Submitted by Ken Watts
Last week Ken’s Korner revealed an email from the Idaho Transportation Department, District 6, that may have indicated that the National Highways Administration is not pushing the FREEWAY in the Island Park Caldera. The email certainly shows that ITD, District 6, may be pushing for the FREEWAY. ITD has many levels. Starting from District 6, to the ITD Director, to the ITD Board, and then on to the Governor who appoints the Board. This week, let’s look at the Governor’s Leading Idaho with Transportation initiative. This is what ITD says about it: “District 6 Corridors – What projects will be funded by the leading Idaho TECM (transportation expansion and congestion mitigation) Program? – Governor Little’s Leading Idaho Vision allows ITD to take a deliberate approach to advance projects within the corridor that will enhance safety, mobility, further strengthen Idaho’s economy and positively impact communities across the state for years to come. Focusing on corridor advancement will give the Transportation Board the flexibility to approve project that address Idaho’s rapid growth issues with either the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds or other state and federal funding that becomes available in the future.” If this statement is true, one could conclude that the Governor may be pushing for the FREEWAY. There are things that should be examined in statement above. For example, what does “deliberate” mean? Does this mean ignore the public and the numerous stakeholders in the area? Ken’s Korner has reported on several occasions, that based on ITD data, accidents are not increasing. In fact, US 20 accident rates in the Caldera are below the state average and about 1/3 the national average for a road of this type. This is documented in a JUB Engineers study. Mobility is a vague term. What does it mean in this context? 70 mph is better than 65 mph? If we look at “strengthening Idaho’s economy”, how does moving tourists to Yellowstone faster or moving trucks back and forth to Montana, strengthen Idaho’s economy? And what on earth will be the “positive impact”, on the Island Park community, of a 4 lane, high speed, limited access FREEWAY through the middle of Island Park. Seems like a negative impact. There is no “rapid growth” in the Island Park area and Yellowstone visitation is much lower much lower (~20%) for a host of reasons. Even the campgrounds in the area are seeing less use. The causes could be fuel prices, inflation, and the recession. All these factors blow ITD’s traffic projections out of the water! If Yellowstone National Park implements a reservation system, traffic will be even lower in the future. By the way, a FREEWAY is no longer a FREEWAY but rather a “full control” access highway, according to ITD. This is much like wildlife overpasses are to be called “multiple use crossing structures”. More manipulation of the public and the stakeholders.
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May 2023
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