ACHD seeks Boise input for 2026–2030 five‑year plan; online ranking open through Feb. 5

Ada County Highway District planners presented ACHD’s 2026–2030 five‑year plan update to the Boise City Council and outlined a year‑long schedule for partner and public outreach, project prioritization and plan adoption.

“For the record, Rebecca Phillips, transportation planner with ACHD. I'm here before you today to present ACHD's 5 year plan, and the details pertaining to the 26, 2030 update,” Rebecca Phillips said at the start of the presentation, describing the plan's role in programming roads, intersections and community programs such as sidewalks, ADA upgrades and bike facilities.

Phillips said ACHD uses inputs from local comprehensive plans, Compass demographic projections and the travel demand model, plus asset management, the ADA plan, the bike master plan and the capital improvement plan, to inform its programming. She noted ACHD’s prioritization methodology (updated and adopted by the commission in 2022) scores projects on criteria including distance to schools and civic facilities, transit access, disadvantaged communities, average daily traffic and partner agency support.

ACHD described three primary project groups that feed the plan: major capital projects (widenings and intersection work), community programs (pedestrian enhancements, sidewalks, pathways, ADA upgrades, bike facilities and traffic calming), and maintenance/asset management projects. Phillips said projects enter ACHD's database from partners (cities, Ada County, school districts, BSU, ValleyRide Transit) and from the public through an interactive online tool where participants can click projects and rank them on a 1–3 scale. Phillips reported 519 comments had been submitted to date.

Key dates cited by ACHD: initial public outreach closes Feb. 5; Boise's final priority list is due March 19; ACHD will present public and partner feedback on May 14; ACHD plans to release the initial draft in July/August and anticipate adoption in September. Phillips said the 'beyond 2029' tab on ACHD's outreach site contains additional projects submitted by partners and the public and that there is a 'Do you not see your project? Submit a project request' link for new proposals.

Council members asked how neighborhood associations participate; Phillips said neighborhood lists are in ACHD's system and ACHD staff can present to associations or meet one‑on‑one with agency staff. Council members also asked for more detail on individual projects; planning supervisor Christy Anselman answered questions about the State Street and Pierce Park Lane reconstruction project, saying it is under construction, includes full intersection reconstruction and road widening, addresses ADA issues on side streets and is planned for completion in fiscal year 2025.

ACHD staff said partner agency support carries significant weight in the scoring: if multiple partners rank the same project in their top 10 lists, that project can receive the full partner‑support score (15 points), which can elevate it in the programming sequence.

ACHD requested Boise staff and council to submit the city’s prioritized project list by March 19 and offered ongoing technical assistance, presentations and one‑on‑one meetings to help agencies and neighborhood groups participate.