The Road Wizard appears in The
Idaho Statesman each week to explore local transportation matters.
He tries to find out why situations
occur and what is being done about them. The Wizard's column is a public service
provided by ACHD.
If you have a question for the Wiz, send it to the Road Wizard, in care of The Idaho
Statesman, Box #D223, P.O. Box 40, Boise, ID 83707. You may include photos of a
particular situation, but photos cannot be returned. Or send e-mail to
roadwiz@achdidaho.org.
August 29
Signal at Franklin/Five Mile roads, Weeds at Black Cat and Pine, tarp laws
August 22
Mounting video detection cameras, red-painted curbs, navigating the Fred Meyer driveways at Orchard/Frankling
August 15
Paint shortage and Gowen Road, Ellen's Ferry/State Street pedestrian crossing
August 08
Overlaying streets and the hows and whys of night work
August 01
Overland Road chipseal gravel, sight obstruction at Clover Meadow and Fastwater
July 25
Follow-up: Cherry Lane (Boise) speed study
July 18
Statehouse construction barriers on State Street, results of the Irene Street speed study
July 11
Missing stop sign on (private) Civic Lane in Eagle, signal function on Boise Avenue at Gekeler/Pennsylvania, HAWK signal on Maple Grove near Irving
July 04
Signal detection at Overland/Maple Grove, Cherry Lane (Boise) traffic problems
June 27
Formalizing fire signals, a new donut for Julia Davis Park
June 20
More on use of the space next to the curb (but outside of the lane) for right turns, the Irene Street stop sign situation
June 13
Overland/Cole signal coordination project, using curb space at 9th/State for right turns, over-ripe election signs
June 06
Signal operation at Five Mile and Franklin roads, the law on stopping for school buses, entering Chinden from Fairview and Main ramps
May 30
Bumpy manhole covers, pedestrian crosswalks and the STOP sign and tree at Avenue A and Myrtle Street
May 16
Report potholes (the Fort/5th example), flaggers and citizens use permit at Eagle/Amity, permissive left turn at Federal Way/Yamhill
May 09
Highland Street speed limit, signal at State Highway 44 and Eagle Road
May 02
Proposed alternating street/stop signs in the East End, changing lanes at Main/Franklin in Meridian
April 25
Thru lanes for Maple Grove across Fairview, driver responsibilities while lights flash at a HAWK signal, Harrell Street and red curbs
April 18
Warm springs Avenue traffic changes, studded tires and road wear
April 11
Manhole covers on Ustick Road between Five Mile and Cloverdale, future signal at Locust Grove/McMillan and the marking motorcycle detection spots
April 04
Driveway markings behind Metro Express car wash, right-only lanes and the future of Franklin/Cloverdale
March 28
Latah Street signal fix, left turns on Chinden at Five Mile, ParkCenter/Apple signal
March 21
Signal detector marks for motorcyclists, speed limits on Division and Highland streets, future signal at Eagle and River Valley roads
March 14
Green, right-turn arrow at Mountain View Drive/Glenwood, left-lane detection at Milwaukee/Fairview, use of Clearview font for signs
March 07
Motorcycle detection in left turn lanes, obeying the red arrow at Mountain View Drive/Goddard
March 07
Driveway marking behind Metro Express car wash, right-only lanes and the future of Franklin/Cloverdale
March 07
Driveway markings behind Metro Express car wash, right-only lanes and the future of Franklin/Cloverdale
February 28
Warm Springs Mesa and rock slides, new font for street-name signs
February 21
Flashing yellow arrows and left turns, holiday signal timing plans
February 14
Signal update for Overland/Eagle roads, no U-turns at ParkCenter/Apple, right turns at Chinden/Eagle, Meridian Road Overpass
February 07
City limit speed notices for residential streets, Pine-Webb roundabout lighting
January 31
Raising sunken sidewalks, River Street/Pioneer Walkway Signal, the World of Asphalt
January 24
Northbound left turns at the Eagle/Overland signal, free-running right on-ramp from northbound on Eagle Road
January 17
Emerald/Milwaukee signal detection issue, night vision and retroreflectivity, pedestian countdowns
January 10
State Street signal progression at 15th and 16th streets, heartier road paint
January 03
Pedestrian countdowns on downtown Boise signals, 2009 traffic signal list, signal progression on State Street.
December 27
HAWK signal operation (again), Luke Street sight obstruction, northbound lanes at Locust Grove/Overland
December 20
Cost of the Warm Springs "disconnect," public hearing sign on Healey Road, school flashing beacons near Ten Mile/Cherry Lane
December 13
Overland Road's midday progression plan, obstructed street signs
November 29
Lane configuration at Fairview/Milaukee, signalization potential at Floating Feather/Park
November 22
Political signs in rights-of-way, status of ACHD property at Maple Grove/McMillan, signal on River Street near Bronco Elite driveways
November 15
Curtis turns onto Ustick, Front Street signal progression
November 08
Morning congestion around Eagle Middle School, Federal Way bike path sweeping,
Bethel/Orchard sight obstructions
November 01
Signal at Ustick and Mitchell, bike lanes and trash carts, signal at Overland and Silverstone
October 25
People: no right-on-red at a red arrow, synchrony problem at Main and 27th
October 18
Sight obstructions at Bethel and Orchard, Entertainment Street private driveway
October 11
Interstate 84 overpass and citizen action, Warm Springs Avenue "disconnect," turning right on red from double right-turn lanes, corrected street arrows for Federal Way/Bergeson
October 04
Roundabouts and pedestrian safety, Floating Feather chipseal, signal at McMillan/Ten Mile, Meridian Split Corridor (Phase II)
September 27
School flashing beacon for Whitney (not) on Overland, signals on Hays at 5th and 6th streets, tree limbs at Edna near Bryson
September 20
Right-only lanes, Walmart driveway on Overland Road
September 13
Bicycle/car safety at Federal Way/Amity, chipseal on Federal Way
September 06
Bicycles and the "rolling stop" at T-intersections, video detection at Floating Feather/Highway 55, rotomilling ruts
August 30
Left turns from Cole Road onto Interstate 84 eastbound, directional signs on Glenwood at State Street
August 23
Owyhee Street speed limit, 3rd Street: one- or two-way?, Ada County law on weed hazards
August 16
Flashing yellow arrow update, intersection at Fort/5th/Hays, sign obstructions
August 09
Road shoulder maintenance along south Cole Road, Idaho Rolling Stop for bicyclists
July 31
Ustick Road pedestrian HAWK signal, Signs obstructed at Ustick/Five Mile, and Meridian/Washington Bike lanes on Orchard I-84 Overpass
July 26
State Street pedestrian/bike projects
Victory/Maple Grove (no) right-only lane
July 19
Street-name sign obstructions, sidewalk obstruction near Indian Creek Golf Course
July 12
Signal at ParkCenter Boulevard and Law Avenue, Ten Mile Road projects
July 05
More bicycle rules, more on the proposed Warm Springs roundabout, Mill Station traffic counts
June 28
Right turns on Cloverdale at Chinden, signal at Five Mile and lake Hazel, Locust Grove speed limits
June 21
U-turns at State and Mercer, some rules of the road for cyclists
June 14
Veterans Memorial Parkway left turns onto Chinden Boulevard, Ustick thru lanes at Maple Grove, the deal with a driveway off Mountain View Drive
June 07
Ustick Road improvement schedule, Five Mile Road improvement time line, signal operation on Chinden at Hewlett-Packard's gate
May 31
Sunrise Rim area chipseal and maintenance, Warm Springs roundabout, Eagle Road left turns at Pine Avenue, Locust Grove speed limits, Sawmill traffic counts
May 24
Speed bumps: why on Sunnydale and not on Mesquite? Question about the five-way intersection of Fort, Hays, V.A. Medical Center and 5th Street
May 17
Bing Avenue crosswalk and median; West Point Place and street name placement
May 10
Americana Boulevard stench, signal at Overland Road/Millennium Way, McMillan road school zones for Lowell Scott and Pioneer
May 03
Meridian Road offramp's YIELD sign, signal at Cloverdale/Explorer, merging and turning right on red
April 26
Chinden Boulevard bike lane gap, manhole covers at Overland/Maple Grove, bad odor on Americana Boulevard
April 19
Rain and road paint, painted lane and bike lines on Northview at Cole
April 12
Flashing beacons at Taft school, signal at Entertainment and Dorian, U-turns revisited
April 05
Trash pickup and street cleaning coordination, Franklin/Ten Mile intersection and the Ten Mile Interchange
March 29
Puddle and storm drain filter at Maple Grove near Overland, speed bumps on Mountain View Drive near Erick Lane, (No) U-turns on ParkCenter at Apple: reasons
March 22
Speed limits on Capitol Boulevard and 9th Street, Shaw Mountain Road and pedestrians, (no) U-turns at ParkCenter/Apple
March 15
Signal at Pine and Main, exiting Chase and Allante onto Overland
March 08
Vacating street in Dawson Meadows, merging onto Broadway and freeways
March 01
Setting speed limits, Division Street sidewalk
February 22
Signals at State Street/SH 55 and State/Horseshoe Bend Road; freeway merging when lanes end
February 15
Signal operation at River and 9th streets, signal operation at Franklin and Ten Mile roads
February 08
Speed sign on Warm Springs Avenue, dual left-turn lanes
February 01
Right-only lane at ParkCenter/Apple, right-only turn pocket at Locust Grove/Overland
January 25
Timing of the 30th Street Extension, freeway merging and arrogant drivers
January 18
Flashing yellow left-turn arrows
January 11
Signals on State Street at 23rd and 27th streets, McMillan signals at Linder, Merdian and Ten Mile, flashing yellow turn arrows coming soon.
January 04
Left turn lanes at Eagle and Pine, signal at McMillan and Locust Grove, speed limit on Ten Mile between Chinden and Ustick
December 28
Using the High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) on Ustick Road
December 21
Roundabout on Pine Street and Webb Avenue, uprooted speed limit signs, simultaneous left and right turns, ParkCenter turning counts at Apple
December 14
Speeding and traffic on Sawmill Way, speed signage on Franklin Road, downtown Boise signal timing, sidewalk repairs
December 07
Blinding (formerly) light onto the Connector, notices of road work and detours, speeds on Highland Street
November 30
Traffic counts for bench - Goddard, Milwaukee and Mitchell; Cove Colony access problems at State Street; ParkCenter and Apple right-turn counts
November 23
Railroad spur corssing Emerald between Orchard and Curtis, U.S. Highway 30 markers
November 16
License plate stickers, McDermott Road addresses
November 09
Sidewalk and "no parking" at Camel's Back Park on 13th Street, Red arrow at Hays/16th
November 02
Bike lane sweeping on Gekeler and Pennsylvania streets, weeds at Irving/Maple Grove, signal at Fairview/Maple Grove
October 26
New traffic sensors on Eagle Road, proper use of center turn lanes, traffic counts for West Bench
October 19
Drainage pit/pond at Maple Grove and Irving, pedestrian path on Maple Grove
October 12
Pine Avenue bicycle lanes, State Street signal at Home Depot, Warm Springs traffic at new East Jr. High
October 05
Walk time for Front/Broadway pedestrians, turning lane use out of St. Luke's Meridian, the future of the Gowen/Pleasant Valley intersection
September 28
Signal operation at Ustick/Locust Grove, pedestrian countdown signal at Front/Broadway
September 21
Intersection project for Linder/Ustick, Top Twelve Busiest Intersections in Ada County
September 14
School signals on Fairview at Cole, signal at Linder and Cayuse Creek, bicycle terminology
September 07
Meridian Road between McMillan and Chinden -- future plans, bike lane sweeping, weeds along Maple Grove and Black Cat
August 31
Front Street and rush-hour signal timing, school crossing on McMillan Road
August 24
Hill Road bike riders, Brookdale Meadows STOP sign study, video detectors and bicycles
August 17
Maple Grove sidewalk gaps, chipsealing and truck traffic, Boise Co-Op parking lot driveway off Fort Street
August 10
Pedestrian HAWK signal on Ustick Road, drainage pit on Ustick at Dove
August 03
Future bikeway along Amity (Federal Way to Surprise Way), signal at Amity and Federal Way, signal at Overland and Vista
July 27
Turning right (at signalized intersections, from the shoulder, pedestrians at Broad Street (BoDo area), South Ridge land ownership, burned-out ped light at Apple/ParkCenter
July 20
Overland Road relocation near Linder Road, reason for chipsealing, signal repair at Meridian/Chinden
July 13
Yellow rectangles on sidewalk ramps, Victory Road and side-street traffic, pothole patching on Five Mile Road
July 06
John's Landing Way utility and paving work, faded sign on Cole Road at interstate offramp,crosswalk signal at Federal Way and Bergeson
June 29
CenterCal project at Fairview/Eagle, bright car wash sign at State/30th streets, crosswalk on ParkCenter Boulevard near Red Robin
June 22
Signal at Federal Way/Gowen Road, signal at Victory/Trabuco
June 15
36th and Catalpa street curbs and gutters, Dewey new name for old 36th Street, rationale for irrigation sequencing of traffic signals
June 08
Refreshing fog-line paint on Franklin Road, Eagle Road at Easy Jet: new lane arrangement, Lakeshore street-name signs
June 01
Apple Street tree-branch obstruction, signal at Fox Run Way and Chinden Boulevard, Cole/Glenwood Couplet project status
May 25
Mill Station Drive roundabout signs, widening chinden (U.S. 20/26) west of Eagle Road, more center-lane abuse: Overland/Meridian roads
May 18
Possible footbridge between Garden City and Pleasanton, illegal travel in center lane, Eagle Road/Colchester signal, the Riverstone sign
May 11
More center-lane abuse, maintaining dirt alleys, sight obstructions at corners
May 04
Illegal (over)use of center lane, Overland/Meridian right-turn green arrow, bad (winter) patch on Elder Street
April 27
Reporting problem signals, Rose Hill/Vista timing, stop sign placement in subdivisions
April 20
Why does ACHD put up so many traffic signal heads at the same intersection: Chinden Boulevard/Veterans Memorial Parkway?
April 13
Ustick/Mitchell fence obstruction, Overland/Meridian (SH 69) (no) right-only lane, (still) two 36th streets
April 06
ParkCenter Boulevard signal progression and the East ParkCenter Bridge, trees on Curtis Road and Federal Way, Latah/Rose Hill signal fix
March 30
Freeway speed limits in construction zones, dead plants at Hill Road and Gary Lane
March 23
Pine Avenue speed limit sign, lane striping on Maple Grove at Ustick
March 16
McMillan Road street sign, Horse Loop Way street signs, Maple Grove street lighting, Pine Street signals at Main, Meridian
March 09
Flashing yellow arrows (re: permissive left turns), signal problems at SH 55/SH 44 intersection
March 02
Signal at Emerald and Orchard, no signal at Franklin Road and S.W. 7th Street
February 24
Capitol Boulevard and diagonal lane shift, construction sign at Linder and Chinden, signal at Cporate and main in Meridian: no green ball
February 17
Joplin Road rebuild saga, Shoreline Drive at Americana - rough patch
February 10
Jackson Elementary and Auto Drive, sidewalk snow, Pierce Park manhole covers, railroad crossing on Ten Mile
February 03
Camera to monitor Fairview's signals at Meridian and Main, Vista/Wright signal, Shoshone/Rose Hill pedestrian crossing
January 27
Locust Grove traffic blocking Wilson Lane intersection, signals on Fairview at Main and Meridian
January 20
Steelwood Drive signal on Fairview Avenue, the future of Auto Drive, Bypass route
January 13
Linder Road widening between McMillan and Chinden, Auto Drive/Franklin Road intersection
January 06
Ustick Road construction lanes, Mexican ALTO signs, access to Anser School from River Street
December 30
Federal Way vegetation and Mesa Vista Drive, Freeway future by-pass
December 23
Ustick Road's "completion," Curtis Road and actuated signals
December 16
Pine Street's missing lane east of Eagle Road, Fairview Avenue at Meridian Road and Main Street, Signal at McMullen vs. Camas
December 09
Oregon Trail kiosk park, right-turn lane from Chinden onto Glenwood, (no) signal at Cole/Camas
December 02
Exit 50B and the "Added Lane Sign," bike path on Executive Drive
November 25
State Street signal progression between 15th and 18th streets, River Street access to Pioneer Street
November 18
Hervey Street speed study, Target Street traffic data, signal at Touchmark and Franklin
November 11
Right-turn-only lane missing at Veterans Memorial Parkway/Chinden, left-turn troubles at Bristol/Eagle Road
November 04
Signal at Fairview/Locust Grove, street lighting on Ustick, pedestrian-blocking power pole on Ustick and the signal at Locust Grove/Ustick
October 28
Speeds on Hervey Street, the status of the Overland/Meridian intersection and new signals at Lake Hazel/Maple Grove and Eagle/Victory
October 21
Signal at Five Mile/Franklin, queuing detectors at Five Mile/Lake Hazel, Orange barrels at Maple Grove/Emerald and Locust Grove
October 14
Pedestrian walk buttons at Ustick and Milwaukee, lack of sidewalk on Milwaukee at Ustick
October 07
Lagging left turn at Franklin and Milwaukee, bike lane on Maple Grove and Emerald
September 30
Flashing yellow lights at Fairmont Jr. High, Linder Road project and drainage, manhole covers on Pierce Park Road
September 23
Left turn signal for Northview/Cole, "lagging" left turns at Overland/Eagle
September 16
Railroad crossing at Black Cat Road, barrier on Old Valley Road near Linder
September 09
Clovedale Road curbs, foliage-blocked street signs, Gekeler/Linden sensor issue, herbicide use for ACHD
September 02
Veterans Memorial Parkway flags, weekend signal timing at Eagle/McMillan, Colt Street speed sign
August 26
Status of Maple Grove extension and Ustick Road, future signal at Hill/SH 55, understanding WALK/DONT WALK
August 19
Sight lines and safe driving on Hill Road side streets, chipsealing of "new" roads
August 12
Appraisals for right-of-way buys, restriping bike icons on Hill Road, manholes on Overland and Meridian Roads
August 05
Chipsealing nitty-gritty, signal timing at Franklin/Eagle, odor under Cloverdale
July 29
New law to speed up utility work in roadway, rules for construction sites and turn signals
July 22
Eagle Road widening project, DeMeyer Street speeding, construction info signs
July 15
Eagle Road and Easy Jet Drive, manhole covers, Maple Grove project
July 08
Chipsealing, Vista Avenue and Elder Street intersection
July 01
More on Gold's/Walgreen parking, Hill Road's leaking canal, using Shaw Mountain Road
June 24
Gold's Gym at ParkCenter and U-turns, bad signal wires at Milwaukee and the mall, video detectors and motorcycles
June 17
Requested Victory Road guardrail at the Ridenbaugh, McMillan/Locost Grove signal and sign
June 10
View-blocking trees at Cloverdale/Kuna-Mora, Gary Lane turns, "Old" 36th Street
June 03
Cloverdale/Kuna-Mora intersection, Maple Grove (south of Franklin), cell phone drivers
May 27
Column placement in newspaper, Ustick Road work, signal at Eagle/Victory
May 20
Saxton/State Street turn lanes, Victory Road-Ridenbaugh guard rail study
May 13
Signal at Overland/Latah, lefts at State/Glenwood, Ustick and Leslie Way
May 06
Homestead Rim/Oregon Trail traffic calming, Cloverdale bridge bike path ...
April 29
Rules on parking, River Ranch road sign, Roe Street concern
April 22
State Street speed limit, Orchard/Overland signal timing, "Getting the Green"
April 15
Detour signs, Ustick Road construction, Meridian detours
April 08
New ACHD web site, right turns on Leslie Way, median barriers
April 01
Meridian's truck parking laws, BFI and roadside litter pickup
March 25
Access to Mountain View High School, polite parking on Rifleman
March 18
Signal at Five Mile and H-P, pedestrian safety, gridlock at Five Mile/Franklin
March 11
Future Ustick Road widening, Cole to Curtis; road paint's lacking longevity
March 04
Ustick Road projects, construction access, off-roading and tarp law proposal
February 25
Burned out signal, Mahogany Avenue spelling, water main on State Street...
February 18
Cloverdale/McMillan timing during sewer construction, magnesium chloride use
February 11
Signal timing along Front/6th/Capitol, detection loops on Latah & Roosevelt
February 04
Proposed signals on SH 69, SH 44, East End stop signs, impacts of deicer
January 28
Federal Way bicycle signs, "No Parking" laws in neighborhoods
January 21
ACHD/Salt Lake City snow policies compared, speed limits in historic districts
January 14
Cole/Amity sidewalks, pavement markings, signal detection, pavement patches
January 07
Deer and motorist safety on Warm Springs, late-night flashing signals