ITD’s refinancing of GARVEE bonds shaves another $15.5M from debt; $41M saved so far

BOISE – Ever since the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) took the leap into the world of Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonding more than 15 years ago to pay for needed highway projects, the department has sought ways to refinance and restructure that debt to be the best possible steward of taxpayer funds.

GARVEE bonding allowed ITD to build expansion projects the driving public needed now rather than have to wait decades for traditional funding methods.

Recently, and for the fourth time overall, the department refinanced GARVEE bonds in order to save on the debt repayment. This latest refinancing saves $15.5 million in debt payments over the life of the bonds. The four refinancings have saved an aggregate estimated $41 million.

GARVEE Program Manager Amy Schroeder and ITD Controller Dave Tolman worked with their teams to take advantage of low interest rates and refinance the 2011 bond series with the last GARVEE bonds sale from the 2017 authorization of $300 million.

The refinance of $61 million of the GARVEE series 2011A bonds at 1.1% resulted in a $15.5M savings. This refinancing took place at the same time as $159M in new bonds issued for project construction and financed at an interest rate of 2.33%.

Help prevent human-caused wildfires along roadways

With heat warnings in place throughout Idaho, widespread drought, and fire danger increasing, we can all do our part to help prevent human-caused wildfires. It only takes one spark from your vehicle to start a fire. Let’s work together to take the necessary precautions when traveling along Idaho highways this summer.

The next time you are going to hit the road, keep the following fire safety tips in mind:

Double check your trailer chains! Be sure they are not hanging low and dragging from your vehicle. The metal can throw sparks easily.
Take caution driving through dry grass or brush, and find a safer place to park! Hot exhaust pipes and heat from your vehicle can quickly catch the tall, dry grass on fire.
Watch your tire pressure. Driving on an exposed wheel rim can cause sparks.
Keep brake pads in shape. If they wear too thin, the metal on metal can make sparks.
Stay up to date on your vehicle maintenance. Leaking fluids and overheating engines can be dangerous fire hazards.
Idaho is too great to litter. Never throw cigarettes out the window.

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The Idaho Transportation Department takes precautions of its own to help prevent wildfires from starting near highways. For more than 10 years, ITD and the Bureau of Land Management have partnered each spring to conduct controlled burns along highways, targeting tumbleweed early before the dry fire season sets in. When the weather heats up, it doesn’t take much for this high risk fuel to take off. Mowing and controlled burns can significantly reduce fire threat by keeping fuels to a minimum.

ITD blocks the road and manages traffic to protect BLM firefighters during the burn. Water crews protect infrastructure and keep the fire under control. Watch the video to see it all in action!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ev1rVdj_Mo

Check with the Idaho Department of Lands, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management for the latest on fire danger in your area. Before you take your next road trip, be prepared and know what current fire restrictions are in place where you are headed. Learn more fire safety tips and find contact information at idahofireinfo.com. Current highway closures and blockages due to wildfire can also be found on 511.idaho.gov.

Heat stresses highways in Latah County

A broomer follows a truck putting down sand

After an early heat wave in June and this last week of extreme heat, Idaho Highways 8 and 9 in Latah County are showing stress.

“Oil is flushing up to the surface of both highways, which can make for slick surfaces,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “We want drivers to show more caution and know that we will continue to use fine sand to blot the moisture and keep the highways safe.”

Sections showing stress include ID-8 near Elk River and ID-9 near the ID-8 junction outside of Deary. Segments of these highways with curves, inclines or intersections where there is also heavy or turning traffic are more likely to be affected.

Over the last week, crews have also removed material to provide a better surface on select sections of ID-9 that received a sealcoat in 2020. Another project will be programmed in the coming years to rehabilitate the driving surface.

Idaho Transportation Department now taking comments for all upcoming projects

Cars cross Lake Pend Oreille on the Long Bridge

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is asking for input on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The 2022-2028 ITIP is a seven-year master plan of the state’s transportation improvement projects. Everyone is encouraged to participate starting in July.

Projects can range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of a new guardrail. In all, the draft ITIP includes projects in all 44 counties and all modes of transportation. Projects were selected based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

A complete breakdown of the draft plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/funding, as well as an interactive map that allows users to learn about projects by narrowing it down to specific categories and locations.

A few of the major projects throughout Idaho are:

Bridge replacement and adding a travel lane on west bound I-86 in Pocatello.
Interchange improvements to the I-15 Exit 113 interchange in Idaho Falls including constructing roundabouts.
Full road reconstruction on ID-33 from the US-20/ID-33 interchange to Newdale.
Replacement of the structure at the I-84/ID-50 Junction (Exit 182).
Replacement of Yankee Fork Bridge on ID-75 in Custer County.
Widening ID-44 from Star Road to Linder Road.
Extending ID-16 from US-20/26 to I-84.
Redesign of the interchange at I-90 and ID-41, with construction planned to start in 2023.
Study to begin this fall to examine potential expansion of US-95 to four lanes from Moscow to north of the Mineral Mountain Rest Area.

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Office of Communication
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in September once the comment period has ended.

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.

Prepare for summer travel with the NEW Idaho 511

As you make your summer travel plans be sure to check out the Idaho Transportation Department’s NEW Idaho 511! The streamlined low bandwidth Idaho 511 website, lb.511.idaho.gov, has now officially retired and the transition to the newest Idaho 511 traveler information website is complete.

Visit 511.idaho.gov to take a tour of the great features and be prepared for your next road trip! Cameras, road reports, traffic speeds, rest area locations, and more are listed in the layers menu on the right side of your screen. Check the boxes next to your preferred map icons to turn them on, and uncheck the boxes to turn off map icons.

On the left side of your screen (or below on a phone or tablet) scenic views, severe weather cameras, and critical events, road closures, or blockages are displayed as they are happening. These give you an instant look at current situations statewide that may have direct impact on your travel.

Saved and bookmarked links should redirect to the newest website, and personalized Your 511 accounts already made the switch in March. Log on now and start saving your favorite cameras and more!

Need some help navigating the new website? Use the onboarding tour to get your bearings and feel free to send us feedback.

ITD Office of Highway Safety partners with law enforcement for safer Fourth of July

This Independence Day, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is working with law enforcement to keep roads free of impaired drivers. July 1-15 officers from at least 60 agencies across the state will dedicate patrols to looking for drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

According to OHS data, impaired driving was the cause of 1,501 crashes in 2019, resulting in 99 deaths in Idaho. There were 8,084 DUI arrests. With COVID restrictions lifting and summer activities ramping back up, many Idahoans are eager to get together with family and friends. Please keep safety in mind when gathering to celebrate.

“We want everyone to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, but it’s important to be responsible on the road,” said OHS Manager John Tomlinson. “As you make your plans for the long weekend, also make a plan for a sober ride home.”

Driving under the influence of any substance is dangerous and illegal. During last summer’s Fourth of July impaired driving campaign, law enforcement officers made 140 DUI arrests. While additional officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers, we can all do our part to keep Idaho’s roads safe. Celebrate with a plan and remember these safe alternatives:

It is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or use a ride sharing service to get home safely.
Wear a seat belt! It is not only the law, it is the best defense in a vehicle. Buckling up helps prevent injury and death if involved in a crash.
If you see a suspected impaired driver use your cell phone in hands-free mode to call *ISP (that’s STAR, I-S-P for Idaho State Police) or 1-800-233-1212.
Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

I-84 overpasses in Minidoka County to close for three weeks in July and August

Two bridges over Interstate 84 near Heyburn will each close for approximately three weeks in July and August so that they can be resurfaced.

The first overpass at 500 West Road is expected to close next Tuesday (July 6), with traffic detoured to the interchange at Idaho Highway 27.

After crews complete work on the first overpass, they will move onto the overpass at South Meridian Road and drivers will need to cross over the interstate at 200 West Road.

Closure of these overpasses will not occur at the same time.

View a map of the detours.

These repairs are part of a larger project that began in late April to resurface thirteen bridges and nine overpasses in the region. This work will help prolong the service life of the structures.

Most bridges will be kept partially open during construction, but completely closing these two allows the general contractor, Cannon Builders, to complete the work sooner.

“By not allowing traffic on these two structures, we’re reducing the overall cost of the project and the impact to travelers,” ITD project manager Bruce Christensen said.

Construction on all bridges is expected to be finished by October of this year. As work shifts from one bridge to another, traffic patterns will change. Check 511.idaho.gov to learn about impacts and timing for each bridge.

Night work to take place this week on ID-75 in Hailey

Overnight work is expected to occur this Thursday (July 1) on Idaho Highway 75 between Fox Acres Road and Airport Way in Hailey. During the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. crews will remove approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt in the center lane and replace it with new material.

This is part of pre-construction testing related to the Hailey Main Street Rehabilitation Project.

“While construction on the roadway is not scheduled to begin until July 12, we must test a portion of the roadway in advance of that work,” ITD Engineering Manager Seth Helms stated. “Testing will include examination of roadway materials as well as the procedures we will use when construction begins to help lessen the impact of operations from July 12 onward.”

Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction while work is underway.

During the compaction stage, ground vibration may be felt in the work zone and immediate surrounding area. Unsecured items may shift during this process.

Motorists are advised to slow down and watch for crew members and heavy equipment while work is underway.

Construction funding identified for widening of the St. Maries Dike

The Idaho Transportation Board has identified $18 million for widening of approximately three miles of Idaho Highway 3 north of St. Maries, with construction to start next fall.

Previously the board had approved $1.5 million for design, which began in April of 2020. Funding for construction comes from money that the department had held back last spring in anticipation of declining gas tax revenue during stay-at-home orders.

“Even with all the changes in 2020, we did not see a big drop in gas tax revenue, which is our primary source of funding,” Engineering Manager Marvin Fenn said. “Now we can use that money we held back to make our highways safer, as is the case with this widening project.”

Plans call for the highway to be widened by 11 feet to the east, making room for 11-foot travel lanes and 3-foot shoulders. To get this extra width, a lightweight, specialized product known as geofoam will be used.

Traditionally, highways are expanded by importing embankment material and building the base outwards, but ID-3 was built on soft soils. Extra weight would collapse the soft soils and cause settlement problems for the highway, and expanding outwards would affect nearby wetlands. The geofoam will allow expansion without adding weight or requiring land to be bought.

“Years ago we had tried to widen a longer section of the highway, but we couldn’t find a way to do it,” Fenn said.

Design plans are nearly complete. Benewah County Road and Bridge is in the process of preparing Goosehaven Road to serve as a detour during construction, which is expected to take several months next year.

“Although we’d like to see the project built this year, this extra time will allow for better bid prices, and we can start construction when the water table is at its lowest,” Fenn said. “The detour will also be ready, and the contractor will have more time to plan staging and get a head start on ordering specialized materials.”

Preliminary work this fall will relocate utilities and remove trees and vegetation.

Learn more at itdprojects.org/stmariesdike.

Work on Interstate 84 in Jerome County to begin next week

Image of I-84 eastbound lanes in Jerome County

Next Tuesday (June 29), crews are expected to sealcoat approximately two miles of Interstate 84 east of Hazelton from milepost 194 to 196.

Only the westbound lanes will be addressed with this project, and traffic in that direction will be reduced to a single lane while work is underway.

“This project should move quickly and is not expected to last for more than two days,” Project Manager Sam Purser said.

Sealcoating is a surface treatment to preserve and extend the lifetime of roadways. It also provides a skid-resistant surface for better traction. The process requires hot temperatures and dry weather for chips to properly adhere to oil that is deposited on the highway.

Chips placed during the sealcoating process have potential to cause windshield damage so drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay attention to reduced speeds and no passing zones throughout the work area.