The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has voted 17-3 in favor of the ITD board's recommendation for GARVEE bonding for next year, which the transportation board says will be its last such request. The bonding plan totals $162 million, and is all for construction - $79.4 million for the Garwood to Sagle project on Highway 95 in North Idaho, and $77.9 million for the Idaho 16 project from the junction of I-84 to Emmett. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, who supported the motion, said she and other North Idaho members of JFAC "continue to be disappointed that the Sagle portion of the Garwood to Sagle isn’t included in this request, and will continue to push for future funding of that piece." But she said she was "pleased that JFAC recognizes the need to continue to improve safety on Highway 95 north of Coeur d’Alene."

GARVEE bonds are paid off with future federal highway allocations. This request is the last in a multi-year effort that paid for major construction projects in seven highway corridors across the state. The Highway 16 project is in the Treasure Valley. In JFAC today, the three "no" votes came from Sens. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls; Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise; and Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot.

Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, said, "GARVEE is like swallowing an egg, you can't stop in the middle of it, unfortunately. We've started down this road. ... I think we've got to finish those things ... and get it done. ... I will be supporting this."