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Board to discuss aeronautics issues June 17-18

Plans are up in the air, figuratively, for the monthly Idaho Transportation Board tour Thursday. Board members will focus their attention on aeronautics and related transportation issues on the first day of their two-day meeting in Boise.

Board members will spend part of Thursday at the Boise Air Terminal, touring the recently completed terminal, including the ticket lobby, baggage claim, and Airport Operations center. The board also will get a preview of Phase II of the construction project which includes a new security checkpoint, food court, and Concourse C. The combined construction cost for the two phases is $108 million.

Thursday’s schedule also includes a visit to Western Aircraft. The facility is considered the West’s premiere aviation services company, offering a comprehensive array of aviation services. Western Aircraft is an authorized service center and repair station for many of the world’s top business aircraft manufacturers.

Other items on the board’s regular agenda Friday at the District 3 office on Chinden include:

Safe Routes to School
During the past legislative session, Sen.Elliot Werk led an effort to provide safer routes to schools. The proposed legislation would have amended existing law to provide additional responsibilities concerning public safety.

The Railroad Grade Crossing Protection Fund would have been renamed the Public Safety and Protection Fund and would have designated a portion of those funds for public safety projects identified as “safe routes to school”. The senator held the proposed legislation to work on the proposal with ITD. He will discuss this concept with the board Friday morning.

Special Plate Program
At the board’s request, Vehicle Services Manager Amy Smith will provide an overview of Idaho’s special license plate programs. Three new programs were added during the 2004 legislative session, bringing the total to 58 plate programs. Multiple plate programs continue to challenge ITD’s and the county’s resources.

Idaho Airport Aid Program FY05-07
The Division of Aeronautics will request board approval for the Idaho Airport Aid Program. The Aeronautics Advisory Board supports the proposed program, which funds projects for the state’s seven commercial airports and numerous general aviation airports.

Some of the recommended projects for FY05 include acquiring land and rehabilitating the runway, taxiway, and apron at the Caldwell Airport; seal coating the east taxiway at the American Falls facility; pavement rehabilitation at Soda Springs; and rehabilitating the entrance road, acquiring snow removal equipment, and rehabilitating the runway lighting at Arco.

The board will also be asked to approve FY06 and FY07 projects for planning purposes.

Workshop
The board also will conduct a work session on Wednesday. The focus will be on the proposed Idaho 55, McCall Alternate Route project, and program-based budgeting.

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