Category: Public Comment

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2032. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 1-31.

Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

Visit itd.idaho.gov/funding to view an interactive map to learn about projects and submit a comment through the portal.

This draft ITIP shows plans for $5.8 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.

ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney outlined, “The Idaho practice of annually updating a seven-year highway transportation plan helps consider the growth of traffic we are all seeing which is accelerating the need for safety, preservation and capacity improvements supporting communities statewide.  This draft ITIP presents investment needs in highway pavement, bridge repairs, and congestion relief improvements that will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”

In mid-June, the Idaho Transportation Board accepted staff recommendations to address congestion on priority corridors using Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds. These funds came from House Bill 25, which was passed by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year. The legislation provides an additional $20 million a year to the TECM fund for the next three years and allows the department to invest an extra $1 billion in the Idaho transportation system.

The major projects included in the draft ITIP as part of the board’s action include:

• I-15 and US-26 Interchange (Exit 93): The existing interchange will be replaced to accommodate additional lanes on the interstate and to include longer on- and off-ramps for safer merging. Construction is anticipated to start in 2026, five years earlier than planned.
• I-15 widening from milepost 89 to 93: This project will add capacity by widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction between the US-26 Interchange and the South Blackfoot Interchange. construction was previously not funded but is now anticipated to start in 2027.
• I-15 and US-91 South Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 89): The existing interchange will be upgraded to accommodate additional lanes on the interstate and include longer on- and off-ramps for safer merging. Construction is anticipated to start in 2028, three years earlier than planned.

Comments can be emailed to itipcomments@itd.idaho.gov, recorded at 208-334-8063 or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Noah Ipaye
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208-334-8284.

After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.

Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho’s communities.

The Idaho Transportation Department invites Magic Valley community members to attend a public meeting on Monday, June 30, to provide input on the Snake River Crossing Project and help review and refine the first phases of analysis and design before the project moves forward.  

During this public meeting, ITD will share study findings, initial concepts and evaluation criteria, project goals, and a range of alternative locations for an additional Snake River crossing.  

“Our shared goal with local and regional partners is to address growing traffic and regional connectivity challenges in the Magic Valley,” District Engineer Jesse Barrus said. “A potential additional Snake River crossing is a key part of reaching that goal, and we look forward to hearing the community’s feedback.”  

In 2024, the Idaho Transportation Board approved funding to begin next steps to enhance Magic Valley regional mobility including launching the environmental review process for a new Snake River Crossing to consider options for an additional bridge crossing, potentially extending State Highway 25 or State Highway 79 or widening U.S. Highway 30 or State Highway 46.  

The project will utilize information gathered from previous studies and include coordination with the new Magic Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization to identify and evaluate feasible, buildable, and fundable bridge alternatives.   

“This public meeting marks a key milestone in the Snake River Crossing project and offers the community a chance to provide input on potential 1,500-foot-long bridge locations,” said Dan McElhinney, the ITD Chief Deputy and Chief Operations Officer. “Taking a major bridge project of this scale from concept to construction will continue to require strong regional collaboration, innovative funding solutions, and long-term commitment.”  

Opportunities to participate are available both in person and online. Both experiences will include the same information and chances for feedback:   

In Person: June 30, 2025, drop in anytime between 4 and 7 p.m., Herrett Center for Arts and Science, 315 Falls Ave, Twin Falls  

Online: June 30 through July 30, 2025, snakerivercrossing.com  

An additional public meeting is anticipated in early fall. For more information, please visit the project website: itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/snakerivercrossing.   

The Idaho Transportation Department invites community members to attend an upcoming public meeting on Tuesday, June 24, to learn more about and provide input on two transportation studies underway in Latah County: the U.S. Highway 95 Palouse Region Study, between Snow Road and the Latah/Benewah county line, and the State Highway 8 Palouse Region Study, between the Washington state line and Troy.

With current traffic volumes and anticipated growth in the area, both studies were initiated in 2023 to guide future investments to improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity throughout the region. The first steps included identifying transportation needs, environmental and growth considerations, and community goals. From those findings, including the community feedback from the April 2024 public meetings, each study team developed concepts for potential transportation solutions, and the preliminary evaluation results are now ready for community input.

“Public involvement is an important part of the decision-making process and will contribute to the success of these studies,” Project Manager Janet Zarate said. “With the range of concepts available, we look forward to hearing from the community as the feedback helps develop sustainable solutions for transportation in the Palouse Region.”

Opportunities to participate in the public meeting are available both in person and online. Both experiences will include the same information and chances for feedback:

In Person: Tuesday, June 24, drop in anytime between 4 and 7 p.m., Best Western University Inn, Moscow

Online: Available June 17 through July 8 at us95sh8.com

ITD will use this community input as the studies move through the concept evaluation process. Another series of public meetings to share those advancements is anticipated through 2026.

More information about the studies is available at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh8-us95-pel.

ITD will host two open houses next week in Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene to present recommended designs to improve I-90 between the Washington state line and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene. The ongoing study is funded by the Leading Idaho program.

Each open house will present identical information and designs.

Post Falls

• Tuesday, Nov. 1
• 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Red Lion Hotel Templin’s on the River at 414 E 1st Ave

Coeur d’Alene

• Wednesday, Nov. 2
• 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn at 506 West Appleway Ave

For those not able to attend either open house, an online option will share the same information and will be available on Nov. 1 at itdprojects.org/i90corridor.

“Since the first stretch of I-90 was built in Kootenai County in 1960, ITD has made some upgrades, but the number of lanes has not changed,” said Erika Bowen, ITD Project Manager. “With traffic currently congested in various parts of the corridor and volumes expected to double by 2045, ITD is studying the interstate to identify improvements to modernize the system, reduce crashes and save drivers time.”

Proposed improvements include adding lanes on I-90, modifying access and upgrading interchanges with impacts to local roads in both cities. Areas with proposed improvements include:

• Spokane Street and Seltice Way Interchanges
• Northwest Boulevard Interchange
• US-95 and Fourth Street Interchanges
• Seventh Street Bridge
• Sherman Avenue Interchange

Following the study and public input, the recommended projects will be prioritized and advanced into design and construction as funding becomes available.

The study is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.

The corridor is one of 13 approved TECM corridors in the state. Funding for the future design and construction phases on this corridor will be determined based on project readiness and funding availability. Preliminary estimates value the improvements needed in this corridor at $1 billion to $1.2 billion, which includes design, right-of-way and construction costs. A previously funded project to redesign the SH-41 interchange at I-90 is currently under construction.

To stay up to date on the I-90 corridor project, visit itdprojects.org/i90corridor and sign up for email updates.