Overview
SH-44 runs west to east through Middleton and Star, providing a critical connection north of the Boise River between Ada and Canyon counties. As the population grows in Canyon County, rising traffic volumes and congestion through sections of the corridor have reinforced the need for a modernized SH-44.
Traffic volumes along SH-44 are expected to almost double by 2050, driving renewed urgency to identify corridor improvements, that effectively and efficiently accommodate travel.
Project Status
In 2024, ITD engaged key stakeholders and the public to gather input toward identifying corridor transportation improvements.
The first public meeting took place in January 2024, sharing the draft purpose, needs, and goals and soliciting feedback from the public. Informed by updated data, the draft purpose, needs and goals were developed in collaboration with local planning experts and city and county officials to reflect the current state of the corridor.
Incorporating feedback and local agencies, the project team identify solutions that reflect the community’s needs. These concepts were presented at the section public meeting in April 2024 as the PEL Level 1 Screening. The project team again sought feedback from the public to further refine the designs.
PEL Level 2 Screening results were presented at open houses in September 2024. Four alternatives for the SH-44 corridor were displayed alongside concepts for the Star Road intersection.
The final PEL recommendations were presented at open houses in Middleton and Star on August 26, 2025 and August 27, 2025, respectively.
The project team is now compiling documentation and preparing to begin the environmental phase in early 2026.
What is a PEL?
ITD is implementing the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) process to identify and screen potential transportation improvements for SH-44 from I-84 to Star Road.
The PEL process is a collaborative approach to decision-making for transportation projects. Used to gather data and input from the community and stakeholders, PEL helps to understand a project’s needs and goals and identify solutions before moving into the detailed analyses required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Once improvements are selected, the project will transition into NEPA. The PEL process follows guidelines defined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) so that public and agency input, documentation, and evaluations may be used as the project advances into NEPA.
Throughout the project, ITD will coordinate with the FHWA to meet concurrence requirements, documenting the process so that the project can efficiently advance through federal approvals.
Resources
Project Resources
Existing Corridor Conditions Report
Contact Us
Email: info@idaho44corridor.com for more information.
Information compiled and evaluations completed as part of the current project PEL process may be adopted or incorporated by reference into a future environmental review process to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.