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Joint Resolution No. 2010-13 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOSCOW, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE OF IDAHO, THE LATAH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LATAH COUNTY, IDAHO, AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE NORTH LATAH COUNTY HIGHWAY DISTRICT, RECOGNIZING THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF US 95 FROM THORNCREEK ROAD NORTH TO THE MOSCOW CITY LIMITS AND ENCOURAGING IDAHO STATE AND FEDERAL DECISION-MAKERS TO IMPROVE SAID HIGHWAY TO A VOID FURTHER INJURY AND LOSS OF LIFE TO CITIZENS UTILIZING US HIGHWAY 95. WHEREAS, US Highway 95 is the only full length north-south transportation conidor for the State of Idaho, serving both Latah County and the City of Moscow; and WHEREAS, approximately 6,100 vehicles travel US Highway 95 between Thorn creek Rd and Moscow City limits each day; and WHEREAS, the current condition of US Highway 95 poses a significant danger to users of the highway between the intersection of Thorn creek Road and the Moscow City limits, resulting in eight accident related deaths, the most recent which occurred on Sunday, June 28, 2010, and 207 accident-related injuries since 1997; and WHEREAS, US Highway 95 between Thorncreek Road and the Moscow City limits lies entirely within Latah County; and WHEREAS, efforts have been pursued at the federal, state and local level to improve the safety for the traveling public on US 95, most notably federal TEA-21 funding which was approved in 1998; and WHEREAS, US 95 has been improved between the top of the Lewiston hill and the intersection with Thorn creek Road, approximately 6.8 miles south of Moscow; and WHEREAS, in compliance with federal law, the Idaho Transportation Department submitted the proposed draft environmental impact study (EIS) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHW has received comments in return, and is in the process of addressing FHWA's comments; and WHEREAS, the EIS addresses issues of altemative routes, length, purpose and need, public involvement, design standards, safety, right-of-way, cost, water quality, air quality, archeological sites, historic sites, wetlands and waters of the United States (including wetlands areas, wetlands function and value and tributaries), floodways and floodplains, threatened and endangered species, hazardous materials, socio-economic factors (including 1 mile south of Moscow, the rest of the US 95 highway corridor and environmental justice), displacement/relocation, noise, visual analysis, prime fannland, RESOLUTION 20 I 0 -13 PAGE 1 OF4 US HIGHWAY 95 ]MPROVEivtENTS ---PAGE BREAK--- CDC and ungulate species, noxious and invasive weeds, general wildlife and climate (including precipitation, fog and road ice conditions); and WHEREAS, efforts to identify funding of the improvements to US Highway 95 remains a priority of lTD; and WHEREAS, US Highway 95 between Thomcreek Road and the Moscow City limits is in need of improvement and represents a continuing threat to the safety of US Highway 95 users. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Moscow, the Latah County Commissioners and the Commissioners of the North Latah County Highway District: I. The safety of users of US Highway 95, many of whom are residents of the State of Idaho, Latah County and the City of Moscow, is paramount and will be enhanced by improvements to US Highway 95 between Thomcreek Road and the Moscow City limits. 2. Federal and State of Idaho officials and regulatory agencies are strongly encouraged to make the improvement of US Highway 95 between Thorncreek Road and the Moscow City limits one of their highest priorities. 3. This Resolution is not intended to encourage Federal or State of Idaho regulatory agencies to lessen regulatory oversight and/or take shortcuts in the approval process, but instead, urges them to prioritize review processes and to appropriate funds so that improvements can be made as soon as possible. 4. A copy of this Resolution is to be transmitted to the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, U.S. Senator Jim Risch, U.S. Representative Walt Minnick, U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, Idaho Govemor C. L. (Butch) Otter, Idaho Senator Gary Schroeder, Idaho Representative Tom Trail, Idaho Representative Shirley Ringo, Gen. Danell Manning, Chair, Idaho Transportation Department, Janice (Jan) Vassar, Member, Idaho Transportation Board and James (Jim) Carpenter, Distlict Engineer, Idaho Transportation Department. DATED this (p-fb. day of July, 2010 City of Moscow: RESOLUTION 2010-17 US HIGIIWAY 951MPROVI·.MENTS PAGE 2 OF4 ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 20 I 0 US HIGHWAY 95 IMPROVEMENTS JULY 12 1887 Tom Lamar, Council Member Walter Steed, Council Member - PAGE 3 or4 ---PAGE BREAK--- ATTEST: Susan Peterson, County lerk By: Kara Rickert, Deputy Clerk ATTEST: Board of Commissioners, Latah County, Idaho rett, Commissioner, Chair ABSENT Jo Board of Commissioners, North Latah County Highway District Richard Hansen, Commissioner, Chair Charles Bond, Commissioner Lee Horning, Comm1s ner Dan Carscallen, Clerk REsOLUTJON 20 I PAGE40F4 US 95 IMPROVEMENTS