Gagner Open House, LHTAC partnership
and 129K truck route highlight
Idaho Transportation Board’s
December meeting

The upcoming December 13 meeting of the Idaho Transportation Board in Boise will feature an Open House for retiring board member Lee Gagner, a review of the outdoor sign program, review of a proposed 129,000-lb truck route in D4, and discussion of working jointly with LHTAC on some initiatives. The Subcommittee on Adjustments to the State Highway System will meet on the follwing day, Dec. 14.

Lee Gagner Open House
Please join the Idaho Transportation Board and ITD at an Open House for Gagner, in the Headquarters Auditorium, Thursday, Dec. 13 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Outdoor Advertising Sign Program
The annual report on the outdoor advertising sign program will be presented to the board.

Ten of the 12 new sign applications processed during this past year were approved. There are 18 illegal signs in the state and 218 non-conforming signs. Illegal signs do not comply with state and federal law and are to be removed. Non-conforming signs complied with law at one time, but due to a change in conditions or rules, lost their conforming status. Non-conforming signs are allowed to remain in place but cannot be improved.

Of the 1,168 signs on the state highway system, District 3 has the most, 333. Districts 6 and 2 were next with 253 and 188, respectively.

Request for 129,000-lb. Truck Route
An application to allow vehicle combinations up to 129,000 pounds on a portion of ID-75 will be presented to the board for approval.

The applicant would like to haul agricultural products from Hailey to Shoshone to access a previously-approved 129,000 pound truck route. Staff’s analysis determined that the route, including the nine bridges, is capable of supporting the additional weight.

The majority of comments received during the public comment period opposed the route designation. The main concerns were related to safety and the condition of the pavement. Regarding the pavement condition, vehicles that transport up to 129,000 pounds have additional axles, so they cause less damage to the infrastructure than 105,500-lb. configurations.

Joint Meeting with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council
The board will also meet with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council. The two groups could potentially collaborate on funding, processes, and policies. The Children Pedestrian Safety Program and Transportation Alternatives Program are also on the agenda.

LHTAC was created by the Legislature in 1994 to provide technical assistance to local highway jurisdictions. Some of its areas of authority include developing uniform standards and procedures for highway maintenance, construction, operation, and administration; provide research and data related to local highway jurisdictions; maintain and disseminate information from other states that would affect or help Idaho’s local jurisdictions; and make recommendations to the transportation board for the distribution and prioritization of federal funds for local highway projects.

Published 12-07-18