Ada County Highway District
The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) is the only countywide highway district in Idaho. Located in Garden City, Idaho, it is a Government agency established in the early 1970s as an independent government entity by a vote of the people.[1]
Overview
ACHD covers the entirety of Ada County, including the six cities within it, and is responsible for short-range planning, construction, maintenance and improvements to Ada County's local roads and bridges (excluding state highways like Eagle Road, Interstate 84, the Connector and overpasses, which are operated by the Idaho Transportation Department).
The District maintains and operates approximately 2,100 miles of roads and streets in Ada County, with an estimated value of three billion dollars. This infrastructure includes facilities that range from multi-lane, arterial streets with a computerized signal system, to narrow, farm-to-market roadways.[2]
Organization
Five Commissioners govern the District. Together, they are responsible for guiding the planning, development and implementation of transportation facilities throughout the county. Elections are held every two years on a rotating basis, and each Commissioner represents a separate subdistrict.
Because strong public involvement is crucial to the transportation planning process, the Commissioners and staff regularly host and attend meetings and public hearings to gather feedback from citizens. The Commissioners also hold regular public meetings at the District's headquarters, and participate in joint meetings with municipal and county officials.
An appointed Director, who serves as chief administrator, manages the District on a day-to-day basis. The Director is responsible for managing five departments: Administration, Engineering, Maintenance and Operations, Traffic, and Planning and Development, which combined, total nearly 300 employees.
Budget
The Ada County Highway District's fiscal year begins October 1 and runs through the end of September. The ACHD Commission adopted the 2008-2009 Budget on August 27, 2008.
Proposed expenditures total $84.5 million for FY 2009 and they are projected to be $85.2 million in FY2010. This represents a 5% decrease from the last fiscal year.[3]