BOISE - The Idaho Transportation Board today requested $162 million in bonding authority for next year to complete construction of highway improvement projects on U.S. 95 and Idaho 16.
The bond request is part of the GARVEE Transportation Program approved by the Idaho Legislature. The recommendation will be forwarded to Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and would have to be approved by the Legislature. The program uses federal Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite highway improvements.
"This will complete the scheduled GARVEE program," said Darrell Manning, chairman of the Idaho Transportation Board. "The bonds will finance the completion of two critical highway projects. The projects will relieve congestion, improve safety and facilitate economic growth."
The Idaho Legislature has approved $693 million in bond authorizations to date. Approximately $626 million in contracts have been issued through November to design, purchase right of way and construct projects that improve the state's highways and bridges.
The GARVEE program will be completed for a projected $855 million, less than the $998 million originally estimated. This will reduce the transportation department's debt payments to the federal government from $74 million a year over the next 20 years to $60 million a year. The savings were achieved through efficiencies, value engineering practices, lower than projected construction costs and paying for the construction of the I-84 Vista Interchange with stimulus funding rather than GARVEE bonds.
"It is important the U.S. 95 projects are completed to improve safety and avoid a traffic bottleneck," said Manning. "The people of northern Idaho have waited patiently while the U.S. 95 improvements were developed and other GARVEE projects on U.S. 30 and I-84 were completed."
Connecting Idaho 16 to Chinden Boulevard is the first step in establishing a new north-south link to I-84, Manning said.
"As western Ada County and eastern Canyon County develop, the ability to move traffic north and south is critical to the area's economic development," Manning said.
The $162 million would finance the completion of the following projects:
- U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle corridor, $79.4 million. Approximately 12 miles of U.S. 95 from Chilco to Granite will be widened and realigned to a four lane divided highway with new interchanges at Chilco, Bunco Road and at Idaho 54 in Athol.
The highway project will improve safety and traffic flow by removing several intersections and rail crossings. Construction could begin in the summer of 2011.
- Idaho 16, from U.S. 20/26 to Idaho 44, $77.9 million. This project will construct a much-needed new north-south highway to extend Idaho 16 from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) to Idaho 44 (State Street). Construction of this limited-access highway will include a new bridge across the Boise River. It is the first step toward ultimately connecting Idaho 16 to Interstate 84.
- Program management, $4.7 million. Funds the management of the GARVEE program.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Author Brenda Stanley Visits AM Idaho
Book Trailer
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Idaho General Election 2010 (Results)
Listen to Newsradio 590, 1240 & 92.1fm for all your election night coverage. News Director Aaron Kunz will be calling in live reports from the Idaho GOP party in Boise. Follow Aaron on Twitter for late breaking news at www.twitter.com/aaronkunz
Live Election Coverage provided by Fox News Radio & AM Idaho contributor Bruce Herker.
STATE OF IDAHO ELECTIONS WEBSITE:
http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/eleindex.htm
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS - GENERAL ELECTIONPrecincts Reported: 932 of 961 (97%)
UNITED STATES SENATOR
CON Randy Lynn Bergquist 3%
DEM P. Tom Sullivan 25%
REP Mike Crapo 71%
US REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1
DEM Walt Minnick 41%
IND Dave Olson 5%
LIB Mike Washburn 1%
REP Raul R. Labrador 50%
US REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2
DEM Mike Crawford 24%
IND Brian Schad 6%
REP Mike Simpson 68%
GOVERNOR
DEM Keith Allred 33%
IND Jana M. Kemp 5%
IND Pro-Life .8%
LIB Ted Dunlap 1%
REP C.L. "Butch" Otter 58%
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
CON Paul Venable 5%
DEM Eldon Wallace 27%
REP Brad Little 67%
SECRETARY OF STATE
DEM Mack Sermon 25%
REP Ben Ysursa 74%
STATE CONTROLLER
DEM Bruce Robinett 29%
REP Donna M Jones 70%
STATE TREASURER
REP Ron Crane
ATTORNEY GENERAL
REP Lawrence Wasden
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
DEM Stan Olson 39%
REP Tom Luna 60%
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 27
STATE SENATOR
REP Denton Darrington
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
REP Scott Bedke
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
REP Fred Wood
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 28
STATE SENATOR
REP R. Steven Bair
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
DEM Marlene F. Shurtz 31%
REP Dennis M. Lake 68%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
REP Jim Marriott
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 29
STATE SENATOR
DEM Diane Bilyeu 51%
REP Lance B Kolbet 48%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
DEM James ("Jim") W. Allen 39%
REP Ken Andrus 61%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
DEM Greg Anderson 40%
REP Jim Guthrie 59%
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 30
STATE SENATOR
DEM Edgar J. Malepeai 54%
REP Terry Andersen 45%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
DEM Roy Lacey 58%
REP Brian P. Nugent 41%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
DEM Elaine Smith 53%
REP Dave Bowen 47%
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 31
STATE SENATOR
REP Robert L. Geddes
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
REP Marc Gibbs
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
DEM Ralph Mossman 31%
REP Tom Loertscher 68%
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 32
STATE SENATOR
REP Dean M. Mortimer
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
REP Janice McGeachin
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
REP Erik Simpson
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 33
STATE SENATOR
DEM Neil M Williams 33%
REP Bart M. Davis 66%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
DEM Jerry Shively 47%
REP Jeff Thompson 52%
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
DEM John McGimpsey 40%
REP Linden B. Bateman 59%
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 34
STATE SENATOR
REP Brent Hill
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
REP Mack G. Shirley
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
REP Dell Raybould
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 35
STATE SENATOR
REP Jeff C Siddoway
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION A
REP JoAn E. Wood
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION B
REP Lenore Hardy Barrett
S.J.R. No. 101 - U of I Tuition (Yes)
H.J.R. No. 4 - Hospitals (Yes)
H.J.R. No. 5 - Airport (Yes)
H.J.R. No. 7 - Municipal Electric (Yes)
*Red indicates uncontested races or the winner of the race.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
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