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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 to consider enhancement proposals

The Enhancement Advisory Committee recently completed its review of applications and will recommend a prioritized list to the Idaho Transportation Board when it meets next week at District 2 in Lewiston.

Board members will meet for a pre-board activity Wednesday and conduct formal business at the district office, 2600 Frontage Road, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by a district tour on Friday (May 20).

ITD staff members anticipate that $6.5 million will be available for enhancement projects. Board members will review the committee’s recommendations and select projects to include in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program that will be released for public review and comment in July. The final STIP draft will be presented to the board for approval in September.

Among the 13 enhancement projects eligible for enhancement funding are:

  • facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists
  • acquisition of scenic easement and scenic or historic sites
  • scenic or historic highway programs, including tourist or welcome centers
  • landscaping and other scenic beautification
  • historic preservation
  • rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities
  • preservation of abandoned railway corridors
  • control and removal of outdoor advertising
  • archaeological planning and research
  • mitigation of water pollution because of highway runoff
  • mitigation to address vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity
  • establishment of transportation museums

These activities have been grouped into three main categories. Approximately 64 percent of the projects recommended for funding are bicycle and pedestrian enhancements; 20 percent are scenic enhancements; and 16 percent are historic enhancements. This proposed funding distribution is in accordance with guidelines established by the board.

Last month, the transportation board approved the use of $20 million in federal funds in FY06 for safety initiatives that will improve travel conditions for Idaho travelers. Among the 16 projects that ITD staff will recommend to address safety concerns are:

  • $5.1 million to complete the installation of the statewide road weather information systems, which will provide real time weather information from sites across Idaho via the Internet to the 511 Traveler Information System, the Department’s web site, and to regional operations and traffic centers throughout the state;
  • $1.1 million to install edge line and centerline rumble strips on critical highways ;
  • $40,000 to provide wireless fidelity network service at rest areas;
  • $2.2 million for Safe Routes to School for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements to the state highway system to areas with nearby schools; and
  • $1.48 million to address work zone safety issues for highway workers and travelers.

Like the proposed enhancement projects, a committee reviews applications for CMAQ (congestion, mitigation and air quality) funds and provides a prioritized list of projects for funding consideration by the board.

The intent of this CMAQ program is to implement cost-effective activities, plans and projects that are mutually beneficial to transportation and air quality. The board established a range of $2-to-$4 million for CMAQ in federal-aid funding per year. Types of projects being recommended for funding in FY06 and FY07 include purchasing flusher/deicer trucks, vacuum sweeper trucks and commuter vans, and signal coordination.

The board’s Friday tour will focus on U.S. 95 north of Lewiston. Construction is under way to build a four-lane highway from the top of the Lewiston hill to Thorncreek Road north of Genesee. A tour of the recently renovated railroad building in Potlatch (funded with Enhancement Program funds), and a luncheon meeting with Moscow city officials also are planned for Friday.

Some of board members will start their District 2 visit by floating the Lochsa River on Wednesday. The U.S. Forest Service and District 2 staff members have been coordinating this optional activity as part of the board’s visit to the area. When the group stops for lunch during the trip, Forest Service representatives will discuss issues related to U.S. 12.