Roads get priority over tourism, congestion
LEWISTON – The Idaho Transportation Board has voted to stop spending money on programs aimed at improving tourism and decreasing congestion and instead spend it on keeping the state’s existing roads from falling apart.
The board, facing flat revenues and increasing construction costs, voted 5-2 Thursday at its meeting in Lewiston to suspend planned programs beyond 2010. That means the department will not accept applications for projects in 2011 and beyond for enhancement and congestion programs. Transportation planning projects also were eliminated.
Public comment on the decision will be accepted through the summer as part of the draft State Transportation Improvement Program, with a final decision to be made in September.
“We are having to decide between maintaining our highways and suspending programs,” Darrell Manning, board chairman, said in a statement. “The board is not making this decision lightly.”
“This is a tough but prudent decision, and the responsible thing to do,” Gov. Butch Otter, who appoints board members, said in prepared remarks. “It shows more clearly than ever how important it is that we all work together this year to find solutions to our revenue needs in time for the 2009 session of the Legislature.”
Lawmakers and Otter this year failed to agree on significant new transportation funding to fill a $240 million annual shortfall. A plan to allow residents of cities and counties to pass local option sales taxes for transportation projects such as mass transit also died.
Suspending the three programs will add about $12 million to the $80 million scheduled each year for pavement preservation.
“Our highest priority is to maintain the highways we have,” Manning said. “The enhancement, congestion and planning programs have added value to our state and transportation system. But we have to view them in light of our growing revenue challenge. It is a difficult but necessary decision.”
The congestion program was to pay for transit vehicles, street sweepers and traffic signals. The enhancement program was meant to improve bike paths, visitor centers and historic kiosks. The planning program was to pay for corridor and regional studies.
“I don’t think you can classify it as either” good or bad news, Transportation Department spokesman Mel Coulter told the Idaho Press Tribune about the board’s decision. “It reaffirms (the board’s) commitment to putting as much revenue as possible on our (existing) highways.”