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Idaho

The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Idaho is the 13th largest state in the U.S. in land area, 11th smallest in population, and 11th least densely populated. Approximately 73 percent of Idaho's population and jobs, and just under 100 percent of the land, is non-urban. Approximately 94 percent of Idaho's roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to 62 percent of the state's land area.

Idaho is a quickly growing state, as measured by population, with a moderately growing rate of employment. The portion of the state's jobs that are in the uniquely rural agriculture sector is fairly large (12 percent) and in the mining sector is small (1 percent). Most jobs in Idaho's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: construction, transportation & utilities (12 percent); manufacturing (15 percent); business & trade (26 percent); and services & government (34 percent).

Demographically, Idaho's non-urban population is predominately white (94 percent). Compared to the other states, the proportion of non-urban adults who did not graduate from high school is low (16th lowest), but the proportion who did graduate from college is also relatively low (9th lowest). The 14 percent of Idaho's non-urban people who are poor is greater than in many other states. About 45 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (33 percent 18 years or younger, and 13 percent 65 years or older).

Governmentally, Idaho has 44 counties, a fairly manageable number compared to many other states. The state also has 200 municipalities but no towns or townships. Overall, Idaho has the 12th lowest number of sub-county governments. However, Idaho also has 5 federally recognized Indian tribes.

In addition, the 1997 U.S. Census of Governments has identified 66 independent, special-purpose governments in Idaho that have transportation responsibilities. This number is larger than in many other states. These special-purpose governments include 65 for highways and one for transit. Idaho also has 5 other public transit providers serving rural areas and an additional 21 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

Idaho has 8 regional councils that cover approximately 100 percent of the state, and 3 MPOs. These regional units help to coordinate the other local governments and play a role in rural transportation programs as described below.

Of Idaho's 58,588 miles of roads, approximately 9 percent are state-controlled, while 40 percent are federal. Of the total miles of non-federal rural roads, 14 percent are state, 44 percent are county, less than one percent are township, and 42 percent are municipal and other.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is responsible for developing a 20-year long-range plan as well as the 3-year STIP. It works under the supervision of a Governor appointed Transportation Board, and with a variety of other mode-specific commissions and committees, such as the Aeronautics Advisory Board and the Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC). ITD has six planning districts that work with a variety of transportation planning organizations and groups including six regional planning and development organizations. The boundaries of the ITD districts and the six regional planning organizations coincide. The regional organizations have no formal planning role, but are encouraged to participate in the STIP process.

The ITD consultative process covers all modes of transportation, programs, and issues, and occurs at all levels, from local one-on-one meetings with ITD district personnel to statewide planning committees. Each ITD district has a Senior Transportation Planner who coordinates with local governments and reports to the district engineer. For planning and consultative purposes each district Senior Transportation Planner meets quarterly with an Intermodal Working Group consisting of MPOs, local road representatives, Tribal representatives, modal planners and other planning groups. Each PTAC member represents a district for public transportation planning. Consultation is also accomplished as part of Corridor Studies, which take input from stakeholders and the public, beginning at the initial stages. The stakeholders include key decision-makers within the corridor boundary, such as (but not limited to) local elected officials, agency representatives, Tribal representatives, and community leaders. Increasingly, local multi-agency/jurisdictional transportation planning committees are being formed. They meet regularly with ITD district personnel to discuss and promote mutual transportation planning and project development.

Consultation with local officials is also accomplished through interaction with several associations. Many local officials are members of the Idaho Association of Counties, the Idaho Association of Cities, and/or the Idaho Association of Highway Districts, Inc. These associations are also represented on the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council. There are three MPOs in Idaho. Idaho's largest MPO now includes representation from rural officials in the developing portions of its metropolitan planning area.

The Idaho Transportation Board also plays a direct role in the consultation process. Of the seven appointed members, six represent one of each of the ITD districts and will meet with the District Engineer or local constituents. The Board itself meets monthly in one of the six districts throughout the state. Once a year it tours each of the ITD districts reviewing new or proposed projects. The Board meets with various citizens, state and local officials, and businesses, and regularly meets with any group of persons that wishes to discuss one or more issues with it.

ITD coordinates transportation planning and develops the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) based on the input from the public, local jurisdictions, MPOs, the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC), and federal and state agencies. Citizens, agencies, local elected officials, planning and development organizations, and local governments identify needs and make recommendations to the ITD district transportation planner. District planners submit recommendations to the central office for inclusion in the draft STIP. Headquarters develops the 3-year STIP with input from the LHTAC, Division of Environmental Quality, Enhancement Advisory Committee, and other stakeholders. The draft STIP is released for public comment via newspaper ads, news releases, open-houses, a web-site address plus a direct mailing to local jurisdictions and interested parties. As feasible, comments and changes are incorporated into the final draft that is submitted to the Transportation Board for approval. Once a project is approved in the STIP, open houses are held to discuss project specifics with local residents and local elected officials.

Indian Tribes are contacted when there is a proposed project near their reservation. Contact often involves direct meetings with the Indian Tribe, but may also include phone calls, email and letters. The BIA Indian Reservation Roads Program is included in the STIP. ITD also meets with Native American Tribes to initiate open lines of communication and a cooperative atmosphere. Also, federal and state land management agencies are involved in the early stages of the planning process when projects are on or near their land. A Tri-Agency agreement between the Forest Service, FHWA and ITD facilitates the development of the Forest Highway Program. A tour is planned each year to review projects that might be added to the Program. The Public Transportation Interagency Working Group was established to facilitate planning and coordination between transportation providers.

Rural and city transportation needs are funded with a mixture of federal, state, and local funds. ITD selects projects for most federally funded programs on the basis of a variety of factors that include need assessment for the achievement of department goals for pavement condition, bridges, safety and congestion management, air quality and enhancement project criteria, as well as public involvement and funding eligibility. STP-Rural funds are distributed for eligible projects that are identified, prioritized, and requested by local agencies through a formal project application process (January-March). Project proposals are reviewed and ranked by LHTAC and a prioritized list of projects (based on available funding) is then presented to the Idaho Transportation Board for inclusion in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in June. STP Local Urban funds are divided using population data, between the three MPOs and all other cities above 5,000 population. The MPOs recommend projects within the MPO areas. MPO projects are placed in their respective TIPs and in the STIP within the available STP local urban funding for that year. Final project approval is by the Idaho Transportation Board. For cities greater than 5,000 population projects are requested by local agencies through a formal project application process (January-March). Project proposals are reviewed and ranked by LHTAC and a prioritized list of projects (based on available funding) is then presented to the Idaho Transportation Board for inclusion in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in June. The above process was developed through a consultative process with local agencies and ITD will be phasing out a program that allowed some local highway districts to exchange their federal aid funds for state funds.

Through the state highway distribution account (state gas tax revenues), 38 percent of state funds go directly to local governments based on their percent of local road miles; most of the rest goes to the state. Local governments control the funds that are distributed to them from state gas tax funds and can generate additional transportation revenue through property taxes, special option registration fees, impact fees and use of limited bonding authority.

Idaho uses these practices:

State Consultation Tours: the Board, ITD management with district personnel and affected local agencies review potential projects and modes within each district.
State Processes to Compile Transportation Needs: Enhancement, CMAQ, STP local and Urban projects are developed based on a competitive call for projects.
State Hearings: The STIP is made available for formal review and comment.
State Processes for Interactive Exchanges of Views with Local Officials: ITD staff meets with intermodal committees, citizens' advisory committees, and participate in corridor studies.
State Policy-Making and Advisory Bodies: Transportation Board, and other boards and commissions, which help shape the consultative process.
Other Practices: ITD Senior Transportation Planners are responsible for maintaining contact with other state officials, utility companies, MPOs, the public, and officials of city and county governments; ITD works with various associations, such as the Association of Counties; the Transportation Board meets regularly with citizens and officials around the state.

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