It would be unfortunate if the shuttle lot was deliberately underused to help make the case for a second garage.

Why do we think Boise is an attarctive alternative for air freight versus these overused California hubs? Does it make business sense to take frieght in plane destined for LA, land in Boise and put it on trucks? At best Boise could be a feeder for Portland and Seattle, but with Diesel over $4 a gallon, no way will remote Boise be a freight hub.

The airport expansion is just another scam by the same people who keep telling us that more people in the valley, more traffic, and more air and water pollution are good things and will improve our quality of life. They think we are stupid, and since we haven’t offered much of a choice in recent mayoral and city council elections, maybe we are. Last mayoral election we were offered a choice between a pro-growth guy and a pro-growth guy who wanted to give the cops more weapons to use against us. It’s a little discouraging.

Deals between the major and minor players (some of whom would probably surprise you)
have already been struck, money spent, and favors exchanged to further this proposed abomination to the valley. You could compare it to all the new subdivisions that are surveyed, platted, and roads cut while the Temporary Use Permit (Note: NOT Zoning Change as that is usually too complex and expensive.) is still in litigation.

The current airport expansion round may have different low level mouth pieces championing the cause and trying to sell us peons another expensive and empty bill of goods but this smelly, parasite laden camel stuck his nose under our tent flap years back. Only the minor players in the public eye have changed. The real beneficiaries of a huge airport expansion have slipped several of the smelly beasts in under previous administrations. As has been so oft repeated here, follow the money. The trail to the real opportunists has not changed.

EDITOR NOTE–Not to worry about a new tower. How can you explain away another runway and the masterplan for the airport which includes a massive freight hub expansion? Why not allow citizens to vote for a new parking garage which we need, instead of denying them a chance to approve the facility?

They don’t seem to have the guts to just go to the voters – they think they can win with the politics at the state level.

Boise voters better wake up to this or before you all know it the constitution will get changed and you all will be seeing long term debt decided by 51% – on 66.66%. Then it will be WAY TOO LATE.

If your legislator was for the constitutional amendment or wants to hand local option taxing to the cities and counties you better not re-elect them this year or you will literally pay for it.

Still, I have to allow that when in doubt, go to a pro. It is better to go to a doctor if you are ill, or an attorney if you need legal advice, or a developer if you want to put houses on the back 40. Developing is what developers are good at. Its a risky business. But, generally, they risk their own or their investor’s money because that is the way to reap the big profit.

And then we have Boise City. The mayor and city council consist of an attorney, a couple of economists, two cops, a small business owner, and a planner. There is not a successful developer in the bunch. Why they think they have the skill to successfully develop the airport, or anything else, is beyond me.

One thing is certain; they should not be trusted with public funds to do things that are clearly beyond their sphere or expertise.

If customers prefer X, but there’s a limited supply & no one can make more, then figure out a way to raise the price. You are starving for no reason.

Then:

1) My observation is the long-term lot is poorly designed & hard to find find free spots in. This makes me favor the garage even though I needn’t.
So, spend that cash to make it easier to find spots, reserving the existing garage.

2) I don’t know how to get to the shuttle lot, nor what to expect, and I’m not about to find out and miss my plane. Spend some cash to educate/direct travelers w/o causing them additional stress or delay. If you are really innovative about how you do this, I bet this makes a bigger commerce magazine splash than a bigger garage would…

To whom it may concern: I understand secret “business of a bigger garage” is probably so good that it’s not worth taking either of my suggestions, but I sure would like to see them implemented. I’m not part of 2/3 who’d let you take out a loan for a bigger garage unless you tell me why it’s really important, and have a different crystal ball than TJ has. And I’m one of those who thinks parking at the airport should be better and wants (the tech, not the truck) industry to thrive in Boise!