7/15/2008
Transportation funding conference begins Wednesday at 9 a.m.; format of public meeting changed
BOISE - Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and officials from the Idaho Transportation Department will meet with area legislators and other local elected officials, business and industry leaders and local highway district representatives to explore transportation-funding options in Coeur dAlene Wednesday.
A public meeting is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Best Western Coeur dAlene Inn.
Building Roads, Building Bridges, Building Consensus is a series of statewide conferences that asks the public how best to pay for repairing, maintaining and improving the states crumbling roads and bridges.
Escalating highway construction costs, declining revenue and unprecedented demand on Idahos transportation system have converged to create an annual revenue shortfall estimated at $240 million.
The original format of the public meeting will change slightly to provide a greater opportunity for dialogue about revenue needs and options. The three-hour meeting will be divided into two 90-minute segments, beginning at 4:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Gov. Otter will speak at the first session. Both will include presentations by the governors staff and ITD Director Pamela Lowe.
The public is encouraged to attend either session and share written comments. Suggestions also can be mailed to the Idaho Transportation Department, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID, 83707-1129, attention Adam Rush, or can be sent via e-mail to comments@itd.idaho.gov . For more information about the conference, visit the ITD Web site at itd.idaho.gov .