. The quick fill form utilizes text parsing. This allows the user to type part of the information in and when the word or name is found quickly click the tab-key to move on to the next text area. The user is allowed to edit accordingly and save to their own hard drive with a naming convention of their choice.

The final result is a consistent, user friendly, professional document that needs minimal administrative maintenance.

Phillips currently works with Highway Development-Project Development-Utilities but has worked in both road design and IT software support.

- Carlie Van Winkle

Matt Phillips of Highway Development-Project DevelopmentUtilities has created a visual basic application (VBA) to speed up the process of developing letters for both within the department as well as letters for outside entities.

Prior to Phillips developing the document generator, original documents not initially saved as templates were easily changed, making the document structure and headers inconsistent with other programs.

“Some headers were in color, others were in black and white,” said Phillips.

Phillips “Others had very different text than the original letterhead. Each of the letters contained a list of carbon copy names that would need to be changed if someone left the group. Each of the 57 letters would need to be opened and changed.”

Last September, Janet Farrar and Mel Anderson had facilitated a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats team building session) with Project Development to take a critical look at ways to improve everyday processes. Project Development had 57 different documents that were being used for templates rather than just one document. Phillips had a solution.

He had originally created a Microsoft Word macro for Geology to alleviate the hassle of re-creating letters when the migration from Corel to Microsoft occurred a few years ago. Geology had 41 macros set up in Corel software and Phillips transferred those to Word. He applied his knowledge of macros and visual basic coding to create a macro library for his own (Left and above) Screengroup. The basic idea shots of the VBA coding. behind a macro is to (Right) The document simplify repetitive tasks template shown with a or replace a sequence generated letter using paof words or characters rameters set by the user. with a predefined set the document is linked to.

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n August 2013

Online t Recruitmen

more information about training on the system we will get that information to you.

In preparation for the transition to this new system, we ask that you take time to log in to your current profile and print or save your current application for future reference as the new system will require you to rebuild your application. n

Roadmasters take presentation skills to a new level

process is a key part of the program’s success.

Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure.

Roadmasters meets every Monday at 12:05 p.m. in the WYDOT U conference room on the Second Floor of the Planning Building. For more information call 307-509-0585.

- Mike Hand, Roadmasters vice president for public relations

The current online recruitment system will be replaced in the coming months with a system called NeoGov. This new online system will provide applicants with the ability to create multiple position specific applications.

The new system will be more user friendly and will have features that will make it easier for everyone to use. As we get

Looking to develop speaking and leadership skills? Ace a job interview? Ignite your career?

During the noon hour on virtually every Monday, applause can be heard ringing out of WYDOT University, the seminar/ conference room on the second floor of the planning building.

This applause is a part of the Roadmasters Toastmasters club.

Roadmasters was chartered in 2005 by a number of WYDOT people who believed that improved communication skills would benefit not only themselves, but the entire organization. While Roadmasters was formed primarily for WYDOT workers, others are welcome. Currently the membership includes not only WYDOT staff, but people from Warren Air Force Base, the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, Wyoming State Child Support Enforcement, and private industry.

Roadmasters is a part of Toastmasters International, a world leader in communication and leadership development. Worldwide, Toastmasters membership is 280,000 strong. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries that make up the global network of meeting locations.

Membership in Toastmasters is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself. At $36 every six months, it is also one of the most cost-effective skill-building tools available anywhere.

How does it work?

A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere.

There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback

Photo courtesy Roadmasters

New online recruitment system coming soon!

Members of Roadmasters Toastmasters Club show off some of the hardware won by members of this outstanding club. (L to r) Mike Hand, State Engineer’s Office; Adam Byrne, Sierra Trading Post; Phi Pucell, private consultant; Sherman Wiseman, Planning; Mike Sandidge, Planning; and Brian Rentner, Bridge. Roadmasters not pictured: Janice Haldi, Child Support Enforcement; Maj. Jim Malcom Warren AFB; and Leah Bratton, State Engineer’s Office.

August 2013

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19

WTDEA HQ GAP news

The WTDEA Headquarters chapter Grant Assistance Program (GAP) board met the first week of July and granted monies for a softball team sponsorship and college incurred costs.

If you would like to apply for assistance through GAP funding, please find the application form on the employees Web site under the WTDEA tab.

The deadline for October grants is September 30. n

WTDEA DISTRICT 2 Half a Pig Raffle Drawing held August 24th in Thermopolis during the WTDEA District 2 Poker Run.

Tick eac ets are for h or $5 Onl five t $20 y ic will 225 ti kets. be cket sold s !

WTDEA District 3 Back-To-School Raffle 1st prize – $150 gift card 2nd prize – $100 gift card 3rd prize – $50 gift card

Drawing will be held at the September District 3 WTDEA meeting contact Sterling Richardson for more details: sterling.richardson@wyo.gov

Proceeds will be used for packaging and processing of the pig. All proceeds remaining after packaging and processing will be donated to a local food bank.

Please contact your local WTDEA representative for tickets.

WTDEA District 2 Poker Run This year’s Poker Run will begin on August 24th at 8:00 a.m. at the WYDOT complex in Casper.

Riders will head north to Buffalo, west through the Big Horns, and finally south to their final desitnation in Thermopolis.

In Thermopolis, everyone can enjoy a tasty pig roast (pig donated by Grumpy’s BBQ) and live bluegrass.

Please feel free to contribute a covered (or packaged) dish or drinks.

Reduced rates offered at the Roundtop Mountain Motel! For reservations please call 1-800-584-9126.

Poker Hands are $5 *

Best poker hand: 25% of the proceeds Second best poker hand: 15% of the proceeds Worst poker hand: 10% of the proceeds WTDEA Relief Fund: 50% of the proceeds *Winners need not be present to win.

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n August 2013

Please contact Myron Witt at 307-331-3444 or Debbie Herbold at 307-473-3258 for Poker Hands.

Vossler state board treasurer for 2013

Janet Vossler is this year’s state board treasurer. She has been a member of the WTDEA and the WHP representative for the past seven years. She has also been a state board representative since 2011.

Vossler was elected to the state board treasurer position in January 2013.

Her personal goal, as a WTDEA state board member, is to strive for improved communication with all WYDOT employees regarding the Employee Relief Fund and scholarship awards.

“As employees of WYDOT, we have opportunities to ask for help and to extend help that may not be as accessible in other state agencies,” said Vossler. “I am very

appreciative to have the support of our Executive Staff.”

Vossler worked at the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory prior to coming to WYDOT. She started with the WHP in July 2000.

“Coming to work for Patrol was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of developing an evidence program from the ground up,” Vossler said.

Vossler is a native of Cheyenne and a graduate of both East High School and Laramie County Community College. She is a member of the Colorado Association of Property & Evidence Technicians (CAPET) and the International Association for Property and Evidence (IAPE). Vossler earned her certification as a certified property and evidence specialist on May 11, 2006. n

WyHy contribution bolsters WTDEA Employee Relief Fund

Photo: Carlie Van Winkle

WyHy Federal Credit Union contributed $2,500 to the WYDOT Employee Relief Fund in July as part of the partnership under which it issues credit cards carrying the WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol logos.

WyHy President Bill Willingham presented the check to Director John Cox and Janet Vossler, treasurer of the Wyoming Transportation Department Employees Association, on July 10.

WyHy has pledged to donate $5 to the Employee Relief Fund for every card issued with the WYDOT or WHP logo.

“Our goal is to give back money every year on the number of cards that we issue, with a minimum of $2,500, to the Employee Relief Fund,” Willingham said. “It’s really been well received, and the cards are going out like gangbusters. It’s great that people

WTDEA treasurer Janet Vossler, Director John Cox accept the “giant check” of $2,500 from WyHy FCU President Bill Willingham. The monies are for WTDEA’s Employee Relief Fund.

Photo: Rick Carpenter

WTDEA

Vossler

show pride in working for WYDOT and the Highway Patrol and want those cards.”

Cox called the contribution a great gesture and said the money is appreciated and will be put to good use.

The $2,500 will allow the fund to help up to five WYDOT families in need.

“We generally give $500 per request - sometimes $750 and up to a $1,000, depending on the circumstances,” Vossler said. “We don’t have any pending applications right now, but we’ve had 10 requests so far this year, so this contribution just helps so much.”

All active WYDOT employees are eligible for crisis assistance from the relief fund.

To request assistance an employee must complete a relief fund form available on the WTDEA page of the WYDOT Employees website and send it to Vossler or WTDEA State Board President Ryan Sorenson.

The relief fund began providing crisis assistance in 2005, and since then has provided more than $14,075 to more than 34 employees. Most of the assistance has been used for health-carerelated expenses, but it also has been used for expenses incurred due to floods or unexpected deaths, and other needs.

Willingham said he expects the coming availability of debit cards with the WYDOT and WHP logos to continue to bolster WyHy’s contributions to the relief fund.

“We’re going to have debit cards in about two weeks, so hopefully we’ll be issuing a lot of cards and that $5 will just keep adding up,” he said. “We’re happy to continue to partner with WYDOT and the employees association.”

WyHy started 68 years ago with seven Wyoming Highway Department employees as members and now serves 13,000 people.

“Our growth has been amazing and we’re thankful,” Willingham said. “We still have a lot of respect and ties to the Highway Department, our original sponsor.” n

August 2013

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Pay off your home sooner with our

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All WYDOT employees and their families can belong.

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800.442.2392 307.638.4200 Cheyenne • 307.234.2373 Casper 22

Interchange

n August 2013

Break Time Let’s play STRIMKO! The object of the puzzle is to fully fill in the given grid with missing numbers observing three simple rules. You place numbers 1-5 into a 5 x 5 grid. Each row, column and connected stream of circles must contain the numbers 1-5. Each row, column and connected stream of circles must not repeat a number 1-5. Sudoku players: this game is very similar to sudoku.

Check your answers online at: employees.dot.state.wy.us, or if not able to access the employee site: www.dot. state.wy.us/home/engineering_technical_programs/manuals_publications/ interchange.html.

Medium STRIMKO 170 4 3

2

1

Over the Limit?

Under Arrest.

© The Grabarchuk Family. All Rights Reserved.

More STRIMKO puzzles at www.strimko.com

Retiring from WYDOT?

Or, just need to submit a new address so you don’t miss a single issue of Interchange?

Give us your name and address and we’ll be sure to put you on our mailing list.

Name:

Always use a designated driver.

HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM

OMING WY HWAY PATRO HIG

L

Mailing address:

Please fill in, cut out and return this slip to WYDOT Public Affairs Office, 5300 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009. Or, e-mail Carlie Van Winkle at carlie.vanwinkle@wyo.gov.

August 2013

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23

Interchange

Wyoming Department of Transportation 5300 Bishop Blvd.

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-3340

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

Address Service Requested

Law Enforcement will find those who have been drinking.

Soccer practice

Going home

Pizza night

It’s a boy!

Just drank a six pack.

Got a raise today