DEPARTMENT NAME HERE

Idaho TD Public Engagement 

NOTEWORTHY PRACTICE 

FHWA-SA-19-014

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) used a series of interactive web-based 

applications known as Story Maps to support a robust public involvement 

program.

Demand for Public 

Involvement

Idaho is experiencing substantial 

growth in population. This, in turn, is 

placing new pressure on the State’s 

transportation systems, including

infrastructure and safety. As the need 

for expanded transportation options 

increases, so does the potential impact 

of these projects on communities and 

stakeholders. Because of this, the need 

for public involvement in 

transportation operation, safety, and 

planning in Idaho is at an all-time 

high.1

Story Maps

To address this need, ITD introduced 

Story Maps2, an interactive tool 

to support public involvement 

efforts. Story Maps allow ITD to 

combine project maps with 

narrative text, images, and 

multimedia content to 

communicate with stakeholders 

and the public about project 

planning activities. It was 

developed by Environmental 

Systems Research Institute

(ESRI) and is hosted in ArcGIS 

online, which is an online 

geographic information system 

(GIS) tool. A key advantage of 

these online GIS tools is that the 

users do not need to have any 

GIS or coding experience.

Gallery of ITD Story Maps.

Example Story Map App.
Benefits

ITD uses Story Maps for long-range, corridor, and modal project outreach efforts. These maps can display safety issues 

along a corridor, which allows end users to understand these issues in relation with other transportation needs in a 

specific corridor. Additionally, Story Maps app has the following benefits:

 Helps people understand the whole concept. Maps tell a story of a place, issue, event, trend, or pattern in a 

geographic context, which can help people understand the big picture.

 Enables people to comment right on the document or map. The interactive maps allow people to add 

comments directly on the map, streamlining the public review process.

 Reaches people outside traditional public meetings. By making project information available online, Story Maps 

enable ITD to reach people who might otherwise not be able to attend a public meeting. 

Story Maps in Action

ITD created a series of interactive web-based applications using Story Maps to support data visualization. For example, 

the Highway Safety Corridor Analysis app incorporated several drop-down panels and hovering and zooming options. 

The app allowed users to weigh in on proposed safety improvements.

Other ITD web-based Story Map apps focused on the following:

 Crashes

 Transportation 

investments

 Route capacity

 Roadway 

characteristics

 Travel 

characteristics

 Pavement condition

 Intelligent 

transportation 

system devices

 Statewide systems

 Extra-length routes

 Construction 

locations

 Cumulative annual average daily traffic

Highway Safety Corridor Analysis App.

Status

During the 2017 Planner’s Summit, it was determined that making work processes and initiatives easily accessible 

through ESRI Story Maps would allow ITD to best serve its staff and citizens, and therefore ITD would include in its

Planning Network (IPLAN). ITD has been working with modal/district staff to update the corridor planning process using 

Story Maps as a basis to develop a new Corridor Planning Guidebook.

Contact Information

Sonna Lynn Fernandez, Transportation Planning Project Manager, ITD Planning Services, Sonnalynn.fernandez@itd.idaho.gov, 208-

334-8209.

References

1

Idaho Transportation Department. ITD Guide to Public Involvement for Programs, Planning and Projects. 

https://apps.itd.idaho.gov/apps/manuals/PublicInvolve/PublicInvolve.pdf.

2

Idaho Transportation Department. Story Maps. https://iahd.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Story-Maps_ESRI.pdf.