MY TURN: Infrastructure projects for Idaho
I noticed a news article about more money being spent on the bill. That made me curious about what projects have gotten money so far. A Google search turned up a lot of projects.
One project is the repair of the Palouse railroad line and bridge that was burned in a fire. Idaho received no money for projects. Most of the projects that received money were for towns. I only saw one project listed that looked like a "national project," rather than for local improvements. Maybe I missed some?
So let's think about what projects would be helpful to Idaho and national infrastructure that includes Idaho. Below are possible projects I thought of:
1) Install an EV charging station somewhere in the Silver Valley. I suggest on the north side of I-90 at Kingston. This would also help out the road going to Thompson Falls. There are no charging stations from Cd'A through Thompson Falls and onward towards the Canadian border until Kalispell. Pres. Biden is an advocate for EV cars so my suggestion should come to his attention.
2) Climate change has affected the Western USA states with more forest fires and damage to towns, houses and forests. However, the BLM and Forest Service have been closing down roads for several years. This makes fighting the fires difficult. My suggestion is to stop closing the roads and open up the roads they have closed. Roads would become fire breaks. This is especially true if the brush and trees along the sides of the roads is kept clear.
3) Improve the railroad line near Hayden, where there has been accidents.
4) Improve the electrical grid with long lasting battery storage units and connections to the grid. This will help prevent brown outs and black outs from over use of electricity (EV vehicles may cause these events).
5) Build small modular nuclear reactors to supply the power used by EVs.
6) Install backup power in towns/villages for power loss due to wind, snow, trees, earthquakes, forest fires. Murray loses power about six times per year. Some power losses last for a long time (nine days once). Most people there use gas-powered generators for backup. Air pollution, noise pollution and generators that fail to start are problems.
7) Roads in Idaho are generally not as good as the signs telling drivers where to go. Thompson pass is closed all winter, for example. The highway to Elk city had large landslides close it twice in a couple of years.
8) Highway 95 could use improvement all the way to Boise.
9) An alternate route around Sandpoint would really improve the traffic.
10) A highway was once started for a route between Riggins and Salmon. It was never completed.
11) There is a partial highway from Lewiston/Clarkson along the Snake River that could be completed going West. If the dams are eventually removed; then all the grain would have to be hauled via train or truck. Also the electrical supply would be vastly reduced.
12) Along the Snake river are several dams with fish ladders that don't work properly. There is a company, Whoosh Innovations, that produces and installs salmon cannons to help out the fish. Test them out and install them. The salmon cannons have already been tested in a lot of places.
13) My favorite suggestion; The Paiute trail in Utah has been very successful. Idaho doesn't have a similar trail system. ATVs and UTVs have to ride roads. I've talked with the forest service about getting the trail system made. The Idaho sheriffs association wants the trail system made. The county commissioners need to write letters to the forest service supporting the trail system. The ATV and UTV clubs need to be contacted to provide maintenance.
If bicycle trails can be made; then ATV trails can be made. Think of the tourist business this would provide.
I am sure that others can offer more suggestions.
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Richard Servatius is a Murray resident.