REGULAR MEETING OF THE IDAHO TRANSPORTATION BOARD

 

October 17-18, 2012

 

The Idaho Transportation Board met at 1:00 PM, on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, at the Idaho Transportation Department in Boise, Idaho. The following principals were present:

            Jerry Whitehead, Chairman

            Jim Coleman, Vice Chairman – District 1

            Jan Vassar, Member – District 2

            Julie DeLorenzo, Member – District 3

            Jim Kempton, Member – District 4

            Dwight Horsch, Member – District 5

            Lee Gagner, Member – District 6

            Brian W. Ness, Director

            Scott Stokes, Chief Deputy

            Larry Allen, Deputy Attorney General

            Sue S. Higgins, Executive Assistant and Secretary to the Board

           

Board Minutes. Vice Chairman Coleman made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on September 19-20, 2012 as submitted. Member Vassar seconded the motion and it passed unopposed.

 

Board Meeting Dates. The following meeting dates and locations were scheduled:

            November 13-14, 2012 – Boise

            December 12-13, 2012 – Boise

            January 16-17, 2013 – Boise

 

Consent Calendar. Chairman Whitehead noted the change of scope to complete the I-84, Orchard to Isaac’s Canyon corridor. Chief Operations Officer (COO) Paul Steinman confirmed the plans to add additional lanes on I-84 between the Broadway Interchange and Gowen Road Interchange. The Environmental Assessment was completed earlier and staff identified funding for this project. He also commented on the desire to address customers’ needs and convenience.

 

Member Vassar made a motion, seconded by Member DeLorenzo, and passed unopposed, to approve the following resolution:

RES. NO.        NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Idaho Transportation Board

ITB12-50        has received and reviewed the contract award information, the professional services agreements and term agreement work task report, the report of speed minute entry changes for October 2012, and the GARVEE Program scope clarification.

 

1) Contract Awards. Key #12303 – SH-41, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge, Rathdrum, District 1. Low bidder: Sletten Construction Company – $4,878,050.

 

Key #11225 – 10^th Avenue; Junction SH-54 to Van Buren Street, Spirit Lake, District 1. Low bidder: Interstate Concrete & Asphalt Company - $1,479,248.

 

Key #11065 – FY12 Ada County Highway District Overlays, District 3. Low bidder: Knife River Corporation – Northwest - $1,126,039.

 

Key #12041 – US-95 Spur, Snake River Bridge, Weiser, District 3. Low bidder: The Truesdell Corporation - $178,178.

 

Key #13360 – SH-55, Horseshoe Bend South City Limits to Payette River Bridge, District 3. Low bidder: C & A Paving Company, Inc. - $618,329.

 

Key #13355 – SH-78 – 55, FY14 District 3 Sealcoats, Owyhee County. Low bidder: Snake River Construction, Inc. - $1,347,179.

 

Key #13371 – SH-21 and SH-55, FY12 District 3 Dynamic Message Sign Replacement. Low bidder: Quality Electric, Inc. - $320,597.

 

Key #11679 – US-20, FY13 District 6 Sign Upgrades. Low bidder: Specialty Construction Supply, LLC - $82,159.

 

Key #12113 – FY13 District 6 Districtwide Sealcoats. Low bidder: Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc. - $1,900,888.

 

2) Professional Services Agreements and Term Agreement Work Task Report. From September 4 through September 28, 17 new professional services agreements and work tasks were processed, totaling $885,040. Six supplemental agreements to existing agreements were processed in the amount of $631,450 during this period.

 

3) Speed Minute Entry Changes for October 2012. The following speed minute entry changes were made in September in Districts 2 and 3:

                                    Beginning                    Ending                              Speed Limit

Route                          Milepost                     Milepost                      Old                  New

US-95 descending        312.500                     318.546                      55                     60

US-95 descending        318.546                     323.290                      55                    65

US-95 descending        323.290                     337.360                      60                     65

US-95 ascending           323.290                     337.360                      60                     65

SH-44                             19.443                        21.684                      55                     50

 

4) GARVEE Program Scope Clarification. The scopes and schedules are being finalized for the three new interchanges on I-84 in the greater Boise area. Taking design standards into consideration and upon a detailed review of ramp taper lengths, a one-mile gap was identified between the Broadway and Gowen Interchanges. The Environmental Assessment completed earlier for the I-84, Orchard to Isaac’s Canyon corridor identified the need for three lanes in each direction between the Broadway and Gowen Interchanges. Leaving this segment unimproved may create potential safety and traffic congestion issues. Staff identified $3 million to construct these additional lane miles now, which would address the potential safety and congestion issues and minimize future public inconvenience of constructing the lanes at a later date.

 

Director’s Report. Director Ness announced that Mike Pape has accepted the position of Aeronautics Administrator. Mr. Pape joined ITD as a pilot in 2007.

 

Director Ness reported on various recognitions the Department received. Some of those included Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation appreciated assistance with promoting the parks passport program; Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Division Office commended staff for closing inactive projects and expressed appreciation for partnering to promote highway safety at the Western Idaho Fair; and Roads and Bridges magazine featured ITD’s de-icer brine. He congratulated Mike Rearden, District 1 Maintenance Foreman, and Mark Porter, District 5 Maintenance Foreman for representing ITD at the National Roadeo Competition. Director Ness also mentioned last month’s ground-breaking ceremony for the US-95 rest area being constructed near Winchester in partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe.

 

Chief Deputy Stokes reported on performance measures. He mentioned that additional GARVEE bonds have been issued and he commended the Department’s partnership with the Idaho Housing and Finance Association and Citi Group. The bond rate is 2.998%.

 

District 3 Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC) Update. Kathleen Simko, District 3 PTAC Member, reported on the public transportation services in the District. One of the successes has been an increase in the utilization of senior center vehicles due to a partnership with the Area Agency on Aging. There has been increased participation at the grassroots level to focus on mobility in the communities of Glenns Ferry, Duck Valley, and Emmett. Challenges include identifying local funding and increasing ridership, public awareness of the advantages of transit and alternative modes of transportation, and public-private partnerships.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked Ms. Simko for the report and for her service on PTAC.

 

Railroad Tax Structure in Idaho. Dwayne Hines, Idaho Tax Commission, summarized the railroad tax structure in Idaho. The Idaho Tax Commission establishes the value of each railroad company’s operating property and then allocates a portion to Idaho. That allocation is sub apportioned across the counties in which the railroad company operates based on mileage or has assets such as a microwave tower. The value of the Idaho portion is taxed by the counties at the local levy rate for the taxing district through which the mileage operates. Mr. Hines said railcars are valued by the number of cars and mileage operating in the state. For those that have more than $500,000 in value, the process is the same as above. For those below $500,000, the value is put into the state’s public school fund. If a railroad has non-operating property, that property is taxed by the local assessor.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked Mr. Hines for the informative presentation.

 

Freight Study and Rail Plan Update. Freight Study/Rail Plan Project Manager Maureen Gresham said the freight study process included engaging stakeholders, understanding the context of the state’s freight situation, identifying goals and performance measures, and providing a framework for implementation. The proposed goals are fairly broad, such as a freight system featuring seamless modal connectivity while maintaining safety and efficiency, and strategically investing in freight system infrastructure while maximizing existing capacity. Some of the preliminary recommendations are to create an institutional framework for communication, collaboration and partnership; align transportation policy and projects with economic development goals; and expand sources for freight infrastructure funding. She said the intent is to finalize the Freight Study and recommendations for the Board’s consideration next month.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked Ms. Gresham for the update and for her efforts on this important project.

 

Executive Session on Personnel and Legal Issues. Member Gagner made a motion to meet in executive session at 2:30 PM to discuss personnel and legal issues as authorized in Idaho Code Section 67-2345(b) and (f). Member Horsch seconded the motion and it passed 6-0 by individual roll call vote.

 

A discussion was held on personnel and legal matters.

 

The Board came out of executive session at 3:20 PM. No final actions or decisions were made.

 

Quarterly Update – Garnet Project. Strategic Funding Specialist (SFS) Dave Tolman noted concerns with the schedule for the Division of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) modernization project, or Garnet. The project was initiated in May 2011 and is scheduled to be completed in four phases by November 2014. Testing is currently underway.

 

3M representative Mike Ristau said personnel changes have been made. 3M is committed to working with ITD to provide a quality product. Mr. Ristau took responsibility for the delay to the project, which was more complex than the vendor initially thought. More customization was needed. Because quality is a high priority, the timetable for Phase 1, initially scheduled for completion in November 2012, has been delayed to February 2014. New schedules for Phases 2 and 3 are being developed.

 

Member Gagner expressed disappointment with the delays. He requested milestones and assurances that the project will proceed as planned and without additional delays. He requested a monthly status report to the Board. Mr. Ristau concurred with providing monthly reports. He apologized for the delays to the project and expressed a desire to adhere to the new schedule and provide a quality product.

 

Member DeLorenzo asked for assurances that 3M can provide to the Board for its future performance. Mr. Ristau responded that milestones will be developed. He can provide a matrix to track progress.

 

Chairman Whitehead noted the partnership with 3M and ITD and the Board’s desire for the project to be successful. He added that there are federal deadlines that need to be met and there are financial consequences if those deadlines are missed. He reiterated the Board’s request for assurances that the project will be completed successfully and within the revised schedule.

 

SFS Tolman emphasized that staff is working closely with the vendor and is committed to the success of the project. He will keep the Board updated on its status.

 

Highway Safety Partnership. Highway Safety Manager (HSM) Brent Jennings emphasized the good working relationship ITD has with Idaho State Police (ISP). During construction of the GARVEE projects in District 3, project funds were used for ISP to conduct high visibility enforcement patrols for the I-84 projects. The focus was to decrease impaired, aggressive, and distracted driving with no tolerance for lack of seat belt use. Staff intends to expand this high visibility enforcement program throughout the state to increase highway safety.

 

ISP Lieutenant Brad Doty said the objectives of the partnership were to enhance highway safety, clear highway incidents quickly, and develop a model for future projects. ISP officers logged 23,813 hours while patrolling 352,265 miles during the project duration, August 2008 to March 2012. They issued 19,204 citations plus over 17,000 warnings. There were two fatalities in the corridor during this time frame. Other noteworthy successes of the pilot project included the apprehension of a kidnapping suspect, felony drug seizures, and lifesaving efforts. Lieutenant Doty thanked the Board for the partnership. It resulted in high-visibility patrols, reduced response times, and enhanced public safety.

 

Vice Chairman Coleman asked if the project will be funded for the construction of the three new interchanges on I-84 in Meridian and Boise. CD Stokes replied that the Department would like to fund patrols during construction of the additional GARVEE projects and is pursuing that option. He added that HSM Jennings is exploring funding options through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to expand the program statewide.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked HSM Jennings and Lieutenant Doty for the report and for the cooperative effort to address safety in the I-84 GARVEE corridor.

 

IPLAN Visioning Document. Erika Bowen, Planning/Program Management Manager (PPMM), provided an update on the IPLAN project, which is nearing the project expenditure of $100,000 with BioWest. The current phase includes creating a map-based web portal and internal, external, and public user specific interfaces. Optional features are display planning scenarios and performance measures and integration with other applications. The intent of IPLAN is to make more data available to more users. It should result in greater efficiency in the planning and decision-making process. She provided the draft visioning document.

 

PPMM Bowen said costs are estimated at $550,000 for FY12 through FY15. The estimate includes annual ongoing operating costs of $27,500 in FY14 and FY15. Although it is difficult to ascertain savings, she estimated the return on investment at $2.2 million in the last five years of the Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). She noted that the project is on schedule and on budget. She believes it is a success to date.

 

Member Gagner asked if a more definite return on investment could be provided. He also asked about obtaining all of the necessary data for IPLAN. PPMM Bowen replied that the data is currently available. COO Steinman added that the data needs to be formatted, but the Districts are committed to this project and will assist with the data needs.

 

Chairman Whitehead suggested monthly updates on the status of IPLAN. He thanked PPMM Bowen for the report.

 

 

            WHEREUPON the meeting recessed at 4:55 PM.

 

 

October 18, 2012

 

The Board reconvened at 8:00 AM on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at the Idaho Transportation Department in Boise, Idaho. All members were present.

 

129,000 Pound Trucks Pilot Project. Highway Operations Engineer (HOE) Greg Laragan summarized the pilot project established by the Idaho legislature in 2003 to allow 129,000 pound trucks on a limited number of state highways. The pilot project concludes this year and the Department is to provide a report to the legislature in January 2013. He noted that the project has been constrained by the small number of trucks participating in the pilot project, the non-participating trucks are not monitored so no differential can be made between the two categories, additional routes were added after the pilot project was initiated, and the Department improved pavements on some of the pilot project routes during this time frame.

 

Transportation Staff Engineer (TSE) Jake Legler provided some findings. SH-24 is the most-used route, with 25% of trips. Sugar beets are the most-hauled commodity, with 56% of loads carrying them. No noticeable differences were detected on pavements and bridges on the pilot routes. There was a very slight increase in vehicle crashes; however, it was not a significant increase. The conclusions are there are no measureable effects of the 129,000 pound pilot project and crash data is inconclusive, possibly due to the project constraints.

 

CD Stokes asked if pilot project trucks were involved in the crashes. TSE Legler replied that the crash data does not differentiate between vehicles participating in the pilot project. Chairman Whitehead asked if that information can be obtained.

 

Although the legislation does not require a report on economic impacts of the pilot project, HOE Laragan said staff collected economic data. Some of the companies participating in the project reported a significant savings due to a reduction in the number of trips. Staff intends to submit the final report to the Board next month. HOE Laragan said the following issues need to be considered: interstate highways are not part of the pilot project, which limited participation; the local system has not been studied; long span bridges are a concern; and permitting issues need to be addressed.

 

Member Horsch noted the poor condition of a local road adjacent to SH-24; although he noted that trucks not participating in the pilot project also travel on that route. HOE Laragan said the legislature specified the state highway routes for the pilot project. It provided local highway jurisdictions the authority to designate routes on the local system.

 

In response to Chairman Whitehead’s question on whether data from other states that allow 129,000 pound weight limits was reviewed, HOE Laragan responded yes. Overall, those states’ conclusions were similar to ITD’s findings. He added that axle weights are a major factor, particularly on impacts to pavements.

 

Member Horsch asked if there is a list of bridges that would be a concern if the 129,000 pound weight limit becomes law. HOE Laragan said the Department has identified those bridges. There are approximately 34 that may be a concern.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked HOE Laragan and TSE Legler for the informative report.

 

Monthly Financial Statements. Transportation Investments Manager (TIM) John Krause reported that net cumulative obligations were $354,100,000 for FY12. Of the net obligations, $294,700,000 were for current year projects included in the approved program. The remaining obligations were adjustments to prior-year projects coupled with advances of future year projects to FY12. The original budget amounts for obligated FY12 projects from the FY12-16 approved ITIP were $332,000,000. Total available funding for the federal fiscal year was $354,200,000, compared to an estimated funding level of $356,300,000. The $2,000,000 difference is mainly due to lower than anticipated state forces obligations.

 

Controller Gordon Wilmoth said FHWA Indirect Cost Allocation revenue through August was $6,590,000, which was above the projected amount of $5,371,000. Miscellaneous state funded revenue of $5,415,000 was $128,000 below the forecast. Highway Distribution Account revenue, excluding ethanol exemption elimination, was $29,070,200. The projected revenue was $29,317,200. Revenue from the ethanol exemption elimination was $2,659,700, which was 2.5% below the projected amount. Revenue to the State Aeronautics Fund from aviation fuels was $310,600, resulting in a 40% positive variance. He cautioned that the increased revenue was due to extensive fire-fighting efforts in the state and he does not foresee that trend continuing.

 

Total expenditures in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Title XII Fund for highway projects were $172,400,000, while $178,800,000 had been appropriated. Expenditures for public transportation were $8,815,000 of the $9,200,000 available.

 

Annual Report on Performance Statistics on Contracts and Procurements. Business and Support Manager Kathy Chase reported on the contracts and procurements issued from the Business and Support Management office in FY12. A total of 20,028 purchase orders were issued in the amount of $50,166,840. Both the number and dollar amount were fewer than the previous fiscal year when 24,630 purchase orders totaled $77,248,621. Fifty-five professional services agreements were processed for $1,013,901. This was a 31% increase in number and 35% increase in dollar value from the previous year. There were also 104 contracts in the amount of $8,554,500 in FY12 compared to 95 contracts for $33,313,069 in FY11; however, the FY11 figure includes the $27 million contract award for the DMV Modernization System.

 

Policy Review. Member Kempton said the Board Subcommittee on Policies is continuing to refine the process to review and update every Board policy. Last month three policies were introduced for review: B-01-12, Purchase of State Property by Department Personnel; B-03-01, Acquisition and Disposal of Real Properties and their Improvements; and B-03-03, Appraisal of Access. Staff proposed consolidating those three policies plus two more addressing property issues: B-12-01, State Highway Access Control and B-19-02, Sales to Other Jurisdictions.

 

COO Steinman elaborated on the intent to combine policies that address related subject matter. Other recommendations are to include hyperlinks to documents, such as Idaho Code and IDAPA rules, rather than incorporating that specific language in the policy and to move procedural language into manuals.

 

Acting Right-of-Way Manager Jason Brinkman submitted a proposed new policy, B-03-13, Management of Department-Owned Property, which consolidates the five referenced policies above. In response to the Board’s request last month, the policy includes language indicating that administrative settlements for appraisals in excess of $1,000,000 shall not exceed 20% of the reviewed fair market value. Additionally, language requiring just compensation when property owners are granted a requested access is not specifically included in the policy; however, the link to the IDAPA Rule that provides guidance on that issue is provided.

 

The Board was supportive of the proposal to consolidate and streamline policies. It also requested additional time to review the consolidated policy, B-03-13.

 

Member Kempton said the Board Subcommittee on Policies reviewed B-01-09, Authority to Sign Contracts, Agreements, or Grants and their Registration; B-06-08, Professional Service Agreements; and B-14-06, Approval of Plans/Specifications/Estimates and the Award of Construction Projects for introduction to the Board. DAG Allen elaborated on the policies, including the federal regulations related to qualification-based selection for professional services and the state laws and Department of Administrations’ responsibilities for other professional services and procurement agreements. These policies will be on the agenda next month.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked the Board Subcommittee on Policies and staff for their efforts with this big undertaking.

 

Employee Service Awards. The Board participated in the Employee Service Awards. Member Vassar provided remarks on behalf of the Board.

 

Delegation - Federal Highway Administration. Division Administrator Pete Hartman read a citation commending ITD for its efforts to close inactive projects. He also expressed appreciation for the good working relationship between the two agencies.

 

Butch Waidelich, FHWA Regional Administrator, summarized the recently-approved federal surface transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century (MAP-21). Some highlights of the two-year bill include funding at approximately the same level as the previous bill, fewer programs with more flexibility, and an emphasis on performance. Rule-making, which will provide additional guidance, is underway.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked Messrs. Hartman and Waidelich for their remarks.

 

Report on Classification and Compensation Project. Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Harker said a classification and compensation study was undertaken last year to review jobs, assess current career path opportunities, and analyze ITD’s position relative to market competitors. Consultant Jim Fox reported the findings and proposed solutions. Some of the findings related to jobs and careers include ITD currently uses 189 classifications, of which, 68 are specific to the Department; 51% of all classifications have 2 or fewer employees; narrowly-defined classifications can stifle career paths and progression; and employees do not understand the system and how to get ahead except through reclassifications.

 

Regarding pay, Mr. Fox said the current job evaluation methodology ignores the employee and concentrates on the value of the job; there is a disconnect between the market salary rates and the current salary structure; there is a lack of internal equity; and overall, ITD actual salaries are 11.8% below the competitive market, with some jobs better and some worse. Potential solutions include broad job families and classifications that allow for flexibility in staffing and assignments; understandable career paths; and pay ranges that align with the market.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked Mr. Fox for the report.

 

Executive Session on Personnel and Legal Issues. Member DeLorenzo made a motion to meet in executive session at 11:55 AM to discuss personnel and legal issues as authorized in Idaho Code Section 67-2345(b), (c), (d), and (f). Member Vassar seconded the motion and it passed 6-0 by individual roll call vote.

 

A discussion was held on personnel and legal matters.

 

The Board came out of executive session at 2:00 PM. No final actions or decisions were made.

 

Special Presentation. Chief Engineer (CE) Tom Cole presented Blake Thompson from District 2 with the Safety Person of the Year Award. CE Cole recognized Mr. Thompson as a model for safety. He leads by example through his personal commitment to safety. He also noted that families of maintenance employees often sacrifice, as maintenance crews need to be available at all hours, including weekends and holidays.

 

CE Cole reported that Pete Lenz has been selected as the Maintenance Employee of the Year. Mr. Lenz, from District 1, was unable to attend the meeting. CE Cole emphasized Mr. Lenz’s dedication and ingenuity that have resulted in operational efficiencies.

 

Chairman Whitehead congratulated Messrs. Thompson and Lenz for their well-deserved awards and thanked them for their dedicated service to ITD.

 

Report on Public Involvement. CE Cole emphasized the importance of public involvement. The Public Outreach Planner (POP) is a tool that provides guidance on the kind of outreach needed for each project and provides a cost estimate.

 

Adam Rush, Public Involvement Coordinator (PIC), summarized efforts to improve customer service through public input. He elaborated on POP, which assists ITD with customizing public involvement and outreach plans to best serve stakeholders during project design and construction as well as corridor plans and maintenance work. Social networking is another tool that is being used extensively for public outreach.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked PIC Rush for the presentation.

 

Truck Speed Differential Working Group. Government Affairs Manager (GAM) Mollie McCarty reported on a group established by the legislature to review the differential truck speed limit on Idaho’s interstates. Data from various studies was inconclusive. There were differing views on the subject from the trucking industry. ISP expressed support to eliminate the differential speed limit. ITD remained neutral. Because of the different opinions from the working group members, no formal recommendation was made.

 

In response to Member Kempton’s question on ISP’s support to eliminate the differential speed limit, GAM McCarty believes its position is due to the desire to have vehicles traveling the same or near the same speed. It prefers uniformity of speed limits. Vice Chairman Coleman noted that some trucks currently travel faster than the posted speed limit. He asked if a truck speed study has been conducted. HOE Laragan replied that the University of Idaho conducted a study. Before the differential speed limit was enacted, there was about a seven mile per hour difference between cars and trucks. After the differential speed limit law was passed, the differential speed limit between cars and trucks increased to about nine miles per hour. HOE Laragan noted the slight increase although the new law resulted in a ten mile per hour difference.

 

Chairman Whitehead thanked GAM McCarty and HOE Laragan for the report.

 

New Business. TIM Krause presented five policies impacted by MAP-21: B-11-03, Transportation Enhancement Program; B-11-04, Allocation of Surface Transportation Program Apportionments to Local Public Agencies; B-11-05, Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Improvement Program; B-11-07, Safe Routes to School Program; and B-19-07, Highway Safety Funds. He requested the Board’s review of the current policies prior to the workshop next month.

 

Member Gagner said the Board Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments met yesterday.

 

Member DeLorenzo reported that District 3 Engineer (DE) Dave Jones is working with the City of Caldwell on a proposal to relinquish approximately 8 miles of I-84 Business in Caldwell. Additionally, per the City’s request, the Department would widen US-20/26 east of I-84. DE Jones elaborated on the proposal. The City requested widening US-20/26 1.5 miles because of economic opportunities. The project is estimated to cost $13 million. Caldwell has already widened .5 mile of US-20/26. Member DeLorenzo added that the Subcommittee is supportive of this transaction. It would like to place the US-20/26 widening project in Early Development during the next program update, and, contingent upon a successful negotiation with the City to accept I-84B onto its system, move the expansion project into the funded Program at a later date.

 

Vice Chairman Coleman asked if the City of Caldwell may be receptive to assisting with right-of-way acquisition for the widening project.  Member Gagner said the City of Caldwell widened the highway within the existing right-of-way. He believes ITD has sufficient right-of-way for the project. DE Jones said he believes approximately $25,000 would be needed for additional right-of-way. Member Gagner added that there are some improvements planned for I-84B in the ITIP. Some of that funding could be used to offset the cost of widening US-20/26.

 

Member Vassar made a motion to accept the Board Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments’ recommendation to pursue an agreement with the City of Caldwell for ITD to widen 1.5 miles of US-20/26 east of I-84 contingent on the City of Caldwell accepting jurisdiction of the approximately 8-mile I-84 Business route. Vice Chairman Coleman seconded the motion.

 

Member DeLorenzo asked for clarification if the motion included the addition of the US-20/26 widening project in Early Development and authorization for DE Jones to negotiate with the City of Caldwell to finalize the transaction.

 

Member Vassar made a substitute motion, with the concurrence of the second, to authorize DE Jones to pursue an agreement with the City of Caldwell for ITD to widen 1.5 miles of US-20/26 east of I-84 contingent on the City of Caldwell accepting jurisdiction of the approximately 8-mile I-84 Business route and then to add the US-20/26 widening project to Early Development of the ITIP. The motion passed unopposed.

 

Member DeLorenzo said District 3 received a request to add Simco Road to the state highway system. Staff rated the route, resulting in a score of 56. Per policy, a score of 70 is recommended for adding routes to the state system. Based on the score of 56, the Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments recommended not pursuing adding Simco Road to the state’s system. The Board concurred with informing the highway district that the route does not merit addition to the state highway system.

 

Member DeLorenzo said when the US-20, Chinden to Broadway connector was constructed in Boise approximately 20 years ago, some state highway segments were inadvertently left on the state highway system. The Board Subcommittee on State Highway System Adjustments recommends removing Fairview Avenue from the state’s system for approximately $550,000.

 

DE Jones elaborated on the proposal to remove Fairview Avenue, old US-30, from the state’s system. ITD would provide Ada County Highway District $550,000 for pavement rehabilitation to the route.

 

Without objection, the Board concurred with the proposal and authorized DE Jones to pursue an agreement with Ada County Highway District to transfer old US-30 for $550,000, with the Board Unallocated Fund as a potential funding source.

 

Member Gagner thanked DE Jones for his efforts to identify potential routes to relinquish and his innovative approaches.

 

            WHEREUPON, the Idaho Transportation Board’s regular monthly meeting officially adjourned at 3:40 PM.

   _____________signed_______________

JERRY WHITEHEAD, Chairman

Idaho Transportation Board

Read and Approved

November 14, 2012

Boise, Idaho