SB 1115: Safer more efficient highways — 2025

Senator Cindy Carlson (R-Riggins) and Senator Lori Den Hartog (R-Meridian) introduced Senate Bill 1115 to require the Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study to determine how the Idaho state highway system could be improved to facilitate safer and more efficient highway linkages in Idaho. The specific study corridors are state highway 55, state highway 95, state highway 16 between Boise and New Meadows or McCall. A fourth corridor considered is south of I-84 to link possibly Blacks Creek to Nampa.

Senate committee members were encouraged to think of areas beyond where highways currently exist because as Idaho’s population continues to grow new connections should be considered to alleviate congestion.

ICL supports the intent of Senate Bill 1115 to ensure thoughtful transportation planning, and encourages the ITD to consider wildlife crossings, since wildlife-related crashes numbered over 1,500 in 2023 and were the second contributing cause. This bill is passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee by one vote, but was subsequently returned to the committee. It’s future status is unknown.