Public Workshop No. 1 – Discussion Summary

Location 1 of 3: City Council Chambers – Burley City Hall
Wednesday, June 2 nd 2004 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location 2 of 3: Grange Hall – City of Albion
Thursday, June 3 rd 2004 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location 3 of 3: Senior Center – City of Oakley
Wednesday, June 9 th 2004 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Workshop # 1 was attended by the following individuals:  

Burley City Hall	Grange Hall – Albion	Senior Center - Oakley
Bob Humphrey , ITD District 4	Stephen Freiburger , Coordinator	Aaron Wert, Project Manager
Stephen Freiburger , Coordinator	Aaron Wert, Project Manager	Andrew Swensen, Project Eng.
Aaron Wert, Project Manager	Andrew Swensen, Project Eng.	Matthew Brander, Designer
Andrew Swensen, Project Eng.	Matthew Brander, Designer	Mike Pepper, Public Facilitator
Matthew Brander, Designer	Mike Pepper, Public Facilitator	Clay Handy
Mike Pepper, Public Facilitator	Kerry McMurray, Cassia County	Rulon Van Tassell
Deloy Paskett, Burley HD	Dennis Crane, Cassia County	Renie Wells , South Idaho Press
Rob Carson, Burley HD	Stan Lloyd, Backcountry Byway
Kerry McMurray, Cassia County	George Kelley, Albion HD
Gaylen Smyer	Lee Jolley, Albion HD
Dennis Crane, Cassia County	Donald Danner, Albion Mayor
Laurie Welch, South Idaho Press	Bruce Bristol
Bernard Taft	Tom Geary
Doreen McMurray	Sara Jane Ward
	Shellie Aschlimen
	Lisa Blacker
	Dwight Parish
	Vivian Darrington
	Gordon Edwards
	Marcile Edwards
	Bud Fuller
	Andy Kloer
	Keith Ameade
	Don Bowden
	Dee Yeaman
	Bill Kelley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II. Welcome and Opening Remarks – Stephen Freiburger 

Note: A digital slide show was used at each workshop location

The following points were highlighted by Mr. Freiburger:

• The Planning Team members and Sponsors were introduced
• The purpose and goals of the workshop were outlined
• The overall purposes of the project were emphasized
• Create Countywide development and design standards for transportation system improvements
• Create Pavement Maintenance Plans for each jurisdiction
• Create project priority lists for individual jurisdictions as well as the County as a whole
• Coordinate projects across jurisdictional lines
• Designate 129,000# truck routes. Also, create a truck route west of
  Burley Better coordination and planning will result in better access to funding
• The planning area was illustrated using the large format county map

III. Overview of Planning Process, Schedule, and PIP – Mike Pepper  

In addition to presenting the slide show, the following handouts were provided (copies attached):  

• Public Workshop #1 Agenda
• Comment Form
• Informational Brochure

The following points were highlighted by Mr. Pepper:  

• Attention was directed to the Agenda, Brochure and Comment Sheet
• The major project steps, milestones, and schedule were outlined
• The roles and responsibilities of the Sponsors, the TAC, ITD, and the public was outlined
• The major elements of the Public Involvement Plan (PIP) were presented

IV. Initial Transportation System Issues and Concerns, by Category  

A brainstorming session was led by Mr. Pepper at each workshop location.
Below is a summary of the comments, arranged by category:  

Safety  

• Speed Limits. Speed limits throughout the County should be reduced to 45mph to lessen the risk of accidents when people turn from their access onto the county road
• Sprinklers on Road. Safety concerns related to irrigation water on gravel roads – comment that dairy waste water is routinely pumped through sprinkler systems
• Sight Distance. On many gravel roads, sight distance is poor – comment that the addition of no-passing signs will be evaluated and recommended in the plan
• Crosswalk Markings. Improved crosswalk markings needed in Albion where school faces the library
• Intersection Problems. Some dangerous locations are: The T-intersection at Conner Creek and the “Elba Corner”
• Approaches and Access Points. Evaluate approaches – some are too close to each other and nearby road intersections
• Vehicle Types and Sizes. Accommodate increased vehicle size (such as large farm implements) – increase shoulders?

Roadway Design  

• Fix Poor Vertical Grades. Alternative to no passing signage is reconstruction of the road to correct sight distance issues
• Canal Crossings. Assess proximity of roads to adjacent canals
• Backcountry Byway. City of Rocks road (Elba-Almo road) upgrade
• When to use Pavement vs. Gravel. Not all roads need the same surface – gravel versus pavement
• Vehicle Weight, Size and Type. Need to address the changing vehicle types found on the Backcountry Byway (i.e. large RV’s, rock trucks, farm to market hauling, and emergency vehicles)
• Raise the Profile of Reconstructed Roads . Gravel roads, when reconstructed, should be raised (Burley HD has done this) to improve drainage as well as significantly reduce snow removal needs in winter
• View Characteristics. View characteristics need to be incorporated into project design along the Backcountry Byway

Structures  

• Bridge Rehabilitation. Montgomery Bridge needs rehabilitation/upgrade
• Irrigation Headwalls/Endwalls. Irrigation lateral crossings – condition of headwall/endwalls is poor. Location of structures is often unsafe
• Narrow Bridge . Narrow Bridge at canal crossing on Goose Creek Road (bridge has OK sufficiency rating, but unsafe width)  

Drainage  

• Irrigation Water on Road. Water from irrigation needs to be kept off of the road
• Roadside Ditches. In some cases, the roadside ditches are too close to the roadway, causing damage to the road base
• Culvert Maintenance. Spot where culvert may be sinking – 1000 S 1000 W
• Poor Drainage Areas. Drainage is poor along 1000 S from 700 west to the west (beyond the point where the road was reconstructed with federal aid)  

Policy & Planning  

• Approach Policy. Evaluate approaches – some are too close to each other and nearby road intersections
• Allowable Vehicle Weights. Accommodate increased vehicle size (such as large farm implements) – increase shoulders? Concern about heavy trucks on the roads: Milk trucks, beet trucks, rock trucks, gravel trucks
• R/W Width Standards. Analyze R/W widths and what would be required to accommodate large trucks
• Keeping Sprinkler Water off of Road. Concern about sprinkler water on roads – significantly reduces road life but difficult to enforce. An ordinance may be drafted to help give teeth to the enforcement
• Sign Policies. Signage – theft, vandalism, or simply knocked down
• Zoning and Development Policies. State Highway 81 going out of Burley – accelerated development of subdivisions along the route is causing increased traffic that will likely continue to increase steadily. Impacts of subdivision development should be evaluated. Access policy should be defined and enforced
• Settling Pond Setback Standard. Settling ponds adjacent to the roadway – a minimum setback from the right of way should be established
• CAFO Issues. CAFO impacts on county roads need to be evaluated
• Frontage Road Applications. County roads should not accommodate CAFO operations, rather a frontage road should be constructed (i.e. CAFO’s using the county road as a driveway for operations/feeding)
• Dust Abatement. Dust abatement on gravel roads – are there any ways to improve? The fact that several of the Highway Districts are in line to receive Mag-Chloride trucks will help the situation.
• Open Range and Herding. It is becoming increasingly challenging when ranchers transport their herds down the roadway right of way
• View Characteristics. View characteristics need to be incorporated into project design along the Backcountry Byway
• Relationship between Road Improvements and Development. Road improvements have both positive and negative impacts (i.e. rehabilitated roads provide a smooth surface that may result in higher speeds and greater traffic volumes)
• Beet Dump Locations. Objection to the idea of a beet dump on State Highway 77 between Albion and Declo
• Backcountry Byway as State Highway . The Backcountry Byway committee is currently working on a plan to get the State to adopt the Byway as a State road. Byway committee is making plans to show the route to the IT Board and other congressional delegates.
• Backcountry Byway Loop . Birch Canyon Road (Oakley to City of Rocks ) should be evaluated for pavement project. It would encourage more use and therefore economic development. Complete such a project is segments, as is being done on the Almo side. Include this road in traffic counts. Evaluate conversion of this road to a State Highway designation.
• Green Belt. Areas along the Snake River should be set aside and turned into “green belt” facilities over time. Important to protect the frontage R/W now for future use.
• Bicycle Paths around Albion . Albion – consider bike paths from town to the Albion Grade (the state is reconstructing the grade with bicycle paths). Also from Albion over the hill to Conners Corner and beyond to City of Rocks .
• New Interstate Exit. Evaluate new exit from the Interstate at 1250 East (MP 219)
• New Snake River Crossing. Discussion about additional Snake River crossing at 400 West (west of Burley)
• Truck Route around Burley. Truck route around west side of Burley providing more direct access to Oakley

 Traffic  

• Stop Signs. Stop signs are not consistent (i.e. out of level, varying mounting heights, varying sizes)
• Stop Intersection Warning. Suggestion to mark the roadway at all stop intersections – use a squiggly center stripe on approach for paved surfaces “people watch the road surface more than out to the side where signs are placed”
• Truck Routes. Identify Beet Truck routes
• Open Range Signs. Open range signs are needed wherever applicable throughout the entire county
• Traffic Counts. Question about road counters: Are they going to be used? If yes, would like to see counts on 400 West, 1000 South, Marion Road , and the Mountain Road .
• Intersection Layout. Intersections that are good candidates for upgraded geometry: 1000 S 400 W, and 1000 S at the Oakley Highway
• Highway 77 as Truck Route . Evaluate how much truckers are using of State Highway 77 as an alternative truck route to the Interstate

Maintenance  

• Roadway Surface Condition. Paved and gravel roadway surface condition needs improvement
• Snow Removal. Inadequate snow/ice removal on the Elba-Almo road. Sanding is not performed due to cost

Other  

• Burley Airport . Question about whether the Burley Airport was going ahead with relocation plans
• Level of Public Involvement. Concern about low turnout to meeting. Additional methods of advertising were suggested and include inserts into local bills (Albion Phone, Raft River Electric) as well as announcements in local church bulletins
• Meeting Locations. Suggestion to hold next public meeting in Almo to provide attendees the opportunity to witness the conditions of the Elba-Almo Road .

V. Next Steps

Mr. Pepper identified the next steps in the process to be:  

• Refine workshop results
• Gather additional comments
• Complete Stakeholder Interviews
• Assess existing conditions
• Determine traffic data and projections
• Next TAC meeting to be held on Thursday, June 10 th
• Next round of Public Workshops will be in February of 2005