BOISE, Idaho — Long-time Nampa community members are fed up with all the traffic.
"I live on the South side of Nampa," Samme Reed said," and it takes me at least 25 to 30 minutes to get to Costco, which used to take me 12 to 15 minutes."
Christine Taylor agrees. She moved back to Nampa nearly two decades ago.
"The roads that used to be country roads that we loved driving as country roads now feel like city roads," she said. "So, it takes quite a bit longer to get anywhere."
To reduce traffic and improve safety, the city proposed a 20-year $38 million dollar transportation bond. Voters will check 'yes' or 'no' during the May 21 election.
The bond would help fund five major projects, said Mark Steuer, director of strategic initiatives.
"There's a funding deficit that doesn't allow the city to move forward with the needed projects in a timely manner," Steuer said. "This bond will help us get to some of those critical projects quick."
At the Marketplace and Midland intersection, the city hopes to improve traffic flow and safety by adding more turn lanes and updating signals. The city also wants to reduce congestion around the library by widening a street.
About $15 million would go toward the 12th Ave and 11th Ave Crossover Corridor, which would create a four-lane connection between the two roadways and provide a direct route to I-84.
The rest of the money would be split between construction on the South-East Nampa connection to SH-16 and improving sidewalks near schools, including Lone Star Middle, Endeavor Elementary and Skyview High.
There was some pushback from city councilmembers earlier this year while debating whether to add the bond to the ballot.
“I’m thinking, is this really the right time?" Councilmember Randy Haverfield said. "This is a fragile economy."
However, Steuer said the bond would essentially replace the current 20-year transportation bond expiring in August. Taxpayers would pay $18 per $100,000 of taxable assessed value.
"It's approximately $40 to 50 per residential property that people pay today," he said. "And that will remain the same moving forward."
Reed said she knows another bond would be a hardship for some. However, she thinks the growing city desperately needs its infrastructure updated.
"We have to adjust and go with it even if we have to change our ways a little bit and accept what has to happen," she said.
Community members with questions can attend a variety of events over the next couple of weeks:
- April 18 – Nampa City Hall (411 3rd St S) from 5-6:30 p.m.
- April 20 – Nampa Farmer’s Market (Lloyd Square, 14th Ave S and Front St) from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- April 25 – Nampa Public Library (215 12th Ave S) from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- May 2 – Downtown Nampa’s Cinco de Mayo event (1st Street and 13th Ave) from 5-8 p.m.
- May 16 – Downtown Nampa’s Third Thursday event (1st Street and 13th Ave) from 5-8 p.m.
The bond needs 2/3 of the vote to pass.
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