Idaho Transportation Department

REGULAR MEETING AND DISTRICT FIVE TOUR

OF THE IDAHO TRANSPORTATION BOARD

May 20-21, 2009

The Idaho Transportation Board met at 10:30 AM, on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, in Pocatello, Idaho. The following principals were present:

Darrell V Manning, Chairman

Bruce Sweeney, Vice Chairman – District 2

Jim Coleman, Member – District 1

Jerry Whitehead, Member – District 3

Gary Blick, Member – District 4

Neil Miller, Member – District 5

Lee Gagner, Member – District 6

Pamela Lowe, Director

Scott Stokes, Deputy Director

Karl Vogt, Deputy Attorney General

Sue S. Higgins, Secretary

Representative Marc Gibbs participated on the tour.

District 5 Tour. Pocatello Airport Manager David Allen provided an overview on the regional facility. The terminal will be re-modeled and expanded soon. The next project will be to update the master plan. Some discussion was held on commercial air service, both at the Pocatello facility and other smaller airports throughout the state. Concern was expressed with the limited commercial service to these facilities.

The Board traveled I-86 east and I-15 south to McCammon. The tour continued east on US-30. Staff summarized the GARVEE projects along the corridor.

The Board returned to Pocatello via US-30 west and I-15 north.

WHEREUPON the tour recessed at 2:45 PM.

May 21, 2009

The Board reconvened at 8:30 AM on Thursday, May 21, 2009, at the Idaho Transportation Department District 5 Office in Pocatello, Idaho. All members were present.

Board Minutes. Member Miller made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on April 15-16, 2009 as submitted. Member Blick seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Board Meeting Dates. The following meeting dates and locations were scheduled:

June 17-19, 2009 – District 3

July 22-23, 2009 – District 1

August 19-20, 2009 – District 6

Consent Calendar. Vice Chairman Sweeney questioned the dollar amount of the consultant service agreement for the US-95, Midvale Hill Rest Area. Chief Engineer (CE) Tom Cole said the services are needed to perform inspection and quality control/quality assurance tasks of structures and electrical and mechanical systems. The oversight needed is extensive. Some discussion was held on the consultant’s expertise and qualifications on buildings. Deputy Director Scott Stokes acknowledged his concern with this request and believes it may be worthy of a follow-up review.

Member Gagner made a motion, seconded by Member Blick, and passed unanimously, to approve the following resolution:

RES. NO. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Idaho Transportation Board

ITB09-19 approves the revisions to Board Policy B-18-06, Employee Education and Training; the FY10 out-of-state travel; the addition of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act FY09 National Summer Transportation Institute Program; removals and advances to the District 4 State Highway Pavement Preservation and Restoration Programs; the addition of STC-2841, City of Rocks Back Country Byway Stage 4, Cassia County to FY09 of the Program; Local Highway Technical Assistance Council Program Changes; the request for consultant services, US-95, Midvale Hill Rest Area, District 3; and the request for consultant services, STC-3811, Pine Road Bridge, District 3; and has received and reviewed the contract award information and the professional services agreements and term agreement work task report.

1) Revisions to Board Policy B-18-06, Employee Education and Training. This policy was revised to include an Equal Employment Opportunity statement supporting access to training. The requirement to report annually to the Board was deleted because training activities are being reported as part of the annual Human Resources presentation.

2) FY10 Out-of-State Travel. The FY10 out-of-state travel request of $249,800 is a reduction of $131,100, or 34%, from the preliminary request presented to the Board last year. This reduction is a result of a strategic review to ensure that travel plans are restricted to mission critical needs. This is in line with other recent efforts and reflects the Department’s commitment to maximizing efficiency.

3) Addition of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) FY09 National Summer Transportation Institute Program. ITD received a grant of $58,988 for the summer 2009 University of Idaho Junior Engineering, Math and Science Program. This program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration Office of Civil Rights through the On-the-Job Training/ Supportive Services under the ARRA of 2009. The workshop is designed to impact the way in which science, math and engineering are perceived by high school students, especially young women and students from under-represented groups. Staff requested approval to amend the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to include the FY09 National Summer Transportation Institute Program.

4) Removals and Advances to the District 4 State Highway Pavement Preservation and Restoration Programs. The US-20, Gannett Road to Silver Creek Bridge, Blaine County, key #7028, and the US-20, North Picabo Road to Silver Creek Road, Blaine County, key #11613 projects were advanced and obligated very late in FY08, but were not removed in time for the September Board item requesting approval of the FY09-13 STIP. The removal of these projects from the STIP is being requested. Additionally, staff requested advancing the FY11 US-93, 100 North Road to Newman’s Corner, Jerome County, key #9213 and the FY13, SH-24, Milner Gooding Canal to Shoshone High School, key #11606, projects to FY09 to utilize the funding made available through the removal of the other two projects.

5) Addition of STC-2841, City of Rocks Back Country Byway Stage 4, Cassia County to FY09 of the Program. Staff requested adding the City of Rocks Back Country Byway Stage 4, project to FY09 of the Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program and to amend the STIP accordingly. An earmark of $1.96 million was allocated to the City of Rocks Back Country Byway in the FY09 Appropriations Act. This congressional earmark will be used to partially fund Stage 4, reconstructing a 1 mile segment to complete the multi-stage reconstruction of the Byway. It also includes seal coating and striping the entire 16.7 mile route. Stage 4 is designed and the Plans, Specifications, and Engineering package is complete. The cost of this stage is $3.2 million with construction engineering and contingencies. Stage 3 will be awarded in May and the bid savings of approximately $2.8 million will be used to fund the remainder of Stage 4.

6) Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) Program Changes. STC-5808, Moyie Highway, Boundary County, key #9263 and STC-3837, Strike Dam Cutoff Road, Elmore County, key #9982 are scheduled in FY10. These two projects can be delivered in FY09 and the sponsors are able to provide the required match. The City of Plummer requests removal of Local, Pavement Management, Plummer, key #11224 from FY09 because the work has been completed. There is a balance of $3.7 million in FY09 of the Local Rural Program. LHTAC requested advancing keys #9263 and #9982 to FY09 and amending the STIP accordingly.

7) Consultant Services. The Midvale Hill Rest Area Rehabilitation, Washington County, key #9979 project was awarded in December 2008 to WF Construction & Sales, LLC in the amount of $1.4 million. Construction is in progress and estimated for completion in November 2009. Staff is requesting additional consultant construction support by the designer, Forsgren Associates, Inc. The services are needed to perform inspection and Quality Control/Quality Assurance tasks of structures and electrical and mechanical systems and provide design support through the construction phase. The estimated cost is $125,200, bringing the total term agreement amount to $351,200. This amount exceeds the policy limit of $250,000. There are sufficient obligated project funds for the requested work task agreement.

8) Consultant Services. STC-3811, Pine Road Bridge, Mountain Home, Bridge #19885, key #10550, was originally programmed as a bridge rehabilitation project to repair abutments and piers that had been damaged by scour. T-O Engineering, Inc. was selected from the Term Agreement List to develop the project for construction in FY10. When the Concept Report was developed, the damage was revealed to be more extensive than anticipated. A subsequent bridge evaluation resulted in a lower sufficiency rating. The consensus was that replacing the bridge would be a better value than repairing the structure. LHTAC plans to reschedule the bridge replacement project to Preliminary Development until a concept report is approved. The project sponsor, Mountain Home Highway District, would like to continue using T-O Engineering to develop the replacement project. Design costs are estimated at $350,000. LHTAC requested authorization to continue using the engineering services of T-O Engineering for the Pine Road Bridge project, with the design costs exceeding the $250,000 limit set by policy.

9) Contract Awards. Key #11901 – I-84, Dynamic Message Sign Relocation, District 3. Low bidder: Quality Electric, Inc. - $311,848.

Key #9345 – SH-55, Smiths Ferry to Round Valley, District 3. Low bidder: Staker & Parson Companies dba IS&G - $1,494,141.

Keys #8619 and #8620 – US-30, Lund to Hegstrom Road and Hegstrom Road to East of SH-34 Junction, District 5. Low bidder: Staker & Parson Companies dba JBP - $15,231,027.

Key #8389 – US-95, Lincoln Way Interchange #12, District 1. Low bidder: N A Degerstrom, Inc. - $1,183,199.

Key #11093 – US-30, Pegram Road to Alton Road, Bear Lake County, District 5. Low bidder: - Staker & Parson Companies dba JBP $1,594,150.

Key #10451 – City of Rocks Back Country Byway, Stage 3, District 4. Low bidder: Staker & Parson Companies dba JBP - $2,578,325.

Key #9728 – Kootenai Street Paving, District 1. Low bidder: Interstate Concrete & Asphalt Company - $293,521.

Key #11892 – US-95, FY10 District 2 Sealcoats. Low bidder: Poe Asphalt Paving, Inc. - $317,985.

The low bid on key #11479 – SH-28, Baker to Salmon, District 6, was more than ten percent over the engineer’s estimate, requiring justification. The majority of the difference was in the PG 58-34 Asphalt Cement for Superpave and CMS-2S Dil Emul Asphalt for Recycled Pavement items. The District believes these items were bid higher than the engineer’s estimate because the price of asphalt has remained high. When the engineer’s estimate was compiled, asphalt prices were somewhat lower than they currently are and staff anticipated seeing some modest relief in the price of asphalt. Given the current shortage in asphalt supply, it is unlikely that lower asphalt prices will be seen in the near future. The District has identified funds from another project that can be shifted to this project to fund it completely, so recommends awarding this project. Low bidder: H-K Contractors, Inc. - $2,277,145.

Key #9848 – Airport Road, Twin Falls, Stage 2, District 4. Low bidder: Hap Taylor & Sons, Inc. dba Knife River - $2,425,316.

Key #9751 – SH-5, Fairgrounds to 20^th Street, St. Maries, District 1. Low bidder: Safco, Inc. - $207,963.

Key #9876 – South 5^th Interchange to Chubbuck Road, Phase 2, Pocatello, District 5. Low bidder: Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc. - $589,589.

The low bid on key #9386 – SH-34, 5^th North to Soda Springs North City Limits, District 5, was more than ten percent over the engineer’s estimate, requiring justification. The variance between the Engineer’s Estimate and the low bid was in the Pavement Reinforcement Geosynthetic item. The Engineer’s Estimate Unit Price for this item was significantly lower than prices obtained from vendors; however, it was not increased to reflect the vendor quotes. The District has identified funding for the higher bid and recommends awarding the contract. Low bidder: Johnson Excavation - $482,276.

10) Professional Services Agreements and Term Agreement Work Task Report. From March 28 through April 28, $916,495 in new professional services agreements and work tasks were processed. The 10 agreements were issued for local projects and because resources were not available in house and special expertise was required. Three supplemental agreements to existing agreements were processed in the amount of $3,030,000 during this period.

Board Items. Chairman Manning said the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (WASHTO) annual meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington in July. Due to the financial situation, he suggested only one Board member attend the conference this year. Member Coleman said he would like to attend.

As a follow-up to last month’s work session and Member Gagner’s suggestion to establish a Board Subcommittee on Accountability, Chairman Manning said Director Lowe has established an internal team, the Performance Management Team. Its charge is to oversee performance measures. Chairman Manning asked if a Board member would be willing to serve on this team to provide guidance and be a Board liaison. Without objection, Member Gagner will join this team, with Member Whitehead serving as alternate.

Chairman Manning summarized the Department’s revenue enhancing legislation. The additional revenue in FY10 is estimated at $25 million. In FY11 the revenue is expected to provide an additional $45 million to $50 million. Chairman Manning noted the revenue is not sufficient to address the Department’s funding needs. It is important to be fiscally conservative and review all expenditures. Some measures to consider are to focus on preserving the existing system and limiting expansion projects; review maintenance priorities and consider reducing some of those activities; and review all of the Department’s fees and increase those to ensure they cover the costs of the services being provided. He encouraged the Board to think of other ways to address the revenue shortfall. Member Gagner believes development fees are a viable option. He suggested creating a task force to pursue development agreements.

Chairman Manning said he and Member Whitehead met with Mark Bowen, representing the CEO Transportation Coalition. Chairman Manning suggested the group participate in the legislative-authorized task force on transportation funding. He elaborated on the task force, which is to make its recommendations to the legislature in 2011. He noted the additional work the task force will require of staff.

Director’s Report. Director Lowe reported on activities related to the Governor’s Executive Order on improving the Department’s accountability. A number of vendors demonstrated pavement maintenance systems. Staff is reviewing the capabilities of those systems and anticipates finalizing the acquisition of a pavement management system next month. She will provide a CPM on a project schedule system next month. A baseline schedule for establishing the statewide transportation plan has been developed. Staff will begin collecting performance measures data on July 1, with the first report due in October.

Director Lowe provided an update on activities at the federal level. Congress is revisiting the REAL ID Act and is considering making the requirements less stringent. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing planning requirements that may conflict with the current Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. Staff will continue monitoring those activities. There continues to be concern with insufficient funding for the Highway Trust Fund. Additionally, the administration is considering eliminating contract authority, which would make it more difficult to plan projects, as the funding apportionments would not be known in advance. Discussions on reauthorization of the transportation bill include an emphasis on intermodalism, a national strategic plan, and national performance measures.

Director Lowe was pleased to report that Idaho is one of the top 5 states in the nation for obligating its ARRA funds for highway projects. Seven of the eight projects on the state highway system have been advertised. Staff will continue working with LHTAC to obligate funds for the local projects. There may be opportunities to streamline that process, as the majority of projects are seal coats. Chairman Manning expressed appreciation to Pete Hartman, FHWA Division Administrator, and his staff for the assistance they have provided with this effort.

The out-of-state travel budget for FY10 was reduced by $150,000, according to Director Lowe. Only travel that is critical to the Department’s mission is being authorized and the number of staff members attending annual meetings such as WASHTO is being reduced.

Director Lowe reported that Mary Hunter, Manager, Office of Highway Safety, has been appointed to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Subcommittee on Traffic Safety. Equal Employment Opportunity Manager Karen Sparkman has been selected vice president of the WASHTO Civil Rights Subcommittee.

In conclusion, Director Lowe said two statewide employee meetings were held recently to announce the organizational values and performance management plans. Workshops related to the values will be conducted this summer.

Adopt-A-Highway (AAH) Presentation. District AAH coordinator Sharon Short recognized school bus drivers Judy Smith and Carole Hymas for adopting US-89 from milepost 11 to 13 in 2004. She also acknowledged the Pebble Creek Ski Patrol for its AAH efforts. The group has been picking up litter along I-15, milepost 59-61, since 2002. She thanked both groups for their valuable contributions.

Legislative Report. Governmental Affairs Program Manager (GAPM) Mollie McCarty provided a summary of the 2009 legislative session. ITD will receive additional revenue through several measures: increased Division of Motor Vehicle fees; removing Idaho State Police from the Highway Distribution Account distribution formula; the establishment of a national trailer plate and registration fee; and the repeal of the ethanol exemption. The design-build proposal did not pass. Legislation to extend the US-95, Garwood to Sagle corridor to include the Wyoming Avenue to SH-53 portion to the south also failed.

GAPM mentioned the legislative task force established to review transportation funding. The group will consist of 15 members, including Chairman Manning and another Board member. It is to consider revenue sources for maintenance and preservation of highways and bridges. The Task Force is to provide findings and recommendations to the Governor by December 1, 2010 and present draft legislation during the 2011 session.

Chairman Manning thanked GAPM McCarty for the report.

Annual Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC) Report. PTAC Chairman Joe Herring said the Council worked in collaboration with ITD and the Interagency Working Group to redefine the roles and responsibilities of the various leadership groups working to improve mobility within Idaho. Emphasis was placed on efficiencies, partnerships, and collaboration. Efforts are continuing on Idaho’s Mobility and Access Pathway. All seventeen Local Mobility Management Networks were established, providing the initial entry point for all communities to define mobility needs, strategies, and priorities. All developed local coordination plans. Six District Coordination Councils were established, improving the focus on district and local network coordination, partnerships, and collaboration. Efforts are currently underway to incorporate the various private sector groups.

PTAC Chair Herring said ARRA funding was pursued. ITD staff considered performance management metrics for sub-grantees. The license for “Rideshareonline.com” was purchased for the entire state, providing every community use of the ridematching software free of charge.

Public Transportation Administrator Randy Kyrias commented on the numerous initiatives underway. Additionally, the Division is assuming responsibility for the Enhancement Program.

Chairman Manning thanked Messrs. Herring and Kyrias for the report and for their efforts on public transportation.

Monthly Financial Statement Analysis Program and District Obligation Graphs. Controller Gordon Wilmoth said the Highway Distribution Account year-to-date revenue was $45,000 below the revised forecast. Expenditures for personnel were $4.35 million less than budgeted through the month. In contract construction, the federal and state programs were behind projections by $18 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

Aviation fuel tax revenue received through March was $171,000 below projections. Internal holdbacks have been made to offset this revenue shortfall.

In the GARVEE Capital Projects Fund, $212.4 million of the $213 million from Bond Series 2006 have been expended. The agreement for this bond series runs through May 15, 2009. For Bond Series 2008 A, $41.7 million of the $179 million has been expended. On February 4, 2009, the bond proceeds of $176 million for the Series 2009 A Construction Fund were deposited with Wells Fargo, the Trustee. No draws have been made against the latest Bond Series. During March, $219,525 was transferred to the GARVEE Debt Service Fund for the monthly state match share of debt service.

MTI Amick reported that $132.2 million had been obligated for highway projects in the STIP as of April 30. This is 39% of the planned amount. The total amount obligated for construction projects was $137 million. Obligation information by program and district and project status reports were also presented.

Idaho Transportation Economic Stimulus – State Highway System Enhancement Projects. MTI Amick said the ARRA of 2009 provided Idaho with $182 million in highway funding, with a requirement that 3% be dedicated to Enhancement projects. At a special meeting in March, eight specific projects on the state highway system were approved, along with over $5 million for Enhancements projects, and approximately $28 million for projects on the local system. Staff proposed funding Enhancement projects based on the following emphasis areas: focus on the eight state highway infrastructure projects funded under ARRA; address environmental and wildlife collision mitigation commitments; and accelerate improvements on state routes and rest areas to accommodate persons with disabilities in accordance with the American Disabilities Act.

Member Gagner made a motion, seconded by Member Miller, and passed unopposed, to approve the following resolution:

RES. NO. WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009

ITB09-20 has provided Idaho $181,934,631 in 100% federal funding highway infrastructure projects; and

WHEREAS, such funding has been provided for the expeditious delivery of eligible highway infrastructure projects with priority for those which can be completed by February 17, 2012, are in economically distressed areas, and which maximize job creation and economic benefit; and

WHEREAS, Idaho has experienced throughout the state a reduction in economic activity resulting in significant job loss and hardship in both the public and private sectors of Idaho’s economy; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho Transportation Department has identified state highway system projects to use $5.5 million set aside under the ARRA for surface transportation enhancement activities identified in U.S.C. 23 101(a)(35); and

WHEREAS, such expeditiously delivered projects must be obligated in time to meet rigid deadlines established in the ARRA, ranging from 120 days to one year from the apportionment of ARRA funding to Idaho; and

WHEREAS, funding which does not meet the deadlines established under the ARRA will be redistributed to other states; and

WHEREAS, the Idaho Transportation Board has been provided an overview of the purpose, provisions, and deadlines under the ARRA; and

WHEREAS, the Department’s FY10 budget, which includes $182 million in ARRA funding, was approved during the Idaho 2009 Legislative Session and signed into law by Idaho Governor Otter on May 1, 2009; and

WHEREAS, the proposed state highway transportation enhancement projects can be expeditiously delivered in accordance with the provisions of the ARRA and must be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and be approved by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration prior to being eligible for ARRA funding; and

WHEREAS, certain projects must also be included in the Transportation Management Area and Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Programs to be eligible for ARRA funding.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that staff is authorized to amend the FY09-13 STIP in accordance with the provisions of the ARRA to include the state highway system transportation enhancement projects shown in the table entitled “Stimulus Transportation Enhancement Projects”, as shown as Exhibit 372, which is made a part hereof with like effect, for a total of $5.5 million.

District 5 Action Items from Strategic Plan. Assistant District 5 Engineer Brian Poole said the District is overseeing $112 million in construction activity this year, which is a record amount. He summarized the action items District 5 has identified in support of the Department’s Strategic Plan. Some of the leading through agency performance measures include installing idle limiters in trucks, maintaining a pavement deficiency level of 10% or less, and limiting change orders to 5% or less. Improving customer service efforts include coordinating statewide pavement striping with other districts and scheduling intersection improvement projects. Expanding partnerships is being completed through environmental coordination and participation in coalition meetings. Action items related to investing in our people include establishing flexible work schedules and publishing a quarterly employee newsletter.

Chairman Manning thanked ADE Poole for the informative report.

Draft Board Policy B-01-21, Partnership Culture. Aeronautics Administrator John DeThomas reported on the Partnership Work Group’s efforts to expand and enhance partnerships within ITD. The group wanted to emphasize the importance of this effort via a top level guiding directive. It drafted a Board policy, Partnership Culture. The committee will continue developing a draft administrative policy, developing a steering committee and policy rules, and conducting a survey of best partnership practices.

Vice Chairman Sweeney made a motion, seconded by Member Miller, and passed unopposed, to approve the following resolution:

RES. NO. WHEREAS, it is in the public’s interest for the Idaho Transportation Department

ITB09-21 to work collaboratively with outside agencies and groups in order to maximize the use of scarce resources; and

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Idaho Transportation Board to encourage the enhancement and expansion of partnerships; and

WHEREAS, a Department work group has developed a plan for expanding and enhancing partnerships; and

WHEREAS, the partnership work group has drafted a proposed Board policy to institutionalize a partnership culture within the Department.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board approves the establishment of Board Policy B-01-21, Partnership Culture.

Delegation – Albion Highway District. District 4 Engineer (DE) Devin Rigby said the Albion Highway District was initially on the agenda to request funding to purchase de-icer chemical. This resulted in a miscommunication from a previous Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality project to purchase not only a de-icer unit, but also the necessary chemical. Due to a misunderstanding, the project was closed out before $13,794 was used to purchase the product. Staff believes funding is available in the Local Program and will propose funding the project next month. Some members expressed concern with utilizing capital funds for ongoing operating expenses. The eligibility of these funds for this purchase was also questioned. Staff will review the criteria and ensure purchasing chemical de-icer is a valid use of these federal funds.

Special Events on State Highways. CE Cole summarized Administrative Policy A-12-01, Special Events on State Highways. When an individual or group would like to hold an event within the right of way of the state highway system, it must apply for and obtain an approved special event agreement. If the request is denied, it can be appealed to the respective District Engineer. If the appeal is upheld at the district level, the applicant has the right to a final appeal to the Chief Engineer.

DE Rigby reported on special events on the US-93, Perrine Bridge and the recent request to utilize the structure for an event associated with the upcoming Magic Fest. As a general rule, special events on the Perrine Bridge have been denied due to the critical nature of the structure. US-93 is basically the only entrance to Twin Falls. If it is closed, it results in an approximate 30-mile out of distance travel detour, which can be critical to law enforcement and emergency responders. Congestion and safety are also concerns.

The consensus of the Board was to retain the existing policy.

Executive Session on Legal and Personnel Issues, Section 67-2345(b), and (f), Idaho Code. Vice Chairman Sweeney made a motion to meet in executive session at 11:30 AM to discuss legal and personnel issues. Member Miller seconded the motion and it passed 6-0 by individual roll call vote.

A discussion was held on legal matters related to the US-95, Sand Creek Byway project.

A discussion was held on personnel issues related to the conduct of public officers and the evaluation of public officers.

The Board came out of executive session at 1 PM. No final actions or decisions were made.

New Business. Member Coleman referenced the legislative proposal to add US-95, Wyoming Avenue to SH-53 to the Garwood to Sagle GARVEE corridor. The legislation had overwhelming support before amendments resulted in the bill’s defeat. He believes it is imperative to proceed with this project. This two-mile segment is two lanes. To the south, the highway is four lanes. Upon completion of the GARVEE projects to the north, US-95 will be four lanes. This two-lane stretch will decrease safety and increase congestion. He said the project is included in the categorical exclusion of the GARVEE corridor, so the environmental process has been completed. Additionally, approximately $330,000 in federal earmarks and local funding is available for right-of-way acquisition.

Member Coleman made a motion to direct staff to include the US-95, Wyoming Avenue to SH-53 right-of-way acquisition project in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program in the amount of $330,000. He emphasized that no GARVEE funds are being used for this right-of-way acquisition project and that construction funds have not been secured. Member Blick seconded the motion.

Member Gagner asked for confirmation that this motion does not contradict current GARVEE legislation. DAG Vogt responded that the motion is acceptable. It does not conflict with the law.

The motion passed unopposed.

WHEREUPON, the Idaho Transportation Board’s regular monthly meeting officially adjourned at 1:05 PM.

____________signed ______________

DARRELL V MANNING, Chairman

Idaho Transportation Board

Read and Approved

June 18, 2009

Boise, Idaho