Public transportation, impaired driving and research activities led
November board agenda

The transportation board heard reports on District 3 public transportation activities and the creation of an impaired driving task force, and received an update on ITD’s research program at its monthly meeting Nov. 13 in Boise.

Public Transportation Activities in District 3
At its monthly meeting in Boise on Nov. 13, the board heard a report on the public transportation activities in District 3.

Through an innovative partnership, Access McCall is providing transportation in McCall and also between Riggins and McCall. The main intent for the intra-city service is to help the general public reach essential services such as healthcare and the food bank.

Treasure Valley Transit, in partnership with 13 agencies and Valley Regional Transit, implemented a purchase of service program for seniors and persons with disabilities in eight southwestern Idaho counties. It provided more than 102,000 annual trips.

ITD’s partnership was instrumental in constructing a park-and-ride lot in Mountain Home. The lot has capacity for 62 cars in a well-maintained and convenient location.

Another success was the McCall Highway 55 Sidewalk Project. The project, completed this year, improved the safety of pedestrians, increased access to public transportation services, and made the community more walkable.

Impaired Driving Task Force
Highway crashes involving impairment decreased two percent in 2013; however, fatalities resulting from impaired driving crashes increased by 32 percent. Almost 10 percent of all fatal and injury crashes involved an impaired driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist. More than 45 percent of all fatalities were the result of impaired driving crashes in 2013, with an estimated cost of over $749 million. To combat impaired driving, an Impaired Driving Task Force was created.

Judge George Hicks, from Elmore County, is chairing this important task force. He told the board that the group’s mission is to prevent and eliminate impaired driving in Idaho through strategies and action plans. One of those actions is to expand the capacity of existing Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Courts to serve additional high-risk offenders through distance treatment and internet-based contacts. Plans are to purchase and install equipment to create wireless networks connecting Twin Falls and Nez Perce County DUI courts.

Plans for 2015 include an emphasis on DUI mobilization efforts, additional work on the ignition interlock program, and legislation to reduce the excessive blood alcohol content from .20 to .15. He added that marijuana use is also a focus area, as several of Idaho’s surrounding states have legalized the drug for recreational and/or medicinal use.

Annual Update on ITD’s Research Program
The budget for the FY15 research program is $1.4 million, with 14 percent from state sources. Federal statutes require two percent of funding for roads and bridges be used for planning and research, with some state match required.

A study on the use of salt brine and a survey on highway users’ expectations have been completed. The survey indicates that a majority of drivers are uncomfortable driving on snow packed or icy roads. Almost half expect to be able to drive at the speed limit within 4 hours following a storm. Most of the respondents, 75 percent, were very or somewhat satisfied with ITD’s winter maintenance efforts, 59 percent said ITD should maintain its current level of service, and 41 percent thought ITD should increase its level of service.

An evaluation of the IdaShield program indicated there was a significant reduction in crashes after the signs were installed at railroad crossings. After the signs were installed, there was a 39 percent reduction in crashes overall, with a 72 percent reduction in nighttime crashes.

Some of the current research projects are to develop a system for remote detection of avalanches, develop guidelines for the use of positive protection in work zones, assess the field performance of pavement mixes with a high percentage of recycled asphalt pavement, evaluate low-cost methods to improve passing lane safety, and study the freight movement and needs on the U.S. 95 corridor. Some of the projects planned in FY15 include studying a low-cost approach to monitoring bridge scour, studying safety impacts of wide pavement markings on two-lane rural highways, reviewing port-of-entry best practices and innovative technologies, and conducting a DMV customer satisfaction survey.       

Published 11-21-14