Two new scenic byways could be created next week when the
Idaho Transportation Board meets in Boise.
The Scenic Byways Advisory Committee Wednesday will recommend
approval of the Wild Horse Trail Scenic Byway north of Sandpoint.
The designated route would begin at Sandpoint in District
1 and include U.S. 95 north to the Copeland Junction at Idaho
1 and the state highway north to the U.S.-Canada border.
The other proposed scenic byway would commemorate the historic
Lewis & Clark expedition in District 6. The Sacajawea
Historic Bywayis on Idaho 28 from Salmon to the highways
junction at Idaho 33. It would continue on Idaho 33 to Interstate
15.
Both proposals have strong historical components.
The International Selkirk Loop Board of Directors, the organizational
force behind the Wild Horse Trail proposal, indicates the
Canadian government is interested in continuing the northern
scenic route into Canada. Its intent is to create the first
international scenic byway.
The transportation board established a special committee
in 1996 to oversee the Scenic Byway Program and make recommendations
on designating routes as Scenic Byways.
Other transportation board business:
Aeronautics
The Division of Aeronautics will present its annual report
to the board, including accomplishments and goals of the airport
maintenance program, safety/education program and airport
planning/development.
Special recognition will be given to Aeronautics Advisory
Board member Bill Parish, who has served since 1986. The meeting
also will include an informal luncheon with the Aeronautics
Advisory Board.
Traffic Control Signals
Transportation board members recently expressed their concern
about the availability of devices used to change a traffic
signal from red to green. Such devices apparently can be purchased
on the Internet and are being used by drivers to interrupt
the regular signal sequence.
Emergency responders, such as police, fire and ambulance,
use similar devices to provide unimpeded travel through intersections
while responding to calls.
ITDs assistant Chief Engineer of Operations, Greg Laragan,
will talk about the devices and inform the board of initiatives
to restrict the use of such devices to authorized emergency
responders.
Several states have outlawed the sale of these devices to
the public. In November, a bill was introduced in Congress
that would make unauthorized sale and possession of the devices
a criminal offense.