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Idaho Transportation
Department

Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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Board adopts $489.3 million budget for FY06

The Idaho Transportation Board, meeting in Coeur d’Alene Aug. 19, 20, approved the department’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget request of $489.3 million. The budget is based on ITD’s six core programs – program delivery, capital investment, planning, facilities, research and information technology.

Board approval clears the way for submitting the budget to the Division of Financial Management and Legislative Services Office for advancement to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and the 2006 Idaho Legislature.

Included in ITD’s budget is $285.6 million for contract construction and right-of-way acquisition, a 1 percent change in employee compensation with an additional 4 percent reserved in the contract construction budget, $3.9 million for capital facilities, and a personnel complement of 1,833 full-time equivalent positions.

Other board discussion

End-of-Year Adjustments to the Formula Federal Highway Program
At the end of every federal fiscal year, ITD staff members review all of the highway projects for which funds are not currently obligated to determine if those projects will be ready for funding by the end of the fiscal year.

Project cost increases and decreases are reviewed, and projects that are scheduled for the future are evaluated to determine if they could be advanced into the current fiscal year if funding is available. The board approved advancing the following projects, in priority order, into FY04 if funds are available:

  • U.S. 95, Sandpoint North and South, District 1
  • Transit Capital Boise Urbanized Area, District 3
  • I-15, Sunnyside Interchange to I-15B, Idaho Falls, District 6
  • U.S. 95, Setters Road to Bellgrove Stage 2, District 1
  • Junction I-84/U.S. 93 Interchange, Stage 2, near Twin Falls, District 4
  • U.S. 95, Sandpoint to Kootenai Cutoff, District 1
  • I-15 breakaway signs, Idaho 33 Interchange to Montana State Line, District 6

Cascade Reservoir Airstrip
The board authorized ITD to consider opening the Cascade Reservoir Airstrip to public use and adding it to the Division of Aeronautics system. Staff members will continue to work with the Bureau of Reclamation on the necessary National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements, and then apply for a long-term permit to open and manage the airstrip for public recreational purposes.

After an initial investment to establish camp sites, ongoing maintenance costs should be minimal. The airstrip is located on the east side of Cascade Reservoir, within approximately 100 feet of the shoreline. It is anticipated that this will be a popular, high-use facility because of its location.

District 1 Tour
As part of its north Idaho meeting, board members toured part of District 1 on Aug. 19 to view projects and the district’s transportation system. District 1 Engineer L. Scott Stokes prefaced the tour by providing an overview of the district’s activities.

Stokes explained the district’s four focus areas – maximizing highway improvements; efficient, safe, quality operations; responsiveness to customers and partners; and safety. He emphasized that ITD employees are instrumental in the district’s efficient operation and are essential to the focus areas.

He acknowledged Pam Knapp’s landscaping efforts on the district campus and said that her concerted efforts to keep costs to a minimum while improving the facility are commendable (see next week's Transporter for a complete story).

During its tour, board members visited the Sandpoint Municipal Airport and heard about the commercial air service being established to Boise and Seattle, and learned about security efforts at Eastport. They also took a break for lunch with the Bonners Ferry maintenance crew. Several pieces of road equipment were available at the shed for board members to see and learn about.

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