US-20 — Ashton to SH-87

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Increasing traffic is causing congestion and crashes. Improvements are needed to maintain a safe roadway and reliable connection to adjacent communities, Yellowstone National Park and the region.

With growth in traffic and tourism, it is time for ITD to find a solution to address safety and capacity concerns. ITD must find a solution that will handle increased traffic, meet driver expectations, and improve safety.

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Based on public input, 56 alternatives were developed. Level 1 screening occurred in winter 2021 and Level 2 screening occurred in early spring 2022. The next slide, Alternatives, describes each alternative and its screening results.

What US-20 could look like in the future

Much of existing US-20 currently meets the minimum standards for traffic operations. However, as traffic volumes increase, parts of US-20 will drop below these standards. In the horizon year of 2050, most segments will not meet the minimum standards for traffic operations without increasing the number of lanes. Improving the highway to a four-lane configuration will bring the traffic operation up to, or above, the recommended minimum standards for most segments. These illustrations depict what US-20 could look like in the future.

Download a copy of the handout given at the in-person meeting. Alternatives in the handout with an asterisk (*) are not shown on the next slide, Alternatives. These were variations of the alternatives with lanes shifted.

Benefits of the Alternatives

The PEL Team, using public input and technical and environmental data, has developed and screened alternatives that:

	Add lanes in each direction and change access control
	Address challenging intersections or approaches where traffic turns onto or crosses the highway
	Look at opportunities to improve wildlife movement across the highway

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Determined that alternative does merit further refinement and study

Determined that alternative does not merit further refinement and study

What is Access Management?

Access Management reduces conflict points to promote safety and mobility and has been proven to:

• Reduce the number and severity of crashes, reducing cost
• Reduce congestion
• Improve travel times
• Support bicyclist and pedestrian safety

Increased Safety

Research by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other agencies in the last 50 years has consistently shown that Access Management increases roadway safety.

What Access Management Studies Show

• It decreases the number of access points on a roadway reducing the crash rate
• Roads with medians are safer than undivided roads, or roads with two-way left-turn lanes
• It is safer for vehicles to make a U-turn and a right turn, than to make a direct left turn into or from a driveway

ITD is evaluating opportunities throughout the corridor to provide safe crossings on US-20 for wildlife, sportsman, recreational and local traffic. ITD is analyzing movement and migration information and maps for mule deer, elk and pronghorn shared by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to identify areas of opportunity for wildlife passage design features.

Additionally, the United States Forest Service (USFS) and IDFG have shared information and maps about grizzly bear movements around and across US 20. ITD will continue to work with partner agencies for technical assistance pertaining to wildlife information during the PEL process.

What is the US-20 Ashton to SH-87 JCT PEL?

ITD initiated the PEL process to analyze US-20 between Ashton and the SH-87 Junction and will look at ways to improve safety and reduce congestion.

Increasing traffic is causing congestion and crashes. Improvements are needed to maintain a safe roadway and reliable connection to adjacent communities, Yellowstone National Park, and the region.

The US-20 Ashton to SH-87 Junction PEL is separate project from the Targhee Pass Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA was completed and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was issued in late 2020. Decisions made as part of the EA will not be revisited during the Ashton to ID-87 Junction PEL project.

What is involved in the PEL Process?

Watch this video to learn more about the steps that take place during a PEL process.

Purpose

The purpose of the US-20 Ashton to SH-87 Junction project is to enhance highway safety and operations by:

• Improving capacity and Level of Service
• Improving access management
• Improving regional freight movement
• Decrease severe crashes

Need

The need for improvements to the US-20 corridor is to:

• Address existing deficiencies such as:
• Travel time
• Congestion
• Delays
• Safety
• Prepare for future growth, economic development and tourism in the region
• Increase freight mobility

Goal

When consulting with the public and resource agencies, ITD identified additional goals to be considered as the project is developed:

• Integrate wildlife movement strategies in the corridor
• Provide traffic calming measures or separation where the US-20 alignment runs through developed areas
• Provide multiuse solutions that provide a range of options for recreational users

Increasing congestion is contributing to traffic crashes in the area.

Here’s what the traffic data says:

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