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Idaho Transportation
Department
Office of Communications
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563

 


Survey reveals dissatisfaction with I-84 corridor

Congestion, pavement condition and safety are paramount concerns of commuters who regularly travel Interstate 84 between the Garrity (Nampa) and Meridian interchanges.

Their response to a telephone survey conducted Jan. 17-20 by Elway Research, Inc. will serve as a benchmark by which ITD and motorists will judge the outcome of a $113 million improvement and expansion project for the heavily traveled 6.2-mile corridor.

Contractors began grinding the surface of I-84 west of Meridian this week in preparation for repaving and expanding the interstate to three lanes in both directions.

The I-84 Garrity to Meridian project is expected to be complete in 2011. The project also will build a new interchange at Ten Mile Road and expand and rebuild the Black Cat and Robinson Road overpasses. The project is funded by proceeds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds approved by the Idaho Legislature.

The survey of 400 motorists confirmed what transportation planners and engineers already suspected – general dissatisfaction with the condition of the interstate and congested conditions during twice-daily commutes.

Seventy percent of the respondents rated the corridor as “poor.” Only 10 percent of the respondents described the highway as good, and no one rated it excellent. The ratings were consistent across demographic categories, according to the survey.

Of the 400 respondents, only 54 percent indicated they drove the interstate segment during rush hours at least sometimes. Forty-six percent said they rarely or never drive the corridor. Older motorists – at least 65 years of age – were the least likely to travel from Garrity to Meridian.

Other key findings from the survey

  • Nine in 10 drivers gave traffic flow and congestion a negative rating, as they did pavement condition. Eighty percent gave safety a negative rating.
  • Nearly two-thirds of drivers (64 percent) were informed about construction planned for the corridor. More than half received their information from television reports, 19 percent read about it in a newspaper and only 9 percent learned of it via radio.
  • Motorists rated reductions in congestion as their top measure of success for the construction projects. Ninety-one said reducing congestion is “very important.” More than seven in 10 (72 percent) rated smoother pavement as very important; 64 percent said construction time is very important, and 54 percent considered a lack of inconvenience is very important.
  • Two-thirds of the respondents want a week or more notice of traffic delays and one-third would accept four-day (or less) notice.
  • Respondents preferred television as a medium for receiving construction-related information. Nine-in-12 rated television as their preference, and half ranked television as “most useful;” 20 percent found radio most useful as a source, and another 20 percent found signage most useful.
  • Most drivers using the corridor did not take advantage of 511 Traveler Services as a source for information. Fifty-four indicated they had never heard of 511 services and 24 percent knew of the services but never used them.
  • Those who used 511, did not do so on a regular basis. Two in 10 used the number at least weekly and only one in 10 used the Web site (511.idaho.gov) weekly.
  • But seven in 10 found the 5-1-1 number helpful and a same percentage found the Web site helpful.

"This report will be carefully reviewed to determine how we can best serve our customers and communicate with them," said ITD GARVEE Program Manager Jason Brinkman. "It also helps us improve our efficiency as we construct this multi-year project."

The survey measured user satisfaction before construction and will serve as a benchmark for a second survey. The second survey will measure public opinion after ITD constructs improvements to this segment of I-84.

It will help ITD meet requirements of the Highways for Life federal grant, which calls for improved user satisfaction of the highway.

Published 2-22-8