Hello,
This is the second edition of The Roadmap, an update on what's happening in the Idaho State Legislature. It will come out every Monday during the session and it will update you on what's happened during the week prior at the Capitol.
It will focus mostly on issues that affect our transportation industry, but on occasion, it may delve into other issues of interest to us all. And, it's possible that there may be some national issues that need to be shared.
This edition will focus on the activities that happened at the Capitol and in committee meetings the week of January 11-15, 2021 that affect transportation.
To share news or article ideas, please reach out to info@iahd.com.
Cheers,
Bibiana Nertney
IAHD Communications Director
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Governor Little's Transportation Plan |
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Governor Little during is State of the State address on Monday announced that he is proposing investing $126 million in state and local highway jurisdictions for infrastructure projects including safe routes to schools, rail and community airports.
Governor Little also is proposing and additional $80 million in new ongoing transportation funding. This proposal will be a combination of general fund dollars and user fees.
In a Q and A with media, Governor Little said he believes that his transportation plan has a better chance of passing in the legislature than past efforts because it uses half general fund dollars, and half user fees. He called it “a good compromise.”
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IDAHO’S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE:
MOVING IDAHO FORWARD 2020
Prepared by the Idaho Policy Institute at Boise State University
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IDAHO’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE VITAL TO THE STATE’S ECONOMY
The state’s vast network of critical infrastructure, from its roads and bridges to the systems that support transit, bikes, and pedestrians, enables personal independence and spurs responsible growth in employment, job creation, business retention, and land development. However, Idaho must determine how to properly fund this essential system to ensure it is maintained and accommodates the state’s unprecedented growth.
In 2010, a task force appointed by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter and led by then Lieutenant Governor Brad Little began addressing these issues. In 2011, the group released a report, Modernizing Transportation Funding in Idaho, which found the state was in need of an additional $262 million annually for road and bridge preservation and restoration and $281 million annually for safety and capacity enhancements. Since then, the Idaho Legislature has passed revenue enhancements and the state’s population has grown significantly.
These changes spurred a diverse group of stakeholders to reexamine Idaho’s transportation infrastructure and identify alternatives available to meet the needs of the state now and in the future. These stakeholders engaged Idaho Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization, to conduct an independent analysis for this report.
Findings indicate:
- Idaho needs an additional $241.8 million per year in revenue:
- $236.5 million per year would enable efforts to meet preservation and restoration goals for Idaho’s roads and bridges.
- At least an additional $5.3 million per year is needed to maintain existing transit equipment and infrastructure.
- This additional revenue requirement does not include equipment replacement, safety enhancement, or unfunded expansion for all infrastructure (road, bridge, bike, pedestrian, and transit). o
- If funding is not available and maintenance is deferred, then this annual figure compounds, making the funding requirement significantly larger in the future.
- Alternative revenue enhancement scenarios presented in this report need to be examined closely to determine whether they are appropriate for Idaho’s transportation system.
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A Closer Look at the Building Idaho's Future Plan |
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On Thursday, a number of agency directors met with JFAC to share deeper insights into Governor Little's Building Idaho's Future plan.
While the Governor outlined a number of components to the plan, we will focus on transportation.
Transportation department Chief Deputy Director, Scott Stokes spelled out the first component of the Governor's $126 million plan.
$122 million will be taken out of the general fund aimed to improve infrastructure projects. The additional $4 million will come from interest off the $122 million.
$2 million will be earmarked for child and pedestrian safety projects. This money will be administered by LHTAC and will be awarded through a competitive grant process.
$2 million each will go to rail safety and community airports. This will be administered by the Idaho Transportation Department.
$118 million will be distributed through the highway distribution account. 60% will go to the Idaho Transportation Department. 40% will go to local jurisdictions earmarked for road projects and will be administered through LHTAC. They will award funds via competitive grants.
Deputy Director Stokes did not elaborate on the $80 million new and ongoing transportation funding the Governor also has in his Building Idaho's Future plan.
You can view the January 14th JFAC meeting here.
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Idaho's COVID Vaccine Rollout Plan |
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On Thursday, the Association of Idaho Counties held a webinar with county officials, Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen and Administrator of Public Health Elke Shaw-Tulloch to discuss the COVID vaccine rollout in Idaho and to gain a better understanding of when county officials and road and bridge crews might expect to receive the vaccine.
Both officials shared that as of Friday, January 15th, Idaho has received 155,175 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine.They expect to receive more doses weekly and hopefully in 30-60 days will also receive vaccine from AstraZenica and Johnson and Johnson.
They also shared that there will be no holdback of vaccines to accommodate the second dose needed by everyone receiving a first dose.
In discussing the timeline and priority of when different groups of people can receive the vaccine, Jeppesen and Shaw-Tulloch shared a number of informational links outlining priority of vaccinations to certain groups.
It looks like highway personnel would be included in phase two and could expect to receive their vaccination in mid February to early March. Both officials cautioned that the rollout plans are fluid and may change depending on a number of factors including supply of vaccine, and expert recommendations.
Currently, there is not a plan to educate the general public on the when, where and how to receive a vaccine. They are reaching out to priority groups first mostly through their employers, nursing facilities and medical professionals.
Many of Idaho's seven health districts have a set up a system where you can fill out a survey and register to be notified of when and where you can receive your vaccination.
Here is a helpful link and chart that can provide more information to understanding the roll out and what phase you might be in.
To view the webinar from the Idaho Association of Counties click here. You will have to register to see the meeting.
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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pick |
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On December 15th, President Elect Joe Biden tapped Pete Buttigieg to be the U.S.Secretary of Transportation. Buttigieg is the former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana and a Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election.
Mr. Buttigieg, if confirmed by the Senate will oversee roughly 55,000 employees and a budget worth tens of billions of dollars.This position would put him as 14th in line for the presidency. Buttigieg would be the first Senate-confirmed LGBTQ Cabinet Secretary.
Supporters of Mr. Buttigieg say a robust infrastructure plan that he campaigned on as a presidential candidate, as well as the progressive changes he made in his time as Mayor of South Bend, highlight the vision and experience he will bring to the cabinet role.
President Elect Biden has signaled that he will present Congress with a huge infrastructure spending bill in the early part of his Presidency.
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House Transportation Committee |
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Senate Transportation Committee |
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How to Contact Your Legislator |
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There are several ways to contact your legislator.
Click the button to find out who your representative is. It's easy, just put in your address.
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Send them an email directly, or contact the Legislative Information Center. They will take a message to your legislator.
E-mail must contain the sender’s name and address. To help us forward your message appropriately, please include your legislator’s name and/or legislative district.
Phone Numbers: (session only)
Hearing Impaired: 800-626-0471
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- February 18, 2021 IAHD Day at the Capitol
- November 8-11, 2021 State Transportation Convention-Coeur d'Alene
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Thank You to this Week's Sponsor
Click logo to find out more about Morgan Pavement
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