$180 Million. Where did all that money come from...and what does it mean for you?

If you’ve been tracking transportation issues in the news, chances are you’ve heard that the Idaho Transportation Board voted in July to “expedite” approximately $180 million in road construction projects in the next five years, including four projects in the Treasure Valley – reconstructing I-84 interchanges at Meridian Road, Broadway Avenue, and Gowen Road, and restoring four miles of pavement along I-84 between Meridian Road and Five Mile Road.

While most people I’ve talked to seem to be thrilled with the possibility of these projects, they also have a lot of questions: What exactly does “expediting” projects mean?  Where did all of the money come from? What does this mean to me?

I’ll try to tackle these here.

First, what does it mean to “expedite” a project? “Expediting” simply means that the projects will be built sooner than previously planned. For example, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) had planned to restore four miles of pavement on Interstate 84 between the Meridian Road Interchange and Five Mile Road in 2016, but now that project has been expedited and will occur in late 2012. ITD had not planned to reconstruct any more interchanges on I-84 in the foreseeable future; now they are proposing to do three in the next few years.

Second, where did all that money come from? ITD had said it didn’t have any money for these types of road projects. What happened? $180 million dollars is a lot of money to simply “appear” out of nowhere.

Many factors come into play. This is one case where the “great recession” has actually yielded something good. Recent construction projects have come in under budget due to the recession driving down costs, resulting in cost savings that can be spent on other projects. Additionally, projected inflation rates have decreased from 5% to 2%, which means that future projects should cost less than had been anticipated. Projected interest rates have had a similar decrease. ITD has also been tightening its belt, which has resulted in some additional cost savings. These types of current and projected savings yield a total of about $100 million; the additional $80 million will come from GARVEE bonds, as recent GARVEE-funded projects have also come in under budget.

Finally, how does this affect COMPASS, and even more importantly, how does it affect you?  The construction projects will be paid for with your tax dollars. As a taxpayer, you have a say in how that money is spent. In addition, the projects – both during and post-construction – will affect your travels if you drive along Interstate 84 or cross over I-84 at any of the three interchanges that may be rebuilt. You have a chance to say if you want this or not.

Take a few minutes to comment on these projects and share your opinions through the annual Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) public comment period (August 27 – September 25). This is your chance to comment on all projects, including these four, which are budgeted to be completed with federal funding in the Treasure Valley in the next five years. Click here for more information and to comment.

Because the three interchange rebuilds were not anticipated, COMPASS needs additional input from you on those. When COMPASS develops its long-range transportation plan (Communities in Motion), it can only include projects with a reasonable likelihood of being funded as part of the planned transportation system – those projects are on the “funded” list of projects and are the projects Communities in Motion plans for. Other needed projects are still discussed in the plan, but are identified as “unfunded” or “partially funded.” The Meridian Interchange rebuild is considered “unfunded” in the plan and the Broadway and Gowen interchanges are the unfunded portions of a larger “partially funded” corridor.

So, why does that matter? Any project that receives federal transportation funds (which all three interchange projects will) must be planned for in the long-range transportation plan. While the projects are discussed in Communities in Motion, the fact that they are not listed as “funded” means they are not “planned for” in Communities in Motion. Therefore, COMPASS must amend Communities in Motion to show them as part of the funded plan for them to be built. Concurrent with the TIP public comment period, public comment on this proposed amendment to Communities in Motion is open from August 27 through September 25. Again, click here for more information and to comment.

Every year, I encourage individuals to take time to comment on the TIP. It is a chance to have a say in how your tax dollars will be spent. I encourage you to do that again. However, this year is even more significant than most, with three unanticipated interchange reconstruction projects potentially being added to both the TIP and Communities in Motion. These projects have the potential to significantly affect you; take a moment to have your say.

It Takes a Village...and a Leader

You’ve probably heard the saying, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” I’ve heard that sentiment applied to all sorts of situations, from raising children to caring for pets, and I’m going to expand on that even further now.

It takes a regional “village” to achieve the goals of Communities in Motion.  

Does that sound a bit sappy or far-fetched?  Maybe so, but read on.

The goals of Communities in Motion 2035 are:

·         Connections: Provide options for safe access and mobility in a cost-effective manner in the region.

·         Coordination: Achieve better inter-jurisdictional coordination of transportation and land use planning.

·         Environment: Minimize transportation impacts to people, cultural resources, and the environment.

·         Information: Coordinate data gathering and dispense better information.

In addition, Communities in Motion 2035 supports:

·         Balance between housing and jobs

·         Choices in housing types

·         Choices in transportation and shorter commuting distance

·         Connectivity through higher densities

·         Preservation of open space and farmland

None of these are things that one agency, one jurisdiction, or one person can accomplish alone. They take cooperation and teamwork. They take compromise and sometime even sacrifice for the greater good. They take a regional “village.”

However, they also take leaders. If everyone were to sit back and wait for other “villagers” to take the lead, make the hard decisions, or get their hands dirty, we would get nowhere.

That is why I encourage you to submit your nominations for this year’s COMPASS Leadership in Motion awards.

Who are those leaders who are the catalyst for moving our regional “village” forward? How are they supporting region-wide cooperation and implementation of Communities in Motion? How are they setting an example for other “villagers”?

Learn more about the Leadership in Motion awards and submit your nominations at www.compassidaho.org/comm/lim-awards.htm. Six awards will be presented in five categories:

·         Leadership by Example, Ada County and Canyon County (two awards; one per county each for a specific project)

·         Leadership in Private Business

·         Leadership in Practice, Professional

·         Leadership in Practice, Volunteer

·         Leadership by Example, Elected Official

Who is taking the lead to move our regional “village” forward? Tell us by submitting your Leadership in Motion nomination. Nominations must be received no later than 5:00 pm, Friday, September 21, 2012.

Communities in Motion: Why Do You Care? Part III

If you’ve been reading my blog, then you probably have seen my posts from January and April (below) about why people care, or should care, about long-range transportation planning in general and Communities in Motion in particular. 

We have been asking people for their reasons for caring and I have committed to sharing those reasons with you each quarter in my blog. This is my third installment. 

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

-           

• To protect the high quality of life that we have.  We’re in good shape…let’s keep it that way.
• Consequences of not planning can make our valley un-liveable.
• Because I like to breathe!
• So kids can walk to school.
• It is a real life chance to look into a crystal ball.

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!

What do you want your town to look like in the future?

Do you see yourself living in the Treasure Valley in the year 2040? What about your children or grandchildren? Do you see them living here?

What do you want for your future, or theirs? This is your chance to have a say; COMPASS is looking for your help in defining what the future of the Treasure Valley should look like.

Your input will help COMPASS select a vision for the future that will be the basis for Communities in Motion 2040, the next regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties.

To develop a long-range plan, COMPASS first needs to know what type of future it should plan for. To do this, COMPASS is undertaking a year-long process to develop a vision, or “growth scenario,” of what Treasure Valley residents want the valley to look like in the year 2040.

In February and March, through a series of three, day-long workshops, COMPASS worked with over 170 Treasure Valley residents to begin to develop potential future growth scenarios. From that work, we now have four potential growth scenarios that we are looking for your feedback on. 

All four scenarios include a projected population of 1,022,000 people and 466,000 jobs by year 2040. However, each potential scenario is distinct, with different goals and with growth focused in different areas.

Please take a few minutes to learn about the scenarios and submit your comments. There are several opportunities to comment and become involved. A list of these, as well as the opportunity to comment online, can be found on the COMPASS website at www.compassidaho.org (click on “Link to submit comments on Communities in Motion 2040 growth scenarios”).

We’ll be asking you not only which scenario(s) you prefer, but also about the values and issues you care about as we plan for the future. That information will help the COMPASS Board as they deliberate different options and adopt a preferred growth scenario in September.

Public comment is being accepted through Sunday, June 17. Please take a moment to have your say in the future.

Communities in Motion: Why Do You Care? Part II

If you’ve been reading my blog, then you probably have seen my post from January (below) about why people care, or should care, about long-range transportation planning in general and Communities in Motion in particular.

We have been asking people for their reasons for caring and I have committed to sharing those reasons with you each quarter in my blog. This is my second installment.

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

• It’s important to get people to think about what kind of community they want theirs to be.
• People care about transit.
• Participating in developing the plan is more interesting than watching reality TV.
• Things are constantly changing and the valley is constantly growing. We need to plan to get ahead or at least keep up.
• It affects our children’s future.
• It’s important to plan ahead, just in the case the world really doesn’t end on December 22, 2012.

While a few of these are somewhat “tongue in cheek,” the underlying message is still clear – people care about their communities and recognize the importance of being involved in defining what the future of those communities could, or should, look like.

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!

The future through the eyes of our children

Late last fall, COMPASS launched an art contest for elementary aged children. We asked children to draw a picture of what they think their neighborhood or town will look like in 25 years.

This was part of an effort to help get youth – and their teachers and parents – involved in and thinking about Communities in Motion 2040. After all, it is today’s youth who will be the adults when the plan reaches its “horizon year” of 2040.

Thank you to all of the students who entered the contest. All of the participants in the contest clearly put a great deal of thought and care into their artwork.

While I wasn’t one of the contest judges (the COMPASS Public Participation Committee did that), I did get a chance to review the artwork.

As I looked through the entries, I was surprised by how many of them focused on themes that we will be looking at in Communities in Motion 2040 – emerging transportation technologies, changing populations, energy and environmental issues, open space and farmland, and more. I found it quite remarkable that these children, who were only given the very broad theme of “what the future may look like,” focused on many of the same issues we are discussing. These children – some of them quite young – clearly have insight and perception into the world and issues around them.

Take a moment to check out the winning artwork on the COMPASS web site. I think that like me, you will be intrigued and impressed by what you see.