Whirlwind
bill signing tour ushers in new
era of transportation in Idaho
Two days, seven stops, one bill and a connected Idaho.
As if to demonstrate how vital it is to keep Idaho communities
connected, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne visited sites in nearly every corner
of the state last week to ceremonially sign a landmark transportation
bill.
The Idaho Legislature, following a protracted debate
in the House of Representatives, approved a bill that will enable the
state to bond up to $1.6 billion over the next 30 years to expedite
much needed highway construction projects.
The
governor’s visionary initiative, Connecting Idaho, will authorize
bonds for 13 projects throughout the state: from Sagle to Garwood on
U.S. 95 near to the Canada border, to expansion of U.S. 30 between McCammon
and Soda Springs; from Interstate 84 between Meridian and Caldwell to
U.S. 20 between St. Anthony and Ashton.
Large crowds greeted the governor and his contingent
of transportation officials, despite some unseasonable weather conditions
(high winds in Idaho Falls and snow at Lava Hot Springs). About 100
people turned out for the signing ceremony at Lava Hot Springs Thursday.
Nearly 200 assembled in the Home Depot parking lot near
the I-84/Meridian interchange. A standing-room-only group that included
college students, administrators and faculty witnessed the signing at
Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. More than 50 people watched the
governor sign legislation while sitting on heavy equipment near Genesee.
They also engaged in the official groundbreaking ceremony for construction
of a new four-lane segment of U.S. 95 between Lewiston and Moscow.
The governor and local officials were serenaded by a
high school band and greeted by a young pageant winner near Athol, north
of Coeur d’Alene. And at each site along the governor’s
whistle-stop (airplane) tour, the mood was upbeat and optimism abundant.
What they said along the way:
ITD District 1, Athol
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne
"We need it for commerce. We need it for jobs. We need it for citizens.
It is for safety. It was time to stop talking and start building."
Don Davis, project manager of the Garwood-to-Sandpoint
highway, project
"Up until last week, we had to say we're going through the planning,
the design and the environmental phase … but we don't have money
for construction. Now we can say we have money, we will construct it.
… It's so monumental to be able to say that."
Bonner County Commissioner Marcia Phillips
"I'm delighted the governor had the courage to move forward. We've
been working on our project for two years. It will bring jobs and safe
transportation."
Capt. Wayne Longo, the Idaho State Police
"If this bill saves one life for one family, then it's worth it.
"
ITD District 2, Genesee
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne
"Back in about '74, coming back with two other students on 55 outside
of Banks, our car started rolling, and it rolled six times. Had it not
been for the snow bank, we would have gone right into the river and
that would have been our history. This road (U.S. 95) needs to be improved…
The reality is, many of those projects may not have come to fruition
in some of our lifetimes, either because of sheer age or accidents on
the highway."
University of Idaho President Tim White
"It is difficult to have a conversation without parents asking
about safety. Safety on campus and safety on the way to campus."
Genesee farmer Jay Nelson
"With the cost of building roads nowadays, you can't do it the
way we did in the past. You've got to eliminate the trails and put in
roads."
ITD District 3, Meridian
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne
"Generations to come will benefit from what we're going to do."
Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Chuck
Winder
(Following the signing ceremony:) Anyone needing to use the freeway
to get home should instead do some shopping or perhaps (take) a room
for the night at one of the nearby hotels. "Someday, we'll get
it fixed for you, and this will enable us to do it a lot quicker."
ITD District 4
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne
"You're going to have a new bridge rim to rim. You can pay inflation
or you can pay interest."
Idaho Transportation Board Chair Chuck Winder
"We're going to build more roads and more bridges for less money
than we could 10 years from now.”
Twin Falls City Councilman Dennis Maughan
"I think it just takes the state to the next level where it needs
to be. Transportation is critical in a small populated but large geographical
state."
Roy Prescott, former Jerome County commissioner
"This literally is where the rubber meets the road."
ITD District 5
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne
"The use of these funds will allow us to take funds for the next
30 years and do the work in 10 years. We've been losing too many of
our citizens on the highways… This is a dangerous stretch. Now
that we may be getting the funds, were getting closer to giving the
green light on this one."
Then, addressing elementary students from Lava Hot Springs
school: "We'll be able to do (the project) by the time you're in
college instead of by the time you're my age.”
Lava Hot Springs Mayor Raymond Bailey
"We hope we can make this the showcase (Kempthorne's) thinking
of. It's certainly come fast, but that's how some of the best ones do
it."
District 6
ITD Director Dave Ekern
“This opens the door. It allows our environmental people to begin
working with the public getting designs prepared, getting right of way,
so you won’t see earth turn right away. But it will be as the
governor indicated 20 years sooner than it would have been otherwise.”
Ashton Mayor Teddy Stronks
"I'm just excited it's going to happen sooner rather than later."
Idaho Falls Mayor Linda Milam
"The challenge of meeting the transportation needs of the state
is incredible."