RATHDRUM — As the region grows, the Rathdrum Prairie is heavily impacted by traffic congestion.

The Idaho Transportation Department is conducting a traffic study meant to identify trouble areas and potentially dangerous intersections that have a higher rate of accidents.

The Planning and Environmental Linkages Study will help the state collect traffic data and give direction on what improvements will help the area, according to Heather McDaniel, public information officer.

"The purpose of the transportation study and its recommendations are to improve safety, mobility, reliability and resiliency for the traveling public in anticipation of continued population and employment growth within the Rathdrum Prairie," McDaniel said. 

The agency is studying the area stretching from Interstate 90 north to State Highway 53 and from the Washington state line east to Government Way. 

The department said this effort is looking at optimizing existing corridors and exploring potential new routes that will mitigate congestion, enhance connectivity and improve mobility.

Phase one of the study is nearly complete. This step helps the state gather data to incorporate possible solutions and alternatives for problematic areas.

The current phase of this study entails developing potential transportation solutions, screening those options and making recommendations for the next steps and projects, McDaniel said. 

ITD will present the first set of potential solutions to the public in the spring.

The agency expects to complete the study in 2025.

The study team collected traffic count data and is working with the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization to document existing and forecasted travel conditions.

Many residents who provided comment for the study mentioned including more transportation routes for pedestrians and bicyclists, McDaniel said. 

McDaniel said this study is funded by the state, but any projects that come out of the study do not have allocated funding because it may take several years to get to that point.