Request for an advisory vote in the November 2024 election

The Idaho Department of Transportation is considering building a 4-lane, high speed, limited access FREEWAY on US 20 from Ashton to State Highway 87 near the Montana border, including all of Island Park.  This FREEWAY would wipe out the historic “Longest Main Street in America” located in Island Park. ITD has been developing FREEWAY concepts for this section of highway for several years in spite of local opposition.

The purpose of this petition is to request an advisory vote on this issue be placed on the Fremont County November 2024 ballot.  The citizens of Fremont County and the Community of Island Park desire to elevate their voice to the jurisdictional level, which cannot be ignored in the process of determining our future.  Petitioners, by their signatures, wish to request of the Fremont County Commissioners, that an advisory question, on this issue, be placed on the November 2024 ballot. 

The Freeway will have profound negative effects on the area. Some of the reasons for opposing a freeway include:

1.     The Island Park Caldera is an extremely sensitive area, environmentally, because of its high elevation and northern latitude.  

2.     ITD mapped out the wetlands adjacent to US 20.  These wetlands will be damaged by construction of the 4 lanes and lead to ground water contamination.  There could be threatened species in these many wetlands.

3.     The four-lane freeway will require at least 5 (maybe more) new bridges across pristine, blue ribbon trout streams.  This could lead to generational damage to the fishery.  

4.     Fishing is an economic driver for the area 12 months out of the year.  The area is home to the threatened Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout. Fishing could be negatively affected.

5.     The Island Park Caldera is a scenic recreational area. The view scape will be compromised by a 4 lane freeway.

6.     A 4 lane limited access freeway will reduce recreational access along the entire highway segment.  Rafting access at the Buffalo River crossing would be lost, for example, as would fishing access at other crossings.

7.     Access to the Targhee Forest will be compromised at many locations. This will hurt non-motorized recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and horseback riding access.

8.     Recreational crossings will be severely reduced and compromised.  This includes crossings for ATVs and snowmobiles.  

9.     ITD’s four lane freeway proposals will require the development of open pit aggregate mines which will destroy vegetation, be unsightly, and lead to ground water contamination and noxious weeds. 

10.  An extremely expensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required for a 4 lane freeway construction project.

11.  Extremely expensive lawsuits are anticipated if ITD proceeds with a 4-lane freeway.

12.  Wildlife movement will be impacted negatively by a four-lane freeway.

13.  A four lane, high speed freeway will increase the incidence of wildlife vehicle collisions.

14.  Private properties/residences and business continued existence and/or access will be reduced along the freeway.

15.  The Harriman State Park deed could be compromised by a four lane freeway as Harriman State Park is bisected by US 20.

16.  The benefit of a four-lane freeway in the Island Park Caldera is minimal to Idaho and the citizens of Idaho and lends to greater pass-through travel and eminent domain concerns. 

17.  The accident rate on US 20 in the Island Park Caldera is below the average for a road of this type in Idaho and about one third of the national average.

18.  New frontage roads will affect the road density allowed on the Targhee National Forest.

19.  The footprint of an expansive 4 lane freeway may further require expanding the right of way on both sides of the existing highway and will potentially destroy the existence of The City of Island Park.

20.  The “Longest Main Street In America,” a unique historical recognition, would cease to exist. 

21.  The historical features of the Island Park Caldera will be compromised or destroyed.

22.  US 20, Ashton, Idaho to State Highway 87, has higher traffic volume about 5% of the hours in a year.

23.  ITD estimates the cost of the four-lane freeway at $700,000,000 in 2021 dollars.  A Super 2 design would cost about $100M in 2020 dollars.

24.  The community of Island Park does not support a four lane freeway. The community supports building more passing lanes (Super 2 concept) on the existing road.

25.  A Super 2 design concept reduces accidents by 45% and would allow for upgrades to remain within the existing footprint of the roadway.

26.  Studies performed by the Idaho Transportation Department show that a Super 2 highway design meets the required level of service for at least 20+ years into the future.

The residents of the greater Island Park area adamantly oppose a four-lane freeway. They support a Super 2 highway design because the environmental and ecological risk to the area is much reduced. The economic risk to the area is also much lower if the highway stays within the current footprint. Studies done in several states indicate that Super 2 highways reduce accidents by nearly 50%. When coupled with the existing low accident rate, a Super 2 highway would have a very low accident rate.

The community has considered several solutions for the various intersections located in the Island Park area. It is proposed that improvements to the intersections be done in a phased approach with simple improvements such as right turn merge lanes at the busier intersections done as early as 2024. Near term improvements would be the addition of traffic signals, roundabouts, or compact overpasses at the busier intersections.

The community supports improvements like tree cut back, rumble strips, wider shoulders, wider stripes, more signage, and left turn arrows. These improvements should be augmented by additional improvements such as solar lighting at wildlife hot spots, merge lanes, deceleration lanes, and more message boards to enhance safety. 

A Super 2 highway design provides additional safety, attains the required level of service for two decades and beyond at a greatly reduced cost. US 20 Ashton to SH 87 has low traffic volume most of the year. It would be fiscally irresponsible for the Idaho Transportation Department Board to consider construction of a four-lane freeway which would cost over $700,000,000 when a much lower cost option is available.