Today on the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofton sit down with Ryan Head, Executive Director of the Ada County Highway District, to talk about why ACHD matters more than ever as the Treasure Valley continues to grow.

Ryan shares his journey as a Boise native who worked his way up through ACHD, from writing grants and managing long-range planning to now leading one of the most important public agencies in Ada County. The conversation covers the history of ACHD, why its structure is so unique, how road funding actually works, and what it takes to plan for growth years before the public ever sees pavement go in.

They also get into the biggest transportation issues facing the valley today, including impact fees, congestion, safety, Highway 16, Micron’s expansion, and the long-term planning needed to support future growth across Ada County. Ryan also explains why collaboration between cities, businesses, developers, and the public is critical if the Treasure Valley wants to stay ahead of growth instead of constantly reacting to it.

This is a valuable conversation for anyone who cares about the future of Boise, Ada County, and how we keep Idaho moving.

Episode Summary:

Ryan Head of ACHD joins Ever Onward to talk about Boise growth, traffic, road funding, safety, Micron, Highway 16, and the future of transportation in Ada County.

Keywords:

ACHD, Ada County Highway District, Ryan Head, Boise growth, Treasure Valley traffic, Boise roads, Idaho transportation, Micron Boise, Highway 16, Ada County development, infrastructure, Ever Onward Podcast

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Welcome and why ACHD matters

01:51 Ryan Head’s background and Boise roots

04:30 The history and purpose of ACHD

06:53 Road maintenance, quality, and chip seal

08:28 Growth, impact fees, and infrastructure planning

14:43 How ACHD prioritizes projects

18:56 Funding challenges and vehicle registration fees

23:51 ACHD’s relationship with cities

28:31 Safety, schools, and rapid-response improvements

33:03 Highway 16, Micron, and southern growth

38:53 Right-of-way preservation and future bypass planning

41:51 How the business community can help

43:53 Final thoughts and closing

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