JFAC redirects previously approved highway allocations to residential mobility arterial

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 24 adopted language amending earlier funding directions to the Idaho Transportation Department, moving previously approved allocations toward a residential mobility arterial that connects a U.S. highway to a state highway.

Legislative Services Office analyst Brooke Dupree explained the new language replaces two earlier provisions: one that had directed $13.2 million to a town-center arterial and another that had set aside $50 million for widening and bridge reconstruction for congestion mitigation. The committee's revised language directs $8 million from TECM distributions and $19.2 million from a general fund transfer to projects on a residential mobility arterial.

Representative Handy asked for adoption and, after an objection to unanimous consent by Senator Wintrow, the committee voted. The recorded roll call produced a combined committee total of 16 ayes and 4 nays; the chair declared the motion passed and it will carry a due-pass recommendation to the full Legislature.

Committee materials identified the recipient corridor only as a ‘‘residential mobility arterial that connects a US highway to a state highway’’; no project name, county, or explicit construction schedule was provided in the committee discussion. Committee staff said one portion of the $19.2 million is drawn from a general fund transfer previously approved by JFAC and the $8 million comes from TECM distributions.