Idaho real estate glossary

Long-Term Transportation Initiatives in Communities in Motion 2050

Communities in Motion 2050 (CIM 2050) is the long-range regional transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties, adopted by the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) in December 2022. The plan plans for an estimated regional population of 1.075 million by 2050 and establishes multi-modal priorities including high-capacity transit, major roadway enhancements, and regional pathway networks.

Updated with grounded research as of 2026-07-24.

The short answer

The Communities in Motion 2050 (CIM 2050) plan outlines key long-term transportation initiatives for Ada and Canyon Counties in Southwest Idaho. Adopted in December 2022 by the COMPASS Board of Directors, the plan establishes a multi-modal roadmap to serve a forecasted 2050 population of 1.075 million people. Core initiatives include establishing high-capacity transit (regional passenger rail and bus rapid transit), expanding major east-west and north-south roadway corridors, improving regional connectivity south of I-84, and completing integrated active transportation networks.

Key facts

Plan Adoption & Horizon: Adopted by the COMPASS Board of Directors in December 2022 to guide transportation investments across Ada and Canyon Counties through 2050.
High-Capacity Transit Priorities: Includes regional passenger rail on the Boise Cutoff rail corridor south of the Boise River and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along the State Street / State Highway 44 corridor.
Roadway & System Capacity: Prioritizes capacity, safety, and operational enhancements on major corridors like State Highway 16, State Highway 44, and arterial networks in South Ada and Canyon Counties.
Funding Forecast & Shortfall: Projects $11.1 billion in available federal, state, and local transportation revenue against $16.5 billion in total regional needs through 2050, creating a $5.4 billion regional funding gap ($193 million annually).

High-Capacity Public Transit Networks

A foundational pillar of the Communities in Motion 2050 vision is expanding transit options to alleviate traffic congestion caused by rapid population growth in the Treasure Valley. COMPASS identifies two primary high-capacity transit corridors serving Ada and Canyon Counties.

Regional Rail Alignment: Establishing passenger rail service utilizing the existing Boise Cutoff rail corridor south of the Boise River to connect Caldwell, Nampa, Meridian, and Boise.
State Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Implementing dedicated transit infrastructure and upgraded stations along the State Street / State Highway 44 corridor between downtown Boise, Eagle, and Star.
System Upgrades: Supporting local service expansions with Valley Regional Transit (VRT) to increase bus frequencies and expand transit-oriented development (TOD) around major activity hubs.

Major Roadway Capacity and Connectivity Projects

To accommodate commuting demands across Ada and Canyon Counties through 2050, CIM 2050 balances existing road maintenance with strategic corridor upgrades and new connections.

State Highway 16 Extension: Constructing new multi-lane freeway connections extending State Highway 16 south from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Blvd) to Interstate 84.
State Highway 44 Improvements: Widening key stretches and improving intersection capacity along Highway 44 through Star, Eagle, and Middleton.
South Ada & Canyon Connectivity: Developing arterial capacity and new corridor alignments south of I-84 to serve rapid growth in Kuna and south Nampa.
Freight & Arterial Safety: Upgrading major east-west freight routes (such as U.S. 20/26 and SH-55) to enhance traffic flow and commercial transport.

Active Transportation and Financial Realities

Beyond motorized travel, CIM 2050 emphasizes multi-modal 'Complete Network' policies to build off-street multi-use pathways, sidewalks, and safe bicycle routes connecting neighborhoods to commercial Activity Centers.

Financially, COMPASS projects $11.1 billion in available local, state, and federal revenue for Ada and Canyon Counties between 2022 and 2050. However, total estimated transportation needs reach $16.5 billion over the same 28-year horizon, resulting in a $5.4 billion regional funding shortfall (roughly $193 million per year). Unfunded priorities—including passenger rail implementation and local pathway connections—depend on identifying new revenue streams or securing discretionary federal grants.

Common questions

What area does Communities in Motion 2050 cover?

Communities in Motion 2050 covers all incorporated cities and unincorporated rural areas within Ada County and Canyon County in Southwest Idaho, serving as the regional long-range transportation plan managed by COMPASS.

Is commuter rail currently funded under the Communities in Motion 2050 plan?

Regional rail along the Boise Cutoff corridor is recognized as the preferred high-capacity transit option in the CIM 2050 vision, but it is currently unfunded due to Idaho's lack of dedicated local-option transit funding sources.

How often is the Communities in Motion long-range transportation plan updated?

COMPASS updates the regional long-range transportation plan every four to five years to adjust population forecasts, update funding expectations, and re-evaluate project priorities.

Sources and verification

Communities in Motion 2050 Official Plan Page (compassidaho.org)
Idaho Transportation Department Planning Division (itd.idaho.gov)