Budget, Transportation Investment
and 129,000-lb. truck routes topics
of upcoming June board meeting

The budget request, five new heavy truck routes, and discussions of the draft ITIP (and emergency additions to the current document) will highlight the Idaho Transportation Board’s monthly meeting June 19-20 in District 6.

Tour
The board’s tour of District 6 on June 19 will focus on Lemhi County, including several bridges on US-93 and the 6-5-4 design build bridges on ID-28. It also includes touring QB Corporation, a major employer in Salmon that provides fabrication services and manufactures custom beams and utility structures.

Workshop
The meeting in Salmon on June 20 will start with a workshop. Staff will present the draft FY21 appropriation request and draft FY20-26 Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP).

Staff anticipates total receipts to the department will be around $716 million, with federal funds making up $340.4 million, state funds of $370.7 million, and local and interagency receipts providing close to $5 million. Because of some commitments, the estimated funds available for appropriation are $695.8 million.

Some of the highlights of the budget request include $29.7 million in replacement equipment for items such as road equipment, computer and network equipment, lab and engineering equipment, radios, and office equipment. The construction program is estimated at $386 million. The capital facilities request is $16 million, including funding for a new District 4 office building.

About $3.8 billion is programmed for the seven-year ITIP, which includes highway, bridge, recreational trail, railroad crossing, aviation, and transit projects.

129,000-lb. Truck Route Requests
Applications allowing commercial vehicles weighing up to 129,000 pounds to travel on five routes in District 3 will be considered by the board.

Two companies requested the increased weight to haul lumber and sand over the five routes. One company believes it can reduce the number of trips by 20-30% and save 25-35% in fuel by hauling at the higher weight.

The routes are portions of US-30, ID-72, ID-16, and two segments on ID-52, all in the Emmett area. Staff’s analyses indicated that all of the routes can safely accommodate higher weights, assuming the vehicle configurations conform to legal requirements. Permits are still required to operate at this weight. The Board Subcommittee on 129,000-lb. Truck Routes reviewed all of the requests and analyses at a meeting last month and supports the Chief Engineer’s recommendation to approve these requests.

Emergency Relief Projects
In April, heavy rain fell on a snow-covered region in Adams and Idaho County, causing major flooding and road damage at eight locations. The Governor signed a proclamation declaring a state of disaster emergency in these two counties.

Last month, the Federal Highway Administration authorized $500,000 for work associated with this disaster. This is the initial payment being distributed to fund the most critical emergency repairs. The funds will be used to restore essential travel, minimize the extent of damage, or protect the remaining facilities, and is to be accomplished in the first 180 days after the disaster occurs.

Staff will be requesting board approval to add eight emergency relief projects to FY19 of the Idaho Transportation Investment Program. All projects are on the local system, with seven in Idaho County and one in Adams County. Three other projects are being considered for funding.

Published 06-14-19