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Transportation board to meet in Pocatello

The Idaho Transportation Board will conclude its 2004 statewide tour by conducting its monthly meeting Sept. 14-15 in Pocatello. The board alternates meetings among each of the state’s six districts and Headquarters in Boise every spring and summer.

As part of its regional tour, the board will meet with officials from the Utah Department of Transportation in Preston to discuss improvements to the U.S. 89 and U.S. 91 corridors. Idaho and Utah plan to expand the corridors to four lanes. Utah’s project is under construction, and Idaho’s portion is expected to begin in 2005.

The Idaho Transportation Board also will meet with officials at the Preston Airport to discuss aviation issues and will meet with Idaho State Police Capt. Ed Gygli to learn about efforts to reduce traffic fatalities on I-15 in southern Idaho.

The board will meet in regular session on Wednesday (Sept. 15) at the District 5 office in Pocatello. Agenda items include:

Approval of STIP
The 2005-2009 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) will be presented to the board for approval. A draft of the document was available for public review and comment earlier this summer.

Although the STIP encompasses multiple transportation modes, extensive time will be devoted to reviewing the Highway Development Program. New to the STIP this year is a special Rest Area Program, which the board established to address the state’s safety rest area needs.

Proposed Legislation for 2005
Most of ITD’s legislative proposals have been approved by the governor’s office for inclusion in his 2005 legislative packet and consideration by legislators in the forthcoming session.

Legislation for the approved concepts has been drafted.

The board will review the language, and upon approval, staff will send the legislation to the governor’s office for review. The proposals on a primary seat belt law, consistent seat belt violation costs and election signs/posters in the state highway rights-of-way were not included in the 2005 legislative packet.

The booster seat law and GARVEE bond proposals have been held by the governor’s office for further review and possible revision. If those concepts are approved, legislation will be drafted and presented to the transportation board in October.

Department Communications Efforts
The Publications Quality Team has been reviewing the department’s communications policies and procedures. The team was charged with developing standards for a consistent identity and image, updating the Internal Communications Manual and updating the appropriate policies to reflect the changes.

ITD staff will provide an overview of the team’s efforts to develop a consistent identity and image, and then discuss a timetable for the next two steps (updating the Communications Manual and policies).