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Drugged-driving concerns, GARVEE next steps, speed zones highlight August board meeting in Cd'A

Impaired-driving concerns, the next round of GARVEE authorizations, and review of the 80-mph speed zones were discussed during the recent Idaho Transportation Board meeting, August 16-17 in Coeur d’Alene.

Tour
The board visited Litehouse Foods in Sandpoint, created after developing a unique recipe for blue cheese dressing.

Officials talked about their transportation logistics, as their trucks – both company owned and contracted – travel more than three million miles each year. Overall, they are pleased with the state’s transportation system, and are especially appreciative of the improvements made to US-95. They mainly travel in Idaho on US-95, US-93, I-84, ID-53, and ID-200.

GARVEE Program
During the 2017 legislative session, the legislature authorized an additional $300 million in GARVEE bonds. Earlier, the board directed staff to improve I-84 from Karcher to Franklin Boulevard for $150 million.

The board discussed options for the remaining $150 million. It considered project readiness, crash rates, average annual daily traffic counts, and levels of service.

The consensus was that the US-95, Garwood to Sagle and I-84, Caldwell to Meridian corridors were the highest priorities. It approved GARVEE bonds for the US-95 and ID-53 interchange and railroad bridge grade separation, and the Granite North section with frontage roads for $64 million in the US-95, Garwood to Sagle corridor. It also authorized staff to conduct a traffic study and environmental study for the I-84, Nampa to Caldwell section. Those studies are estimated at $1 million.

The board also considered US-95 from ID-1 to the Canadian Border, US-95 from Smokey Boulder to Hazard, SH-16 from I-84 to Emmett, ID-44 to Emmett, and US-93 at the Snake River Bridge Crossing. They ultimately decided not to pursue those at this time.

The board also asked for more information on the ID-75, Timmerman to Ketchum corridor.

Impaired Driving - Marijuana
At its business meeting, the board heard about concerns with drug-impaired drivers. From 2011 to 2015, 41% of all fatalities in Idaho were due to impaired driving. Idaho is surrounded by states with some form of legalized marijuana, which is elevating impairment concerns.

Washington State Patrol Impaired Driving Section Commander, Lieutenant Rob Sharpe, talked about law enforcement’s concerns. They are seeing an increase in drivers with marijuana in their system, while alcohol-impaired fatalities have decreased. One of the challenges with drug-impaired driving is that there are so many different drugs, including legal prescriptions, that cause impairment. The impairment and the crash risk vary by the type of drug. Lieutenant Sharpe said that in hindsight, the state should have been proactive with educational campaigns and raising awareness about impaired driving when the initiative legalizing recreational marijuana was passed in 2012.

The board also heard from Idaho State Police (ISP). Since Oregon and Washington legalized recreational marijuana, ISP has seen a 109% increase in marijuana impairment and a 77% increase in significant seizures of marijuana. The marijuana is more potent than it was in years past and is available in numerous forms (edibles, crystals, oil), which are compounding the issues.

Update on 80-mph speed zones on I-15, I-84, and I-86
Staff reported on observations of the 80-mph speed limit, approved on portions of Idaho’s southern interstates in 2014. The 85th percentile speeds have increased slightly since the speed limit was raised. Prior to the change, the 85th percentile speeds were around 79.5 mph. Now they are around 82.5 mph. The differential speed between light and heavy vehicles has remained relatively constant.

Crashes have increased, but so have vehicle volumes. It was also noted that crashes have increased statewide, not just on the interstate system. The majority of crashes on the interstate appear to be alcohol-related. Staff will continue to monitor crash data, but believes the 80-mph speed limit is appropriate.