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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 considers framework for public transit

Public Transportation Administrator Larry Falkner and Laurie Hussey from Cambridge Systematics provided a report to the Idaho Transportation Board March 15 that clarifies the state’s role in public transit.

The report sets the framework for planning and implementation by ITD and Idaho’s transportation service providers. Falkner and Hussey provided an overview of public transportation in Idaho, comments generated from stakeholder interviews, a synthesis of contents from various policy and planning documents, and suggested next steps.

The issues and challenges public transportation in Idaho faces are: scarce financial resources, the need for coordination among providers, public perception of transit dependence, and density and geography trends that do not support efficient service options.

The next steps in the project are to refine objectives, examine options for greater flexibility, conduct a workshop with transportation board members on the desired role of the state, organize a statewide public transportation summit and develop a statewide public transportation plan.

Other board discussion

Rest area maintenance
Cathy Ford, Roadside Program Administrator, summarized maintenance and operations activities of the state’s 21 safety rest areas. Most districts use contract services for facility maintenance.

Although District 4 has one district-wide contract, it uses state personnel for major building maintenance and all grounds maintenance. District 6 does not contract any maintenance. It uses state personnel for maintenance activities at its facilities; however, its rest areas are closed during the winter season.

ITD staff explored three maintenance alternatives:

  1. Take no action
  2. Consolidate and standardize contracts, and
  3. Develop a statewide contract

The staff recommended, and board members approved, consolidating and standardizing contracts. That will provide the ability to consolidate and standardize current contracts, provide flexibility to manage the contracts at a district level, standardize contract language and establish a statewide standard to measure performance.

Visiting delegation
Dan Schilling, co-founder and chief executive of Kokopelli Western LLC, a consulting and development firm specializing in forming partnerships of post secondary institutions and industry, asked the board for approval to conduct a charity event and attempt to set a world record in Twin Falls this July.

His activity involves BASE (building, antenna, span, and earth) jumping from the Perrine Bridge. His goal is to complete 200 jumps in 24 hours. But to accomplish the goal, he would need a permit to park a crane on the northbound lane of U.S. 93 on the bridge.

He explained that he hopes to raise $100,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The foundation provides college scholarships, grants, and other financial aid and educational counseling, to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident.

Although board members said they support the charity, they expressed concerns about potential traffic impacts resulting from the lane closure. Additionally, there is potential that approval may establish a precedent.

Board members acknowledged that the Perrine Bridge is becoming world-renowned for BASE jumping and related activities. They also anticipate an increase in requests for such activities at the bridge.

Schilling said his plan is flexible. For example, he would be willing to remove the crane from the structure for several hours if there are considerable traffic impacts, and then resume his jumps later.

Because of his willingness to adjust the proposal, the board asked the ITD director and deputy attorney general to work with District 4 Engineer Devin Rigby and Schilling to determine if an acceptable agreement can be reached.

Published 3-24-06