Traffic
Freeways Are For Cars
December 2, 2005 
Few motorists will be impressed with a “gateway landscaping” project –like the plans currently being offered for the Wye interchange at I-84 and the Connector (I-184). For locals at 70 m.p.h. on the daily commute or visitors nervously navigating an exit ramp, the quality of landscaping is a low priority.
Texas at the behest of Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady, has saturated its highways and adjoining areas with native wilflowers. We can suggest that officials check out the National Wildflower Center for ideas.
Highway planners have gotten themselves into the mode of offering “either or” options for both county and state highway projects. The current choices for the Wye are “high desert” or “prairie”.
For our money, the GUARDIAN would like to see this highway landscaping project take a lesson from our Swoosh” friends at Nike and “JUST DO IT!” We are strong advocates of public involvement, voting on spending, etc. However when it comes to what amounts to decorating, we think some responsible decisions by caring professionals should suffice–especially when it is along an existing freeway.
Nearly five years ago the former mayor and council debated the landscape idea and funding. Then the Community Planning Association (COMPASS) rejected an $11 million proposal. Boise came back with a $9.6 million plan which was also rejected. They ended up approving a $10.4 landscape plan…shows you how smart those folks can be–$9 million is too expensive, so we settle for $10! Then all that planning and rhetoric is tossed out and begun anew today. Just do it!
Apparently part of the process for getting federal highway funds is to have a local transportation planning agency–in our case COMPASS–approve the plans. The result so far has been lots of money spent for NOTHING.
Here are some legitimate considerations:
–Cost for future maintenance and who will pay for it.
–Don’t make the landscaping attractive to wildlife and birds which will be killed by cars or vice versa.
–Trees and shrubs can cast confusing shadows and create wind disturbances which could cause snow drift, dust swirls etc. Keep it low and tough.
–Park-like settings are catch-alls for trash and litter.
–Consider safety issues when vehicles run off the pavement, and they will.
We suggest native wildflowers are the lowest cost and least water-demanding ground cover. JUST DO IT!
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Dec 2, 2005, 3:10 pm
Why should we kowtow to Californians? Should we also heat the roads so they don’t fly off durring a winter storm. Californians are doing this valley no good what so ever. I have yet to meet one that doesn’t want to change something here to be like “back in california”.
I say that those of us that have similar mindset, show the Californicators what we think of them. Wave at them (with only one finger extended) everytime you see a CA plate comming at you while driving. Tell them your opinion of what they are doing to our quality of life when they probe the waters by saying they just moved here from california. I’ll be happy when their nest-egg runs out and they can’t sustain the “better-than-you” lifestyle on the wages here.
As long as we continue to allow them have an easy transition, we will be overrun by arrogant, self-serving, whining californians. So welcome to Idaho, now go back to California. Idaho is too great to Californicate.
Ed note– Does this mean you don’t like wildflowers?
Dec 3, 2005, 9:18 am
Wow! Someone has issuses. I’m not sure what that rant has to do with landscaping? I think the wildflower idea is the best and would make a beautiful, natural area. By the way,Luddite, who are the arrogant people again? I can’t tell from your hateful post. PS I know what you are thinking but I am a Native.
Dec 3, 2005, 11:01 am
When does landscaping have to do with Californians? $10 Million is way too much to landscape the little area of the wye. What about putting the idea to civic minded groups to donate their time to plant wildflower seeds in the area and let it go at that! Aren’t they always looking for do-good projects? Kind of like the adopt a highway program?
Dec 3, 2005, 12:15 pm
I am totally in favor of wildflower seeds being cast over the entire area to be landscaped–fancy shrubbery landscaping of the type found on freeways is a bore unless the shrubs are low growing. No trees allowed–sight obstructions.
I can just imagine the landscapers hereabouts panting for this job, which will be as costly as they can make it, but it won’t be beautiful or soothing. Wildflowers are definitely the answer. Bluebonnets, AKA lupines, grow here too.
Dec 3, 2005, 12:44 pm
I love the idea of native wildflowers being planted. There is one problem, albeit a minor one. Wild flowers (poppys, blue bells, lupine, batchelor buttons, etc) take about three years to establish. You plant, have a few sparse flowers and TONS of weeds, wait for them to go to seed, mow them off, and do it again. Keeping weeds down will be an ongoing problem for a few years. But after three years, they should have a beautiful sight to behold. Does anyone remember when the crescent rim of the bench was planted with orange poppies and bachelor buttons. It was grand when it was in full regalia. Whatever they do, I’m with Fraz…just do it.
Dec 3, 2005, 5:35 pm
Less is more. Natural and simple landscaping at this location is so much more! Wild flowers would be beautiful. It would pay homage to what Idaho’s beauty really is and not be another bureucratic boondoggle. Our govenment officials, (mostly local) seem to be in such a hurry to re-fashion Boise to look “just-like” someplace else. Why can’t we see the natural beauty and attributes that brought us here in the first place and let them serve as proud reflection of our Idaho (and Treasurer Valley) attributes. As a side comment. Why do they think the “build’em steep, deep and cheap” mentality on infill will make us a better city? Isn’t that what many new residents are trying to escape? We have a chance to preserve Boise’s cherished character and city decision makers are throwing it out like a baby with the bath water. How many times have we heard some local government type cite some other place as the ideal (Seattle, Portland) Why can’t we be smart enough to craft our own sense of place.
Dec 3, 2005, 5:39 pm
Having traveled and lived in a number of areas in Texas I have seen how nice the roadways are when the flowers are blooming. I think the wildflower idea has more merit than than any other one that has been proposed for the Wye.
Luddite – Who exactly do you think you are, a NATIVE AMERICAN? Next time you complain about attitudes from Californians you need to realize that you are no better then anyone else because of where you were born, how much money you make or what race you are. What makes you a better person is to have understanding and be able to help your fellow AMERICANS.
I personally welcome out of staters to Idaho in the hope that they will help change the lopsided one-party system in Idaho that is doing more to harm and destroy this state then any one group of “outsiders”.
Dec 3, 2005, 6:04 pm
All of us that went to the “viewing” agree with the idea of natual grasses and flowers idea and forget the trees and scrubs. All the trees do is cost a lot of money and make some landscape company a bundle. This approach is by far the most sensible and economical.
Besides if they plant what they propose then the City will raise our property taxes so they can maintain the trees and scrubs for the next 50 -100 years.
Why not spend about $1 million on grasses and wildflowers and then give the remaining millions to the neighborhoods so they can fight the City Council over all their ugly row house projects, the massive condos, and the other “blueprint for goofy growth” infill projects.
Dec 3, 2005, 9:27 pm
Native wildflowers…..hmmmmm. I guess most native wildflowers have a few weeks of blooming in the spring and the rest of the year the “landscaping” will be just like the drive to Mountain Home. This is a high desert, folks, low rainfall, high heat in the summer. Let’s not get our hopes up. But I agree that that spot (which I haven’t seen in many years because I have my favorite backroads to travel) doesn’t need high maintenance landscaping. We have too many other needs that demand our tax dollars.
Dec 5, 2005, 9:17 am
It’s funny how parts of a story can disappear that may read objectionable.
Bosiean- I will admit that I can be overly passionate about this subject, but I’m not making any more money because of the influx. Nobody that originally lived here can buy a house here. The schools are overcrowed and quality of life is in the can. All this in the last few years. It doesn’t take much to see where it’s comming from.
bg- I just wish that when Californians moved here they would also realize that they are no better then anyone else because of where you were born, how much money you make or what race you are.
You must not make it up into the woods to see the real damage of out of state people. It’s not only politics damaging the enviroment, it’s too many people being irresponsible.
On the landscaping, I also like native wildflowers and native plants. We should strive to adapt to what was here before and what fits in the natural rhythms of the original surroundings. We should also take a lesson from our friends at Nike and get cheap child labor to take care of it if need be.
Dec 5, 2005, 10:05 am
Luddite: I suspect what was originally there was sage brush, pure and simple. I hope we can get more creative and esthetically pleasing than that. While I don’t share your dislike aka phobia of those born somewhere other than Idaho, I do think we should get creative about the labor end of this thing. I am picturing rice-paper bags of seed (and sand), purchased by residents and then pitched out the car window at 70 miles an hour onto the subject right of way. That way, the seed gets blown around and “naturalized”, the ricepaper bags disintegrate (or biodegrade) as soon as moisture touches them, no labor costs associated with sowing of seed, and if the State sold the bags of seed they could offset the cost of landscaping by the revenue generated. Luddite you could buy a few and work out your obvious frustrations by seed throwing. In the MEAN time (no pun intended), lighten up and have a Latte.
Dec 5, 2005, 10:38 am
Tam- I think that I’ll take your advice, but I think I’ll have a white chocolate Americano.
I found a good guide on Native plants when I was landscaping my property. Here is the link:
http://www.idahonativeplants.org/guides/LandscapingGuide.aspx
Dec 6, 2005, 9:08 am
Did you really mean in your first paragraph that local commuters would be traveling past the landscaping at 70 miles per hour, or was that one of your jokes? How often does traffic move that fast — local or otherwise — through the Flying Wye where this landscaping would take place? By the time the beautification project is done many of those on this section of road may actually be able to “stop and smell the (prairie) roses” after all.
Dec 8, 2005, 5:08 pm
Everyone adopt a hundredth of a mile (52.8 feet) on the right hand side of the road (no one in the median). Take care of it all the way to the edge of right of way. Do this every day of the year. How long will you last?
Dec 12, 2005, 1:06 pm
Luddite, I’m a native too, Canyon County thank you. You must not be a native because if you were you would know that what has happened here Idaho is because of native Idahoans. What ever you see that you don’t like in Idaho was probably caused by a native Idahoan. The real native Idahoans made the first mistake by not killing and eating the Lewis & Clark Corps. of Discovery.
Luddite is a perfect example of why Idaho is like it is.
Mar 12, 2009, 3:50 pm
Cheap and Easy. Is the scenery at the Wye really that important of a transportation issue? How about public transportation and bike lanes?
On the California note, and as a native from California I have to agree with John on this one. When I moved here I purchased an older home close to my work. That means all of my services like road, sewer, gas, electricity, was paid for by property taxes on my house decades ago. I also ride my bike to work everyday, further decreasing my dependence on state ITD resources.
From what I see, many problems are caused by “native” Idahoans living far from work so they can have a large parcel of land and then drive a large Cummings diesel powered truck to work. This adds a huge cost on the state to run services out to those new homes, and is also a huge drain on ITD who is supporting those roads to allow them to do it. Perhaps if more Californian’s moved here with their bikes and hybrid cars the air quality wouldn’t be so bad either.
I think the real issue with the “Californians” issue is xenophobia.