Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff outline multi-phase Woodruff Avenue widening and federal-aid schedule
Summary
Public Works staff presented a three-phase project to Mill/overlay and widen Woodruff Avenue and North 15th, described federal-aid timing and design coordination with the MPO, scheduled a Feb. 25 public meeting, and discussed pedestrian safety design and potential forward-funding options.
City public-works staff briefed the council on a multi-phase Woodruff Avenue and North 15th corridor program on Feb. 3, describing two federal-aid projects (a mill-and-overlay and a widening to a five-lane section) and a third locally funded phase to the north.
Staff explained that phase 1 (rehabilitation/mill and overlay) and phase 2 (widening) are federally funded and were originally programmed together, but shifts in the federal program moved the link into FY2029; staff said they continue to work with the metropolitan planning organization to move design and construction earlier where possible.
The north portion (phase 3) is currently programmed to be funded by impact fees and is tentatively scheduled in 2027, subject to right-of-way acquisition and coordination with county parcels near the northeast corner. Staff said they are pursuing a single designer for phases 1 and 2 to reduce disruption and to bid companion projects together where possible.
Public-safety and pedestrian concerns drew several council questions. Councilors asked about high speeds at the Methven Canal crossing and about options for safer crossings, including pedestrian refuge islands, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, and signal changes. Staff said they would evaluate options and incorporate solutions into the final design where feasible.
Staff highlighted public outreach plans and scheduled a project public meeting for Feb. 25 at Fire Station 6 to present concepts and gather stakeholder feedback from nearby businesses and property owners. Engineering staff also identified potential right-of-way needs on the north end where signal positioning and pedestrian facilities will require additional space.
On scheduling and construction logistics, staff discussed potential advanced-construction or forward-funding strategies to reduce multiple years of traffic disruption, noting such an approach could require up-front local funding (the group estimated about $1–1.5 million as an example) with later federal reimbursement.
Councilors asked staff to continue coordination with the county and the Idaho Transportation Department, to prioritize pedestrian safety at the Methven Canal crossing, and to pursue design opportunities that reduce repeated closures and traffic impacts.
