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Idaho Falls lays out Elm Street reconstruction and Birch/South Boulevard roundabout plans
Summary
Public works presented the Elm Street federal‑aid reconstruction (design complete 2026; construction 2027) and a locally funded two‑lane roundabout at Birch & South Boulevard slated for this summer; staff proposed a story‑map outreach and a Feb. 15 comment deadline for Elm Street.
City public‑works staff told the council Jan. 20 they are advancing two transportation projects in the same neighborhood and want council input before public outreach begins.
Assistant Public Works Director Chris Canfield said the Elm Street project is a federal‑aid reconstruction in the city’s six‑year program. He said staff completed a 2024 state‑local agreement with the Idaho Transportation Department and awarded a design contract to Precision Engineers; design is expected to finish in 2026 and construction in 2027. Canfield said the package focuses on pavement replacement, improved ADA access, pedestrian crossing improvements and crew safety measures, and will include a “story map” website and mailer to solicit public comment.
City Engineer John Knowles summarized an accompanying speed study conducted Dec. 9–16 and recommended raising the posted speed limit on Elm to 30 mph to match actual traffic speeds and to add a flashing school‑zone reduction (to 20 mph during pick‑up/drop‑off) near Altura School. “The 85th percentile speed…was 30 miles per hour,” Knowles said; he told council that staff want to include the school‑zone plan in outreach materials so public feedback addresses the likely hot‑button item.
Knowles and Chris Frederickson also presented a locally funded two‑lane roundabout proposal at Birch and South Boulevard. The design aims to slow and keep traffic moving, but staff acknowledged parking displacement and access‑pattern changes for nearby properties. Frederickson said the plan is not far along and recommended a nearby public meeting to review access and parking impacts; construction, if approved, would begin this summer and Elm Street would follow in 2027.
Councilors asked staff to include the school‑zone schematic in the Elm Street story map and to ensure stakeholders (school, museum, adjacent property owners) are given early notice. Staff said the story map and mailer should be live by the end of the week and that the Elm comment period would close around Feb. 15 unless council directs an extension.
Next steps: staff will post the outreach materials, gather public comments, incorporate feedback as appropriate into final design and return to council before final approvals and bids are issued.
