Budgeting – What comes to mind?

Budgeting – a word that evokes excitement for some and dread for others.

To be the most effective with the money we have, everyone must budget in some capacity. From the national level, to the state, right down to each of us individually. Here at COMPASS, we develop a budget of transportation projects— the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, or “TIP.”

What is this budget for, you ask? The TIP is a multi-year budget of transportation projects in Ada and Canyon Counties that expect federal or state funds and/or are “regionally significant.” Essentially, it’s a list of transportation projects with information on each project’s budget.

Each year, similar to those of you who budget, we update the TIP. New projects are added and old projects are completed or removed. In most cases, though, projects simply move from one year to the next as they work their way to completion.

So, why does it matter? Well, we can ask the same of personal budgeting.

Because it helps us all plan for the future.

Transportation projects are expensive, time consuming, and often take years to plan and execute. By preparing in advance, we help to ensure that a project has adequate funding and is on schedule when it’s time to build. Plus…it is federally required. Federal funds cannot be spent on transportation projects without first being budgeted in an approved TIP.

Until September 5, 2019, we will be collecting your feedback on the budget for fiscal years 2020 - 2026. The projects in the budget are paid for using your tax dollars and they have the potential to affect you, your commute, and your quality of life. Are these the transportation projects you think are highest priority? Are there specific changes you would like to see made? Your comments are important to us.

Let us know by learning more about the TIP, reviewing the proposed projects and changes, and submitting your comments no later than September 5, 2019. The COMPASS Board will be provided with all public comments before making any decisions in October.

I encourage you to provide your feedback and share the opportunity to comment with your neighbors, friends, and family. Enjoy the rest of your summer, Treasure Valley!

Leadership in Motion

Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. - Warren Bennis

How do we translate vision into reality? How do we, as a region, take a long-range transportation plan and translate it into tangible projects, programs, and policies that benefit Treasure Valley residents?

While that question may sound rhetorical, it isn’t. There are people taking the lead every day on projects that implement the long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0, and improve the lives of everyone who lives or visits here.

Every year, COMPASS honors those people, businesses/nonprofits, and projects that have demonstrated leadership in implementing Communities in Motion 2040 2.0 through our Leadership in Motion awards.

Review the nomination criteria, consider who is leading the charge in your community, then take a moment to nominate him or her, or a project, business, or nonprofit for a Leadership in Motion award. It’s quick and easy – we never want the awards process to deter someone from submitting a nomination or prevent a worthy leader from being recognized.

Unsure who or what might be award-worthy? Check out last year’s winners for inspiration and ideas. At the same time, I encourage you to think outside the box and not limit yourself to traditional “transportation” projects. Implementing a transportation plan can take many forms.

This year’s awards will recognize efforts and projects that occurred between July 2018 and June 2019. Nominations will be accepted through 12:00 noon, Monday, September 23, 2019. Leadership in Motion awards will be presented on Monday, December 16, 2019, at the COMPASS/Valley Regional Transit Board Holiday Luncheon.

Learning by Doing

The best way of learning about anything is by doing.  - Richard Branson

We live in an age of rapid change. The one thing we know is that the future will be very different from the past.

At COMPASS, much of our energy is devoted to trying to decipher what those changes may be and what they will mean to the future of the Treasure Valley and the transportation system that supports it. Our next transportation plan – Communities in Motion 2050 – will delve deep into those changes. We’ll kick off that planning process this fall by asking you about changes you foresee in your life. Stay tuned for your chance to tell us how you see your world changing…or not.

While at COMPASS our focus is on planning for future change, our members are looking at ways to adapt to change today. They are looking at issues such as…

What would happen if we removed some parking spots to make room for pick up/drop off zones?

How about if we provide new ways to get to and from your bus stop?

What changes do we need to make today to be ready for autonomous vehicles tomorrow?

While we can see how new ideas work in other areas, that’s not the same as testing them here. Each place is unique. What worked – or didn’t work – somewhere else is not guaranteed to have the same result here.

That’s where pilot programs come in. Pilots give us the chance to try something on for size and to learn from the process. When done well, a pilot program can provide real, measureable results to help us know if or how a new program should continue. Was it well received? Where were the conflicts? Were there unintended consequences? Did the program work as anticipated? Did the program take more or less time and resources than anticipated? If we’re going to keep the program going, what should change?

While we certainly hope that any pilot program “works,” the true measure of success of a pilot program is not whether the program itself “worked” or not, but rather if it provided us with knowledge and tools to best implement new programs – or choose to not implement them – when we are ready to move beyond the “pilot” stage.

To help ensure pilot programs in the region are successful, COMPASS will be hosting Lisa Nisenson, Vice President of The Wantman Group, on August 5 and 6 as part of the 2019 COMPASS education series to share her insights into developing and implementing pilot programs that provide measureable results.

I hope you’ll join us in helping the Treasure Valley be prepared for the future. Follow the link above for more details and registration information. See you there.

July Quarterly Update

This time of year, it’s common in the COMPASS office to hear, “It’s already July! Where has the time gone?” And truly, I’m shocked that it’s already time for another quarterly update. Since April, COMPASS has been abuzz with activity – our staff doing the leg work to prepare for projects coming down the pipeline. And while, sometimes, that prep work may seem to go unnoticed in the day-to-day, we’ve certainly seen the pay-off over the past few months.

Last Three Months

One particular project that COMPASS staff have eagerly awaited is the newly-purchased data bike. This electric cargo bike will be used to collect pavement roughness and surface condition data. The bike will be equipped with technology such as a phone-based accelerometer, 360-degree video camera, and GPS system to tie the information together with location for pathway maintenance and planning.

In addition to the data bike, we’ve started a few more exciting projects since April. A contract for the Rails with Trails Development Cost Study was finalized and work on this study has begun. To start, COMPASS hosted a Rails with Trails Study kickoff meeting with Rails with Trails Workgroup in May.

Finally, in my last update, I mentioned that COMPASS was in the process of preparing for the next regional long-range transportation plan. The COMPASS Board of Directors approved the scope of work for the next regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2050, in June. Work on Communities in Motion 2050 will begin immediately, with a target date for plan completion in December 2022.

So what does this all mean moving forward?

Next Three Months

In the upcoming months, COMPASS will begin work on Communities in Motion 2050, including soliciting public input into trends and preferences that may affect how people live, work, play, and travel in the Treasure Valley by the year 2050. This input will help shape many of the assumptions that provide the foundation for Communities in Motion 2050.

At the same time, the FY2020 Resource Development Plan will be finalized and submitted to the COMPASS Board of Directors for approval in August. This annual plan guides COMPASS staff in seeking funding for projects that implement the current long-range plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0.

Additional areas of focus will include finalizing the Rails with Trails study, creating a work plan for the 2050 Treasure Valley Bikeway and Pathway Plan, and starting work on the 2050 growth forecast.

Lastly, COMPASS will host Education Series speakers on distracted driving and pilot programs. This will help lay the foundation for discussions on safety and incorporating new and changing technologies and ideas into Communities in Motion 2050.

As you can see, much of our efforts this year are focused on creating a strong foundation for our next long-range plan. The ensuing months will be nothing short of exciting here at COMPASS and I look forward to sharing the next update with all of you.

Redefining Completeness

If you spend any time with transportation planners, you will hear the term “complete street” bantered about, but what does it really mean?

Broadly, it means that a street is designed for all users – it is safe, comfortable, and convenient for people who are driving, walking, biking, using public transportation, or operating a freight truck.

Taking this to the extreme, does that mean to be “complete,” we want sidewalks on the interstate or 18-wheelers rumbling past your house? Perhaps not. I’d venture to say that walking along the interstate or trying to maneuver a semi in a residential neighborhood would likely not be safe, comfortable, or convenient for anyone involved.

Over the next year, COMPASS will be updating its Complete Streets policy – originally developed in 2009. As part of that update, we’ll be redefining what we mean by “complete streets” by shifting from looking at individual complete “streets” to focusing on a complete transportation “network.”

A network approach takes a larger perspective than a single road and considers the land uses and the parallel roads in the network. Can a parallel road provide a better experience for a bicyclist or pedestrian? What kinds of traffic will the surrounding uses attract?

For example, in a highly industrial area, the focus may be on designing streets with freight vehicles in mind – is there room for large trucks to back up, turn corners, and park? A block or two away, a parallel route may be designed as a bike boulevard. In a downtown area, we might design the streets to encourage walking, with wide sidewalks, benches, shade trees, and more. A different street may give buses a priority. That way, all users in an area have a road that meets their needs.

Similarly, do we need a sidewalk on every rural highway to be “complete”? Probably not. But, if there is a school along a highway, that changes the picture. Similarly, do rural roads need extra wide shoulders for cyclists? Some probably do; some probably don’t. Some may need to go a step further and include separated bike paths.

The bottom line is that “complete” can look different in different places with different users and needs. We can provide safer, more comfortable, and more convenient streets for all users by taking a “network” approach and redefining what it means to be “complete.”

COMPASS Quarterly Update

Over the last several years, COMPASS has released quarterly email updates to highlight progress on the current regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties. The most recent plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0 (CIM 2040 2.0) was adopted in December 2018.

We’re moving these email updates here to the Executive Director’s Blog, to help you stay abreast of both the behind-the-scene planning process and opportunities for you to be involved.

In each quarterly blog I will share highlights of work that has been accomplished since the last update and provide a preview of what is planned before the next – including both the implementation of CIM 2040 2.0 and the development of the new plan.

For those of you who are curious, past CIM 2040 2.0 email updates are available on the CIM 2040 2.0 webpage.

Last Three Months

So, what’s new since January, you ask?

In the last three months, our focus has been on finalizing CIM 2040 2.0 and preparing for our next plan. After adoption by the COMPASS Board of Directors in December 2018, we wrapped up our loose ends – completing the online document and printing the CIM 2040 2.0 summary brochure (available in both English and Spanish) to distribute to the public. In addition, COMPASS received an Idaho Transportation Department “Excellence in Transportation – Planning” award for the Performance Measure Framework developed to help prioritize projects for Communities in Motion.

Just as quickly as we celebrated our finalized plan, we moved our attention toward the future. First, a process was proposed for developing the next regional long-range transportation plan. Next, a draft work plan, budget, and public participation plan were created to guide that process. Additionally, we hosted a Complete Streets workshop to kick off the update to the COMPASS complete streets policy, as part of the long-range plan update.

Next Three Months

With this initial prep work done, COMPASS will continue to prepare for the next plan in the ensuing months. What does this look like? Our staff will take the draft work plan and budget to the COMPASS Board of Directors in June 2019 with a request for approval. Once the work plan and budget have been approved, the work on the new plan officially begins. Alongside these efforts, we will also develop the Annual Resource Development Plan to guide efforts to fund projects that support CIM 2040 2.0 goals.

With a forecasted population of 1.022 million by 2040, the goal of each plan is to ensure that Ada and Canyon Counties remain a healthy and economically vibrant region that offers people choices in how and where they live, work, play, and travel.

It is our priority to ensure that we are actively working towards this goal and it is my hope that this quarterly update gives you a window into the ways in which COMPASS is preparing for the future.

Transportation and Legislation: How do they relate?

Idaho is currently the fastest-growing state in the nation – with Ada and Canyon Counties leading the charge. While this growth is an exceptional testament to how wonderful the Treasure Valley is, it will also add an increased strain to our transportation system.

As I’ve said before and will say again, transportation is essential to the health of our economy. Without a well-functioning system, our economy, our quality of life, and the choices available to get around all suffer.

Based on conservative estimates, the region is more than $5.4 billion short of meeting transportation needs between now and 2040 – that’s an average of about $235 million per year, a little less than $1 per day per person living in Ada and Canyon Counties.

Each year, the COMPASS Board of Directors takes positions on transportation issues before the Idaho State Legislature that are of importance to COMPASS member agencies.

The 2019 positions, consistent with previous years, focus primarily on the transportation funding shortfall facing the Treasure Valley, in addition to legislation to allow the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes:

·         Transportation Revenue

The COMPASS Board of Directors supports increasing and diversifying dedicated revenue for state and local transportation systems, including for transit and alternative transportation modes. 

·         Extend “Surplus Eliminator” Provision for Transportation

The COMPASS Board of Directors supports extending the “surplus eliminator” transportation funding mechanism and maintaining a 60/40 state/local share of those funds.

·         Local Option Sales Tax Authority

     The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports local option sales tax authority legislation. 

·         Regional Public Transportation Authority Funding Alternatives 

The COMPASS Board of Directors supports a voter-approved property tax funding mechanism for Idaho’s Regional Public Transportation Authorities. 

·         High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

The COMPASS Board of Directors supports statutory authority to allow utilization of high occupancy vehicle lanes on state and local highways. 

·         Safe Routes to Schools

The COMPASS Board of Directors endorses state support for safe, community-oriented non-motorized transportation. 

Yes – a funding shortfall of $235 million per year is significant. But I strongly believe that through the collaboration of COMPASS member agencies, the Idaho Legislature, and the public, reducing, and one day eliminating, this shortfall is absolutely achievable.

To read the full text of COMPASS’ state legislative position statements, as well as COMPASS’ 2019 federal position statements, follow this link: http://www.compassidaho.org/prodserv/legislative.htm.

To learn more about the transportation funding shortfall facing the Treasure Valley, I urge you to review the financial plan for our recently adopted regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2040 2.0.

Leadership in Motion Award Winners

Each year, we ask our community to nominate businesses/nonprofits, individuals, and projects that have demonstrated leadership in supporting Communities in Motion – the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties.

Specifically, we want to see instances in which exceptional leadership and commitment have been applied to further the goals and vision of Communities in Motion.

This year, we received a collection of commendable nominations from members of the community, and, after a careful selection process, chose seven submissions.

As I’ve noted in previous years, it seems that a common thread often runs through the nominations provided, and 2018 was no different. Among the various businesses, individuals, and projects, we noticed a theme of connection and accessibility. For example, the Boise State University Bronco Shuttle provides a connection between the campus and downtown, the rebuilding of greenbelt sections creates regional access and connected pathways, and individuals have used their skills to foster regional connections through collaboration.

So without further ado, here are this year’s exceptional winners:

Warm Springs and Penitentiary Canal Greenbelt Pathways, Ada County Parks and Waterways 

• The Warm Springs and Penitentiary Canal Pathways project rebuilt the Boise River Greenbelt between Warm Springs Golf Course and the East Park Center Bridge and between Shakespeare Way and Diversion Dam. These new paths allow regional access to the greater greenbelt pathway system for commuters, while providing connections to regional recreation and open space areas and promoting increased public health and quality of life.

Bronco Shuttle, Boise State University, Department of Public Safety

• By providing students, staff, and the public free circulator routes connecting Boise State to downtown Boise and St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Boise State has enhanced the transportation system and improved accessibility and connectivity to jobs, the university, and key services.

CBH Homes, Syringa Valley

• The Syringa Valley subdivision by CBH Homes is a multi-generational community, offering diverse and competitively priced housing options linked together by pathways and recreation facilities to encourage physical activity and social engagement for all residents. In addition, the two-mile extension of Lake Hazel Road and Orchard Road, constructed through a cooperative effort between CBH Homes and the Ada County Highway District, will connect Syringa Valley residents to the broader Treasure Valley community.

Dana Ard, National Federation of the Blind

• Dana Ard has been involved with public transportation and improving access in the Treasure Valley since 1975, when she began riding the city bus to her job. Over the past 43 years, she has made it her life’s goal to improve accessibility and connectivity for all Treasure Valley residents.

 Sara Baker, Commission President, Ada County Highway District (ACHD)

• In 2018, Commissioner Baker led the charge for ACHD’s low stress bicycle network, multiple neighborhood master plan initiatives, ACHD’s largest capital construction effort in the organization’s history, the development of ACHD’s Strategic and Single Integrated Operations Plans, their most aggressive Integrated Five Year Work plan to date, and continued Commuteride growth.

Amy Revis, Idaho Transportation Department, District 3 Engineer

• Through her leadership, vision, and collaborative style, Amy Revis was the driving force behind securing the largest transportation grant Idaho has ever received – a $90.2 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant. The money will be used for the expansion of I-84 in Canyon County - the #1 priority in Communities in Motion 2040.

Amy Schroeder, Idaho Transportation Department, GARVEE Program Manager

• Amy Schroeder led the team of engineers and grant writers who applied for and received the $90.2 million INFRA grant. Amy’s tireless efforts and attention to detail guaranteed no stone was left unturned to ensure the application was accurate, meaningful, thorough – and successful.

The leadership exemplified by each of these individuals, agencies, and businesses has helped encourage collaboration throughout the region, accomplish community goals, and develop real solutions to transportation challenges.

We are honored to be able to present them with Leadership in Motion awards for their dedication and unrelenting efforts to keep the Treasure Valley thriving.

To learn more about the winners and to see full description of their accomplishments, click here.

2018 Leadership in Motion Awards

We’ve all seen the housing developments pop up, enjoyed the new shopping centers, and lamented about the slowing traffic. We’ve read the articles, listened to the radio shows, and spoken with our fellow community members about the statistics.

There’s no doubt about it – the Treasure Valley is growing.

And in order to sustain the community that we know and love, it’s imperative that our leadership has both a vision and set of goals in place to manage this influx of growth.

So, where do we find this leadership?

It’s simple – it’s all around us in the individuals, businesses, non-profits, and projects that make the Treasure Valley what it is. Just as we recognize our friends and family for a job well done, here at COMPASS we do the same in the form of Leadership in Motion awards.

Leadership in Motion awards recognize businesses/nonprofits, individuals, and projects that have demonstrated leadership in supporting Communities in Motion 2040 (CIM 2040) – the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties. This plan provides both the vision and a set of goals to guide successful leadership.

CIM 2040 focuses on eight specific elements – and 17 related goals – to guide plans for the future:

• Transportation
• Land Use
•  Housing
• Community Infrastructure
• Health
• Economic Development
• Open Space
• Farmland

Based on these elements, the Leadership in Motion awards shine a spotlight on what is working; specifically, how CIM 2040 and its goals are being implemented. They facilitate the sharing of good ideas, strategies, and tactics throughout the community to propel us toward a better future.

As you take a look at the growth occurring around the Treasure Valley, I urge you to also keep an eye out for the people, businesses, or projects that are working to lead, serve, and inspire. Once you’ve done this, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the nomination criteria and take a moment to recognize the efforts being made in your community. People or projects that support any of the eight elements are eligible to be nominated.

Feel free to check out last year’s winners for inspiration.

This year’s awards will recognize efforts and projects that occurred between July 2017 and June 2018. Nominations will be accepted through 12:00 pm, Friday, September 28, 2018. Leadership in Motion awards will be presented on Monday, December 17, 2018, at the COMPASS/Valley Regional Transit Board Holiday Luncheon.

Growth means change, and change can be scary. But I have no doubt that the leadership I have seen throughout the Treasure Valley is exactly the kind of innovative and goal-driven action that will help our community continue to thrive.

Prioritizing: Time, Money, and Transportation

Summer is in full swing here in the Treasure Valley, and with the rise in temperature comes an abundance of fun activities to explore with your friends and family. From camping, swimming, and hiking, to attending concerts and enjoying community events, the list of things to do can seem practically endless.

To fit the most into your summer, you’ve most likely made a budget for both your time and money. Your calendar is filled from June through September with vacation days you’ve saved up and your piggy bank is heavier than it was in January.

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to check off every bullet on your vacation bucket list – you have to prioritize. Those items that don't quite fit into this year’s summer "budget" may fall onto next year’s calendar. And, with opportunities like unexpected raises or free weekends, new activities can be added into your summer plans.  

Just like this, COMPASS must prioritize the region’s five-year budget of transportation projects. The budget – the Regional Transportation Improvement Program, or “TIP,” – is updated each year as new projects are added and old projects are completed and removed - similar to checking off those summer bucket list items!

The draft TIP contains over 150 other federally funded, state funded, and “regionally significant” projects that address regional transportation needs. Projects in the TIP range from large to small, and from roads, bridges, and buses, to pathways, sidewalks, and more. Most are proposed for funding between FY2019 and 2023, though some projects in the early planning stages are in the budget in preparation for construction or implementation beyond 2023.

But, we don’t update the TIP in a vacuum. Over the next month, we’re asking you to review and comment on the proposed projects. Are they the transportation projects you think are highest priority?

In addition to this opportunity, we’re also asking for comments on a proposed change to Communities in Motion 2040, the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties. The change would add a study to evaluate the environmental impacts of widening State Highway 55 from two lanes to five lanes in Canyon County, from Sunny Slope Road to Middleton Road.

Just like when choosing which summer plans to prioritize over others, we must do the same with transportation projects in terms of time, budget, and necessity. Defining our community goals, evaluating the “regionally significant” transportation projects, and building a budget that addresses the most pressing needs throughout Ada and Canyon Counties will help the Treasure Valley continue to be the place we know and love.

I encourage you to learn more about the TIP and Communities in Motion 2040, review the proposed projects and changes, then submit your comments no later than Thursday, August 30.

Tell us if you agree with the projects proposed for funding and the proposed change to Communities in Motion 2040. The COMPASS Board will be provided with all public comments before making any decisions in October.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer and all that the Treasure Valley has to offer!