Idaho Transportation Board’s May meeting will focus on
Highway Safety Plan, FAST Act reporting, I-15 corridors

Several items will be highlighted in the Idaho Transportation Board's meeting in Pocatello May 16-17: apreview of the draft Highway Safety Plan for FY19, federal FAST Act reporting requirements, a tour of the Interstate 15 corridor, and preparations for turning a road section over to the Glenns Ferry Highway District.

The board’s tour of District 5 May 16 will focus on projects in the I-15 corridor. The schedule also includes visiting with Shoshone-Bannock tribal officials in Fort Hall on upcoming issues, lunch at the Downey maintenance shed, and a tour of the new Idaho State Police facility in Pocatello.

Highway Safety Plan
The draft FY19 Highway Safety Plan will be presented to the board for its preview at the business meeting May 17 at the ISP facility. The board will be asked to approve the plan next month before it is submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for approval. The plan is required in order to receive federal funding for highway safety behavioral programs.

More than $6 million is available to focus on areas such as impaired driving, distracted driving, intersection crashes, lane-departure crashes, and motorcyclist safety. The goal is to eliminate deaths, injuries, and the economic impact of traffic crashes.

Specific projects recommended for funding include paid media, support for advisory committees, high-visibility enforcement, training, education, and occupant-protection surveys.

FHWA Performance Measures
The federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act requires specific reporting on performance measures. Staff will provide an overview on these Federal Highway Administration requirements and how they differ from what ITD is already measuring.

Safety targets include fatalities, the rate of fatalities, serious injuries, the rate of serious injuries, and the number of non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries. Performance measures are also required on pavements, bridges, and system performance, or congestion.

Relinquishment of I-84 Business Loop in Hammett
ITD’s southwest Idaho office (D3) has been working with the Board Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments to relinquish the Interstate 84 Business Loop in Hammett. District 3 will ask the transportation board to approve that transaction.

The 2.1-mile business loop separates two sections of road maintained by the Glenns Ferry Highway District. The highway district has agreed to assume jurisdiction of the business route to provide a connection between its roadways. As part of the agreement, the department is making improvements to the roadway, including rehabilitating the pavement, replacing the bridge crossing over Union Pacific Railroad’s tracks, and realigning an intersection.

Published 05-11-18