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Surplus, Shift, STAR, Excellence highlight
board’s January meeting

Surplus Property, Sales Tax Anticipation, funding for the shift engaged-driving program, and Transportation Excellence will be featured when the Idaho Transportation Board hosts its January Meeting next week in Boise.

Surplus Property
The board will hear about the department’s surplus property at its Jan. 17 meeting in the auditorium.

Per policy, staff is to report on the amount and location of surplus properties biennially. The report identifies the current inventory of surplus properties and information from the disposal of surplus properties that occurred during the reporting period. This will be the first report since the policy went into effect.

From Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2018, seven surplus properties were disposed. The properties consisted of approximately 12.4 acres and sales proceeds totaled $457,700.

The current inventory contains 49 properties, including some that are being leased. A portion of the properties does not include the size and needs to be surveyed in preparation for sale or disposal. Staff does not appraise the surplus property until a party expresses interest in the parcel.

Highway Safety Funding
More than 90% of motor vehicle crashes are caused by human error. Last year, the legislature approved $500,000 in state funds for behavioral safety. Staff will provide a summary on how those funds are being expended.

Over $100,000 has been committed to the Alive at 25 Program. The Program is a 4-½ hour awareness course for drivers between the ages of 15 and 24. The department is helping fund training for instructors and class materials, which are free to participants. In federal fiscal year 2018, a total of 2,933 students completed the class in Idaho. The majority, 45%, attended to have a citation dismissed, while another 19% attended due to a recommendation from a law enforcement officer, and 5% attended because their parents required them to.

The rest of the state funds are being directed to the engaged driving campaign. Extensive outreach was conducted this past year, including with the Idaho Falls Chukars minor league baseball team. Funds are also being used for development of the SHIFT campaign, including developing new personas and the website, and production costs for additional videos. Money will also be used to pay for advertising.

STAR Agreements
Idaho Code allows for private entities to fund highway improvements and then seek reimbursement for qualifying expenses under a Sales Tax Anticipated Revenue (STAR) agreement.

Earlier this year, the board approved entering into a STAR agreement with Costco for improvements to US-20/26 from SH-16 to Linder Road in the Treasure Valley. Since then, staff realized that in order to build the intersection of Black Cat Road and US-20/26 according to the original agreement, additional right-of-way will be needed. Because of some requested changes to the project, the board will be asked to approve amendments to the original STAR agreement.

District 3 has also been working with High Desert Development Inc. on a proposed project along this same highway between Linder Road and Locust Grove. The developer is also pursuing the STAR option for the estimated $14.3 million in improvements on the state system. Work would also be done on the local system. The improvements to US-20/26 include widening the highway from two lanes to four travel lanes and upgrading intersections. The District will have oversight of the project, which will be in accordance with all applicable federal and state standards and requirements.

The board will be asked to approve a STAR agreement for these improvements to US-20/26.

Excellence in Transportation
The board also will hear about this year’s slate of Excellence in Transportation award winners.