Acronyms/Abbreviations

US95 Study Overview

The Problem

Since the 1970’s when US95 was constructed on its present alignment, significant development has occurred along the highway corridor.  As growth occurred, serious concerns have followed related to congestion and intersection safety.  Peak hour traffic now brings long lines of cars waiting at signals along US95, and cars waiting on local cross streets for a chance to enter the highway. At unsignalized intersections, risky driver behavior is increasing as cars stack up in the median to wait for an opening in highway traffic.

US95 has been the subject of several long-range planning studies over the years, however, recommendations from those prior studies carry hefty price tags.  And, unfortunately as congestion and safety concerns mount, funding grows ever scarcer.   With long-term capacity investments focused now on the Huetter bypass and other priority corridors, it is unlikely that funding will be available to make costly capacity improvements to existing US95.  Inexpensive strategies are needed to improve safety and keep traffic flowing on the existing route.

Study Partners

The Idaho Transportation Department is the agency with jurisdiction over US95.  This agency is responsible for managing the safety and operational aspects of this important corridor, and has the authority to approve or remove access points, signals and other highway features. 

The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) is the organization responsible for regional transportation planning in Kootenai County.  The KMPO Board consists of elected officials from the county’s four largest cities, four highway districts, Kootenai County, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.  A representative from ITD District 1 completes this 11-member policy body.  Members are charged with cooperative transportation planning for all regionally significant facilities in Kootenai County.

The US95 Steering Committee is the group assigned by KMPO to oversee this study.  The committee consists of one elected official and one technical staff person from each agency with authority and jurisdiction over roadways in the study area.  This includes the City of Coeur d’Alene, City of Hayden, Lakes Highway District and the Idaho Transportation Department.  A representative from the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and KMPO’s Executive Director are also members of the steering committee.

David Evans and Associates (DEA) is the consulting firm retained by KMPO to perform the technical analysis of various options for US95.  DEA has significant experience and expertise with roadway network operations, and has performed similar analyses locally, regionally and nationally.

Study Purpose

In order to improve the flow of traffic on US95 and address growing safety concerns at unsignalized intersections, the Idaho Transportation Department is considering closing all unsignalized median crossings on US95 between I90 and Wyoming.   KMPO is concerned about the potential impact of this action on the surrounding local street system and has requested time to study the issue.   ITD agreed, and in July 2007, adopted a resolution to coordinate with KMPO and local units of government on a plan to improve mobility in the US95 corridor, including median closures. 

KMPO is sponsoring this study to deliver recommendations on how to better manage the flow of traffic on US95, while still providing essential community access to the highway. 

The primary goal of the study is to evaluate low-cost strategies to manage and balance access to US 95 from adjacent streets.  The intent is to identify measures which can be implemented within the next 5 years. 

A complementary goal is to find measures which will not result in significant adverse impacts on the local arterial system and the local business community.  As with any change to the status quo, however, someone will be impacted no matter what is proposed.  For this reason, KMPO and the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to disseminate information and encourage a dialogue within the business community, so that stakeholder interests are considered in the ultimate recommendation delivered to the Idaho Transportation Department.

Study Details

The study area limits can be generally described as I90 on the south, SH53 on the north, Ramsey Road on the west, and Government Way on the east. 

Traffic counts will first be collected throughout the study area, and the existing operations of US95 and the local street network will be documented.  Existing operations will be used as a baseline for comparing other conceptual scenarios for US95. 

At minimum, these four scenarios will be studied:

1. US95 Median closures at all non-signalized intersections.
2. US95 Median modifications at non-signalized intersections to restrict turning movements.
3. New signalized intersections at ½ mile spacing on US95.
4. Removing signals from US95 and closing or restricting turning movements at the medians at signalized intersections that do not currently meet ITD’s ½ mile spacing requirement.

Up to two other alternatives may be developed during the process. 

For each option, the performance of US95 and the local street system will be tested with a computer model and other analysis tools.  Public and business community input will be solicited and documented. 

Two stakeholder meetings will be sponsored by KMPO and the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce.  (The first occurred in May, 2008, when conceptual options for the corridor were being identified.  Results of the technical analysis will be presented for discussion at a second public meeting on September 9, 2008.)

KMPO will prepare final recommendations, which will be forwarded to the KMPO Board in November, 2008.

Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization:
221 W. First Avenue, Suite 310, Spokane, WA 99201 / 800-698-1927 fax: 509-343-6400