8/22/2017
Public meeting on Targhee Pass alternatives set for August 30 in Island Park
RIGBY - The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the public to participate in a public meeting Wednesday (Aug. 30) to review construction alternatives for the proposed Targhee Pass improvement project on U.S. 20 north of Island Park.
Targhee Pass is a four-mile portion of U.S. 20 between the highway's junction with Idaho Highway 87 and the Montana state line. In addition to serving Yellowstone National Park, Targhee Pass serves many popular recreational and tourist destinations. The highway functions as the region's Main Street, providing primary access to year-round residences, vacation homes, hunting and fishing lodges, state park and national forest areas, and a variety of community commercial establishments.
ITD has conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Targhee Pass stretch of roadway and the surrounding area, considering social, economic and ecological needs. The agency has held meetings to inform the public of its unfolding plans and to obtain project feedback from citizens.
The meeting will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Island Park EMS Building, 4124 County Circle Road, Island Park. The Targhee Pass EA is currently evaluating risks, benefits, opportunities and costs associated with reconstruction of Targhee Pass.
The meeting will be an open-house format, so citizens are encouraged to attend any time during the three-hour period. Presentations on construction alternatives, with the opportunity for questions and answers, will be given at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Between presentations, members of the study team will be available to provide information and answer questions about the EA. ITD will receive comment on the Targhee Pass EA alternatives until Sept. 29.
"We've received numerous comments outlining a variety of topics and concerns about Targhee Pass," said ITD Project Manager Eric Verner. "Every email, phone call, letter and public meeting comment has been reviewed, studied and ultimately has influenced the development of the alternatives. We encourage the public to review the alternatives either at the Aug. 30 meeting or on our study website www.islandparkus20.com and to give us more feedback."
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the lead agency on this study and will be signing the final study document. The study will be completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more information on this EA, please contact Andrea Gumm at 208-220-5937.