Kootenai Regional Traffic Management Center Study

The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Idaho Transportation Department are conducting a study on the way our regional roadways are managed on a day to day basis. The goal is to improve overall safety, reliability and convenience for all users. This survey will help us understand the perspectives of travelers within Kootenai County and our neighbors, while traveling our regional transportation system.

Idaho remains one of the fastest-growing states, with rapid growth projected to continue.

Growth has put a strain on the existing transportation system, experienced by the community as roadway bottlenecks, poor intersection levels of service, unreliable travel times, an overall lack of readily accessible motorist information, and unpredictable incident management on major routes including I-90. Traffic on I-90 alone is expected to double by 2045.

Previous studies have confirmed that a traffic management center (TMC) is not only needed in the future but also right now. The current phase of the study is looking at the feasibility of implementing a TMC, including comparing costs and benefits.

Traffic management centers (TMCs) are a common tool used in urban areas in our region and country. TMCs allow for joint management of traffic safety, mobility and information in a region. TMCs oversee existing infrastructure.

In Kootenai County, there are nine agencies that manage transportation infrastructure. Generally that infrastructure is independently managed. For example, signals on U.S. Highway 95 are managed by the Idaho Transportation Department, and signals on Government Way are managed by the city of Coeur d’Alene; despite the proximity of the two roadways, the signals do not automatically “talk” to one another.

TMCs are typically managed and operated by dedicated staff with oversight and support from participating agencies. TMC staff are housed in the same location with the ability to remotely manage information from a regional perspective.

Drivers would have greater mobility with increased coordination between signals; backups between signals under different jurisdictions would be prevented.

With consistent technology at all signals, emergency services would be able to respond more quickly to incidents. Detours involving multiple roads could be implemented sooner, reducing the risk of secondary crashes and enhancing safety.

Drivers would benefit from improved regional planning with all agencies having access to shared information on road conditions, travel times, detours, etc.

TMCs rely on technology and shared resources to easily detect and optimize traffic conditions.

Resources generally include:

• Strategically placed signage to help with incident response, including implementation of detours.

• Connectivity via fiber optics or other technology to remotely manage signage and traffic signals.

• Shared facility and dedicated staff to coordinate between agencies.

The ongoing study will identify the resources needed, as well as necessary operational logistics, to implement a TMC in Kootenai County.

Cameras and radar are already used to manage traffic in the county. They are easily repaired and operate better than other methods in inclement weather.

Camera technology allows transportation agencies to detect traffic and remotely address issues live, which is one of the primary benefits of a TMC.

Cameras can detect how much traffic is waiting at signals and allocate the amount of green time each direction receives. This results in the smoother flow of traffic and is especially important in corridors with many signals.

Traffic detection cameras do not record data, and that data is not stored. Even images displayed on 511 are temporary still shots.

The study has been underway since spring of 2022 and is expected to be complete this fall.

The study is federally funded, as is much of transportation in Idaho. Current highway funding in Idaho is 61 percent federal.

Once the study is complete, next steps include establishing agreements with the participating agencies, and should seek funding and including grants for implementation.

Written comments will be accepted at open houses, and comments will be accepted online through August 4. Please take a moment to complete the survey below.