The Future of State Highway 55:

1

• The Future of State Highway 55
• Planned or Parking Lot?
• A joint presentation by
• North Ada County Foothills Association
• Dry Creek Rural Neighborhood Association
• November, 2006

2
Who We Are

• NACFA
• Formed in 2002 to promote preparation of a
  comprehensive plan/vision for the North Ada
  County Foothills (www.nacfa.net)
• Constituencies All neighborhoods north of Eagle
  many Eagle City residents recreationists
  throughout the Valley
• Membership Over 300 growing as development
  pressure becomes ever more real
• DCRNA
• Formed in 2006 to represent Ada County foothills
  neighborhoods from SH 55 eastward to Pierce Park.
• Membership 300 supporters growing.

3
Purpose Focus

• Raise awareness get action on an impending
  State highway traffic nightmare
• Focus SH 55North Ada County, into Boise County
• Describe the basis for concern
• Offer recommendations for action

4
Area of Concern

• Focus on SH 55 from SH 44 to Boise County
• Inter-related concerns
• SH 16 to the west
• SH 44 in Eagle, Garden City Boise
• SH 55 from SH 44 to Interstate 84

5
Basis for Concern

• Much of this stretch of SH 55 is already nearing
  capacity at peak times
• Development pressure is intense on lands
  along/near this highway
• with resultant traffic loads warranting major
  expansion
• ITD is neither planning for this expansion nor,
  seemingly, in a position to forestall development
  until it is done

6
Development Pressure
Status County Dwelling Units Dwelling Units
Appvd Boise 906 906
Gem 1,317 1,317
Ada 680 680
Valley ? ?
Pending Boise 85 85
Ada 16,920 16,920
Subtotal Subtotal 19,908 19,908
Planned Min. Max.
Gem 1,800 2,000
Ada 1,415 8,860
Total (range) Total (range) 23,123 30,768
Cartwright
10,900 expected to build-out in 6-10 years.
7
Resulting Traffic Loads
Status County Dwelling Units Dwelling Units Average New Daily Traffic Average New Daily Traffic
Appvd Boise 906 906 6,795 6,795
Gem 1,317 1,317 180 (Black Canyon?) 180 (Black Canyon?)
Ada 680 680 5,100 5,100
Valley ? ? ? ?
Pending Boise 85 85 635 635
Ada 16,920 16,920 55,750 55,750
Subtotal Subtotal 19,908 19,908 68,460 68,460
Planned Min. Max. Min. Max.
Gem 1,800 2,000 (assumption that all will use SH 16?) (assumption that all will use SH 16?)
Ada 1,415 8,860 9,400 54,750
Totals (range) Totals (range) 23,123 30,768 78,610 129,960
Note

• Eagle Road at Franklin 56,000 ADT

• Interstate 84, east of Eagle Road at 2 PM
  90,000 ADT

45,340 within 10 years
8
Status of Planning

• No State/ITD plan for this portion of SH 55
• 2006 Compass Communities-In-Motion 2030 Plan
• Assumes virtually no development in North Ada
  County Foothills
• Calls only for widening (from 2 to 4 lanes) SH 55
  from Beacon Light to Brookside (1 mile)
• Developers are studying impacts from their
  developments know they should help pay
• ITD has no means of collecting/assembling
  developer impact fees to fund improvements
• Can or will ITD just say no?

9
Recommendations

• ITD should comprehensively plan for SH 55/44 on a
  high priority basis ( include related SH
  segments such as SH 16given new realities).
• ITD must be provided with resources necessary to
  accomplish this task in the next two years.
• ITD should be empowered to collect impact fees to
  ensure that development pays its way.
• ITD should defer approval of S.H. access permits
  for large developments until the highway
  improvements they necessitate can be funded and
  built. The Cities and County should fully support
  mirror this policy