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Governor announces transportation conferences
to address growing revenue shortfall

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has scheduled a series of meetings throughout Idaho to solicit input from local elected officials, business leaders and the public about alternatives to address the quarter-billion dollar revenue shortfall confronting Idaho’s transportation system.

“Building Roads, Building Bridges, Building Consensus” will address the funding gap for infrastructure improvements throughout Idaho. The goal, according to the governor’s office, is to “make a compelling case in every corner of Idaho for the need to immediately address our growing backlog of transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvements.

"Rising construction costs, improving fuel economy and a significant drop in how much people are driving as a result of higher gas prices all are cutting into our user- fee-based revenue stream, reducing our ability to keep up with the needs of our aging and deteriorating highways and bridges,” according to the governor’s announcement.

Cities, counties, highway districts and citizens throughout Idaho rely on the user fees to provide public safety, stimulate economic opportunity, ensure access to Idaho’s share of federal transportation matching funds and maintain highways and bridges.

Gov. Otter made transportation funding one of his legislative priorities this year and hopes to return to lawmakers in 2009 with revenue recommendations.

The series of transportation conferences will begin with a number of preview meetings in southwest Idaho starting next week with a presentation to the Association of Idaho Commissioners and Clerks in Boise. The Wednesday session begins at 8:45 a.m. at the Red Lion Downtowner Hotel. ITD Director Pam Lowe will give the presentation.

Six other preview meetings are planned in Boise this month:

June 16: Legislative leaders, committees, J.R. Williams Building, Idaho Room, 9 a.m.
June 16: Idaho Legislators, J.R. Williams Building, Idaho Room, 1 p.m.
June 17: Industry representatives, J.R. Williams Building, Idaho Room, 9 a.m.
June 23: Association of Commerce/Industry, Tamarack Resort, tba
June 25: Association of Idaho Cities, Double Tree Hotel-Riverside, 2:15 p.m.
June 27: Motor Carrier Advisory Committee, Boise, 9 a.m.

“Building Roads, Building Bridges, Building Consensus” meetings will expand to day-long sessions with opportunities for public participation in each of ITD’s six administrative districts next month. They begin July 14 in Caldwell (District 3), at the College of Idaho’s Simplot Dining Hall - Fireplace Room.

Other dates and locations include:

July 16: District 1, Coeur d’Alene, Best Western
July 17: District 2, Lewiston, Red Lion Hotel
July 22: District 6, Idaho Falls, The Shilo Inn Suites
July 23: District 5, Pocatello, Red Lion Hotel
July 24: District 4, Twin Falls, Red Lion Hotel-Canyon Springs

The district meetings will include discussions with legislators, city and county officials, local business and industry representatives and the public. Each of the six conferences will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude with a public open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Interested citizens are encouraged to participate in the open houses and provide input about transportation revenue options.