With Kootenai County's population anticipated to reach around 167,000 on the latest census, regional traffic officials see the Huetter Corridor project as one means to direct traffic off regional roadways before they hit a standstill. 

The approximately $300 million Huetter Corridor is considered an essential play by the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization to manage growth on the Rathdrum Prairie, executive director Glenn Miles said Tuesday night. 

During an informational public presentation, Miles updated a handful of listeners on a change course for the corridor that will cut across the agricultural property to connect Interstate 90 and U.S. 95. 

Initially, the corridor would travel up Huetter Road to hit State Highway 53, but traffic conditions have changed since KMPO adopted the project in 2009, Miles said. Instead, KMPO plans to push the Huetter Corridor south, touching down at Boekel Road and connecting drivers to U.S. 95. 

The directional change, Miles said, better aligns the corridor with the city of Hayden's Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Master Plans, the completed Highway 53 and U.S. 95 interchange, the U.S. 95 Garwood Overpass, and the extension of Government Way.

Moving the Huetter Corridor further southeast would also allow better access at Ramsey Road, Miles explained, and address impending developments and population growth in that area. 

"Highway 41 is growing into a commercial development area, much like 95," Miles said. "If you look at multifamily and commercial development, it's starting to pop up. That will slow the speed down, add a lot of traffic, and limit access." 

Miles said that population growth and increased use of Kootenai County roads is one of the main reasons why the Huetter Corridor became a top project 12 years ago. 

He explained that part of KMPO's responsibilities is looking to the future of transportation planning — currently forecast through 2045. Based on the U.S. Census data from 1990 to 2010, KMPO looked at the growth rate of each jurisdiction — including cities and the overall county — to determine an approximate growth rate of 2.4%. Inside the more urban areas, Miles said the number was closer to about 3.25%

If the rate continues, Miles said KMPO estimates there will be 228,000 by 2030 and close to 304,000 by 2040. 

Subsequently, KMPO has defined several projects, like the Huetter Corridor, to improve Kootenai County's roads, which haven't seen significant renovations since the 1970s. 

"It serves the county very well, but we do have some system performance issues in resiliency and reliability that we're seeing show up on a routine basis," Miles said. "When you see both volume capacity and reliability issues start to happen, then you start to have significant failures."

Once completed, Miles said the Huetter Corridor is projected to carry an average of 3,112 cars every hour and 34,233 per day. The most significant contributors will be commuters traveling from I-90 to Poleline Avenue, then Poleline to Prairie Avenue, and trickling down as traffic goes north up to the final stop on Ramsey Road and U.S. 95. 

"With the amount of economic development anticipated in the Highway 41 corridor, the alignment provides some relief by having east, west and north, south, movement," Miles said. "That is going to create a second option for people."

Currently, KMPO is reviewing the proposed changes and seeking public input for the next two to three months. 

Comments made by the public will be provided to the KMPO board of directors as part of their decision-making process. The comment period will be open until June 25 at 5 p.m. and must be submitted to kmpo@kmpo.net or KMPO — 250 Northwest Blvd., Suite 209, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

 A copy of the MTP update and related materials is available at kmpo.net or by contacting KMPO at kmpo@kmpo.net or 208-930-4164.