I-84 work needs to continue
Press-Tribune Editorial board
October 18, 2009
Idaho Press-Tribune
The Idaho Transportation Board has recommended that the Legislature approve continued funding to widen Interstate 84 through Canyon County.
That's good news for thousands commuters and also for those in the construction industry that have been able to keep their jobs because of the massive project to increase the freeway from two lanes in each direction to three — and ultimately four.
Board members adopted plans to widen the segment from North Franklin Boulevard to Garrity Boulevard as part of a request from the GARVEE Connecting Idaho program. Through the program, the state issues bonds that are paid back from federal highway appropriations.
Because the money must be used for transportation projects, the GARVEE program doesn't take funds away from other cash-strapped programs like schools and corrections. It does provide a boost to the local economy because many Southwest Idaho contractors take part in components of the work.
The Franklin-to-Garrity widening is important because Canyon County commuters could face another bottleneck — just a few miles to the west — if I-84 isn't eventually expanded all the way to Caldwell.
An influential group of local lawmakers has championed the I-84 construction in past legislative sessions, and you can expect they'll do the same this year. Although the Legislature will no doubt face a tough session dealing with the budget, the GARVEE program is a way to keep moving on some road projects even if additional state funding can't be secured in the down economy.
It's critical that the work to ease headaches for western Treasure Valley commuters continue, and the Transportation Board's recommendation would accomplish that objective.
Originally posted at http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/recent/?id=27092
The editorial posted here is provided by permission of its original publisher and does not necessarily reflect the views of Idaho Public Television.