Traffic Division Keeping You Safe and Moving

The Traffic Engineering Division reviews, investigates and determines the need for, and the design of signals, roadways, pedestrian facilities, striping, school zone safety and signing in both the urban and rural areas.

This team plays a significant roll in keeping the traveling public, regardless of the mode of transportation, moving in a safe and efficient manner.

Learn More

Traffic Engineering handles neighborhood issues regarding speed control and traffic calming. ACHD has no enforcment authority on the roadway, however, our staff works closely with local law enforcement agencies in identifying and correcting safety and operational problems.

Working together with citizens, ACHD staff will consider all options to determain the safest and most efficient manner to resolve neighborhood traffic concerns.

• Traffic Investigation Request

Learn More

Traffic Engineering maintains and continually updates regular traffic counts and turning movement information. This information is used both internally for traffic studies and externally for development, real estate and planning activities.

Traffic Counts Page

All events impacting or closing lanes or roads require a Special Events Permit (SEP). The SEP describes the event, time, route, duration and sponsor. Each event is evaluated for public safety by the impacted City or County, and if the event is approved ACHD is the next step in the process.

A member of the Traffic Engineering team receives the information and talks personally with the organizer to go over traffic control requirements. Businesses along the route are asked for comments, or cordination issues. All events, except block parties, require a certificate of liability insurance for $1 million.

• ACHD SEP (Commercial)
• ACHD SEP (Non-Profit)
• Ada County SEP
• Boise City SEP
• Garden City SEP
• Meridian SEP

For additional information:

ACHD Main Line:
208-387-6100
Traffic Engineering
208-387-6140
Or contact us at: Tell Us

Sight Obstructions are a common issue, especially during the spring and summer months when flowers, shrubs, and trees are in full bloom.

What is an obstruction?

Anything which:

• Blocks traffic signs
• Reduces a driver's sight distance and ability to see oncoming traffic
• Prevents pedestrians from full use of the sidewalk
• Extends into the roadway

State and local codes require property owners to prune, or, if necessary, remove any tree, hedge, shrub, or sight obstruction of any nature, where it causes a potential traffic hazard.

• Traffic Investigation Request

Learn More

The Congestion Management team monitors traffic from the state of the art Traffic Management Center (TMC). This team utilizes 328 intersection traffic detection cameras, 159 CCTV cameras for traffic maintenance and monitoring and has posted over 3,000 traffic incidents on the ACHD website in the past year.

Signals can be adjusted from the TMC to assist in alleviating traffic congestion for many reasons, including: incidents, holiday travel, or community events.

Learn More

Roundabouts are a type of circular intersection, but quite unlike older, similar designs such as traffic circles or rotaries. The Ada County Highway District has constructed several roundabouts and more are proposed or in the evaluation process at various intersections throughout the county.

Regardless of size or general shape, all roundabouts share the same fundamental characteristics:

• Traffic travels in a counterclockwise flow
• Vehicles entering yield to circulating traffic
• Lower vehicle speeds, generally between 15-25 mph

Learn More

All roadways being built or repaired and destined to be dedicated to the public, under the Ada County Highway Disrict's jurisdiction, are required to meet specific traffic standards.

These traffic standards assure a solid and consistant roadway infrastructure, and provide safety for the traveling public.

Traffic Standards

The Traffic Operations Division is the installation and maintenance arm for both the Traffic Engineering and Congestion Management Divisions. They are critical to the implementation of the ideas, decisions and designs of the other two divisions.

This team is responsible for the installation and maintenance of signals, making and installation of signs and adding pavement markings.

The Traffic Operations Paint Crew is responsible for placing all roadway striping, directional arrows, crosswalks and other required street delineation for the 4,824 lane miles in Ada County.

Different materials are used for pavement markings; paint and what is called "Preformed Thermoplastic". Glass beads are added to all markings during the application process for reflectivity at night and during inclement weather.

Learn More

The Traffic Operations Sign Shop is responsible for over 240,000 signs in Ada County. Regulatory and Warning Signs are tracked, from placement to removal, and regularly monitored for their reflectivity. Signs must conform to State and Federal Standards and if the sign fails to meet standards, it is replaced.

When a sign is damaged, it is also replaced. This team averages 500 to 600 calls yearly for damaged, vandalized, or stolen signs. To report a damaged or missing sign, contact the ACHD.

Learn More

For additional information:

ACHD Main Line:
208-387-6100
Traffic Operations
208-387-6190
Or contact us at: Tell Us

The ACHD signal shop is responsible for the installation, maintainance, trouble-shooting, and repairing of over 550 traffic signals, flashing beacons, pedestrian crossings and school flashers throughout Ada County.

Approximately 93% of our signals are connected by nearly 300 miles of buried fiber-optic cable and dozens of above ground "wireless" radio communicators. This enables us to monitor, in real time, the efficiency and operational status of signals and make adjustments or dispatch a technician much faster. We have 24 hour "On-Call" personnel to cover malfunctions and after hour emergencies.

If you need assistance or to report a problem outside of normal business hours, please call the Ada County Sheriff's Dispatch's non-emergency number at 208-377-6790.