Thank You to This Week's Sponsor
Click logo to find out more about III-A
|
|
JFAC Supplemental Appropriation
HB 308
|
|
On Wednesday, H308 the supplemental appropriation bill for the Idaho Department of Transportation passed the House on a 59-9-2 vote. It now moves on to the Senate.
This is the legislation that is part of Governor Little's Building Idaho's Future plan. This bill provides cash transfers totaling $126,000,000 from the General Fund to dedicated funds and provides an appropriation of $2,000,000 to the Aeronautics Program, $15,000,000 to the Strategic Initiatives Program within ITD, and $2,000,000 to the Strategic Initiatives Local Program.
|
|
More Transportation Funding Introduced
HB314
|
|
On Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced new legislation presented by Rep. Joe Palmer. It received a bill number (HB314), sped through the House reading calendar, and appeared back in committee on Wednesday where it passed committee with a do pass recommendation. Now on to the House floor for debate.
The legislation would shift $67 million from the state's general fund to transportation projects and allow for bonding against those funds for projects at both the state and local levels.
To do this, the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) program which currently receives 1% or a minimum of $15 million of the state's sales tax revenue for state transportation projects would increase to 4.5% or a minimum $67 million and be divide 70% for state transportation projects and 30% for local projects.
Local jurisdictions would receive funds via a grant process from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and only when ITD issued bonds for TECM projects.
State funds could be used for mitigating traffic times and flow, and easing of congestion. Local projects could be used for mitigating traffic times and flow, maintaining and improving highways and streets, or the construction of new highways and bridges needed to expand the local system, ease congestion, maintain, repair or replace bridges and other infrastructure.
Senate Bill 1206, enacted during the 2017 Legislative session, established the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) Program and fund.
The purpose of TECM is to fund projects that are chosen by the Idaho Transportation Board based on a project’s ability to mitigate traffic times, improve traffic flow, and mitigate traffic congestion. The TECM fund receives revenue from one percent of sales tax after local revenue sharing, and all remaining moneys following the distribution of the cigarette tax revenue.
|
|
New Rules for Off Highway Vehicles
H129
|
|
House bill 129 has made it to the Senate and was heard in the Senate Transportation committee on Tuesday.
This legislation allows off-highway vehicles (OHV) to be operated on all public roads, including state highways, so long as the road is not a controlled access state highway, such as an interstate or divided highway.
For safety purposes, OHV travel on state highways is to be limited to areas where the speed limit is 60 miles per hour or less. OHV travel on state highways outside cities to be limited to 5 mile distances and only for purposes of connecting to or accessing off-road trails, or to access services such as fuel, lodging, food and beverage, or maintenance. OHVs must follow rules of the road, except speed cannot exceed 45 miles per hour.
It also provides an option for ITD and local jurisdictions to limit OHV road use, subject to public notice and public hearing process.
The legislation was opposed by the Idaho Sheriff's Association and Idaho Association of Counties.
The bill passed with a do pass recommendation and is off to the Senate floor for consideration.
|
|
Wider Sidewalks and Side Paths
HB131
|
|
House Bill 131 was heard in the Senate Transportation committee on Thursday. This is the legislation that would allow County Commissioners and Highway District Commissioners to develop sidewalks and side paths greater than eight (8) feet outside city limits if necessary.
Local highway jurisdictions are receiving numerous requests from members of the public, developers, bicycle and pedestrian advocacy groups to develop uniform sidewalks and side paths to the same width outside city limits.
The bill made it through committee with a do pass recommendation.
|
|
IAHD Executive Director Addresses House Farm, Ranch, Timber Caucus |
|
Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Highway Districts, Nick Veldhouse was invited to address the House Farm, Ranch and Timer Caucus on Tuesday via Zoom.
The format was casual and included transportation statistics, legislation and opportunities for transportation infrastructure improvements.
The meeting lasted about 30 minutes and can be viewed by clicking the button below. The passcode is 0.&Qd2Bu.
|
|
Keep it Local Idaho Group Releases
Property Tax Video
|
|
The Keep it Local Idaho coalition has released another video on how property taxes work in Idaho.
The Idaho Association of Counties, Association of Idaho Cities, Idaho Association of Highway Districts and the Idaho School Boards Association has created an educational platform to help Idahoans understand what local governments do and to help people better understand how property taxes are calculated.
The goal of Keep It Local Idaho, is to clear up confusion on these issues.
|
|
State legislators in 32 states introduced 113 transportation funding measures in the first two months of 2021, according to ARTBA’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (ARTBA-TIAC).
They are seeking to bridge construction and repair revenue shortfalls created by past failures to keep up with investment needs, economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty about the next federal surface transportation reauthorization. Read More...
|
|
Celebrating Women in Transportation |
|
March is Women in History month, so it seems appropriate that this update would give a shout out to all of the women who work in the transportation industry today.
Women have a long history going back to before they had the right to vote, in helping to shape the future of transportation.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has put together a YouTube of some of these amazing women in transportation history.
|
|
Maintaining Idaho Roads and Bridges
Track Bills That Make a Difference
|
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding limitations on taxing district budgets |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding professional service contracts. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to revise the definition of highways to include certain public transportation and pedestrian infrastructure. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to provide that local ordinances shall not apply to state and local transportation systems and essential facilities. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to provide that a highway district shall not be financially responsible for certain urban renewal projects unless agreed upon. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding a taxing district’s budget limitations. |
|
|
|
|
Adds to existing law to provide for the protection of certain monuments and memorials. |
|
|
|
|
Adds to existing law to provide a sales tax rebate on certain road construction materials. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding construction and maintenance of railroad grade crossings. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law regarding sidewalks to allow for wider sidewalks or side paths if necessary. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to provide for new state and local transportation funding sources through a sales tax adjustment, a certificate of title fee adjustment, and through certain local funding opportunities through a revised Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund Program to be administered by the Idaho Transportation Department. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to require that certain vehicle loads be covered and to remove exceptions. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to remove a provision regarding certain optional charges related to technical review and to remove certain sunset provisions from session laws |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to provide that local jurisdictions shall not have authority to regulate off-highway vehicle traffic on sections of highway under their jurisdiction. |
|
|
|
|
Relates to the appropriation to the Idaho Transportation Department for fiscal year 2021. |
|
|
|
|
Amends existing law to increase funding for state and local transportation through sales tax and adjustments to the transportation expansion and congestion mitigation program. |
|
- November 9-11, 2021 Idaho's Local Transportation Conference-Coeur d'Alene
|
|
House Transportation Committee |
|
Senate Transportation Committee |
|
How to Contact Your Legislator |
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
