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Lawmakers revisit District 4 headquarters relocation as ITD renews $9.6 million request
Summary
ITD renewed a request to relocate District 4 headquarters from Shoshone to Twin Falls at a cost of about $9.6 million. Legislators recalled a prior rejection and pressed ITD on building condition, commute time and earlier promises to spend at least $1 million on Shoshone repairs.
The Idaho Transportation Department renewed a request to relocate its District 4 headquarters from Shoshone to Twin Falls, asking the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to consider roughly $9.6 million for the project.
Senator Cook, who led detailed scrutiny of the proposal, told the committee the Legislature, the governor and the JFAC budget working group had rejected the relocation last year after reviewing a 2019 assessment and a January 2024 follow‑up. Cook said staff and public access, and maintenance needs had been offered as reasons for relocation, but that staff he spoke with had told him the building "didn't need a new building — we just need some maintenance money." He asked whether the Legislature’s prior decision had been incorrect.
Director Scott Stokes said the Transportation Board and ITD staff recommended reconsideration to place services closer to the growing Twin Falls community and reduce longer travel to project sites for some staff. Stokes said the department felt proximity to a growing population center would improve public access and operational efficiency, but acknowledged the decision is for the Legislature to make.
Committee members pressed ITD on cost and commute data. Senator Cook cited a GIS analysis of the 71 employees at the Shoshone site showing median one‑way commute times of 37 minutes to Shoshone versus 25 minutes to the proposed Twin Falls location — a 12‑minute median difference — and argued the time savings did not justify $9.6 million. Representative Price asked whether at least $1 million previously identified for Shoshone repairs had been spent; Director Stokes said roofing and window replacement work was in final design and would be installed in summer.
Senator Knudsen asked about the $1.6 million listed for building design in the relocation request; Stokes said the $1.6 million was architectural/design work and roughly $8 million for access and site development, with final building cost estimates to follow after design completion. Stokes said a completed design could take a year to 18 months.
No formal committee vote was taken on the request during the hearing. Several legislators said they would weigh the department’s updated justification and the forthcoming design details before deciding whether to fund relocation in the next budget cycle.
