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Moscow Underpass headlines more than $10M in projects
statewide supporting walking/biking

A pedestrian underpass project in Moscow, Idaho scored the highest in the recent batch of walking/biking projects across the state recommended by the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Project Recommendation Committee. The Moscow project was the headline recipient as the TAP program committed more than $10 million of improvements to locations statewide over the next three years.

Proposals are scored based on safety, mobility, economic opportunity and project readiness by a four-member TAP Recommendation Committee. The committee is comprised of one member from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, a representative from the Bicycle/Pedestrian Administrative Committee, an ITD Planner, and the ITD Office of Highway Safety.

“The City of Moscow envisioned the US-95 Pedestrian Underpass Project in its base form, and we researched the current environmental considerations, purpose, location, benefits, uses, connections, safety, foliage, attraction, and surrounding populations to propose a project that provides a culmination of these elements,” explained City of Moscow Grants Manager/ADA Coordinator Alisa Anderson.

The completed project will increase pedestrian safety by reducing pedestrian/cyclist versus vehicle conflicts and reduce traffic delays on the state highway, Anderson notes.

The project area includes many high-density residential apartments blended with banks, medical offices, convenience stores, fast food establishments, the entrance to the University of Idaho campus, and a direct route to the Intermodal Transit Center.

The underpass will also link with the city's recently completed State Highway 8 Pedestrian Underpass Project, which also received TAP funding and has been well received by the entire community. The two underpasses combined will eliminate two major roadway conflicts by connecting to Paradise Path, creating a safe route and expanded use of the pathway system as an alternative travel option from the east side of the city and the University of Idaho campus to downtown and to the west side of Moscow, connecting with the Chipman Trail into Washington State.

“The completed project addresses a collective need in our community and will benefit all citizens of Moscow,” Anderson said.

The pedestrian underpass application also had support from the University of Idaho, Moscow's school district, the city’s Transportation Commission and Pathways Commission, and Moscow's SMART public transit provider. The project is also financially supported by the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency, which provided half of the local cash match.

“The Transportation Alternatives Program is a federally funded highly competitive program that benefits people who walk or bike throughout the State of Idaho,” said Ryan McDaniel, ITD TAP Program Manager. “This year’s call for applications was no exception. ITD processed 95 excellent applications seeking well over $40 million in total project costs. We know that more applications for funding will be received than funds available, so this year we sought to provide excellent customer support by providing a mid-application review to help make the applications the best they can be for other potential funding sources, if not TAP.”

The number of projects ultimately funded this application cycle will depend on federal reauthorization of funding. More projects could receive funding if Congress increases funding levels. Alternatively, if a reduction in funding occurs, some of the projects recommended could remain unfunded.

The Idaho Transportation Department administers this federally funded program. Local communities submit their project proposals to the ITD Program Manager and a Federal Highways Administration Engineer.

"This project hits all three of ITD goals by providing Mobility, Safety and Economic Opportunity," District 2 Project Manager Ken Helm said. "With the Moscow Underpass going under US-95, it will provide a safe connection for bicycle and pedestrians traveling from the east side of Moscow to the west side. It also connects to the Latah Trail Pathway with extends east to the city of Troy and is used for recreational traffic."

"Recently a larger apartment complex was constructed on the east side of US-95 and houses many college students. This project will allow them to cross US-95 without using an intersection signal, which is safer and saves them time getting to and from school," Helm added.