A project directly behind the Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise is looking to increase safety for drivers, tourists, and legislators alike.
The road directly behind the Capitol has caused concern among many state officials for years. Officials and some legislators have been concerned about safety on a popular crosswalk used to go to the back entrance of the building, particularly in the first few months of the year, when sunlight isn’t as prevalent in the early morning hours. Those months are also when legislators from around the state are in legislative session.
Jan Frew, an architect with the Department of Public Works, told IdahoReporter.com Tuesday that improvements to the sidewalk and crosswalk will aid safety in the area. The crosswalk will be equipped with a lighted warning system for drivers that will be activated by folks who want to make the journey across the busy road.
Not all the improvement, however, are based on safety. The money to fund the project will also pay for the installation of what Frew calls “historic streetlights,” as well as additional landscaping.
The project comes less than one year after a state lawmaker – Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell – suffered minor injuries after being hit by a car in on the State Street crosswalk in the early morning hours. It was only the second accident in the last decade on the street. After the mishap, the crosswalk was closed and the Idaho Capitol Commission, overseer of Capitol reconstruction and renovation in the past three years, asked the Ada County Highway District (ACHD), which has jurisdiction over the thoroughfare, to reduce the speed limit behind the building from 25 miles per hour down to 15. The commission also discussed asking ACHD to close the street entirely to create a walking mall among the Capitol and other government buildings. ACHD officials declined the idea because they felt closure would complicate traffic patterns unnecessarily.
The speed limit on the road remains at 25 miles per hour. Robbie Johnson, former spokeswoman for ACHD, told IdahoReporter.com in a prior interview that a reduction in the speed limit could prove more hazardous than some might think. ”Artificially reducing posted speed limits below the speed where most people drive at can create more safety problems, rather than solving them,” said Johnson.
The project is expected to cost $205,508 and is paid for with commission funds. Frew expects that improvements will be finished by the end of September.
The state budget hole grows and grows, but there’s just not enough landscaping we can do around the Capitol to please the Legislature. On any given day there are people out there working on something. Either the design to begin with was an abysmal failure, or we’re just making work. Either way, it’s a disgusting waste of money. As so many things in and around this building are.
Why can’t the politicians/tourists use the crosswalks on the corners, like most normal people? I understand that they are much more important than the average Idaho citizen, but if safety is a concern, removing the option which has safety concerns is the only clear option. There, saftey issue solved, you can now cut the $5,000 it would cost to add a button and flashing lights to the preexisting crosswalk sign.