EA Document Released

How to review the EA The Environmental Assessment (EA) document has been released. A print copy is available for public review at the following locations in Rigby and Fremont County:

• Island Park City Offices: 3753 Hwy. 20, Island Park, Idaho 83429
  
• Fremont County Planning & Zoning Offices: 125 North Bridge St., St. Anthony, Idaho 83445
  
• Fremont District Library (Island Park Branch): 3368 Hwy. 20, Unit A, Island Park, Idaho 83429
  
• ITD District 6 Offices (Front Desk): 206 North Yellowstone, Rigby, Idaho 83442

Print copies are also available at ITD headquarters and FHWA Offices in Boise. An electronic version may be downloaded by clicking here. Accompanying technical reports can be downloaded on our resources page.

Comments & Public Hearing

Public Hearing - ITD and FHWA invite the public to participate in a public hearing regarding the EA.

Date: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Island Park EMS Building, 4124 County Circle Road, Island Park

The public hearing will be an open-house format, so citizens are encouraged to attend any time during the three-hour period. The public will have the opportunity to view displays, ask questions and give written or verbal comment.

IMPORTANT: ITD recognizes that the current weather and driving conditions are not ideal. If you are not comfortable traveling to the meeting, the meeting materials are currently available by clicking here. You can review the materials in real-time and call 208-220-5937 with questions or to speak to a member of the EA team. The EA team will all be together in one place this evening from 4-7 p.m. so it will be easy to connect members of the public with the team to answer questions and/or provide comments.

Commenting on the EA - Attending the public hearing is not a requirement for submitting a comment. Comments can also be submitted via:

Phone: (208) 220-5937
Email: targheepass@langdongroupinc.com
Regular mail: Idaho Transportation Department District 6 (Attn: Public Involvement Coordinator), P.O. Box 97, Rigby, ID 83442-0097

Comments pertaining to the Targhee Pass EA by any of these methods will become part of the record for this project and may be submitted through February 1, 2019.

EA Overview

ITD and FHWA evaluated a number of possible alternatives to improve roadway structural integrity, traffic flow and safety of the Targhee Pass segment of U.S. 20. The EA summarizes the impacts of each alternative, and identifies Alternative 3 as the preferred alternative.

Roadway improvements included with Alternative 3 (and all of the build alternatives) are:

• An additional travel lane in the uphill direction from SH 87 to the Montana State line
• Shoulder widening from 5-feet to 8-feet
• Hill cut to improve stopping sight distance
• Left- and right-turn lanes into Big Horn Hills Estates entrances
• Tree clearing to reduce shade
• Road subsurface reconstruction and drainage improvements

In addition to the roadway improvements, Alternative 3 would include installation of an animal detection system throughout the 4-mile segment of U.S. 20. The system would alert drivers to the presence of animals. This alternative does not include crossing structures with wildlife fencing. Selecting Alternative 3 would require working with a vendor to install and then monitor and adapt the system over a period of several years to achieve a higher level of effectiveness. Monitoring would include evaluating the ability of the system to accurately detect animals, monitoring driver response, and monitoring road kill and crash data.

Targhee Pass EA Process & Timeline

It is ITD’s goal to provide a process that supports open and transparent public participation. While an aggressive schedule has been set to ensure roadway and safety needs are met in a timely fashion, we have allowed time in that schedule to accommodate effective stakeholder engagement throughout the study process.