Purpose of the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) is responsible for conducting continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive transportation planning in Kootenai County that is consistent with both federal and state laws. Our work involves regional transportation policy development, public involvement, technical studies, and project planning, programming and development. The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) outlines KMPO’s intended work for the fiscal year which begins October 1st and ends September 30th of the following year.
Kootenai County continues to face many significant transportation issues. Each UPWP outlines the most pressing issues that need to be addressed during the given fiscal year. These are major, long-term issues. KMPO endeavors to continue a work program that best positions the MPO to build upon work conducted in the previous year(s) and to lay the groundwork for advancing these initiatives in future years.
The UPWP documents can be viewed as single page pdfs using the “[read more]” link found at the bottom of each tab or as interactive booklets using the links below the tabbed section.
Significant Issues Facing the Region in FY 2025
- In the period covered by this UPWP, Kootenai County will continue to face many significant transportation issues as a result of continued growth and development. Examples of our most pressing issues are described below: • The highest priority task for FY 2025 is to complete the Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update to meet the current requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This will be embodying work completed as part of the Rathdrum Prairie Planning & Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study conducted in 2024 and 2025.
- There is also an ongoing need to prepare for investments on various widening, reconstruction, and new construction projects such as: U.S. 95 south of I-90; completion of Prairie Avenue westward toward SH-41; the Alternate U.S. 95 Huetter Corridor; and widening I-90, which is currently in engineering and design, with the first segment anticipated to begin construction in the spring of 2025.
- Funding for transportation to support local arterial improvements continues to fall well behind in its ability to address capacity and rehabilitation needs. Discussions need to begin on local option funding sources and/or additional State sources that are base line funding to a jurisdiction or region, rather than State-wide competitive programs that are relegated to LHTAC selection, programming and project management.
- Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property that will be needed for system expansion in the future. ITD and KMPO signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding in July of 2024, which included a provision for the ITD Board to receive and consider future corridor studies conducted within the MPO area for acceptance.
- Continued development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments that crosses all modes of transportation. This will include funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth, and system capacity shortfalls.
- KMPO and ITD engaged with the other MPO’s during FY 2024 through a collaborative process to update the MOU between ITD and KMPO, as well as data collection to support the performance measures. Not included, was the provisions related to public transportation, which becomes problematic.
These are both short and long-term major issues. Therefore, KMPO will endeavor each year to maintain a work program that best positions the MPO to build upon work conducted in previous year(s) and to lay the groundwork for advancing these initiatives.
Significant Issues Facing the Region in FY 2024
In the period covered by this UPWP, Kootenai County will continue to face many significant transportation issues as a result of continued growth and development. Examples of our most pressing issues are described below:
- The highest priority task for FY 2024 is to begin updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan to meet the current requirements of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
- There is also an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments on various widening and reconstruction projects such as: U.S. 95; completion of Prairie Avenue westward toward SH-41; the Alternate U.S. 95 Huetter Corridor; and widening I-90, which is currently in engineering and design.
- Funding for transportation to support local arterial improvements continues to fall well behind in its ability to address capacity and rehabilitation needs.
- Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property that will be needed for system expansion in the future. ITD District 1 and KMPO will be initiating an access and mobility plan for the Rathdrum Prairie to address east-west to north-south connectivity issues, especially in the vicinity of Rathdrum.
- Continued development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments that crosses all modes of transportation. This will include funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth, and system capacity shortfalls.
- With the recent transportation reauthorization bill, there is a need to develop coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation. KMPO anticipates ITD will continue to engage with MPO’s during FY 2024 through the collaborative process to update the MOU between ITD and KMPO, as well as data collection to support the performance measures.
These are both short and long-term major issues. Therefore, KMPO will endeavor each year to maintain a work program that best positions the MPO to build upon work conducted in previous year(s) and to lay the groundwork for advancing these initiatives.
Significant Issues Facing the Region in FY 2023
In the period covered by this UPWP, Kootenai County will continue to face many significant transportation issues. Examples of our most pressing issues are described below:
- The highest priority task for FY 2023 is to continue incorporating the delayed Census 2020 data into our regional transportation planning program and plans. The significant growth and development being experienced requires timely incorporation of demographic data associated with that growth. Growth that occurred in 2021 alone accounted for an increase in approximately 8,000 people within Kootenai County.
- There is also an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects such as: Pleasant View Grade Separation, S. 95, completion of Prairie Avenue west to SH-41, the Alternate U.S. 95 Huetter Corridor; and widening I-90, which is currently in engineering and design.
- Funding for transportation to support local arterial improvements continues to fall behind in its ability to address capacity and rehabilitation needs.
- Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property, which will be needed for system expansion in the future. ITD District 1 and KMPO will be initiating a Strategic Transportation Plan for the Rathdrum Prairie to address east-west to north-south connectivity issues, especially in the vicinity of Rathdrum.
- Continued development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments that crosses all modes of transportation, along with funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth, and system capacity
- With the recent transportation reauthorization bill, coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures, related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation, will need to be KMPO anticipates ITD will continue to engage with MPO’s during FY 2023 through the collaborative process and data collection to support the performance measures as they become more important.
These are both short and long-term major issues. Therefore, we endeavor each year to continue a work program that best positions the MPO to build upon work conducted in previous year(s) and to lay the groundwork for advancing these initiatives and furthering development of the Regional Traffic Management Center….[read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
With many significant transportation issues continuing to face Kootenai County, KMPO has prioritized the incorporation of the delayed 2020 Census data into the regional transportation planning program and plans. The significant growth and development being experienced requires timely incorporation of demographic data associated with that growth. There is also an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects such as: Pleasant View Grade Separation, U.S. 95, completion of Prairie Avenue west to SH-41, the Huetter Corridor and widening I-90. In FY 2021, the local option vehicle registration fee was not successful in November 2020. Since then, the Idaho Legislature increased the Statewide sales tax contribution to transportation, allow the implementation of several large projects statewide, including widening I-90 in Kootenai County, to the program. Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities are necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property, which will be needed for system expansion in the future….[read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
Significant transportation issues will continue to face the regional in FY 2021. The highest priority task will be to begin incorporating Census 2020 data into our regional transportation planning program and plans. The significant growth and development being experienced requires timely incorporation of demographic data associated with that growth. There is also an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Pleasant View Grade Separation, U.S. 95, completion of Prairie Avenue west to SH-41, the Huetter Corridor and widening I-90). If the local option vehicle registration fee is successful in November 2020, efforts will be made to seek timely implementation of the program. Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right of way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property which will be needed for system expansion in the future. Development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments that crosses all modes of transportation, along with funding strategies…[read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
The primary focus in FY2020 includes the complete update of the KMPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), the Huetter Corridor, and the undertaking of the Regional Traffic Management Center Feasibility Study. A number of short and long-term transportation related issues continue to face Kootenai County. The most pressing issues include an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Pleasant View Grade Separation, U.S. 95, Prairie Avenue west to SH-41, the Huetter Corridor, and widening of I-90) by continuing to seek cost effective solutions and identifying sources of necessary funding. Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property which will be needed for system expansion in the future. Development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments across all modes of transportation, along with funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth and system capacity shortfalls. With passage of the FAST Act and anticipated America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA), coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation will need to be developed. KMPO anticipates ITD to continue to engage with the MPO in the collaborative process during FY 2020… [read more]
Significant Issues Facing the Region
Kootenai County will continue to face many significant transportation issues in FY19. Some of our most pressing issues include an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Pleasant View Grade Separation, U.S. 95, Prairie Avenue west to SH-41, and the Huetter Corridor) by continuing to seek cost-effective solutions and identify sources of necessary funding. Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property which will be needed for system expansion in the future. Development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments that crosses all modes of transportation, along with funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth and system capacity shortfalls. With the passage of the FAST Act, coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation will need to be developed. KMPO anticipates ITD to continue engaging with the MPO in the collaborative process during FY 2019…[read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
Kootenai County continues to face many significant transportation issues in FY18. Some of our most pressing issues include an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Pleasant View Grade Separation, U.S. 95, Prairie Avenue, and the Huetter Corridor) by continuing to seek cost effective solutions and identifying sources of necessary funding. Protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities is necessary to mitigate the future public cost of infrastructure improvements and the unnecessary displacement of homes and businesses. These strategies become increasingly important, as growth and development in the county consumes open space and escalates the price of property which will be needed for system expansion in the future. Development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments across all modes of transportation, along with funding strategies to address rising costs, rapid growth and system capacity shortfalls. With the passage of the FAST Act, coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation will need to be developed. KMPO anticipates ITD to continue engaging with the MPO in the collaborative process during FY 2018… [read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
In the period covered by the FY17 UPWP, our most pressing issues include an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Pleasant View Grade Separation, SH-41 Corridor, U.S. 95, Prairie Avenue, and the Huetter Corridor), protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities, development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments across all modes of transportation, and coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation… [read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
In the period covered by the FY16 UPWP, our most pressing issues include implementing the recommendations contained in the updated Regional Public Transportation Plan, an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Seltice Way, Government Way, and Prairie Avenue), protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities, development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments across all modes of transportation, and coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation will need to be developed… [read more].
Significant Issues Facing the Region
In the period covered by the FY15 UPWP, our most pressing issues include implementing the recommendations contained in the updated Regional Public Transportation Plan, an ongoing need to plan and prepare for investments in various widening and reconstruction projects (e.g., Seltice Way, Government Way, and Prairie Avenue), protecting future transportation corridors through land use and right-of-way preservation activities, development of a unified regional philosophy for transportation investments across all modes of transportation, and coordination and engagement with ITD and local stakeholders on several performance measures related to planning, public transportation, and street/roadway maintenance and preservation will need to be developed… [read more].