POST FALLS, Idaho – Traffic congestion and regional growth were at the forefront during a public meeting hosted by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) at the Trailhead Event Center in Post Falls. The meeting was part of the ongoing Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study.
The ITD presented its latest recommendations and sought feedback from the community, allowing locals to see proposals and ask questions.
Heather McDaniel from the Idaho Transportation Department emphasized the importance of community involvement.
“Public involvement is a really critical part of what we do at the Idaho Transportation Department, and it’s basically just taking the ideas for projects, especially in the design phase, which is where we are right now, and getting the community’s feedback on those ideas,” McDaniel said.
Residents expressed their frustrations with the worsening traffic congestion in the area. Bruce Howard, a local resident, shared his concerns.
“The traffic around here has gotten so bad. We moved here when they still burned grass on the prairie, and things have changed so dramatically with all of the building and congestion,” Howard said.
McDaniel also highlighted the broader challenges beyond traffic backups.
“Safety and congestion are the biggest ones. I mean, if you drive throughout Kootenai County right now, you know it gets pretty congested out there, and there’s a lot of crashes and things like that,” she said.
Local resident Brad Patzer commented on the region’s rapid growth.
“It’s growing fast, right? But, I mean, funds kind of come afterwards, not first, right? So it feels like it’s kind of a little bit of catch-up, to be honest,” Patzer said.
The public comment period for the transportation study remains open until October 1. Feedback from both meetings will influence which alternatives move forward.
For more information on the Rathdrum Prairie Area Transportation Study, visit the Idaho Transportation Department’s website.
