Idahoans have one year to get a Star Card or other REAL ID

A woman at a podium. Three men stand behind her.

The federal REAL ID deadline is May 7, 2025 – exactly one year from today. At that time, travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card issued by the state, like an Idaho Star Card, or another acceptable form of identification to board a commercial flight. The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is encouraging all Idahoans to plan to get a Star Card or other REAL ID.

“A year seems like a long time, but May 2025 will be here before we know it. Don’t wait until the last minute! We anticipate DMV offices could get very busy as that deadline starts to get closer,” encouraged DMV Administrator Lisa McClellan. “And if you’ve had a Star Card for a while, check the expiration date and make a plan to renew if needed. If your information is the same when you renew the new card will also be a Star Card”

Currently, approximately 49% of Idahoans with a driver’s license or ID have their Star Card.

“We are encouraged that nearly half of Idahoans have the Star Card, making them REAL ID-compliant a year ahead of the date when TSA will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements for travelers,” said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Security Director Andy Coose. “Please remember that TSA currently accepts multiple forms of photo identification from travelers as part of our identity verification process in the security checkpoint. Please take a few minutes today to ensure that you have a plan so that you are in compliance with identification requirements starting May 7, 2025, and beyond.”

“Although other approved documents, like a passport, can be used to board a plane or enter a federal facility after May 7, 2025, the Idaho Star Card is the most convenient, while at the same time providing adequate security for the traveling public. I encourage all Idahoans to apply for their Idaho Star Card soon, before the May 7 deadline approaches next year,” said Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke.

To get a Star Card, applicants need one document proving their identity, one with their social security number, and two proving Idaho residency. The Idaho DMV has an online tool called “Add the Star” at itd.idaho.gov/starcard. It generates a custom list of documents to bring to a DMV to get a Star Card. Please note that some county DMV locations require appointments.

May 7, 2025, is the date federal officials will begin checking for compliant cards. The Idaho DMV will continue to offer Star Cards and non-Star Card licenses and ID cards after that date. If someone chooses not to get a Star Card, the standard Idaho driver’s license is still a valid document for all lawful driving purposes.

Work underway on I-90 near Fourth of July Pass

Aerial view of I-90 near Cataldo looking east

CATALDO — Construction started Monday to finish paving and installing new barrier on 6 miles of Interstate 90 east of Fourth of July Pass to Cataldo.
Until work ends in June, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 miles per hour, and traffic will be reduced to a single lane in both directions.

Construction first began in 2022 to resurface the freeway, widen the inside shoulder and install concrete barrier to separate the lanes to prevent head-on collisions.

Travelers are encouraged to be aware of other work zones on I-90 and are advised to check 511.idaho.gov.

Safe walking, biking, and scootering: Idaho receives youth mobility grant

In May, we honor both National Bicycle Safety Month and National Youth Traffic Safety Month. Idaho is among the five states recognized by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) with grants for youth mobility. The Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, in partnership with the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), has secured a $25,000 grant from the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF). This grant will support efforts to educate Idaho’s children on safe walking, biking, and scootering.

The Idaho Walk Bike Alliance is a non-profit dedicated to making walking and biking a healthy, safe, and reliable transportation option for Idahoans. The Alliance will use the grant funding to provide several communities with hands-on lessons about Idaho’s roads. This project aims to fill an educational void for middle and high school students, specifically bridging the gap between K-6 Safe Routes to School programming and driver education and training. Students will learn about active transportation modes such as walking, biking, or scooting, which provide equitable access to school for many in the community.

“There is a crucial gap when kids in middle school are biking and walking and have not yet learned the rules of the road. As students become more independent, being able to get where they are going safely is an essential life skill. Our goal is to educate these students so they can get where they are going, safely, and to become drivers that keep people who are walking and cycling safe,” said Idaho Walk Bike Alliance Education Specialist Margaret Havey.

Nationally and in Idaho, traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for young people. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2021*, nationally nearly 1,200 children (age 14 and younger) died in traffic crashes that year, up 8% from 2020. In Idaho, child traffic fatalities increased from 5 in 2020, to 9 in 2021.

The Walk Bike Alliance is looking for schools, community organizations, or recreation programs that are interested in participating in the program. To get involved please contact Margaret Havey at margaret@idahowalkbike.org.

*2021 is the most recent year for complete national data from NHTSA

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About GHSA

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Visit ghsa.org for more information or find us on Facebook and X/Twitter.

About NRSF

The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization founded more than 60 years ago, produces traffic safety programs on distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driver proficiency, pedestrian safety and a host of other safety issues. It distributes the programs free of charge to schools, police and traffic safety advocates, community groups and individuals. It also sponsors contests to engage teens in promoting safe driving to their peers and in their communities. For more information or to download free programs, visit nrsf.org.

Expect on- and off- ramp closure through Friday

Motorists should plan ahead if travel includes the Heyburn (Exit 211) Interchange over the next three days.

ITD is closing on-and off-ramps at Exit 211 from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. today through Friday, May 3. A detour is in place and will guide motorists through the project area. Drivers should follow the signs and speed limit in the work zone.

Here’s what to expect:

Today and tomorrow, the eastbound on-ramp will be closed.
Friday the westbound off-ramp will be closed.

All ramps will be open for the weekend, but drivers should expect intermittent closures in the area throughout the month. Scheduled closures will be posted to 511.idaho.gov.

Traffic on I-84 remains reduced to one lane in each direction and slowed to 55 mph.

Reconstruction of the Heyburn Interchange is expected to cost $90.1 million while the Burley Interchange is expected to cost $85.1 million. Construction on both interchanges will be complete in 2026.

Both projects are funded by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program.

Lane closure tonight on US-12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge

Workers on the US-12 Clearwater Memorial bridge walking over steel rebar.

Motorists can expect traffic on U.S. Highway 12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge to be reduced to one lane tonight at 7 p.m. while crews pour concrete for the new deck. Flaggers will allow traffic to take turns crossing the bridge until work is complete mid-morning tomorrow. Delays should be a maximum of 15 minutes.

Drivers should plan for similar delays next week when concrete will be poured for the opposing lane on the nights of May 15 and May 22. Each pour will take several hours to set, and the work is expected to go into the mid-morning hours.

Bridge construction will conclude by the end this year. The new bridge will enhance safety by providing wider lanes, wider shoulders for bicyclists and wider sidewalks for pedestrians. Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov, dialing 5-1-1 or downloading the app.

ITD to host open house next week on US-30 (Gould Street) in Pocatello

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the public to an open house on Tuesday to comment on proposed improvements to make U.S. Highway 30 safer and address growing traffic in Pocatello.

Improvements are planned for US-30 between the intersections of Yellowstone Avenue and Oak Street and the Gould Street overpass and Garrett Way.

The open house will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Pocatello Streets Department Office at 2405 Garrett Way.

In 2018, ITD completed a study to analyze safety issues, traffic, geometrics, and community needs. Extensive traffic analyses, stakeholder meetings, and steering committee meetings were conducted as part of the study. The results of the study identified significant corridor improvements. In 2023, design began on the improvements, which address:

Intersection operation and safety at Yellowstone Ave, McKinley Ave, and Garrett Way.
An additional turn lane from Gould Street onto Garrett Way to improve signal operations and mobility through the corridor.
Accesses safety
Corridor-wide pedestrian facilities
Stormwater collection
Corridor-wide landscaping

Construction is scheduled for 2027.

“This is an important project for the traveling public in Pocatello,” Project Manager Kevin Sonico said. “These improvements will address the growth in the area and improve safety by addressing lane utilization issues and capacity issues in the corridor. People can stop by any time on Tuesday to learn more about the project and ask questions.”

For those who cannot attend the public meeting on May 7, ITD will post meeting displays on the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us-30-yellowstone-to-garrett-way. Comments will be received until June 5 and can be submitted at the meeting, online or by emailing agumm@jub.com.

ITD Geologists conducting exploratory drilling along SH-33

A drilling rig and pickup truck alongside SH-33

The Idaho Transportation Department is conducting exploratory drilling on State Highway 33 near the Wyoming state line Tuesday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 1. This section of the road is beginning to slide and the guardrail tip to the side. Geologists and materials crews are taking samples to get information on the cause and to install instrumentation for slide monitoring. No lane closures are in effect as a result of the drilling operation.

The samples collected from drilling will help ITD specialists know what is causing the road to slide, how far down it goes, and how fast it’s occurring. There are natural springs in this vicinity and around SH-33.

Instruments will also be placed in the ground to remain there so ITD can monitor movement. With data collected from drilling, work to ensure the needs of this section of road will be planned and executed in coming months.

Motorists are cautioned to be particularly aware of working crews, slow down, and move over when passing equipment.

Riders invited to Motorcycle Awareness Rally on May 4

It is that time of year again! The time when more motorcyclists are out on Idaho roads. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and to mark the occasion the Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety (ICMS) is hosting a Motorcycle Awareness Rally on May 4.

Motorcycle riders are invited to join ICMS, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), and partners for the event on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Sandy Point in Lucky Peak State Park, 9723 ID-21, Boise, ID 83716. Motorcyclists can meet in the park starting at 10 a.m. An escorted ride from Sandy Point to the Idaho State Capitol starts at 1 p.m. Following the ride, the Christian Motorcycle Association is hosting a barbeque at Ann Morrison Park, 1000 S Americana Blvd, Boise, ID 83706.

“We want to remind the drivers out there that they are sharing the road with motorcyclists, who are more exposed than people in cars. Looking twice for motorcycles can save someone’s life,” explained ICMS rally organizer Lane Triplett.

According to OHS data, in 2022 there were 529 motorcycle-related crashes, and 29 motorcyclists were killed. Most fatalities that year were clustered in the months of June, July, and August. Drivers can help protect motorcyclists by:

Checking your blind spots. Motorcycles are small compared to other vehicles, so don’t rely on mirrors alone.
Always use your turn signals. Signaling helps motorcyclists anticipate traffic flow.
Look twice. Sun and rain glare can make motorcycles hard to see. Snow, rain, and fog can obscure your vision too. Always check twice for bikes.

Motorcyclists can protect themselves in the following ways:

Wear brightly colored, reflective clothing.
Ride with headlights on.
Establish lane positions that increase visibility – don’t ride in blind spots.
Enhance your skills. Idaho STAR (Skills Training Advantage for Riders) has classes across the state and for all experience levels.

ITD and Idaho Parks and Rec team up to improve safety on SH-5 near Heyburn State Park

Messaging sign alerting drivers on SH-5 about upcoming lane closures

Starting next week crews will begin removing hazard trees along a 5-mile stretch of State Highway 5 near Heyburn State Park. Work will begin near Hillwood Lane and move west to Chatcolet Road over the course of four to five weeks with the highway reduced to one lane during the day in the work zone.

While the tree clearing operation is underway, ITD will provide flaggers and a pilot car to safely guide traffic through the work zone.

Work will occur on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will take a scheduled break on May 23, 24 and 28 to avoid slowing down increased traffic surrounding Memorial Weekend.

“Any tree within reach of the highway that is compromised, whether due to its health or stability, is considered a hazard due to the potential of falling onto traffic,” Project Manager James Dorman said.

To complete this work, ITD is collaborating with the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department who is working with foresters and a local contractor to identify potentially hazardous trees for removal.

“Idaho Parks and Recreation is excited for this partnership and the opportunity to focus on safety for Idaho’s drivers and recreators alike,” stated Parks Public Information Officer Craig Quintana. “The trees that have been identified for removal are on Heyburn State Park property, but the safety concern involves ITD right of way.”

Drivers should plan ahead for delays and use the Idaho 511 system for updates.

Final push to complete construction of two I-90 overpasses in Kellogg

Aerial view of I-90 over the Division Street Bridge in Kellogg, looking east.

Next week the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will start the final construction tasks to improve safety on I-90 at the Division Street and Elizabeth Park Road overpasses.

Crews will remove the temporary pavement that was placed in 2022 and finish the driving surface for the eastbound bridges. They will also address drainage on the westbound bridge over Division Street.

Construction is anticipated to start April 29, at which time traffic on I-90 will be restricted to one lane in each direction and crossed over the westbound lanes for up to two months. No impacts are expected for Division Street or Elizabeth Park Road.

In the past two years, crews have replaced the eastbound and westbound bridges, widened the eastbound on-ramp at Division Street, and repaved both Division Street and Elizabeth Park Road under the overpasses.

Additionally, improvements to the eastbound bridge over Pine Creek in Pinehurst are anticipated to start in late May. I-90 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for approximately one month as crews remove and replace the concrete surface.

Speed limits for both construction zones will be reduced to 55 mph for the safety of drivers and workers.

Visit 511.idaho.gov or download the app for statewide traffic information.