ITD Communication Portal

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1. What is the likely level of impact to facility users (motorists, pedestrians, non-motorized, etc.)?

While somewhat subjective, this question allows ITD staff to consider such factors as ADT, facility type, Level of Service (LOS), and anticipated traffic impacts in determining user impact. Each of these factors will vary among impacts and from area to area. As such, an overall anticipated impact to the traveling public should be weighed. Also consider the time of the year work is occurring. In farming areas for examples, the impact to truck traffic may be greater during harvest.

When considering traffic impacts, such as detours and delay times, assume the following:

• Very Low: No impact or minor speed reduction.
• Low: Partial road closure with minimal delay or speed reduction.
• Moderate: Partial road closure with moderate delays or significant speed reduction.
• High: Partial road closure with shared lane and significant wait time.
• Very High: Complete road closure with significant detour and delay.

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2. What is the anticipated level of interest from government elected officials or influential appointed government officials?

Depending on the type of impact, elected officials can have varying levels of interest and involvement. The mayor of a city that is closing down their section of the highway for a parade or road race may be concerned about its impact on local business, or a state representative may be very involved in the proposed shipment of mega loads through his/her district.

Consider the impact this effort will have on local government. Is there a mayor, county commissioner or state representative particularly interested in the success of this impact? Are there factors associated with this impact that have drawn political interest beyond its effect on the traveling public?

Political interest also is not limited to elected officials. Some cities have highly influential appointed city managers, and some actions may be strongly supported or opposed by an Idaho Transportation Board member.

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3. Historically, how has the public reacted to transportation impacts in the area?

Over time, transportation department personnel and project teams come to know and recognize geographic areas or special groups of people who have a history of particular reactions to transportation impacts. This historical perspective is vital to consider in planning for public involvement and outreach. Reviewing project histories and conversing with past project managers or team members is useful in discovering which areas or groups have strong opinions about the department in general or about specific transportation impacts in this area, positive or negative.

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4. How much agency and special interest involvement do you anticipate?

Closely related to political considerations is the level of interest and coordination necessary with affected agencies and special interest groups. A morning parade on a minor arterial within the limits of one city, for example, will require far less agency coordination than would a nationally recognized bicycle race running through multiple cities and spanning several counties. Care should also be taken to consider Native American tribes, non- and quasi-governmental agencies (such as school districts), environmental and other special interest groups, and neighborhood and other citizen/community groups. Close coordination with existing groups will provide a strong foundation upon which other outreach activities can be built, be it coordination with one neighborhood and one city or multiple agencies and municipalities.

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5. What is the typical functional class of the impacted roadway(s)?

The functional class of the roadway is a good indicator of a highway's importance for moving vehicles on the state highway system. Principal arterials and interstates are usually more critical to the movement of travelers, commuters and freight. Therefore, road closures, detours and delays on these roads will have a greater impact to the public than they would on a minor or major collector. Refer to the ITD Functional Class Guide to determine what category your impacted roadway is in. If this incident will be impacting multiple roadways, determine what classification is most common. Remember, it is always safer to lean on the higher class than the lesser.

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6. Does the roadway have a special designation in the impacted area?

Idaho's history, unique landscapes and natural resources attract visitors from throughout the state and the world. The state highway system is the key link to accessing, visiting and viewing these features. Roadways used for these purposes are typically more heavily used and therefore have greater public interest when there is the potential for delays, detours and closures. Additionally, transportation impacts near environmentally sensitive areas have the potential for greater interest in natural resource protection from the public and environmental/activist organizations.

Visit the following resources to assist in determining what designations apply to your impacted roadway(s):

• Adjacent to a Wild & Scenic River: The National Wild & Scenic Rivers website provides a list of all waterways in Idaho designated Wild & Scenic Rivers.
• Byway Designation: Idaho's Scenic Byways website provides a listing of all scenic, all-American and historic byways in the state.
• Adjacent to/runs through State or National Park(s): The Idaho State Parks and Recreation website provides a list and map of all state parks. Craters of the Moon National Monument on U.S. 20 is the only park operated by the National Park Service in Idaho that borders a highway. Yellowstone National Park is partially in Idaho but not adjacent to any highways. However U.S. 20, 26 and state highways 31 and 33 could be considered impacted by Yellowstone travelers.

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7. How many residential or business properties are in the area?

Considering the sheer number of directly affected stakeholders and the likely impacts to them is a sound measure for analyzing outreach need. Impacted properties are often in the impacted area, but they may also be outside of it where traffic is backing up or on a detour route. Also consider the time of the year work is occurring. In farming areas, for example, the impact to properties may be greater during harvest.

Care should be taken, however, not to assume too much based solely on the number of affected properties. While a larger number provides a good case for a larger effort, often intense impacts directly to a small number of stakeholders can be just as demanding in terms of public outreach and involvement.

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8. How much negative economic impact might this have on businesses in the area?

Some impacts, such as a town festival, may actually have a positive effect on business by drawing more people to town. This question is concerned with the potentially negative impacts to business that may have their access blocked or are in an area where traffic is being detoured around their storefront. Business owners that perceive a loss in business due to a transportation impact, real or not, often demand targeted stakeholder outreach by ITD staff and/or permit requestor.

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9. What is the anticipated duration of the impacts?

The calendar length of potential impacts is a strong indicator of communication need. History has taught ITD that the public can endure almost any impact for a brief period of time, if the appropriate notification is provided and adequate accommodation is made for alternative means of getting from here to there. When impacts are stretched over an extended length of time, a more rigorous public involvement and outreach campaign is typically warranted.

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Additional Scoring Consideration: Are there controversial aspects to this impact not associated with its effect on the road, area residents and the traveling public?

Sometimes interest in the impact is not generated by its effect on travelers, agencies and property owners, but rather by the nature of the event. For example, a highway closure on a major arterial for the movement of heavy equipment may have little impact to the general public and move through with very little controversy. However, if the equipment being moved is for oil drilling or nuclear power generation, issues that are perceived as controversial by specific environmental/activist groups, the necessary level of public outreach automatically increases as the impact draws more public interest.