This week the Idaho Department Transportation sent a notice to the public regarding a passing lanes study completed in 2020. This $3,240,000 study, completed by JUB Engineers, approved by the ITD Board, and funded by the tax payer, revealed that passing lanes could be added to US 20 in the Island Park Caldera and meet the necessary level of service for the highway for two decades. Why did ITD release this study to the public now? Why was it withheld from the public for well over a year? Was this very relevant study available to the people/engineers screening the highway design alternatives? It is time for a “do over” of the entire Planning and Environmental Linkages process. The current effort is totally tainted!
On 7-21-22, the Island Park News published an article about this study in an effort to inform the public. The article follows. Alternate Solution In October of 2019, JUB Engineers, Inc. completed a traffic analysis/report for US 20 from Sheep Falls to Island Park Lodge. This report was referred to as the “No Build Analysis”, Part 1. This report referred to Part 2 of the analysis which was to identify “build alternatives”. In layman’s terms, JUB was to identify design improvements to the current highway to improve the level of service (LOS). A member of the Island Park Preservation Coalition requested a copy of Part 2 of the report from the ITD project team, but after some time did not receive the document. The following explanation was received: “ITD has searched their project files for the document you requested, and has not been able to find it. We are not trying to be difficult or hide anything, the report just isn’t in the files. You are welcome to arrange a time to come to ITD's office and look through the project's electronic files yourself. To formalize this request ITD asks that you file a formal public records request. I’m told the scope of work for JUB changed during the development phase of the project so that is likely the reason the document is not in the project files.” A public records request was submitted to the Idaho Transportation Department in Boise and Part 2 of the report was received in a couple of days. Part 2 was dated February 2020. Why should you care about any of this? Because Part 2 reveals that JUB had developed design alternatives/improvements for the current 2 lane highway in Island Park, that would improve the level service until the year 2042. The improvements included adding passing lanes, redesigning turn lanes and access points, and widening the shoulders to improve safety. The report did not reveal what level of service would be achieved by the improvements. However it did say that ITD required a level of service of B for this type of highway. It did reveal that money was limited and that improvements were prioritized. The report stated that accident numbers on this section of highway are below the state average. ITD did not reveal the information contained in Part 2, at any of the “public meetings”. Further the ITD Board approved the alternative solutions in their Board meeting in September 2019. “Adding passing lanes in these locations will fulfill the purpose and need of these projects to improve mobility along the corridor….” The solutions proposed by JUB are very similar to those proposed at an Island Park Community meeting on June 24, 2022. JUB estimates that the “full build” would cost about $105,619,000 in 2019 dollars. This is in sharp contrast to the estimate for ITD’s four lane alternative of up to $700,000,000! Seven times more taxpayer money. Your money! This price is documented in ITD Board meeting minutes. ITD continues their march toward a four lane while a two lane solution would provide an acceptable level of service through 2042. This would allow time for ITD to design (if needed) a two lane bypass “expressway” to Yellowstone that would totally avoid Island Park and preserve our community. This writer continues to be very concerned about ITD not sharing all of their available information with the public. This is a breach of trust that may never be repaired.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Making Sense of It All
This blog will help you make sense out of all the information on the website, how it affects IP, our history, and how efforts continue to put IP into various forms of conservation status. Archives
May 2023
Categories |