Lawmakers press ITD on renewed $9.6 million District 4 relocation request

Senator Cook told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee he opposed a renewed Idaho Transportation Department request to relocate District 4 headquarters from Shoshone to Twin Falls and pressed the director for justification for a $9.6 million relocation request the committee had rejected in the prior year.

“Last year the JFAC, the Idaho House, the Idaho Senate and the governor all voted to reject the relocation,” Cook said during questioning, asking ITD Director Scott Stokes to explain why the department was submitting the same proposal again. Cook said he had toured the Shoshone campus and that staff told him “we don’t need a new building. We just need some maintenance money.” He also described a ceiling tile with a water stain as evidence of repair needs rather than a building replacement.

Director Stokes told the committee the Transportation Board and department staff recommended reconsideration to better position long‑term service delivery closer to the public and to respond to Twin Falls’ growing population. “We would like to be closer to the growing community of Twin Falls,” Stokes said.

Key facts the committee heard: - ITD cited a long‑term service and access rationale for moving District 4 nearer to Twin Falls; the department says proximity helps public access and operational response to projects in the area. - Senator Cook said a legislative GIS analysis of the 71 employees assigned to the Shoshone campus showed small average commute differences: an average commute of about 29 minutes to Shoshone and 27 minutes to the proposed Twin Falls site (a two‑minute average difference); the committee was also shown median commute times of 37 minutes to Shoshone and 25 minutes to the proposed location, a 12‑minute median difference. - Cook pointed out that the committee had reviewed a 2019 assessment and a January 2024 assessment of the Shoshone building and that last year the legislature declined the relocation; he asked whether a second request was justified.

Representative Price asked whether a minimum of $1 million that the committee required for Shoshone repairs last year had been spent; Stokes said roofing and window replacement work was in final design and scheduled to be installed in the summer.

No decision was made at the hearing. Committee members indicated the cost and the limited commute‑time savings would weigh against relocation; ITD reiterated its recommendation and said it would accept the committee’s ultimate determination.

Ending: The committee did not vote. Members asked ITD to provide follow‑up information as needed; the prior-year rejection remained noted by lawmakers during debate.