Let’s Ride Treasure Valley Study (2024 – 2025)
Weigh in on Potential Future High-Capacity Transit in the Treasure Valley
Your feedback wanted!
COMPASS is continuing work on the the Let’s Ride Treasure Valley! study, looking at potential future high-capacity transit options to connect the Cities of Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian, and Boise. High-capacity transit options could include rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit, and they could take any of several different routes between Caldwell and Boise, but generally would parallel Interstate 84. The study will help narrow down the best routes and types of service.
We just completed evaluating a combination of different route and “mode” (type of service, such as bus or rail) options and are looking for your feedback on the results of that analysis.
There are many options to learn more and participate:
- Attend one of two open houses to ask questions and share your input
- Review materials and comment online
- Request materials be mailed to you
- Email COMPASS or send a letter
Find all public comment materials and details below.
Comments are due 11:59 pm Sunday, March 2.
NOTICE: This is a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study, and all draft and final planning products produced during this PEL process may be adopted during a subsequent environmental review process in accordance with 23 USC 168, with the goal of not revisiting during future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes.
High-Capacity Transit: Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian, Boise
Rapid population growth, increasing travel demand along east-west corridors, and deteriorating performance in the Interstate 84/Interstate-184 corridor have prompted COMPASS and its member agencies to study high-capacity transit options such as light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit, that connect major activity centers in the Cities of Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian, and Boise.
The Let’s Ride Treasure Valley study kicked off in early 2024 and will examine a future high-capacity transit connection east to west across the Treasure Valley, south of the Boise River. High-level goals of the study include:
- Defining the purpose and need for potential high-capacity transit service
- Analyzing the technical feasibility, ability to meet the defined purpose/need, and public preference for various high-capacity transit options
- Identifying the benefits and impacts of those high-capacity transit options
- Removing infeasible options from further analysis
Purpose:
The purpose of the project is to improve the mobility, accessibility, and efficiency of east-west travel between Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell, providing reliable and convenient high-capacity transit service that links key origins and destinations with strong potential for transit use.
Need:
- Lessen future stress on the region’s transportation infrastructure due to population and employment growth.
- Provide greater mobility choice given the region’s forecasted deteriorating transportation travel times.
- Support the region’s east-west travel patterns.
Figure: Study Area (click to access Interactive Master Map)
This project is different from past high-capacity transit planning efforts but will build on those efforts. This type of study, a “Planning and Environmental Linkages” or “PEL” study, is a formal (but early) step in the federal environmental process to begin to position a potential future project for federal funding. The lead federal agency for this study is the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
While this study helps to position the project for some federal funding, local funding for high-capacity transit remains a significant obstacle. Idaho does not have a dedicated funding source for public transportation, which is needed to operate any sort of high-capacity transit system. Without dedicated funding, work on any type of high-capacity service will remain in the planning stages.
Even once funding is secured, the process to plan for, build, and begin operations for such a system will be long and time-consuming. Despite these obstacles, COMPASS will continue to plan, within funding limits, for a future high-capacity transit system.
Public Involvement
- Public Outreach #1 – September 24 – October 10, 2024
- Public Outreach #2 – February 10 – March 2, 2025 (details below)
- Public Outreach #3 – Mid 2025 (online only)
Public Comment Period #2: February 10 – March 2, 2025
After receiving your feedback last fall, COMPASS finalized the study purpose, need, and evaluation of initial transit routes.
We have now completed the next step in the study – evaluating a combination of different route and “mode” (type of service, such as bus or rail) options – and are looking for your feedback on the results of that analysis.
You are invited to learn more and submit your feedback in person, online, or have materials mailed to you.
Attend one of two identical open houses.
Learn more about the study and share your input on the route/mode combinations, analysis results, and options proposed to move forward in the study.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
COMPASS
700 NE 2nd Street, Meridian
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Nampa Public Library
215 12th Avenue South, Nampa
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
No time to attend an open house?
Request materials be mailed to you: 208/855-2558 or [email protected]
Review the open house materials and submit your comments online.
Questions? Need Assistance?
- Email: [email protected]
- US mail: COMPASS, 700 NE 2nd Street, Suite 200, Meridian, ID 83642
- Request materials be mailed to you: 208/855-2558 or [email protected]
Please submit all comments no later than 11:59 pm, Sunday, March 2, 2025.
NOTICE: This is a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study, and all draft and final planning products produced during this PEL process may be adopted during a subsequent environmental review process in accordance with 23 USC 168, with the goal of not revisiting during future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes.
Questions about the study or how you can be involved? Contact Lila Klopfenstein ([email protected]; 208/475-2230) or Amy Luft ([email protected] or 208/475-2229).
Study Materials
- Fall 2024 Open House Display Boards
- Public Comment/Outreach Summary, Fall 2024
- Let’s Ride Treasure Valley (PEL Study) Interactive Master Map (click the layers tab in the left column to see the available layers)
Past Planning (2009 – 2021)
COMPASS completed the first Treasure Valley High-Capacity Transit Study in 2009, then updated that study in 2020. In addition, COMPASS conducted a large-scale public survey in 2021 to better understand if and how residents would like to use high-capacity transit, including preferred destinations, timing, and types of service.
COMPASS staff used the survey results to identify trends, needs, and common destinations, then compared those to potential transit modes and alignments as identified in the Treasure Valley High Capacity Transit Study to identify options to best serve regional needs and preferences. Based on that analysis, regional rail on the Boise Cutoff alignment was identified as a “locally favored” option for the regional long-range transportation plan, Communities in Motion 2050.
Regional rail is a hybrid between commuter rail and light rail. Like commuter rail, regional rail uses the same heavy track infrastructure used by freight, but regional rail service is more like that of light rail, with more stations than a typical commuter rail system. While the region has expressed a preference for regional rail, additional analyses and input are needed to move forward with any option.
That past planning and analysis is being used to inform the 2024/2025 Let’s Ride Treasure Valley study.
Previous COMPASS High-Capacity (Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian, Boise) Transit Studies and Plans