Transportation
Density To Rival New York?
The following guest opinion was submitted to Boise officials as testimony regarding the proposed zoning ordinance change. Guess Opinion by KEN PIDJEON Boise currently allows between 15 to 45 dwelling units per acre, sometimes more, and under the proposed Zoning Code those numbers remain but, in some cases, unlimited density is allowed. Contrast Boise with […]
Clegg Offers Buses For Homeless
APRIL FOOL FOR GUARDIAN Claiming she still had a desire to help with City Council problems, former councilor Elaine Clegg has come up with a novel solution to help solve the problems of the “unhoused community.” Clegg is the recently appointed director of the Valley Regional Transit bus system. She noticed upon taking the job […]
Derail Passenger Train Folly Now
The GUARDIAN has repeatedly pointed out the insanity of trying to reinstate passenger train service to Boise. Politicos simply won’t take “NO” for an answer to the wish for the return to rails. There are many reasons it won’t work and yet another multi-million dollar survey is a waste of money. Boise is pretty much […]
Bikeboy Peddles 200,000 miles
The following feature by “BIKEBOY” is a bit long, but it took him years of huffing and puffing the streets of Boise to chalk up 200,000 miles. Here is his account of life on the street. BY STEVE HULME In 1986, I was a working-class guy, married with two kids and another on the way. […]
Wheelchair Ramp To Nowhere
Exercising forward planning and backward logic, Ada County Highway District has installed an ADA certified wheelchair ramp TO NOWHERE at the corner of Columbus and Targee. The GUARDIAN didn’t even bother to file all the record requests to find out what it cost to install, but the concrete placing, excavation, and ramp component provides access […]
Lament Of A Growthophobe (A Rant)
The GUARDIAN created the word “growthophobe,” welcomed new people and businesses if they wished to pay their fair share of taxes and offer good wages. Otherwise relocate elsewhere. Meanwhile local politico mothers and fathers work overtime to attract more population, cars, trains, planes, and buses through “incentives.” They want those of us who live here […]
Politicos Ignorant To Past Study
Boise politicos and U.S. Sen Mike Crapo are riding the rails once again on the AMTRAK FOLLY. Banking on the short memory of voters or the lack of sound judgment, these officials are once again seeking Amtrak service to Boise. What a waste of effort and tax money to keep doing surveys, hoping the facts […]
Idaho AG Opposes Retail Gas Gouging
In an unusual move, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has offered a public (political) opinion regarding proposed legislation before the legislature. GUEST OPINION By Lawrence Wasden I’m writing to make you aware of a piece of legislation currently working its way through the state Legislature. The bill is being pushed by Idaho’s gas retailers and, […]
The Marines Have Landed–Repeatedly
If you are one of the many Boise area residents who have heard the repeated noise of military fighter jets, we have learned from a reader the jets are 10 Marine Corps F-18 Hornets, the same aircraft used by the Blue Angels. The GUARDIAN received several calls from readers commenting on the excess noise from […]
FAA Responds To GUARDIAN After 4 Years
Friday’s mail brought a nice padded manila envelope from MURPHY M. HO CHEE FAA Northwest Mountain Regional Office ATO WESTERN SERVICE CENTER DesMoines, WA Inside we found a CD and a two page letter from ANGELA R. McCullough, Vice President Mission Support Services. The subject of the letter was a Freedom of Information request made […]
BSU Seeks To Close Boise Streets
EDITOR NOTE: In a meeting July 1, the ACHD commishes changed directions on last week’s street decision. They voted to reconsider the June 24 action as requested by BSU. An insider tells us that doesn’t mean the vote is likely to change and the matter “starts from scratch.” Seems that Boise State University officials won’t […]
GUARDIAN’s State Of The Union
After things opened up in Idaho a couple weeks ago the GUARDIAN decided it was time to make a road trip to Michigan. Idaho had about 80 reported COVID deaths and restaurants were opening on a limited basis. WELL! It was nearly impossible to find a sit down food place anywhere in the upper West […]
Covid 19 Means Cultural Change
Without regard to any party politics, the GUARDIAN predicts a major cultural change in the USA and perhaps the world which will last for generations in the wake of the COVID 19 crises. The following scenario is not a prediction, but a reality currently in place. Day care businesses will diminish as parents stay home […]
No Talk Zone For Meridian Coppers
The new MERIDIAN city ordinance banning CELLPHONE use while driving will apply to coppers despite an exemption in the law. Meridian Police Chief Jeff Lavey told the GUARDIAN, “Using the phone while driving can be as bad or worse than driving with a six-pack under your belt.” He went on to say the new ordinance […]
No News Is News In Boise Mayor Race
A mayor candidate forum (hardly a debate) was held Wednesday and it was almost a love-in with a few subtle differences. Four of the five announced candidates appeared, but the filing deadline is still a week away which means there is still time for a “white knight” to ride in. Check out Margaret Carmel’s IDAHO […]
Survey Shows “Growing Too Fast”
For years the Boise State University Public Policy Institute survey results served as the justification for Boise’s Team Dave to push for public safety, transportation, and parks to accommodate the growth. The standard response to critics of growth was, “You can’t stop growth. People just want to come here.” Now, more than 70% of those […]
More Than Money Needed For Buses
By Jimmy D. Bus Guardian Transportation Correspondent On Tuesday night the Boise City Council heard testimony from citizens about the crappy Valley wide bus system as the Council considers adding even more funds to the ever declining system. Crappy. That adjective was used at a recent Valley Regional Transit (VRT) Board meeting by none other […]
ACHD Leaves Vehicle Fee On Lightweights
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED. SEE NOTES AT END Despite claims that Idaho law prevented Ada County Highway District from charging fees on vehicles in excess of 8,000 lbs., the GUARDIAN learned Monday ACHD has dropped all efforts to seek legislation that would correct the omission of heavyweights. Senate majority leader Chuck Winder told the […]
Will Valley Transit Go To The Dogs?
Talk about being “business friendly!” Seems the government owned and funded Valley Regional Transit (VRT) has been approached by the big dog in the bus business, Greyhound, about the possibility of using VRT taxpayer supported facilities for commercial passenger terminal and vehicle servicing purposes. One could say VRT is going to the dogs to get […]
Topics For Discussion, Let’s Talk
Sorry for the lack of content lately. Other priorities and lack of motivation are prime excuses. Here are some topics for discussion and we freely admit they are not all new. –Boise officials and the USAF staged a demonstration of their close air support (CAS) urban warfare training over our fair city at the end […]
Recent Comments