Roadways to Bikeways Plan

ACHD is currently in the process of updating the Roadways to Bikeways Plan. Learn more about the Roadways to Bikeways Master Plan Update here!

General Description:

The ACHD Commission unanimously approved the Roadways to Bikeways Bicycle Master Plan during the weekly commission meeting Wednesday, May 27, 2009.  Roadways to Bikeways envisions a bicycle network in Ada County that provides a designated bicycle facility within a quarter-mile from 95 percent of the residents in Ada County and its six cities.  A bicycle facility could be a roadway that is signed as a bike route, bike lane or other type of improvement. Now that the plan has been adopted, the next steps for putting the improvements in place include finalizing ACHD's program to schedule and build the recommended improvements. 

Learn more by reading the final plan:

• Executive Summary 
• Adopted Plan
• Appendix A thru O
• Map

To comment on the plan or if you have questions, please e-mail bikes@achdidaho.org or write ACHD at 3775 Adams Street, Garden City, ID 83714.

More information on Roadways to Bikeways:  Since April 2007 ACHD has been working with the community to create a county-wide bicycle master plan. The Plan will guide future investments in the bicycle system on roadways, as well as develop new policies and design guidelines concerning bicycle facilities.  Alta Planning & Design, which has developed more than 160 bicycle specific plans in the United States and Canada, is the firm leading the effort on behalf of ACHD.

The public roadways in Ada County serve the cities of Boise, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna, Meridian, Star and the unincorporated areas of Ada County, yet there has never been a full-scale Bicycle Master Plan for the region. Roadways to Bikeways will provide a comprehensive strategy to enhance and expand the bicycle facilities with the goal of creating connectivity to areas of the county where bike lanes, routes and paths (such as the Greenbelt) exist in isolation or are absent. The strategy will bring together the successful past efforts in the planning, design and implementation of bicycle facilities and augment and expand this with new information, analysis and public involvement to create a more comprehensive approach to bikeway system development in Ada County. Roadways to Bikeways will identify necessary standards for use in enhancing the safety of users throughout the county. 

Below are the major elements of what went into the development of Roadways to Bikeways

• Review of bicycle components of major regional studies, including ACHD's Pedestrian and Bicycle Transition Plan, the Downtown Boise Mobility Study, Ridge-to-Rivers, Boise Greenbelt Master Plan, city Comprehensive and Pathway Plans and the Boise State University Master Plan
• Perform peak-hour bicycle counts at numerous locations to gauge current use and track the effectiveness of future investment.
• Identify and prioritize bicycle facility deficiencies based on existing and planned roadway improvements
• Identify areas for way-finding systems to and from roadway bicycle facilities from other bicycle facilities which include the Greenbelt, Foothills trails, other off-roadway trails and critical connections.
• Create a comprehensive map identifying and differentiating between existing and future proposed bicycle facilities and connections to alternative transportation systems.
• Develop a Bike Facility Design and Designation Guide for use in ACHD and developer-led projects.

Time Frame

Start Date:

April 2007

End Date:

May 2009