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ITD board explores rapid growth in Rexburg area

Idaho Transportation Board members learned first-hand last week the impacts of rapidly expanding Rexburg on eastern Idaho’s future transportation needs. Board members spent Wednesday touring Rexburg as a prelude to Thursday’s (Sept. 22) monthly business meeting in District 6.

Rexburg has grown by more than 60 percent since the 2000 census, with a population now just under 29,000. It has averaged three annexations a year since 2001, increasing the city’s area by more than 50 percent.

Investments of more than $1 billion have been made in the community during that time, including improvements to the hospital, construction of a new high school, Riverside Park, and a number of housing developments. Rexburg Rapids at Riverside Park is a 32-acre water park that offers swimming lessons, fitness classes, swimming, slides and a “lazy river.” Plans include adding a baseball quad and two soccer fields to the park.

City officials discussed their efforts to manage the growth. Planning was a major component, as was construction of infrastructure, such as a $15 million sewer upgrade and new roads. The community has placed a strong emphasis on partnerships and economic development.

The Transportation Board also visited the Brigham Young University – Idaho campus. Enrollment has increased steadily since the expansion from a two-year college about 10 years ago. The enrollment this fall topped 15,000, nearly 1,000 more than last fall and the highest enrollment to date.

The board toured the BYU-Idaho Center. The multi-purpose facility features a 15,000-seat auditorium, 10 basketball courts, and a running track. The board also learned about the university’s asset management database. The inventory includes life-cycle information. BYU-Idaho spends approximately $6-7 million annually in capital improvements.

Business meeting discussion

Public transportation
The board was briefed on public transportation activities in District 6. The focus was on the partnership with Thompson Creek Mine near Challis.

The mine is one of the four largest open-pit, primary molybdenum mines in the world. With the mine operating 24/7 and its status as Custer County’s largest employer, managers recognized a growing need to get workers to the site. A public-private partnership was established to provide commuter service to the mine. Fares are included in the “cafeteria” plan.

District 6 report
District 6 Engineer Blake Rindlisbacher provided an overview of the district (encompassing nine counties) of the past year. Among the accomplishments were constructing a snow fence on U.S. 20 by the Idaho National Laboratory site; a culvert project that improved fish passage on the Upper Salmon Basin Watershed; and cutting back trees along U.S. 20 in the Island Park area to allow more sunlight penetration in winter, reducing ice on the road and improving highway safety.

Irrigation recharge efforts
A private consortium discussed the importance of recharging Idaho’s aquifers. The group believes ITD’s gravel pits – both active and inactive – have potential to help the effort. During good water years, water could be diverted from canals to gravel pits where the water could then seep into the aquifer. Off-canal storage sites are advantageous because they can be used any time, not just before or after irrigation season.

The irrigation delegates ask ITD to become a partner in exploring the feasibility of this proposal. The board expressed support for the proposal, while recognizing several related issues, such as legal and environmental, that need to be addressed. District 6 staff members were directed to pursue a pilot project using a gravel source for irrigation recharge efforts.

Presentations
A representative from the Idaho National Laboratory Emergency Management Team formally acknowledge the work of ITD’s Scott Carpenter and Kim Kerr. In April, the Mud Lake maintenance employees responded to a roadside fire along Idaho 33. Their quick response contained the fire, averting what could have been a larger, more serious fire that could have threatened INL facilities.

Photo: BYU-Idaho's new auditorium that seats 15,000