Growth in the Treasure Valley isn’t knocking at the door anymore—it’s in the living room. We sit down with Simplot CEO Garrett Lofto to connect two stories that matter here: how a people-first, innovation-driven company feeds the world, and how a business-led coalition can help our region move smarter and faster. From farm roots to the C‑suite, Garrett shares the leadership principles that powered his journey—listening, curiosity, and investing in strong foundations—and applies them to a challenge affecting every family and employer in the valley: congestion that steals time.

We lay out the stakes plainly. I‑84 has finite capacity left, and each incident ripples through commerce and daily life. If we keep doing more of the same, gridlock spreads and talent looks elsewhere. So we map out options instead of silver bullets: a southern alternative route to pull freight and through-traffic around the core, Highway 16 as a stronger north–south connector, and a serious look at rail along existing corridors from the Boise Depot through Meridian to Nampa and Caldwell. Rail is a long game, but flat terrain and preserved right-of-way make phased planning plausible—especially if we learn from places like Salt Lake City, where sustained business advocacy and smart funding built durable ridership.

Keep Idaho Moving, now housed at the Boise Metro Chamber under CEO Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, gives this effort a home and momentum. Our goal isn’t to dictate projects; it’s to collect data, align stakeholders, help agencies win studies and funding, and keep the public focused on outcomes that matter: safety, reliability, and time with family. We also preview conversations with ITD District 3, ACHD, and COMPASS to dig into constraints, forecasts, and what near-term wins look like. The message throughout is practical and urgent—right-of-way only gets more expensive, and every month we wait narrows future choices. If we act early and together, we can protect what we love about this place while making room for who’s coming next.

If this resonates, follow the series, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review so more locals can join the conversation. Your insight can shape the routes we take—literally.

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