Boise’s Vista Interchange Project Includes Beautification

By Jill Kuraitis, 8-05-09

Having once written that Boise’s Vista Boulevard, a main artery into the city from the interstate, was a “tasteless trail of trashiness,” I’m happy to hear that the Vista Interchange project broke ground this morning.

In a press release, Governor Otter said, “For thousands of people a day, the Vista Interchange is the Treasure Valley’s gateway to commerce. It provides a primary link from Idaho’s largest airport to our largest metropolitan area. It’s the first part of Idaho that many people see on the ground, so it plays an important role in our efforts to attract and retain quality employers who provide the kinds of careers our people need.”

Anybody who follows Idaho politics knows that Otter is a madly enthusiastic road-builder, and has spent a lot of political capital fighting for the money he thinks is needed. There is a backlog of road and bridge repair and new construction of over $240 million dollars in the state, and the past two legislative sessions have been mighty power struggles between the governor and the legislature to allocate money to address it.

Public transportation advocates are fighting for money for a rail line and improved bus service, and tend to frown on the construction of new roads instead of allocating funds for their projects. Finding objections to repairs and improvements around the Vista/I-84 area isn’t easy, however.

First, 320 direct construction and engineering jobs are expected to be created. Otter is hopeful that a better-functioning interchange will lead to more business and jobs. Here’s how the Vista project fits into Otter’s vision of jobs and economic development.

Second, access to the National Interagency Fire Center, Gowen Field, and many cargo and shipping companies which serve the airport will be much improved. Right now that access is a real mess – confusing, jumbled, and unsafe in places. Business which rely on shipping will have an easier time of it, and that means better productivity.

Third, the Vista interchange was built in the Woodstock year of 1969. Ada County has three times more people than it did then, and Idaho’s population has doubled.  It was built before the Boise area relied on high-tech jobs and traveling businesspeople were the norm.

What I hope is that it won’t be so embarrassing to drive visitors from the airport into Boise. Take Broadway north into town, and witness what defines the word hideous. I’m told Jim’s Alibi is a perfectly respectable bar, but holy paintjob it looks nasty, not to mention that the first thing visitors see really ought to be something more family-oriented and perhaps at least greenISH. The city mothers and fathers have tried to spruce things up down the middle with a grassy median, ornamental pear trees, and a nice “Welcome to Boise, City of Trees” sign, but it’s just not happening left and right, man. The first truly nice landscaping one sees on Broadway is at Rubber Rainbow – a condom shop.

Boise, City of Condoms.

Take Vista, and visitors are witness to some of worst Brown Trashy Weediness – BTW in city planner’s parlance – in the area.  (Well, okay, there is that one exit near Caldwell.)

The good news is that according to Otter’s press secretary Jon Hanian, the Vista project includes substantial beautification of the area. It’s unknown how far north on Vista that will extend, but NewWest.Net will Twitter out every detail, since everyone needs more reasons to play with their gadgets.

Just a side question, Governor Otter:  It’s true that Boise isn’t your only concern, but can we count on some responsible, drought-tolerant flowers in the area next year when the Vista Interchange is finished? I’ll bet you could get a citizen corp of hole-diggers out there in a flash – Boiseans mob up really well – to save money, which we all know needs saving. Or! Get with Mayor Dave and make it a huge bipartisan deal! Everybody wins with a project like this.

If we planted Boise State colors - Blue and Hotrock Penstemon alongside orange poppies, for example, we might get the football team out there to lug around the heavy stuff.

You see the possibilities.