Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study open house on July 8

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to the final open house of this planning phase for the Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study, which will help shape the future of roads and highways across the Rathdrum Prairie.

This is the last major opportunity for community members to share input before the study moves into the next phase of environmental review, a press release said.

People can review the latest Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study information and the final four transportation alternatives and their combinations. Project staff will provide explanations, answer questions and discuss solutions to transportation challenges. Feedback from this meeting will help guide further environmental review and development. 

The meeting is set for 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Building 3.

The Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study began in 2022 with more than 50 ideas for improving travel across the prairie. Through earlier rounds of public input and technical review, those concepts have narrowed to four final alternatives and their combinations for consideration, the release said.

These alternatives include combinations and modifications of earlier concepts, preserving the most effective elements while removing portions that did not meet screening criteria or transportation needs. 

These remaining alternatives represent the strongest options identified through the full study process to improve safety, reduce congestion and keep traffic moving as the region grows.

Project information can be reviewed online from July 8 through July 22 itd.idaho.gov/project/rathdrum-prairie-pel-study/.