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Twin Falls commercial registration office closed

Long line of cars behind a truckLong line of cars behind a truck

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has closed the Twin Falls commercial registration and permitting office due to staffing changes.

ITD is working to reestablish commercial registration and permitting at the Hollister Port of Entry. In the meantime, Magic Valley commercial vehicle customers can still conduct business in several ways.

  • E-mail – All e-mails must be sent to cvs@itd.idaho.gov. Please reference your Motor Carrier Account Number on the subject line of your message. Documents must be in PDF format and inserted into your message as an attachment.
  • Boise Headquarters (drop box only, no in-person services) – 11331 West Chinden, Building 8 (do not mail or express mail to this location).
  • Mail – Motor Carrier Services, PO Box 7129, Boise ID 83707 or Express mail – 3311 W State Street, Boise, Idaho 83703.
  • Appointment – To schedule an in-person or phone appointment, go to idaho.gov/poe.
    • Huetter Port of Entry, 2 miles west of Coeur d’Alene on I-90. Phone 208-769-1551
    • Lewiston Port of Entry, 1 mile east of Lewiston on US-12/US-95. Phone 208-799-4824
    • Declo Port of Entry, MP 218.7 on I-84. Phone 208-878-6995
    • Inkom Port of Entry, 8 miles south of Pocatello on I-15. Phone 208-775-3311
    • Marsing Port of Entry, 6 miles south of State Highway 55/US 95. Phone 208-896-4814
    • East Boise Port of Entry, 11 miles east of Boise on I-84. Phone 208-334-3272
    • Sage Junction Port of Entry, 8 miles north of Roberts on I-15. Phone 208-228-3636
  • County DMV Office – County offices can register non-commercial vehicles; commercial-use power units through 26,000 pounds; farm-use power units through 60,000 pounds; annual renewal trailers; and permanent trailers.

All locations can process titles for private sale new purchases. Titles for dealer sales will be handled by the dealer.

ITD reigns for third time at national Snow & Ice Conference

The largest group of competitors ever (about 330) at the Snow & Ice Conference and National Snow Roadeo couldn’t slow down the ITD maintenance team, which won the national “Top Agency” title for the third time in the last four years on September 25! This year, ITD took six competitors to the event – (Pictured below, L to R: TJ Gibson, Sheldon Jones, Jed Gregersen, Dakota Morgan, Jed Henderson and Brandon Steffens).

This year, ITD also had the first individual champion (Gibson in Loader) since Jarrett Porter did it in the same event back in 2001. In fact, ITD swept the top three places in the Loader event, with Morgan taking the runner-up slot and Gregerson finishing 3rd.

The duo of Steffens and Gregerson also won this year’s Single Axle Snowplow team event, while Steffens was 2nd in Skid Steer. The team of Gibson and Henderson came in 2nd in Snowplow Tandem Axle.

Henderson and Steffens have been members of all three national title-winning teams.

“In Idaho, our first priority is work zone safety, and by being the best in maintenance equipment safety operations we minimize time in work zones for employees and the traveling public,” emphasized ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney. “ITD is very proud of our 6-member team for winning the 2024 National Maintenance Safety Equipment Rodeo last week in Colorado, proving our commitment to be the best of the best in the nation, which we have been now 3 of the last 4 years!”

Several team members also had very positive things to say about the experience:

ITD would also like to thank Kelley Dick and Alan Huey for their leadership with the district, state and national roadeo events!

In addition to another team title, the ITD squad delivered top finishes in various events as mentioned earlier. The ITD contingent has performed well over the years in Colorado, with 50 Top 10 finishes on various pieces of equipment

ITD starting popular ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Idaho Department of Education are working together to kick off the first ever annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest. Other states and highway departments across the country conduct similar campaigns with great success. 

Starting October 1, eighth grade students across Idaho are invited to participate with their classrooms to submit a name. Contest entries will be accepted through the month of October with winning names announced by 2025. 

“Our snowplow drivers are very thankful to schools that are able to join this fun educational opportunity and help increase winter driving safety awareness!” ITD Chief Operations Officer and Deputy Director Dan McElhinney said.  

Two plows in each of six Idaho regions will be selected through voting by ITD employees. Winning names will be displayed directly on ITD plows, with winners awarded a visit to their school by that plow and driver to talk about winter safety. News media will also be invited to attend plow naming events.  

This contest is a partnership between ITD and the Idaho Department of Education for teachers in eighth grade classrooms to opt in, with the hopes of sharing winter driving safety messages as this age group will soon be in driver’s education classes. Another goal of adding unique names on plows is to cause all drivers to take a second look and be patient when driving through the winter.  

“This contest is such a fun way to engage students with a safety message that’s essential to our young drivers, especially as the weather cools and winter approaches,” Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said. “I’m grateful for the partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department and am definitely looking forward to seeing some student-named plows on the road this winter.” 

More information regarding the contest winners and plow naming events will be released once the submission and voting deadlines have passed.

Contest rules can be found on ITD’s website.

Two ITD snowplows. One has been digitally altered to say "Winning Name Here" on the front of the plow.

Name a Snowplow

Two ITD snowplows. One has been digitally altered to say "Winning Name Here" on the front of the plow.

For the first time ever, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is naming snowplows! Name A Snowplow is a fun way to spread awareness about snowplow safety, foster a sense of ownership among the community, and teach future drivers how to be safe when driving near snowplows. We are partnering with the Idaho Department of Education to collect name ideas from Idaho 8th graders. This age group was selected because they are about to attend driver’s education.  

We are asking 8th grade classrooms to come up with names and submit them by October 31, 2024. Instructions for how to submit names will be distributed to teachers through the Idaho Department of Education. ITD will also distribute educational materials about snowplow safety.  

Contest Rules: 

Eligibility 

  • Open to 8th grade classrooms.
  • Classrooms must be located in Idaho.

Submission Guidelines 

  • One name per classroom.
  • Names must be appropriate | MAX 15 characters (including spaces).
  • Submit name via Microsoft Form (Please only submit if you are teacher or homeschool parent).

*If the same name is submitted by multiple classrooms, only the first entry received will be considered. 

Selection Process 

  • Names must be submitted by October 31.
  • ITD employees will vote on submissions in November.
  • 12 winning names will be selected—two from each of Idaho’s six regions—and winners announced by early January. Names will be featured on the plows’ blades.
  • Winning classrooms will receive recognition and a special visit from the snowplow bearing its chosen name. Media will be invited to cover the event.

Additional Information 

  • Classrooms are free to conduct their own internal voting to select their submission.
  • Submissions that do not meet the criteria will be disqualified.
  • By submitting a snowplow name, you grant ITD all rights to use, display and publish the name for promotional purposes.

Timeline

  • Classrooms submit names October 1 to 31, 2024.
  • ITD Employees vote on names in November 2024.
  • Winners announced December 2024.
  • Plow visits with winning classrooms/schools December 2024 through January 2025.

Interested in participating? 

US-20 South Rexburg Exit to close starting Monday

Road closed signs at Exit 332 on US-20 in Rexburg.

REXBURG­­—U.S. Highway 20 Exit 332 for University Boulevard in Rexburg will fully close starting Monday, September 30, for crews to complete final paving and striping operations. Work is not expected to take more than a few days, and the exit will be re-opened as soon as it is completed.

This closure was purposefully scheduled during Madison School District’s harvest break to least affect traffic. Detours include Exit 328 (Thornton), Exit 333 (Main Street) and Exit 337 (North Rexburg). After re-opening next week, construction work at Exit 332 will be minimal and off the roadway.

Construction does continue at Exit 333, with one lane running in each direction. These projects to create safe and efficient diverging diamond interchanges at both Rexburg exits are still expected to be complete later this fall.

For more information about this project, visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us20rexburg. Drivers can also use the 511 app to see current status on this and other Idaho projects.

Interchange construction on SH-53 set to begin in October aimed at reducing railroad crossings on the prairie

Aerial view of vehicles waiting for a train where Pleasant View Road intersects with SH-53.

The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning construction of an interchange at State Highway 53 and Pleasant View Road in early October. The project will enhance safety in this highly traveled corridor by ultimately eliminating three railroad/vehicle crossings, streamlining access to SH-53, and increasing capacity on key routes. Work will include these primary improvements:

• Constructing a diamond interchange at SH-53 and Pleasant View Road.
• Removing access to SH-53 from four roads: Hauser Lake Road, Hollister Hills Road, Prairie Avenue, and McGuire Road.
• Expanding Pleasant View Road to two lanes in each direction through the interchange.
• Widening SH-53 to two lanes in each direction with a new center median through the project limits.

Crews will start construction with tasks that likely won’t affect existing traffic flow for the remainder of the year. Impacts to drivers are anticipated to start in spring 2025.

This project was first identified in 2006 as part of the Bridging the Valley Study. The BTV’s goal was to improve safety by separating vehicle and train traffic in the 42-mile corridor between Spokane, Washington, and Athol, Idaho. The final design was completed in 2015 with input from interested parties and the community.

In mid-2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration awarded ITD a grant which made construction of this project possible now, rather than years in the future. The grant program was created to improve safety at rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families.

“Communities along SH-53 are regularly impacted by noise and blocked traffic as trains move through this area,” said Project Manager James Dorman. “This project will minimize conflict points and streamline traffic by bringing them safely through the Pleasant View Road interchange.”

Additional financial contributions were made by ITD’s partnering organizations: BNSF Railway and the Post Falls Highway District. The estimated construction cost of this project is $30 million.

People are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the project website and subscribing to emails at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh53corridor. For statewide traffic information, visit 511.idaho.gov or download the app.

 

 

New traffic signal will be installed at intersection of US-93 and SH-25

Traffic Signal

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will install a new traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and State Highway 25 in Jerome. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall, in conjunction with work at US-93 and 300 South.

ITD has been conducting engineering analysis on this intersection for several years to determine the need for a traffic signal to ensure safe traffic mobility. Based on traffic volumes, ITD is preparing to install a signal. Electrical conduit and components were installed at this intersection during a past project to aid in future construction.

Historically, signal components have been on backorder so a completion date for the installation has not been identified but ITD anticipates beginning construction this fall with a final completion in the spring.

Construction near Riggins to prevent rocks from falling onto US-95

Starting Monday, roadside construction will commence on U.S. Highway 95 between Riggins and the Time Zone Bridge to reduce the chance of rockfall. Workers will knock down insecure rocks and install rock anchors to stabilize the hillside above US-95.

Travelers can expect intermittent delays of up to 20 minutes while overhead debris is removed and anchors are installed. The travel lane width may be restricted in the work zone and slower speeds are encouraged for safety. Construction is slated to conclude through November.

Rockfall mitigation efforts remain a priority in this region because of the complex geology. This work will significantly increase safety by reducing the risk of future rock falls and prevent damage to the roadway.

The cost for the project is just over $1.6 million.

Live traffic impacts across the region from this project and others including construction near Whitebird can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Don’t want to come into the Port of Entry? Try pre-clearance devices

Inspector David Larsen looks on as trucks drive through the East Boise Port of Entry.
Here are some tips for your pre-clearance devices that may help you legally bypass the port.

Using your license plate for pre-clearance

Idaho weigh-in-motion stations are equipped with License Plate Readers (LPR) that read a vehicles plate number to then determine compliance based on all credentials and safety data that is linked to that plate number. This technology allows Commercial vehicles to be screened without the need of a transponder.

The information listed below will help ensure that your license plate is read correctly when going through one of the locations.

  • Mount the plate in accordance of Idaho statue 49-428:
    • Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned to prevent the plate from swinging, be at a height not less than twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, be in a place and position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible, and all registration stickers shall be securely attached to the license plates and shall be displayed as provided in section 49-443(4), Idaho Code.
  • Ensure front-end safety equipment and license plate holders are not obscuring your license plate.
  • Bent and or distorted plates should be straightened out or replaced.
A semi truck with front license plate partially covered.
LPR camera cannot read a partially covered plate.

Using your transponder for pre-clearance

Your transponder should be placed in the top, center of your windshield where a rear-view mirror would be in a car, below any metal visors that could block the signal.

If you update your registration or any other vehicle information, you need to contact your transponder provider to keep your information up to date.

If you are still having trouble gaining pre-clearance with your transponder, come into the port office to have one of our inspectors run a report to find out exactly WHY you are being pulled in.

ITD communicators recognized with national awards from AASHTO

ITD’s Office of Communication received two national awards from AASHTO’s Committee on Transportation Communications (TransComm) today (September 24) at their annual meeting in Atlanta. AASHTO is the nation’s premiere transportation governing body.

Idaho won an award for “Best Use of a Single Social Media Platform” in recognition of phenomenal growth within the Instagram account – a 200% increase this year. The social media accounts are managed by Josie Bisgard, with input from each of the district PIOs around the state. The department also has Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube accounts.

ITD also won in the Writing category for “Article with DOT Byline” for a piece from Mark Pfeifer detailing how the Powell crew in north-central Idaho helped rescue an injured woman who’d fallen 200 feet down an embankment into Weir Creek. Here’s the link to that article: https://www.clearwaterprogress.com/news/itd-crew-recognized-for-help-in-rescue/article_f9ffdac0-0a52-11ee-8a09-2381c69a79f8.html

“It is so gratifying to receive this national recognition and be able to highlight some of the amazing work our communication team does each and every day,” said Office of Communication Manager John Tomlinson.  “I am so proud of our entire staff!”