Idaho Transportation Department

U.S. 20/26 Corridor Preservation Study, Caldwell to Boise

An aerial view of U.S. 20/26 looking west from Eagle Road

Study Facts

Key Number: 7826
Project No.: STP3230(106)

The U.S. 20/26 Corridor Preservation Study team will conduct planning, engineering design, and environmental review necessary to produce a corridor plan, right-of-way plans, and an environmental assessment.

Planning

Transportation planning is an important component of this study. It allows ITD and COMPASS to:

Develop safety and congestion management strategies in the corridor area, including limiting access to the highway
Identify opportunities to accommodate alternative transportation modes, such as transit, cycling and walking
Identify strategies to preserve right-of-way
Prioritize proposed improvements
Assure consistency between the corridor plan and the land use comprehensive plans for the cities and counties

Engineering Design

The engineers will propose a variety of typical section alternatives. A typical section is a cross section of the highway. It shows:

Number of lanes
Shoulder width
Medians
Roadside features, such as curb, gutter, sidewalks, pathways, landscaping and lighting

The engineers will determine the costs and property impacts of the various alternatives.

Environmental Review

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that an environmental review be completed before right-of-way can be acquired with federal funds. The U.S. 20/26 Corridor Preservation Study will result in an environmental review that identifies impacts to:

Local land use
Community facilities and businesses
Cultural and historical resources
Noise and air quality
The natural environment

The engineers will determine the costs and property impacts of the various alternatives.

Study Background

U.S. 20/26 is one of the few east-west roadways in the Treasure Valley that runs from Caldwell to Boise. It is currently a two-lane rural roadway with a 55 mph speed limit.

The land use along the roadway is mainly agricultural; however, an increasing number of residential subdivisions are being constructed. Right-of-way costs along U.S. 20/26 are escalating. The future is expected to bring mixed-use development that will transform U.S. 20/26 into an urban corridor.

COMPASS and ITD want to work cooperatively with cities and Ada and Canyon counties to keep U.S. 20/26 functioning as a safe, primary east-west route in the future. COMPASS and ITD will seek input from all stakeholders, including local developers, property owners and motorists.

Study Description

The U.S. 20/26 Corridor Preservation Study will identify future transportation improvements and determine the need for future right-of-way between Boise and Caldwell. The study is a partnership between the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD).

The study boundaries are Eagle Road on the east and Interstate 84 in Canyon County on the west. The length of the corridor is 15 miles.

When complete, the U.S. 20/26 Corridor Preservation Study will identify:

A vision for how the community would like this roadway to function as part of the regional transportation system
The improvements and actions necessary for the vision to be implemented
Additional right-of-way needed to accommodate the future needs in the corridor

Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Star, Ada and Canyon counties, Canyon Highway District No. 4, Ada County Highway District, COMPASS Board and ITD are all involved with this study and will be asked to adopt the final plan.

Make Comments

The Idaho Transportation Department values your input. Submit written comments using one of the forms below or contact for more information.
•Email Us please include your name and address
•Download a comment form (word doc)

Contacts

Phil Choate, Project Manager
phil.choate@itd.idaho.gov
(208) 334-8964

Don Matson, COMPASS Principal Planner and Project Manager
dmatson@compassidaho.org
(208) 855-2558 ext. 230

Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is committed to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all related regulations and directives. ITD assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any ITD service, program, or activity. The department also assures that every effort will be made to prevent discrimination through the impacts of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. In addition, the department will take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services for persons with Limited English Proficiency.