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ITD staff to present priorities for enhancement,
CMAQ projects to board for future consideration

Among other funding decisions, the Idaho Transportation Board voted last month to suspend acceptance of new proposals for enhancement and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality projects. That decision was made near the end of the 2011 application cycle and a number of applications already had been received.

Since that meeting, ITD’s technical review committee prioritized the project proposals that had already been received and will present that priority list to transportation board members when they meet in Twin Falls next week.

ITD received 33 applications totaling $8.1 million in the CMAQ Program. The technical review committee recommended 14 projects totaling $4 million to be funded if resources for the program are restored in the future. Some of those projects are for flusher/deicer trucks in Oneida County, Lemhi County, Payette County, Boise County and Pocatello County; the Southeast Idaho vanpool in District 4; Citylink Buses in District 5; and paving Burma Road in District 6.

The prioritized list of enhancement projects includes eight bicycle/pedestrian projects, three scenic/environmental projects, and two historic projects. Some of the projects are a Rathdrum Pathway, Big Meadow Road Sidewalks in Troy, City of Rocks Visitor Center in Cassia County, Warm Springs Avenue/Idaho 21 Wildlife Mitigation in Ada County and restoration of the Pocatello bus depot.

Financial Statement Analysis
The financial statement analysis for July 2007 through March 2008 shows that revenue to the Highway Distribution Account was $143.7 million, approximately $1.8 million ahead of the forecast.

Expenditures for personnel costs are 6.6 percent less than budgeted through March. This is attributable to an unprecedented high number of vacancies. Total non-construction year-to-date operating expenditures, including encumbrances, reflect a 1.1 percent variance. ITD’s operating expenditures budget will be hard pressed this year because of the need to replenish highway materials used during the high maintenance winter of 2007-08.

The State Aeronautics Fund includes aviation fuel tax revenue of $1.4 million through March, which is 14 percent, or $169,327, ahead of projections. Miscellaneous revenue is 2 percent below the year-to-date projection.

Overall expenditures in the Aeronautics Fund are 14 percent higher than budgeted through March.

District 4 tour
The ITD Board will begin its two-day visit to the Magic Valley Wednesday with a tour of several locations, starting at the Jerome Airport. The airport manager and local officials will discuss airport land use plans and business plans.

The board will stop at the Idaho Power Salmon Falls Park near Hagerman to view the restroom facility. It is similar to one planned for construction at Hagerman Rest Area, which will be the next stop on the board’s tour. At the rest area, ITD staff will summarize plans to reconstruct the facility. The Thousand Springs Scenic Byway Committee also will discuss opportunities to enhance the rest area, and ITD staff will discuss the Cotterell Rest Area and Port of Entry.

After touring the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery/Fish Culture Experiment Station, board members will conclude their tour in Twin Falls with an overview of the U.S. 93, Twin Falls Alternate Route Stage II project.

The business meeting is scheduled for Thursday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the District 4 Office in Shoshone. It is open to the public.