Transportation board to tour Treasure Valley projects Highway construction projects in the Treasure Valley plowed through the winter undeterred by a bitter-cold January. Idaho Transportation Board members will check on the progress of several major projects as a prelude to Wednesday’s monthly business meeting at Headquarters. Tuesday afternoon, the board will visit the Idaho 16 extension project. The GARVEE project to extend Idaho 16 south to U.S. 20/26 is well under way. Some road work and construction of structures across the Boise River and Phyllis Canal started last year. The next step, connecting the highways with the local roads on both ends of the project, is expected to start next month. As part of the board excursion, members also will visit the department’s first design-build project – improvements to the Idaho 44 and Linder Road intersection. Wednesday, the board will tour Western Trailers and Western Aircraft. Aeronautics Advisory Board Member Colleen Back works at Western Aircraft and invited the board to tour the facility and learn more about the aviation industry. Western Aircraft provides maintenance, aircraft sales, avionics sales and installation, aircraft parts sales, fixed-base operation services, airline fueling, aircraft charters, and aircraft management. It began as the corporate flight department for the Morrison Knudsen Corp. (MK), which was founded in Boise more than 60 years ago. MK eventually became Washington Group International and now URS. Other board agenda items Freight Advisory Committee Charter The recommendation to the transportation board is to appoint 13 members representing:
Representatives from federal and state governments and metropolitan planning organizations will be invited as ex-officio members. Strategic Highway Safety Plan In November, more than 100 highway safety partners met to develop goals and strategies for the highway safety focus areas, resulting in the updated SHSP. ITD staff members expect to seek approval of the SHSP in April. City of Mullan Sewer District The board will consider the request. Federal funds could be used for the work. Published 3-15-13 |