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Because of limited funding, operations was established as the top priority, followed respectively by preservation, restoration and expansion.

Revenue to Idaho’s general fund has increased 69.8 percent since FY98, according to the budget presentation, but revenue to the State Highway Fund and Aeronautics Fund has increased just 14.7 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively, during the same 10-year period.

The FY09 budget proposal includes $303.3 million in federal funds, with $41 million dedicated to GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) debt service, and state revenue in the amount of $228.6 million.

Line items, or program enhancements, total $36,400 for equipment, the Reed Ranch Airport, and Web cameras for airports.

Other recommendations include a 1 percent change in employee compensation with an additional 4 percent held in reserve; $22.4 million for replacement items; $232.7 million for contract construction; and $2.85 million for capital facilities. The total appropriation request is $489.3 million. The number of ITD personnel positions remains unchanged at 1,833.5 full-time equivalency.

Other board consideration

COMPASS
Charles Trainor from the Community Planning of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) summarized for board members on June 19 the growth that has occurred in southwest Idaho and the projected and platted growth.

In 2000, the combined population of Ada and Canyon counties was 432,345. By the year 2030, the two-county region is expected to have a population of 825,000.

As of March, 35,000 residential lots were in the development process. Additionally, the forecasted volumes in the north foothills – north of Eagle, between Idaho 55 and Idaho 16 – is 24,000 units. As he discussed traffic impacts from recent and projected growth, Trainor outlined strategies to address common concerns: improved traffic impact studies, improved site design and arterial access management.

As a follow-up to the COMPASS presentation, Sen. Brad Little, representing Gem and Canyon counties, suggested ways to address the growing transportation needs of the Treasure Valley. He believes implementing impact fees is a viable method to generate additional funding and also suggested that the local entities could help with addressing access management issues.

Cascade Reservoir Airstrip
Aeronautics Administrator John DeThomas provided an update on the department’s efforts to operate and manage the Cascade Reservoir Airstrip for public use. The department has applied to the Bureau of Reclamation for a long-term permit.

Although it is uncertain when the BOR might approve the request, and though funding for the airstrip has not been secured, a list of items needed to make the facility available for public use has been prepared.

The development capital costs and annual operating costs are estimated to be $329,000 and $20,000, respectively. Some of the capital costs include living quarters for a caretaker, a public shower building, campground amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, barbecue stands, and a sprinkler system. The facility is envisioned as a fly-in/fly-out recreational airstrip and is expected to be widely used by Idaho aviators.

Design-Build
Roadway Design Engineer Damon Allen reviewed the alternative project delivery method of design-build to determine its applicability for ITD.

Instead of the traditional method of design-bid-build where one entity designs a project, ITD advertises construction separately. A contractor then builds the project. Design-build uses a design builder to design and construct the project, eliminating the middle step of bidding construction. The method generally saves time and also has potential to save costs.

Projects that would be good candidates for this project delivery method are those not anticipated to have right-of-way issues, environmental difficulties or other unforeseen problems.

Members from the contracting and consulting industry indicated they would like to partner with ITD on drafting the enabling legislation if the board advances the proposal, and that design-build projects should be limited to $50 million or less to enable Idaho companies to participate.

The board directed staff, working with private partners, to proceed with developing legislation for the design-build project delivery method.