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Board to review draft appropriation request

The Idaho Transportation Board will start its June activities with a Wednesday workshop on the draft FY14 appropriation request and draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program.

Revenue from state sources is expected to grow slightly next fiscal year. The forecast for gas tax revenue, which comprises almost half of the state revenue, is projected to increase 1.6 percent. Although fuel prices have declined recently, overall concern with the nation’s economy will prevent substantial growth in the fuel tax revenue, according to experts.

Some of the proposed budget expenditures for FY14 include $1,421,400 for computer equipment, $382,000 for laboratory equipment, $200,800 for security systems at Idaho Ports-of-Entry and $251,300 for out-of-state travel.

After the Wednesday workshop, board members and ITD staff will visit the East Boise Port of Entry Thursday to learn more about its operation. Thursday’s activities also include a tour of the rail transfer site at US Ecology, the Simplot Feedlot near Grand View and visits to the Murphy Maintenance facility and the Nampa Airport.

Other board activity

Legislative concepts
Board members will receive a briefing on legislative concepts that are being considered for the 2013 session when they meet for the monthly business meeting Friday (June 15) at the District 3 office.

The Aeronautics Advisory Board has several proposals for the board to consider. They include eliminating the pilot registration fee of $6 per year and increasing the aircraft registration fee from one cent per pound of aircraft to 1.5 cents per pound. The proposed change would translate into an average registration fee of $45 per year, up from the current $30 per year. Funds are used for air search and rescue operations and pilot safety programs.

ITD staff also will present legislative concepts related to commercial driver’s license requirements, issuing salvage titles and staggered vehicle registrations. Board members also will review proposals that might be forwarded to the governor’s office for consideration. The final list of legislative concepts will be presented to the board for approval in July.

IPLAN Web Application
The department has contracted for work on Phase 1 of IPLAN, a planning tool that will enable staff to examine layers of data from a number of locations in a Geographic Information System environment. That would enhance the planning process by providing critical data. It will be a tool for scenario building that layers system performance measures, long-term system vision and financial forecasts.

Staff will give a presentation on this web-based application. Components of Phase 1 include assessing department’s goals and needs, assisting in the development of IPLAN and providing user training.

ITD staff also will announce that the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has selected Idaho as one of 10 states to fund as test drivers for a national version of UPLAN, the Utah Department of Transportation’s online planning tool that was the basis of Idaho’s IPLAN.