ITD board sets wish list for potential stimulus

The priorities include six road projects that wouldn't otherwise be done. None are in the Valley.

Idaho Statesman, January 8, 2009 By: Cynthia Sewell

Idaho transportation leaders want to spend $94 million on six otherwise unfunded road projects if President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress pass a stimulus package dedicated to infrastructure.

The windfall could create between 2,000 and 4,000 Idaho jobs, officials said.

None of the six roads are in the Treasure Valley, but the region's section of Interstate 84 has been getting - and is expecting to keep getting - most of the borrowed federal dollars from the Connecting Idaho project.

The stimulus projects officials have identified would upgrade treacherous Idaho 95 in North Idaho and jump-start road projects in Pocatello, Twin Falls and East Idaho.

The Idaho Transportation Department board picked these projects during a special meeting Wednesday, and officials say they could be under construction by June.

Several versions of possible stimulus bills are circulating in Washington, and details are still sketchy.

ITD expects Idaho could receive about $100 million for roads. Agency staff had identified $817 million in projects that could be ready for construction within 180 days.

The six board members disagreed on two points on how best to spend the $100 million:

Whether to put the money toward new projects or use it to repair the state's existing roads.

Whether to divide the money equally around the state or give it to the areas with the most need.

Jim Coleman, who represents North Idaho, argued that the state should use one-time money to finance key projects it is unlikely to be able to afford under current revenue sources.

"The chances of us accumulating $40 million or $50 million ... are pretty slim," he said. He also emphasized that the Legislature should commit to financing regular road maintenance, which currently has a $240 million annual shortfall.

The federal stimulus package is a one-time deal and should be used for projects ITD otherwise could not afford, said Monte McClure, who represents Southwest Idaho.

Lee Gagner and Bruce Sweeney, who represent the Idaho Falls and Lewiston areas respectively, opposed targeting the six projects. They supported distributing the money evenly among the six ITD districts to be used for fixing existing roads.

The North Idaho and Treasure Valley areas quickly came off the priority list because they each have major infrastructure projects already under way - the new $100 million bypass in Sandpoint, and $225 million in improvements to I-84 completed or under way in the Treasure Valley. And ITD plans to ask the Legislature this session to authorize an additional $125 million in I-84 improvements in Ada County.

McClure suggested taking the I-84 Vista off the stimulus package priority list, because it can be funded via the existing Connecting Idaho program, and dropping the $40 million Dover bridge project in North Idaho from the No. 1 slot to No. 7, because "we are already spending $100 million up there." The office of Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, is concerned about how quickly Treasure Valley and North Idaho projects came off the project list.

"We are focusing on trying to help communities in the state meet their needs," said Minnick spokesman John Foster. He said the federal stimulus package is "a rare opportunity to try and meet all those needs at once. We certainly look forward to talking more about this."

Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Eagle, who is a former transportation board chairman, said the state is likely to get well over $100 million and the conversation is going to have to continue.

"As the pot increases, we'll see more discussions on other projects," including Treasure Valley and North Idaho projects, he said.

Though none of the projects are in the Treasure Valley, that doesn't mean the Valley would not benefit from federal stimulus road money. All of the state's local road agencies, like Ada County and Canyon County highway districts, will split 12.6 percent of any stimulus money ITD receives.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THE ITD BOARD'S SIX PRIORITY PROJECTS

1. U.S. 93, Twin Falls, new alternate route: $51 million

2. U.S. 95, Moscow mountain, add passing lanes: $5 million

3. U.S. 95, Whitebird grade, add chain-up area: $4 million.

4. , Chubbuck to Pocatello, add new lanes: $25 million

5. Idaho 48, Rigby High School to Yellowstone Highway, add new lanes: $5 million

6. U.S. 20, Henrys Lake flat, add passing lanes: $4 million

Total: $94 million

If the state receives more than $100 million, the next item on the list is rebuilding the Dover bridge on U.S. 2 in Bonner County. $40 million.