BONNERS FERRY — Community members are calling for safety improvements along U.S. 95 between Ponderay and the Canadian border, following hundreds of crashes reported in the last five years. 

The concerns were among those brought up at a Jan. 30 safety workshop held by Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho State Police and others to gather residents’ input and to share future plans for the highway. 

Well over 100 people attended the four-hour event, which organizers said was as much a learning opportunity for them as it was for attendees. 

At the open-house style event, attendees were able to share suggestions by writing their comments and ideas on Post-it notes placed on tables throughout the room. Some connected were sign-related, with one person stating they wanted to have movable, illuminated signs that display the speeds of oncoming vehicles. Another suggestion called for signage reading, “Lights on for safety.” 

Other proposals included reducing the speed limit to 45 mph, adding additional passing lanes in both directions and offering drivers more education on the highway. 

ITD District 1 Engineer Ryan Hawkins said attendees offered constructive and well-thought-out feedback. 

“I’ve received a lot of good input and people have been realistic about expectations, which I appreciate,” he said. “We can’t turn everything into a big project right away, but we’ve heard ideas ranging from signage to brushing to pavement markings. Hopefully, we can also provide more transparency to the public.”

Hawkins said accessibility and communication were key goals of the workshop. 

“Sometimes, as engineers, we get very technical,” he said. “People may not have all the jargon, but if you listen, they often have strong conceptual ideas.” 

“Letting people know we’re accessible is important,” Hawkins said. “We may not be able to solve problems immediately, but we’re always working on them.” 

ITD is planning a pavement preservation project in 2028, the soonest project scheduled in Boundary County. In 2030, targeted safety improvements along Kootenai Trail, Mountain Meadows and Elmira roads are expected to occur. Two years later, an intersection improvement along School House Road will also take place. 

Since 2020, there have been 750 crashes on U.S. 95 in Boundary County. Of those, 31% were wildlife-related and 22% were intersection-related. About 73% resulted in property damage only, while 204 involved injuries. Thirteen fatalities have occurred, including three in 2025. 

Gary Davis, a transportation technician with ITD, said his role often brings him to crash scenes. 

“One reason is traffic control to help ISP,” Davis said. “We also respond if there’s damage to state property — guardrails, culverts, things like that. We’re out there constantly and we notice the same issues the public does.” 

Mark Sauter, who represents District 1A in the Idaho House of Representatives, attended the event and said he frequently drives U.S. 95 and participates in traffic-related meetings throughout the year. 

Sauter said he attended the workshop to listen and learn. 

“I was here when they did the briefing before anybody started and that’s what they were all saying,” Sauter said. “We’re here to listen, soak it all up and see what other projects we should be doing or prioritizing.” 

He said driving the highway gives him firsthand experience with the issues residents raised.

“One of the things that came up today is that there are lots of rises and falls,” Sauter said. “So even though it’s straight, you really can’t see very far. What would it take to flatten out that hill and maybe lift this little area so that we don’t have that rise?”

Sauter said budget constraints from the state of Idaho are already affecting ITD timelines. 

“The budget situation right now is already slowing down ITD projects,” he said. “Today, we’re really here to see if there’s any low-hanging fruit where signage would help. Signs are inexpensive. Changing roads, widening them, adding passing lanes or altering elevations is more expensive.”  

Those who were unable to attend the workshop can review information presented online at bit.ly/4bqGkkp and comment. Comments are being accepted until Feb. 13.