Board tour of District 2 included visit to state-of-the-art lumber mill

Old Highway 7 was on the minds of Idaho Forest Group and other area businessmen when the transportation board’s first district tour of the year included a visit to Idaho Forest Groups Lumber mill in District 2 on April 18.

The Grangeville mill, one of five in the state, is a state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of 240 million board feet annually. The mill produces primarily 2x4 through 2x8 dimensional lumber, 8' to 16' in length, of Douglas Fir and White Fir. The mill also produces 1x4 to 1x8 Ponderosa Pine, Spruce/Lodgepole, and Inland Red Cedar, as well as specialty products. The mill is almost completely automated.

The board also heard from representatives of Idaho Forest Group and other area businesses on the importance of the transportation system. Many of their commercial trucks travel on Old Highway 7 to access Kamiah and other points north of Grangeville. The businessmen believe the old highway functions as a state highway and asked the board to add the route to the state’s system.

Mobility Report
At the business meeting in Lewiston on April 19, the board heard about mobility options in District 2.

In the District, 3,655 persons walk to work, or 17% of the state population that walks to work, ranking 3rd among all of the Districts. Additionally, 800 people bike to work, which is 10% of the state population that bicycles to work, ranking the District second. There have been a number of local initiatives to improve and expand opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Public transit options have also expanded. Dial-a-ride service is now available out of Riggins. Providers Appaloosa Express and Lewiston Transit developed a partnership to provide connectivity between the two services.

Idaho Moves Freight
A key element of the Idaho Freight Study and Idaho Rail Plan update currently underway includes understanding local needs.

Dave Jordan, Vice President of Distribution with Clearwater Paper Corporation, reported on its Lewiston facility and its freight issues. The plant employs 1,300 and manufactures consumer products and pulp and paperboard products. With close to 42,000 shipments last year, transportation is vital to the company. It shipped 37,498 loads via truck, 3,843 by rail, and 557 on barges in 2011.

Their biggest issue is truck size and weight. If trailers were 4 inches longer, another pallet could be loaded on the trailer. This would result in 2,600 fewer truckloads. Additionally, heavier loads of 97,000 pounds would eliminate 3,600 trucks from the Lewiston facility. Not only would this be a significant savings to the company, but it would also be better for the economy and reduce highway congestion.

Overview on Signs on the Highway System
Staff also provided an overview on the sign program. Federal law requires all states to provide continuing, effective control of outdoor advertising. Failure to comply may result in a ten percent reduction in Idaho’s federal highway funds.

A summary of the various types of signs allowed along highways was provided. Some of the signs ITD regulates include off-site advertising, warning, religious notices, for sale, historical/geological markers, scenic byway, political, and service symbols.

Additionally, ITD is authorized to control junkyards and dumps within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way. A junkyard is a place of business which is maintained, used, or operated for storing, keeping, buying, or selling ten or more wrecked, scrapped, ruined, or dismantled motor vehicles or other types of machines; or equivalent amounts of old scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, junk, rubber, debris, waste, iron, steel, and other old or scarp ferrous or non-ferrous material or any combination of the above.

 

Published 4-27-2012