ITD presents 20‑year US‑91 corridor plan update to Preston council

Chris Peirsol of the Idaho Transportation Department and Nathan Cleaver of Keller Associates told the Preston City Council on Aug. 11 that they are updating a 2003 US‑91 corridor study to assess capacity and safety needs for the next 20 years.

The consultants said the study covers Preston, Franklin County and the City of Franklin, and includes traffic counts at seven key intersections (including Oneida and the State Highway 36 junction). They described an existing‑conditions analysis under way and said a draft report is expected in about six months, with a council presentation planned next year.

Council members pressed ITD on specific traffic‑flow and safety problems: missed turns at the 91/36 interchange that create backups; commercial trucks routed onto a residential road behind the Burger King; and constraints on configuring traffic signals to allow dedicated turn lanes without stopping opposing traffic. Councilmembers also raised pedestrian‑safety concerns on Highway 91, which they identified as the corridor with the most crashes, and urged lower speed limits near crossings, refuge islands, hybrid beacons and bicycle facilities.

ITD emphasized that public comments will factor into programming future projects and cautioned that major projects typically follow multi‑year programming cycles; the department noted a roughly seven‑year lead time for programming (citing the 2033 cycle) and said the corridor plan will feed long‑range safety and capacity priorities.

Council asked ITD to provide periodic traffic‑counter data — including turning movements and near‑miss counts collected since May — to inform the study. ITD representatives also solicited local input on drainage, signal timing and pavement needs as the plan is refined.