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Incident response services keep I-84 traffic flowing

Ever had a flat tire, need a tow, run out of gas, have your engine overheat, been involved in or found ourselves on the scene of a fender-bender? We all have. District 3’s Incident Response was formed in 1997 to help motorists on Interstate 84 cope with such unexpected travel interruptions.

Other districts respond to hazardous materials spills and similar incidents, but no other district has a formal entity dedicated to the service.

Whether it’s changing a flat tire, jump-starting a car, refilling a radiator, providing a gallon of gas to a stranded motorist, offering use of a cell phone or providing other assistance, the Incident Response team stays busy.

In the dozen years since the service originated, ITD crews have responded to thousands of incidents on the Connector (I-184), on I-84 between Nampa and east Boise, and when asked by the Idaho State Police, they have responded to fatalities on Eagle Road and other nearby routes.

Statistics on the service were not kept in the first few years, but here are the most recent year-by-year figures summarizing the number of incidents that required responses:

2009 (through Sept.)	8,585
2008	9,666
2007	8,459
2006	8,801
2005	9,035

The program was implemented to improve safety and facilitate traffic flow on the interstates near Boise. The Incident Response team provides an invaluable service to commuters by reducing congestion through assistance for disabled vehicles and other issues that impede traffic, reducing emissions from idling vehicle and reducing secondary accidents that occur when traffic backs up.

During peak commuting hours Monday through Friday, the Incident Response team patrols 21 miles from Garrity to Eisenman, and the Connector from the Wye to 13th Street.

Terry Zabel, the Incident Response lead worker and manager, started in 1999, and in the decade since has seen traffic volumes skyrocket and the number of incidents similarly grow.

The Incident Response team puts nearly 13,000 miles on the trucks in a busy month, and routinely puts 120,000 miles (or more) per year on the odometer.

“We respond to everything from stalled cars to accidents, and everything in between,” Zabel said.

For questions regarding Incident Response, call 334-8363. For service call ISP Dispatch at 846-7500 or *ISP.