To say that the past three months have been busy here at
COMPASS would be an understatement. The summer months seem to have flown by and
nothing is more of an indication that it’s autumn than the end of our fiscal
year. Last year’s projects are being wrapped up and this year’s projects are
being prepped for action – read below to find out about some exciting updates.
Last Three Months
As I mentioned in our last quarterly update, much of the
focus during the past three months has been on planning for the next regional
long-range transportation plan, Communities
in Motion 2050 (CIM 2050). In September, we kicked off the planning process
with a public survey asking Treasure Valley residents how they see their lives
changing in the next 30 years. If you haven’t yet, I strongly encourage you to
take the survey, here. Your answers
help us plan for the transportation needs of the Treasure Valley and the people
and communities that call it home. The link will remain open through Sunday,
November 3, 2019 – so you still have time to provide your input.
After months of patiently waiting, our electric cargo bike,
or the COMPASS Data Bike, has finally arrived! This data bike will be used to
collect pavement roughness and surface condition data. Recently, our staff has
been testing out different pavement-roughness software programs to determine
the best fit for our planning needs. By the end of 2019, a software program
will be chosen and the COMPASS Data Bike will be fully operational.
A project mentioned in our last update was the Rails
with Trails Feasibility and Probable Cost Study. The study was
completed in September; it provides a cost estimate of trail development along
the Boise Cutoff rail corridor and identifies barriers associated with trail
development. Conversations with Union Pacific will continue with a goal of
securing an agreement for a trail within their corridor. In the meantime, the
completed study allows planning to continue, including selecting a preferred
right-of-way alignment, finalizing the design, and seeking funding.
Another sign that fall has arrived in the Treasure Valley is
the close of the 2019 COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards nomination period.
The awards recognize people, businesses, and projects that demonstrate
leadership in implementing Communities in
Motion. Keep an eye on our social media and blog throughout the month of
December for the announcement of our 2019 winners.
Finally, COMPASS hosted not one, but two, education series
events in August and September. In August, Lisa Nisenson, Vice President of New
Mobility and Connected Communities with The Wantman Group, gave a presentation
on pilot programs and sustainable community design. In September, Joel Feldman,
founder of EndDD.org, “End Distracted Driving,” shared his personal story of
loss, along with simple steps for everyone to end distracted driving. You can
find the presentation slides and videos of both speakers here.
These education series events provide training to help implement Communities in Motion.
Next Three Months
For the next three months, we already have plenty of
projects planned.
COMPASS will close the public survey for CIM 2050 on
November 3, compile and share the results, and use them to develop potential
“scenarios” of what the future of the Treasure Valley could look like by 2050. These
will be provided to the public in spring 2020 for feedback.
Along with this, COMPASS will begin work on a complete network
policy and a fiscal impact analysis, both of which will feed into CIM 2050.
While we’re sure to celebrate our accomplishments from the
past few months, COMPASS is already looking ahead to prepare for what the next
three months have in store. I strongly encourage everyone to also look ahead,
about 30 years into the future, and take our survey by November
3, 2019.
Have a wonderful fall, Treasure Valley!
