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Board workshop to focus on budget, ITIP

The Idaho Transportation Board will review the department’s proposed FY15 appropriation request and a draft of the FY14-18 Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP) Tuesday at a workshop in the District 3 office.The workshop will be a prelude to the monthly business meeting planned for Wednesday in the auditorium at Headquarters.

Budget discussion will include a projected $314 million in federal funds, augmented by $245.6 million in state resources. Proposed expenditures are $294 million for construction; $30.4 million for replacement of highway and lab equipment, and compute; and $3.3 million for capital facilities.

In addition to highway and bridge projects, the ITIP also includes transit and Aeronautics projects. More than $2 billion is programmed during the five-year period. ITD staff members will summarize the tools and methodology used to select projects for funding.

During Wednesday’s business meeting, the board will consider an initial list of legislative concepts that could be forwarded to the 2014 Legislature. The board will be asked to approval a final list at its July business meeting to meet the Aug. 1 deadline for submission to the Division of Financial Management.

Five of the six ideas presented to the board are products of the Division of Motor Vehicles. Some are necessary to comply with federal regulations.

Other board discussion

FY14 Highway Safety Performance Plan
The board will be asked to approve the FY14 Highway Safety Performance Plan when it meets at Headquarters.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides funds for the program. Its goal is to eliminate deaths, serious injuries and economic losses resulting from traffic crashes. Under the Highway Safety Performance Plan, ITD will emphasize changing driver behavior to improve safety.

Idaho could receive about $8.8 million in federal funds for behavior-type safety projects.

The Idaho Traffic Safety Commission calls for more resources to support safety restraint use and reduce incidents of aggressive and impaired driving.

In 2011, 79 percent of Idahoans used seat belts, although the rate varied by region. Seat belt surveys observed 93 percent of motorists buckled up in District 3, but only 61 percent in District 5. According to 2011 statistics, only 32 percent of the individuals killed in passenger cars, pickups and vans were wearing a seat belt at the time of their crash.

Aggressive driving was a factor in 49 percent of all crashes and 38 percent of all fatalities in 2011. Drivers 19 and younger are 4.2 times more likely to be involved in an aggressive driving collision as all other drivers.

In 2011, 41 fatalities resulted from distracted driving crashes, including four motorcyclists and two pedestrians.

Safety Rest areas and Oasis partnerships
The annual update of the Safety Rest Area map also is on the agenda. The 2013 summary reflects work under way to improve the Interstate 84, Cotterell rest area and construction of the U.S. 95, Camas Prairie partnership facility. The I-15, Sage Junction rest area project was removed after completion of the Dubois Gateway Rest Area. Because of limited funding, no new projects are planned.