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Transportation board to consider report on highway safety plan

The Idaho Transportation Board will meet next week in Boise to consider project reports and to participate in the annual Headquarters employee service awards presentation. The meeting will begin Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Headquarters auditorium. The monthly business meeting will resume on Thursday with an executive session (closed to the public) at 8 a.m. and conclude with old business.

Among the agenda items is an update on the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP).

The data-driven, comprehensive plan establishes statewide goals, objectives and key highway safety emphasis areas. It integrates engineering, education, enforcement and crash response (or emergency medical services).

The plan allows the scheduling and implementation of safety improvement programs, comprehensive initiatives and projects to be coordinated throughout the state. More specifically, it establishes common safety goals and priorities, strengthens existing partnerships, prevents redundant activities and incorporates behavioral and infrastructure strategies and countermeasures to help reduce highway fatalities and serious injuries.

SHSP’s theme for the coming year is “Toward Zero Deaths, Every Life Counts.” Its goal is to reduce annual traffic deaths to fewer than 200 by 2012.

Cotterel Port of Entry Commercial Vehicle Ramp Capacity
Occasionally, the Cotterel Port of Entry (POE) on I-84 has insufficient commercial vehicle capacity at the ramps, causing trucks to back up onto the interstate. Commercial Vehicle Services has obtained federal funding to install ramp-monitoring systems for Cotterel, Inkom and Huetter POEs.

The system’s radar detection unit will monitor speeds within a detection zone on the ramp. When a backup begins to occur and conditions on the ramp exceed predefined thresholds, the system will sound an audible alert at the POE computer. Port personnel will then be able to view the camera image on the computer to verify the current ramp conditions and if a queue is developing that could back onto the interstate traffic lanes, temporarily close the port by changing the exit sign.

The bid was awarded and staff is developing an installation plan with the successful vendor. A pilot system will be installed first at the westbound Cotterel POE and later at the other two locations.

Jerome Highway District in-kind payment
At the September board meeting, the Jerome Highway District expressed concern with its responsibility for the U.S 93 and Golf Course Road intersection project. In addition to a traffic signal, the project includes a northbound turn lane and southbound acceleration lane. According to ITD policy, the local highway jurisdiction is fiscally responsible for a portion of the project. The commissioners said it cannot afford a $250,000 project and asked if work-in-kind may be an option. The board was receptive to the proposal and asked ITD staff to pursue an in-kind payment.

District 4 officials will report to the board when an acceptable agreement is reached. The Jerome Highway District will construct the new lane and merge taper to receive the additional left turn lane. The work will be sufficient to meet the department’s policy requirements.