CONNECTIONS

IDAHO
ITD HOME
IDAHO DMV
ITD NEWS
HIGHWAY SAFETY
IDAHO STATE POLICE
TRAVEL SERVICES
STATE OF IDAHO

NATIONAL
AASHTO
AAMVA
AAA of IDAHO
FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
FEDERAL AVIATION
IDAHO STATE POLICE
NHTSA
NTSB
TRB
U.S. DOT

 

Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email


Board to consider user satisfaction survey

What do Idaho citizens think of their transportation system, its funding level and the efforts to build and maintain it? Answers will be revealed and discussed next week when the Idaho Transportation Board considers results from a recent survey funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The board will review survey findings Wednesday at its monthly business meeting in the Auditorium at Headquarters.

More than 600 Idaho residents participated in a 2004 Idaho Traveler and Opinion Survey. The phone survey was part of a larger national survey commissioned by FHWA. For the 2004 survey, FHWA provided states with the option of purchasing additional samples to provide data for a state’s specific internal review and analysis.

ITD took advantage of that opportunity.

On Wednesday, ITD staff members and the survey consultant will report on the second phase of the Idaho Traveler and Opinion Survey.

Overall, residents are satisfied with the quality of their transportation system. Compared to other benchmarks, Idahoans are more likely to be “in the middle” as to worth of tax dollars spent to build or maintain transportation infrastructure. Other key findings include:

  • Traveler information exceeds expectations
  • Travelers are satisfied with their region’s transportation services, and
  • Compared to other benchmarks, residents feel the transportation system does an average job of serving those with special transportation requirements.

Other Transportation Board discussion

Revenue plan
At a special meeting on Nov. 3, the board discussed budget information as a prelude to formal presentations to the 2007 Legislature. Among the important details were:

  • Since 1998, the state of Idaho’s revenue from sales tax has increased 85 percent and its general fund revenue has increased 75 percent, while revenue to the State Highway Account has only increased 15 percent;
  • Using an annual inflation rate of 3 percent, Idaho gas tax revenue has lost one third of its purchasing power since 1995: 33 percent in 11 years since the fuel tax was last increased;
  • Highway construction costs increased 11 percent and 16 percent in 2004 and 2005, respectively;
  • In FY08, 46 percent, or $88.6 million, of ITD’s share of revenue from the Highway Distribution Account will come from gas taxes, while 20 percent ($38.3 million) is expected from special fuel taxes, 18 percent ($33.4 million) from passenger car registrations, 14 percent ($27.1 million) from truck registrations, and 2 percent ($4.3 million) from miscellaneous sources; and
  • If the fuel tax is increased one cent and registration fees were raised proportionally, ITD’s revenue would increase approximately $6 million annually while the average annual cost increase to a car owner would be $7.24.

The board continues to struggle with the department’s dire revenue issues – inflation continues to increase significantly and the fuel tax and registration fees have not changed since 1995. On Wednesday, staff will present funding scenarios for the board to consider as a possible way of addressing revenue concerns. Upon approval, the plan will be forwarded to the governor and Legislature for consideration.

Scan tour
Some state and federal managers believe there is a need to improve effective audit oversight and stewardship on large and non-traditional road transportation contracts.

Under the auspices of FHWA’s International Exchange Program, a scan team of 12 audit and financial management specialists from the federal and state government, the private sector, and academia traveled to Europe to look for transportation best practices. The specialists concentrated on audit stewardship and oversight. Internal Review Manager Carri Rosti participated in the scan tour and will report to the board on the highlights and observations on Thursday.

The tour was conducted in cooperation with Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) National Highway Research Cooperative Program and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Motor Carrier Advisory Committee
The Motor Carrier Advisory Committee (MCAC) was created in 1985 to periodically review proposed regulations, statutes and motor carrier general issues. Committee members are appointed by the governor and represent a cross section of the trucking industry, such as agriculture, concrete/aggregate, logging, truck/trailer manufacturing, and long- and short-haul. ITD provides administrative support to the group and reimburses committee members for related expenses.

The MCAC will meet with the board on Thursday. Some of the agenda items include an overview on the restructuring of the MCAC, which was completed earlier this year through a governor’s executive order; an update on the GARVEE Program; and a summary of the revenue plan the board is expected to approve on Wednesday.

Published 11-10-06