Transportation board to consider adding highway route
For a number of years, the Idaho Transportation Board Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments has discussed the transfer of the Elba-to-Almo Highway to the state system. Cassia County requested the transaction. The highway, also known as the City of Rocks Backcountry Byway, recently was reconstructed with federal discretionary funds.
The board will consider assuming jurisdiction of the approximately 17-mile route when it meets Wednesday for its monthly business meeting in Boise. The meeting in the auditorium at Headquarters is open to the public and begins at 8:30 a.m.
Pending board approval, the road leading to Castle Rock State Park and City of Rocks National Reserve will become Idaho 77 Spur. Plans also include finalizing an agreement with the county top provide snow removal and other minor maintenance responsibilities.
Other board discussion
Idaho Discretionary Federal Transit Administration Grants
The board will be briefed on collaboration with the Community Transportation Association of Idaho (CTAI) that resulted in the successful receipt of federal discretionary funds for mobility projects.
The two groups, in cooperation with a number of other partners, received awards from the State of Good Repair/Bus Livability and U.S. Department of Veterans Services Veterans Transportation and Community Living programs. Projects from those funding sources will be implemented over the next two years. Part of the focus was to provide knowledge of and access to safe mobility options for returning Veterans, as well as for all Idaho citizens.
Addition of projects to transit program
ITD staff members will ask the board to add 10 Federal Transit Administration-funded projects to the FY12 Transit Program. The department was awarded $3.6 million in discretionary funds, partly as a result of the partnerships noted above.
Some of the projects include an Intermodal Center in downtown Ketchum, a bus shelter in Blaine County, a McCall Transit Center, and an alternatives analysis for Boise’s downtown circulator system.
Annual outdoor advertising signs
As of Sept. 30 – the end of the federal fiscal year – there were six illegal signs and 187 non-conforming signs throughout the state. Illegal signs do not comply with state or federal law and must be removed. Non-conforming signs at one time complied with state and federal law but have fallen out of compliance because of changes in conditions, such as new rules or highway widening or realignment.
Non-conforming signs are allowed to remain, but cannot be replaced or improved.
There are 1,172 signs statewide. District 3 has the mos (328), followed by District 6 with 267 and District 2 with 191.
A report on the outdoor advertising signs status will be given Wednesday morning at the board’s monthly meeting.
Published 12-9-2011