Open house draws comments about U.S. 95 options

Approximately 350 people attended a hearing in Moscow this week to listen to and comment on options for improving U.S. 95 between Thorncreek and Moscow. ITD sponsored the public hearing on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the U.S. 95 realignment and reconstruction project.

ITD proposes to widen and realign the 6.5-mile section of highway to four lanes from Thorncreek to Moscow, improving the route’s capacity and safety. The DEIS is an analysis of the potential environmental effects of the routes being considered.

Approximately 175 comments were submitted. During the hearing, participants gave comments verbally to public hearing officers, in written form and during open-microphone testimony at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Those attending the sessions expressed support for the alternatives they thought would improve safety, maintain the area’s scenery, protect native prairie grass and preserve the area’s farmlands.

Pat Rathmann, who moved to Moscow 4 ½ years ago from Cincinnati, said she favors widening the existing U.S. 95 section south of Moscow, or adding passing lanes. Her second choice is the C-3, or Central Alternative. She’s concerned the E-2, or Eastern Alternative, will be close to an area where she says fog is a regular occurrence and would reduce visibility.

Del Hungerford also spoke at one of the open-mic sessions. Hungerford, who lives south of Moscow, favors the E-2 alternative even though the route comes close to her home.

“I’ve read the entire DEIS,” she said. “To me, it’s the safest.” She pulls off of U.S. 95 onto Eid Road to get home, and is concerned about being hit by other vehicles that don’t slow down. She also supports limiting access points to U.S. 95.

Participants had the opportunity to speak with technical experts about the DEIS, learn about the project’s background and view maps of each alternative.

After the comment period ends Feb. 23, ITD will prepare the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement will address public comments, make corrections to the draft statement and identify the Federal Highway Administration’s and ITD’s selected alternative. The Record of Decision will announce the selected alternative, state why it was selected and the mitigation that will be done to offset environmental impacts.

For anyone who was unable to attend the public hearing, comments can be e-mailed to comments@itd.idaho.gov or sent by mail to: Office of Communications, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129.

Published 1-25-2013