COMPASS

Look to the future and tell us what you see

2012-01-05T07:47:00.002-07:00

In my November 7 blog, I wrote about the COMPASS art contest to get children’s perspective on what their communities will look like in 25 years. You’ll hear more on that from me later as we choose our winners.

Now it’s your turn to share your perspective.

What do you think the Treasure Valley will look like in the future? Even more importantly, what do you want it to look like? We know we will grow. Where will that growth go? What infrastructure do we need to accommodate it?

We are undertaking a process to help answer these types of questions. The end result will be a "preferred growth scenario" — a realistic vision of what Treasure Valley residents want the valley to look like in the year 2040.

This vision, or scenario, will be developed by you, Treasure Valley residents, and must be adopted by the COMPASS Board. The scenario will be the basis for Communities in Motion 2040, the regional long-range transportation and sustainability plan.

As a first step in developing a growth scenario, COMPASS will hold three all-day, hands-on workshops (February 29, March 1, and March 2, 2012) to engage community leaders, elected officials, and stakeholders (you!) to develop a common set of goals and identify three to four potentially desirable growth scenarios that could occur. With others at your table, you’ll be able to literally map out what you want the future to look like. Those scenarios will then be presented to the broader public for their review and comment before a final scenario is presented to the COMPASS Board for their consideration.

Would you like to participate in one of these workshops to share your vision for the future? Learn more by clicking here, then fill out an online self-nomination form by Friday, January 20, 2012. You can access the form from the link above. You’ll be asked to tell us why you want to participate, what types of interests or groups you represent or belong to, what unique perspectives you bring to the table, and which workshop(s) you could attend. Space is limited, so there may not be room for everyone who self-nominates. Self-nominees will be chosen to include a broad cross-section of interests and opinions. You will be notified in late January if you have been selected to participate.

If you are unable to participate in one of the workshops, there will still be plenty of opportunity for you to participate in the process. After the workshops, the potential scenarios will be presented for review and comment by the public. Everyone will be invited to weigh in on which scenario best represents their vision for the future of the valley and why.

Developing Communities in Motion 2040 will be a long process. While developing a preferred growth scenario is just one step in this process, it is an important one...perhaps even the most important one, as it will set the stage for the rest of the plan and the future of the Treasure Valley. I encourage you to be involved.

Communities in Motion 2040: Why Do You Care?

2012-01-04T07:42:00.002-07:00

One of the most common questions we hear about long-range planning, is “why should I care?” It can be hard to get excited about a plan that looks so far into the future when today’s issues are pressing on us.

So, on the COMPASS web site and in our quarterly email updates about Communities in Motion 2040, we share reasons why COMPASS thinks people should care about Communities in Motion 2040 ― the regional long-range transportation and sustainability plan that will look nearly 30 years to the future.

However, even more important than why we think you should care is why you do care. So, we are asking people why they care, or think others should. We promised to share the reasons submitted to us quarterly; this is the first installment.

Why people care about Communities in Motion 2040, as submitted by you

The long-range plan is the ground work for growth and projects in the future.
It helps the individual agencies (cities, counties, highway districts, transit authority) grow as a region.
I can actually make a difference by being educated and involved!
There is not enough money to fund our needs. We need innovative ideas to plan for the future.
There is controversy over which is the driver of economic development… land use or transportation. Which comes first?
We need new jobs and Communities in Motion can help plan for the needs of those jobs.

To share why you think Communities in Motion 2040 is important ― why you care ― email aluft@compassidaho.org and we’ll post your ideas here. Thanks for caring and sharing!

Yes, Virginia, “The Government” Really is Here to Help

2011-12-21T15:28:00.007-07:00

You’ve probably heard the laughter surrounding the statement, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Yes, it does seem that nearly every time people talk about “the government,” or “the government” is in the news, it is painted in a bad light – stories of partisanship, bumbling bureaucrats, or squabbling among agencies.

This paints a dismal picture of how government functions. I’m here to dispute that. The presentation of the COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards earlier this week reminded me once again of all the good work “the government” (elected officials, staff, contractors, and volunteers) does for its citizens.

The first two awards presented highlight government projects that succeeded through the cooperation of several different agencies with different goals and different ways of looking at things, yet had one thing in common: they wanted to do what was best for their citizens.

The Leadership by Example, Canyon County award was presented jointly to Canyon Highway District #4, the City of Middleton, and the Middleton School District for their collaborative efforts to build the new Emmett Road dual roundabouts in Middleton near the new Middleton High School. They saw a potential safety issue near the school and worked together for a solution.

Leadership by Example, Ada County, was awarded jointly to the Ada County Highway District, the City of Boise, and Valley Regional Transit for their cooperative efforts in developing the State Street Transit and Traffic Operations Plan. In addition to these three, numerous other agencies were involved in the project. It was a large collaborative effort serving many different, and often competing, interests, yet they worked to find solutions beneficial to all.

Our special Transportation Champion awardee, Congressman Mike Simpson, was recognized for his efforts in supporting transportation on a federal level and a state level (in both of Idaho’s Congressional Districts) – working to do what needed to be done, regardless of political boundaries.

Similarly, Leadership by Example, Elected Official winner Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas consistently demonstrates leadership locally in Caldwell, regionally through COMPASS and other organizations, and nationally as chair of the Youth Council Committee for the National League of Cities. He doesn’t check his vision or leadership at the city limits.

Even our private business and individual awards demonstrate how government can work as an entity of the people. Leadership in Private Business winner Allied Waste is recognized for its pollution prevention efforts in its truck fleets, which collect waste under contract with many of the local government agencies in both Canyon and Ada Counties. While Allied Waste is a private business, its efforts benefit us all.

Finally, LaRita Schandorff, winner of the Leadership by Example, Individual award demonstrates the importance of the role of private individuals in government. LaRita is the volunteer chair of the Nampa Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Group, and in this role as a private citizen she works closely with the City of Nampa, including helping craft the Nampa Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. She is truly a citizen leader.

I’m excited to be able to share these good stories of how government does “work.” Congratulations to our winners and thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of all of us. Visit www.compassidaho.org/comm/awards.htm to learn more about all of our winners.

What will 2040 look like?

2011-11-07T07:47:00.014-07:00

Close your eyes and use your imagination. What do you think the Treasure Valley will look like in 25 years?

That is a question we’ll be asking Treasure Valley residents next year as COMPASS undertakes a scenario planning process to develop a preferred future growth scenario upon which to base Communities in Motion 2040.

However, that is also a question we’re asking elementary age children in the Treasure Valley to answer now as part of the Communities in Motion 2040 Youth Art Contest.

COMPASS develops, or updates, a regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties every four years. These plans look 20+ years into the future and are used to prioritize transportation and other projects based on public input and how the region is likely to grow.

Communities in Motion 2035 is the current regional-long range transportation plan. The next version of the plan, Communities in Motion 2040, is being developed and is scheduled to be complete by September 2014.

COMPASS strives to include individuals throughout the valley in its planning process. However, typically, most people that choose to become involved are not the ones who will be most affected by a long-range plan.

For example, in the year 2040, I’ll be 74. I assume I’ll still live in the area, but likely (hopefully?) won’t still be working. On the other hand, my children will be 37 and 38 years old. It is their generation that will be the commuters, homeowners, and business-people when Communities in Motion 2040 reaches maturity.

To engage children their age and encourage them to think about the future of our valley, COMPASS is holding an art contest in which elementary age students are asked to draw or paint what they think their neighborhood, community, or city will look like in 25 years.

Entries are being accepted now and are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, December 16. Information has been sent to local schools and is also available online (scroll down to “Public Participation and Outreach”).

Winners will be announced in early January. Winning entries will be displayed at the COMPASS office, at COMPASS and community events throughout the valley, and on the COMPASS web site at www.compassidaho.org. I’ll also announce the winners here in my blog.

I’m excited to see the future as imagined by our children. Who knows? The seemingly wildest ideas may be those that come true.

And the Nominees for Leadership in Motion 2011 Are…

2011-08-05T15:24:00.000-06:00

Who are the nominees for Leadership in Motion 2011? You tell me.

Now is the time for you to submit your nomination, or nominations, for this year’s COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards. The awards recognize businesses, individuals, and projects that have demonstrated leadership in supporting the goals and vision of the Treasure Valley’s regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion.

We seem to be bombarded with bad news on a daily basis – the federal deficit, two wars, and the ongoing recession, just for starters. Let’s take this opportunity to turn that around and focus on good news in the Treasure Valley. What innovative projects have been completed or are underway that will improve our local transportation infrastructure? What private businesses are going above and beyond for the future of the valley? Whose work is helping fulfill the goals of Communities in Motion?

More detail about the awards, past winners, and the nomination process can be found online at www.compassidaho.org/comm/lim-awards.htm.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, September 16, 2011; awards will be presented at the COMPASS Board meeting on Monday, December 19, 2011.

Please take a moment to submit a nomination. The process is quick and easy. A few minutes of your time will help us honor the people, businesses, and projects that are helping the Treasure Valley continue to be one of the best places in the US to live and work. Let’s share the good news.

Transportation Improvement Program: Maintenance and Preservation

2011-07-20T07:36:00.002-06:00

The past few weeks I’ve blogged about three of the many transit and roadway projects in the DRAFT Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years 2012 – 2016. I hope you have, or will, take time to look through the draft TIP, as the projects I’ve discussed are just the TIP of the iceberg (yes, pun intended). Other, equally important items in the TIP include the purchase of buses and commuter vans, improvements at intersections, and improvements and additions to sidewalks and other facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

However, one critical item that can get lost in the discussion is the process of maintaining and repairing our roads and bridges. The draft TIP allocates over $88 million (in current dollars) to maintenance and repair over the five-year period, not including rebuilding the Broadway Bridge that I discussed in my earlier blog.

I am highlighting maintenance and repairs for several reasons:

1. Road maintenance is expensive, but lack of maintenance is even more so. Lack of proper maintenance can lead to additional expense in the future. Fixing roads and bridges later is more expensive then maintaining them now. In addition, driving on poorly maintained roads increase wear and tear on your car, meaning you end up paying more for repairs, tire alignment, etc.

2. Road maintenance and repair are slowly consuming larger and larger portions of the overall transportation budget. As costs increase, but revenues and maintenance needs do not, there is less and less money for larger projects, such as adding new lanes or improving an intersection. For many agencies, the emphasis has shifted from “build more” to “take care of what you have.” I predict that you’ll see maintenance grow even more as a percentage of the overall transportation budget in the years to come.

3. Maintenance and repair are extremely important to maintain our transportation system. No, they are not exciting, so they typically don’t get a lot of press or fanfare. No one hosts a ribbon cutting for chip sealing. On the contrary, many people complain about routine maintenance being done near their home or place of business. Think of road maintenance like brushing your teeth. Tooth brushing is routine maintenance for dental health. If you don’t brush regularly you can face significant dental work, and the high cost that goes with it, in the future. The same is true for our transportation system.

As you read and comment on the draft TIP, you’ll notice two groups of categories that contain most of the maintenance projects: “Roadway (Maintenance)” and “Bridge” under “Grouped Projects.” Within each of these you’ll see total dollars allocated to road maintenance and bridge maintenance. Within those groups you will find lists showing the projects that are likely to be funded in those groups.

You have until Monday, July 25, 2011, to make comments on the draft TIP. Please take a few minutes to review the projects and provide your input. You can do so by clicking here.

Transportation Improvement Program: Treasure Valley High-Capacity Alternatives Analysis

2011-07-12T08:06:00.001-06:00

If you’ve been following my blog the past few weeks you are aware that the draft Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years 2012 – 2016 is open for comment through Monday, July 25, 2011. Please take a few minutes to review the projects and provide your input. You can do so by clicking on the link above.

At COMPASS one of the most common comments we hear is, “There should be a train between Caldwell and Boise. Why hasn’t anyone thought of that?!”

Trust me, we have.

Communities in Motion, the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties, identifies the need for some sort of “high capacity” transit between Caldwell and Boise. That could be some type of train, or it could be something else. However, moving from an identified need to constructing a high-capacity transit system is not a simple process.

COMPASS and Valley Regional Transit conducted studies to explore the feasibility, costs, and benefits of a high capacity service, which were good first steps. However, if we hope to use federal dollars to eventually build the system, we must also conduct an official “alternatives analysis,” known as an “AA.” It will determine the best route and mode of transit for the conditions in our region. We cannot simply decide we want a certain type of transit in a certain location. We must evaluate multiple options to find the best solution.

COMPASS has been actively pursuing funding for an AA for several years. In 2008, 2010, and 2011, we requested federal high-priority grant appropriations (earmarks) to conduct the AA, but did not receive funding. COMPASS also applied for a federal “TIGER II Planning Grant” to conduct the analysis. We did not receive that funding either.

An AA is now included in the TIP in “preliminary development,” meaning the AA will be funded in the near future. At this point there is no plan (or money) for actual construction. The draft TIP allocates $1 million to conduct an AA. The next update to Communities in Motion (due in 2014) will be used to help decide if the AA should focus on potential corridors south of the Boise River (e.g., the rail corridor, the interstate) or north of the Boise River (e.g., Highway 44/State Street).

One million dollars is not enough money to conduct the entire required detailed analysis. However, it gives us a starting point. We will carefully choose how that money is spent to conduct portions of the analysis that have the longest “shelf life.” That is, we’ll focus on those items that will remain valid for the longest time. We want to avoid a situation where the first parts of our analysis become too old to use before the last parts are finished.

While the AA is a necessary step, it is not our biggest hurdle, nor is the funding to build the system the biggest issue. The elephant in the room is that there is no funding to operate such a system. Until we have a dedicated funding source to pay for day-to-day operations, the rest is moot.

That is another issue altogether, and one we’ll continue to work on. In the meantime, we will begin by laying the early groundwork for a high capacity transit system through the AA process.

Transportation Improvement Program: Canyon County Rail Safety Projects

2011-06-23T14:56:00.004-06:00

As I discussed in my last post, the DRAFT Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Ada and Canyon Counties for fiscal years 2012 - 2016 is open for public comment through Monday, July 25, 2011. Please take a few moments to look at the documents and submit your comments.

This is my second in a series of blogs highlighting projects in the TIP. My focus today is on three projects to improve safety at rail crossings in Canyon County – one each on Farmway Road, Peckham Road, and Allendale Road.

In total, these three projects are forecast to cost just under $500,000, which makes them among the smaller projects in the TIP. However, the safety benefits will be significant.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) asked local highway districts to submit requests for funding for rail crossings that needed safety improvements. Canyon Highway District and Golden Gate Highway District in Canyon County both responded with requests for improvements. Farmway Road falls under the jurisdiction of Canyon Highway District and Peckham and Allendale Roads are in the Golden Gate Highway District.

All three railroad crossings receive significant truck traffic; the heavy loads from the trucks cause more wear and tear on the road surface than regular auto traffic. In addition, these are all in rural areas, so traffic is moving faster than in more populated areas.

Currently, each of these crossings is built of asphalt. The truck traffic across the asphalt causes it to deteriorate and become rough or bumpy. The rough road where vehicles cross the railroad tracks can lead to a loss of vehicle control or even to a vehicle becoming stranded on the tracks.

The projects will all undergo a similar “fix” to make the crossing smoother, which will increase safety. Boise Valley Railroad and the local highway districts will rebuild the “planking” — the road surface two feet on each side of the rail and in between the rails — to create a smoother transition between the rail area and the roadway. The new planking will be concrete, instead of the current asphalt, which will create a smoother surface. An additional long-term benefit of the concrete is that it is more durable, which will reduce future maintenance costs for the local highway districts. In addition to the new “planking,” railroad signals and gates will be added at the Farmway Road crossing.

These projects are just a small sample of what you will find budgeted for in the TIP. Take a moment to check it out and submit your comments.

Transportation Improvement Program: Broadway Bridge

2011-06-23T14:41:00.006-06:00

As you may be aware, the DRAFT Regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Ada and Canyon Counties for fiscal years 2012 - 2016 is open for public comment through Monday, July 25, 2011.

The TIP is a budget showing where funding for regional transportation projects will be spent over the next five years in the Treasure Valley.

The TIP can be an overwhelming and confusing document. After all, it is a government budget that spans five years and covers hundreds of projects over two counties. It can be difficult to wade through.

That said, what is contained in the TIP will affect you –the projects are designed to make our roads and bridges safer, improve traffic flow, add and improve facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists, and help preserve your transportation system.

In this blog over the next few weeks I’m going to highlight a few of the projects to help give you a sense of the variety and significance of what you will find in the TIP.

The Broadway Bridge in Boise is one of many bridge projects in the TIP. Built in 1956, the bridge, near downtown Boise and Boise State University, is now considered to be “structurally deficient” by the National Bridge Inventory Database (http://nationalbridges.com/), which concludes the bridge is “basically intolerable requiring high priority of replacement.”

The much-needed bridge replacement will soon be reality, and this can be seen in the TIP. The project has been shown in the TIP since fiscal year 2009. Initially funding was only available to repair the bridge, but additional funding has now been allocated to completely rebuild it. Construction is scheduled in fiscal year 2015. The new bridge will include an additional traffic lane, bike lanes, and upgraded sidewalks to make crossing the bridge safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

This is one of just many projects budgeted in the TIP that may affect you and the way you get around in the valley. Take a few minutes to look at the projects in the TIP and provide your comments, and check back here as we delve into some of the other projects over the next few weeks.

Transportation Time

2011-06-17T07:54:00.005-06:00

Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of “geologic time.” While “geologic time” has a specific, technical meaning, many of us simply use it to refer to things that happen so slowly that they are imperceptible when we use normal, “human” time to measure them.

The same can be said of large transportation projects. Many decades can pass between when a project is first conceived in a long-range transportation plan and when it is finally completed. It can seem like forever and often gives the appearance that nothing is happening.

In fact, one of the most common comments my staff and I hear from members of the public is, “You ask for our input into your long-range planning process, but then we never see anything happen afterwards. What gives?”

Things do happen, but they happen slowly. Instead of “geologic time,” we have “transportation time.”

The recent completion of the new Ten-Mile Interchange is a perfect example of the slow but steady progress of “transportation time,” and proof that things really do happen.

An interchange at Ten-Mile Road was first identified as a need in 1996 in Destination 2015, the long-range transportation plan for Ada County. The interchange was also identified as the highest priority for a new interchange in the 2001 I-84 Corridor Study conducted by COMPASS and the Idaho Transportation Department. It finally appeared in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – a five-year budget for transportation projects – in 2007; construction began in 2009.

Moving from a long-range plan into the short-range TIP is a huge milestone – it means the project has moved from a “theoretical” stage (we know we need it) to a “reality” stage (we have money and plans to build it).

There are several reasons why it takes so long to move from theory to reality.

1. Prep work must be done. Before a transportation project can be built, many things must happen that aren’t necessarily visible to the traveling public. Studies must be completed. Environmental work must be done and approved. Land must be purchased. The list goes on. These things can take many years, and many dollars, to complete.

2. Funding must be available. Road construction projects are very expensive and there simply isn’t enough money to do every project that is identified in the plan. Acquiring enough funding for a large project such as the Ten-Mile Interchange can take a great deal of time, cooperation, and perseverance (just ask Mayor de Weerd). For the Ten-Mile Interchange, funding came in the form of GARVEE bonds, which allowed it to move forward faster than many projects without this source of funding.

3. It’s supposed to work that way. Long-range transportation plans are truly that – long range. They plan 20+ years into the future, which means they identify projects that will be needed in the future. If there wasn’t a time gap between when projects are identified in the plan and when they are urgently needed, we wouldn’t be doing an adequate job of long-range planning.

The Ten-Mile Interchange actually moved quite quickly in “transportation time.” For many projects, the time span between first appearing in the long-range plan and completion can be 20 to 30 years. In this case, it was only 15.

While the time frame, even a “short” 15 years, is often not what people expect, the Ten-Mile Interchange demonstrates that projects identified in a long-range plan do move forward and do get completed. It doesn’t happen fast; it happens in “transportation time.”

I hate to brag, but…

2011-04-13T08:23:00.003-06:00

Sometimes a little bragging is in order. This is one of those times.

Every year, COMPASS staff develop population estimates for Ada and Canyon Counties and cities, with input from the COMPASS Demographic Advisory Committee (DAC). Those estimates are based on the most recent Census data, plus a variety of other factors, including household vacancy rates, average household size, and other information.

There are a variety of sources of these data, and sometimes those sources do not agree. COMPASS staff and DAC members carefully consider the different data sets and choose which to use to estimate the area’s population.

Census data are collected every 10 years. In the first years following data collection, the Census data are likely still fairly accurate. However, as years pass and we get further from a Census year, the data are less accurate. What that means is it gets harder and harder to develop an accurate population estimate as we get further away from the most recent Census year. Year 10 (2010 in this case) is always the hardest.

In fact, knowing how difficult it is to develop an accurate estimate in Year 10, the COMPASS Board chose not to adopt the COMPASS staff recommended estimates for 2010 and to wait for Census numbers to be released instead.

Census numbers for 2010 were released last month. How did those COMPASS recommended estimates for 2010 compare to the actual Census numbers?

This is where the bragging comes in.

Overall, COMPASS estimates were off (high) by 0.9% for Ada and Canyon Counties combined. For Ada County, COMPASS over-estimated by 1.4%; for Canyon County, COMPASS under- estimated by a mere 0.1%.

These numbers are impressive by any standards. Given the fact that the baseline Census data were 10 years old and considering the rollercoaster decade that was the 2000s, they are downright phenomenal.

Congratulations to Carl Miller, COMPASS Principal Planner for Demographics, and the entire COMPASS Demographic Advisory Committee. Your efforts, and results, are to be commended.

(Want to see the numbers I'm talking about? Click here and navigate to page 28.)

All Dressed Up and No Way to Get There?

2011-03-25T10:35:00.001-06:00

“Do more with less” seems to be the mantra these days. Communities and many agencies suffer budget and staffing cuts, while simultaneously facing increased demands for services.

COMPASS is working to help ease some of these issues for small rural communities with its “All Dressed Up and No Way to Get There” toolkit. The toolkit was funded through a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The toolkit is designed to provide ideas, resources, and easy-to-use templates for rural communities and others working to help residents find ways to get where they need to go with or without access to a personal vehicle.

It is specifically designed for agencies with limited funding and staff time. The items in the toolkit are easy to use, low-tech, and free or inexpensive to implement.

The toolkit contains background information and lists of ideas for facilitating and promoting carpooling, walking/biking, using community vehicles, and creating ordinances to promote land use that supports these. Templates can be downloaded and customized for many of the items discussed, including model lease agreements, a model ordinance, and a variety of promotion materials. The toolkit also provides links to transportation resources available in southwest Idaho.

Who would use this toolkit? One example might be a senior center that runs a van into Nampa once a week for seniors to shop. The van runs half-full and is struggling financially. The operator sees an opportunity to open the service to non-seniors. By charging a nominal fee this could help offset costs, as well as provide a community service to other residents. However, the operator is a part-time volunteer with no marketing budget or background, and very limited time. This toolkit can provide that volunteer with the resources to market that expanded service.

Check it out online at www.compassidaho.org/prodserv/mobility_toolkit.htm or order a CD of the materials by emailing litkonen@compassidaho.org.

COMPASS on the Move

2011-03-22T14:26:00.000-06:00

On Monday, March 21, the Meridian Development Corporation, COMPASS, and Valley Regional Transit broke ground on a new building in downtown Meridian that will soon serve as the headquarters for COMPASS and Valley Regional Transit. Meridian Development Corporation owns the downtown lot where the building will be built and will sell the building to COMPASS and Valley Regional Transit upon completion. COMPASS will own the second floor of the two-condo building; Valley Regional Transit will own most of the first floor. The remainder of the first floor will be meeting rooms jointly owned by the two organizations.

This move is an important step forward in the life of COMPASS, and will help us better serve you and fulfill our mission more efficiently and effectively.

After 26 years of renting office space, first in Boise then in Meridian, COMPASS will own its office. Per direction from the COMPASS Board, we have been setting aside funds since 2006 specifically for this purpose, which will allow us to pay cash. Freeing up money that has been used for rent in the past, coupled with the ability to pay cash, saves public money. COMPASS will be able to weather cost increases in other areas of our budget without raising member dues, which is the portion of the COMPASS budget that comes from local tax dollars via our member agencies.

COMPASS has not raised dues since 2008 and cut dues in 2009 to help member agencies as they struggled with decreasing revenues.

This move supports the goals and vision of Communities in Motion, the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties, which COMPASS develops. The building location in downtown Meridian is consistent with the plan vision for compact growth in an already developed area. An additional bonus is that it should also help revitalize downtown Meridian. The office will be in walking distance of goods and services and is located near the current rail line, which may someday be a corridor for public transportation in the valley. The building will be built to LEED silver standards, which will contribute to a more sustainable community.

COMPASS and Valley Regional Transit already work closely on many issues. Sharing a building will increase our efficiency and strengthen communication and coordination between the agencies.

I appreciate the foresight of the COMPASS Board in planning ahead to allow us to make this move, which ultimately will allow us to serve you better.

Please plan to visit us at our new office after we move in next fall.

Join Me at the COMPASS Education Series

2011-01-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Each spring, COMPASS presents an educational speaker series, where we bring in experts from around the region and around the county to speak on issues affecting transportation, land use, funding, and other related items.

The purpose of the series is not to promote one “right” answer or a singular way of thinking, but to stimulate discussion and encourage thinking “outside the box” through looking at issues and solutions from a variety of perspectives, learning from what others have done, and examining new technologies.

We’ll be exploring “lessons learned” from others as we delve into the role of transportation in emergency planning in February. Our speaker has worked on major disasters, including Ground Zero and Hurricane Katrina, and undoubtedly has stories to tell and lessons we can learn.

In April, we’ll learn about new “solar roads” technology being developed right here in Idaho. Will this be part of our transportation future? I honestly don’t know, but am eager to hear more.

Other topics we’ll be discussing this spring include streets as public spaces (March), bike and pedestrian safety (May – tentative), and transportation demand management (June – tentative).

Typically, our speakers give two presentations – one in the evening for a general audience and one during the work day for professionals working in fields related to the topics. However, anyone is welcome to attend either presentation. All the presentations are free.

For details, visit http://www.compassidaho.org/comm/publicevents_2011_ed_series.htm.

I hope to see you there!

Congratulations Leadership in Motion Award Winners!

2010-12-21T10:18:00.004-07:00

Yesterday COMPASS presented our annual Leadership in Motion awards, recognizing businesses, individuals, and projects that demonstrate leadership in supporting the Treasure Valley’s regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion.

Reviewing the nominations has quickly become one of my favorite parts of my job. Even though I try to keep up on what is happening around the valley, as I read the nominations I am amazed by the innovative projects that are moving forward and being completed despite the tough economic times, and by the dedication and energy of the individuals who are nominated for their leadership.

I’ve listed the winners below and provide a link where you can learn more about each, but I’d briefly like to highlight one particular winner here.

Joe Luppens of Kuna was awarded the “Leadership by Example, Individual” award. Joe served as chairperson of the Kuna 2010 Census “Complete Count Committee,” a group whose purpose was to encourage all citizens of Kuna to complete their Census forms and be counted.

The committee was highly successful. Kuna had an 82% Census return rate, well above Ada County’s average, the national average, and Kuna’s 2000 rate. The additional participation is estimated to bring in nearly $400,000 per year more to the community from federal government appropriations, compared to funding based on the 2000 Census return rate.

However, while this success is to be commended, Joe didn’t receive the award because of the success of the committee. What was truly impressive was Joe’s work and dedication. Joe spent countless hours and chaired this committee completely as a volunteer – not as a city employee, not as part of another job – strictly his own time. Joe also spent his own money to promote the census – even buying T-shirts for outreach out of his own pocket. Joe’s selfless dedication is a great example of leadership by example by an individual and is something we can all strive to emulate. Thank you, Joe.

Leadership by Example Award, Canyon County

City of Caldwell, Pathways and Bike Routes Master Plan

Leadership by Example Award, Ada County

Boise State University, for programs that encourage transportation alternatives and wise land use planning

Leadership in Private Business Award, Canyon County

J-U-B Engineers, Inc., for design work on a federal aid rehabilitation project on Homedale Road

Leadership in Private Business Award, Ada County

Downtown Boise Association, for a program to place artwork on traffic signal controller boxes in downtown Boise

Leadership by Example Award, Individual

Joe Luppens, citizen volunteer, Kuna Census Complete Count Committee

Leadership by Example Award, Elected Official (2 winners)

Councilmember Elaine Clegg, City of Boise City
Mayor Tom Dale, City of Nampa

Visit www.compassidaho.org/comm/awards.htm to learn more about each recipient.

Food for Thought

2010-11-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

COMPASS staff are conducting a holiday food drive to support the Idaho Foodbank. As part of that food drive, we’ve been looking at statistics related to hunger in Idaho.

One common statistic is how many people must choose between medicine/medical care and food. In Idaho, 34% of people who receive food from the Idaho Foodbank say they must make this choice. That is a troubling statistic.

However, an equally troubling, but much less commonly quoted statistic is the number of people who must choose between food and transportation. In Idaho, 37% of people who receive food from the Idaho Foodbank say they must make this choice; that percentage jumps to 49% when asked specifically about buying gas for a car.

Let me say that again:

Thirty-seven percent of food recipients say they must choose between purchasing food and paying for transportation.

That is transportation that could potentially get someone to a job, to a doctor to receive medical care, to a place of worship, or anyplace else they need to go. Lack of access to transportation can be devastating – economically, socially, and physically.

As part of the transportation industry, what can we do about this?

We live in a very auto-dependent state – sprawling communities with limited bus service. Without a personal vehicle, it is nearly impossible to get to work, the grocery store, or the doctor. Can we fix that?

“Community Choices,” the growth scenario that is the basis for Communities in Motion, the regional long-range transportation plan for the Treasure Valley, encourages more compact growth, with jobs, shopping, etc. close to housing. This would allow people to walk or bike to their destinations instead of needing to rely on a vehicle. The plan also calls for significantly increased transit – a much more affordable way to get around town than a private automobile.

We talk about these things as smart planning, good land use, and wise use of our resources. However, until I read the statistic above, I hadn’t thought about them in terms of poverty and meeting basic human needs.

Is it possible to be so successful in planning our transportation future that eventually no one has to choose between food and transportation?

Now there is something to chew on.

Happy 10th Anniversary Idaho Smart Growth

2010-11-03T07:57:00.004-06:00

This week, Idaho Smart Growth is celebrating 10 years of “bringing Idahoans together to keep our communities vibrant and our lands healthy.” Congratulations!

COMPASS and Idaho Smart Growth have worked closely on transportation and land use issues over the years – particularly in the areas of planning a robust transportation system with a variety of transportation choices, supporting the land use to coincide with such a system, and working to find ways to fund our transportation infrastructure. They have been a valuable ally and partner. We’re proud to be a sponsor of their 10^th anniversary celebration and to be participating in anniversary events.

I encourage you to learn more about Idaho Smart Growth and their many initiatives (including transportation) and help them celebrate by attending one of the events they have scheduled for this week:

Local Motion: Everybody Moves!

Thursday, November 4, 2010 (First Thursday), 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

The Empire Building on 10th and Idaho, Boise, ID. Free.

Discover Smart Growth!

Friday, November 5, 2010, 9:00 am – 7;00 pm

The Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 W Myrtle Street, Boise. Free.

Idaho Smart Growth 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration and Grow Smart Awards

Saturday, November 6, 2010, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

The Boise Depot, 2603 W. Eastover Terrace, Boise. Tickets required.

Visit the Idaho Smart Growth web site to learn more.

No Grant Funding…Now What?

2010-11-01T08:27:00.001-06:00

On August 26, I wrote about several federal grant applications that we submitted for transportation and sustainability projects in the Treasure Valley. In my post, I stated that the chance of receiving even one of these grants was slim.

Unfortunately, I was right. The federal Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development have released the lists of grant recipients. None of our projects received funding, although two Idaho projects did: one in Moscow and one in Hailey.

So, where does this leave us? While we are disappointed to not receive funding to help move these projects forward, it does not mean we are at a standstill. We will apply again next year, and build upon the partnerships we’ve formed and the lessons we’ve learned to develop even stronger applications. We will also request “debrief” sessions with both federal agencies to gain insight into what we can do differently next time to be more competitive.

In addition, we will continue to seek other funding to improve livability and transportation infrastructure in the valley, and we will move forward with the planning projects. However, the work on those projects will be less robust than it would have been with the grant money.

For example, the proposed “regional plan for sustainable development” will be rolled into the next update of our regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion. While the focus of the plan is transportation, other factors, such as housing, land use, and energy, will be incorporated, as all of these issues are interrelated. We will build on the valuable partnerships developed during the grant application process to ensure we are planning cohesively.

The State Street/Highway 44 project will also move forward. We have time budgeted to devote to this important corridor and will work closely with the Ada County Highway District, Valley Regional Transit, the City of Boise, and others to expand transportation choices and encourage transit-supportive land uses along the corridor.

We will work on small, “bite-sized” pieces of the high-capacity corridor alternatives analysis to better prepare us for the full-blown analysis in the future. At the same time, we will continue to seek funding for that full analysis.

However, the argument for funding an alternatives analysis is tricky. While the need for high-capacity transit between Caldwell and Boise is well documented, it can be difficult to make a valid argument for funding for the analysis when there is no source of funding to operate a high-capacity system. It is a “chicken and egg” conundrum – which comes first the plan or the money?

Along those lines, we’ll also continue to advocate for local funding options for transportation for the Treasure Valley. Without a local source of funding, we are at the mercy of the decisions of others, as we were with these grant applications. To be able to take control of our own destiny, we need to be able to pay our own way.

A Reminder About Safety on our Roads

2010-10-19T07:55:00.005-06:00

A member of our COMPASS “family,” Ross Dodge, was commuting to work on his bike recently and was hit by a car. Four of his vertebrae were fractured, resulting in life-changing injuries. It will be months before he is able to leave the hospital; no one knows how fully he will eventually heal.

Ross is an experienced biker and was riding in a bike lane. He was wearing a helmet and reflective clothing and had both a headlight and a tail-light. He was struck by someone turning left, trying to hurry to get through an intersection between two groups of cars.

As a transportation planning agency that actively encourages citizens and its own staff to use alternative forms of transportation, including biking, these types of accidents are discouraging and disturbing. When it happens to one of our own, it is devastating.

So, what can be done?

First and foremost, on a personal level, I ask for your good wishes for Ross as he recovers from his injuries and adjusts to a changed life.

However, we also need to look at what we can do to help prevent this from happening more in the future. While there are many areas where we can make changes to improve safety, I want to discuss two of those here:

Local laws and enforcement
Personal responsibility

Local Laws and Enforcement

This issue isn’t new. In 2009, a series of bicycle fatalities prompted the City of Boise to create the Boise Cycling Safety Task Force to develop recommendations to make biking safer. Their final report contained 24 recommendations; many of which are now codified in Boise’s new bike safety laws. Similarly, in response to a texting-related fatality, the City of Meridian has banned texting while driving.

I applaud both cities for taking these steps to make our roads safer and encourage all cities in Ada and Canyon Counties (and throughout Idaho, for that matter) to consider adopting similar laws. I also encourage our Idaho State Legislature to re-visit statewide bicycle safety laws as proposed in the 2010 Legislative session. None of the proposed legislation passed.

However, laws aren’t enough. For a law to have “teeth” behind it, it needs to be actively enforced. All too often such laws only come into play after an accident occurs…when it comes time to issue a citation. While I understand our law enforcement officers are spread thin, and traffic is often not a top priority, if traffic safety laws are not strictly and regularly, enforced, people feel no need to obey them. We need to be proactive in preventing accidents; not simply reactive to place blame after they occur.

Personal Responsibility

Even with the strictest of laws and enforcement, how we operate our vehicles comes down to each of us. Too often, we get behind the wheel and are in a hurry, preoccupied, or on the phone. We speed. We drive aggressively and weave in and out of traffic or hurry to beat a light or make it through a gap between cars.

When we get behind the wheel, we suddenly seem to become self-centered and forget about the consequences of our actions and how those consequences can affect others. We teach our children not to cut in line, cheat, or hit, because they hurt other people, but are our actions behind the wheel that different? Is our impatience with slower drivers, our need to get to work on time, to answer the phone, or simply to drive fast for the fun of it, really more important than someone else’s life? Are you and your needs more important than theirs?

Most often, nothing bad happens when we drive aggressively. We don’t get a ticket or get in an accident. Or, if we do, it is a minor inconvenience. We become complacent and forget that the consequences can be dire, especially if the other person is on a bike, or is a pedestrian or on a motorcycle, for that matter.

Yes, bikes are harder to see than cars. Yes, no matter how careful we are, accidents will happen. However, some accidents are preventable, by looking twice, being patient, obeying the law, and thinking of the consequences of your actions on others.

Drive safely.

Following the Money, Part 2

2010-10-18T11:15:00.002-06:00

Did you know that for every gallon of gasoline you buy, you pay just over 18 cents to the federal government? This money is then distributed to the individual states to help pay for transportation projects, such as roads.

For Idaho, this is a good deal...as a state, we get about $1.37 for every $1 we contribute via the federal gas tax. However, the funding story isn’t quite as rosy, or simple, as it first appears:

• While we are fortunate to receive more federal transportation dollars than we contribute, that “extra” money comes from other states that receive less than they contribute, and they aren’t happy about it. There is pressure to change the system, which could mean less federal funds for Idaho.

• Federal funds are more “expensive” to use than local or state funds, as the money must follow federal procedures, which can be costly and time consuming. State and local funds generally have fewer “strings” attached.

• Competitive grants for some types of federal funding may be replacing special appropriations. These grants are to be based more on merits of a project and less on political influence. Unfortunately, the grant process may not be good for Idaho. Federal grants frequently require the local entities to pay for a percentage of a project through a local “match.” Projects with a higher percentage of local match are more likely to get funding. As Idaho does not have significant local dollars, we often are not able to contribute a significant portion of match, which puts Idaho projects at a disadvantage when competing for grants.

• Finally, there is movement for states to become less reliant on federal funds. Just over 50% of the road budget for the Idaho Transportation Department comes from federal dollars, so this shift could have significant local ramifications. Idaho does not have many “tools” available to increase funding for the transportation system and is a state that does not take raising taxes lightly.

The Governor’s Task Force on Modernizing Transportation Funding in Idaho is expected to bring recommendations on future funding options to the Governor and the Legislature this winter. In light of the federal funding picture, those recommendations will be extremely important to the future of Idaho’s transportation system.