Yes, there is growth in Idaho and, yes, there is more traffic in the Treasure Valley. Sometimes there’s not a dang thing you can do about it… other times an alternative route or shortcut can make your trip a little more pleasant!
This time I’m letting you in on the super-secret shortcut that will get you through downtown Nampa super-speedily! Be sure to scroll down to the video at the bottom of this page for an eyes-on comparison of this shortcut versus the normal way.
Nampa Has Grown
For sure, Nampa growth is filling in the open spaces. Google says that Nampa’s population in 2020 was about 101,430 and estimates for 2024 a population about 117,350. Really, ever since the early 90’s our population has been growing at a considerable rate… but it was Covid and the dictatorial lockdowns in liberal areas that had people looking for a new home with more freedom.
That means for us today… it takes longer to get from south Nampa to north Nampa if your course takes you through old downtown Nampa. But there is help!
What is the Downtown Nampa Shortcut?
In this example, let’s say you are coming from the southeast on 2nd St South and heading northwest to the post office or Fred Meyers or whatever. In the downtown area you have five stoplights in very short order… and most likely you will stop at each of them and, if during the busy part of the day, you might wait through more than one stoplight cycle.
Alternatively, you could dogleg over to 1st St South and eventually to Front St (which goes past the grounds where the Farmers Market is held on Saturdays and past the historic train depot). Once you get to 10th Ave South (or Google calls it S Pine St), you can dogleg back over to 2nd St South and carry on! The only stoplight you might encounter is at the intersection of 16th Ave South… but you can often just make a right (after stopping, of course) and then a quick left at 1st St South.
Taking the “normal” route, you are going to encounter five stoplights (most or all of them red). This shortcut will have you stopping at only one stoplight… with the possible option to turn right-on-red. In theory, you could use this shortcut without ever having to stop for a light. But even if the 16th Ave South light does stop you, you’ve still missed out on the other four.
Why Am I So Keen on Shortcuts?
I’ve never been one to enjoy sitting in traffic… (could probably blame that on my time spent with a 396, 350, 400, and 289… I was going to say my 305, but not so much). And then I was a pizza delivery driver and I learned all the shortcuts in my California town so I could get good food to hungry people just that much quicker. Then I was a long-haul trucker and learned the shortcuts of the 11 western states. In both cases, wasted time was not helpful… so shortcuts became a way of life.
Treasure Valley Dave's Thoughts
Sometimes you have no option but to go with the flow… to do what “normal” people do and endure the consequences. But sometimes there is an alternative… others know about it and some even take the road less travelled.
Hold it… am I talking about shortcuts in Nampa… or am I talking about relocating to Idaho from where you live now? Either way, it’s good to take a moment and consider… would life be better if I went another way?
If you are thinking that moving to Idaho and living in the Treasure Valley might be that shortcut to happiness that you’ve been searching for, then you might need to talk with me and Mareen and make a fact-finding trip to the Treasure Valley to check things out! Let us know how we can help; Mareen and I would be super excited to answer your questions and be your Treasure Valley resource. So, just call, text, email or smash that Contact Us button and let’s get connected! Maybe we can do lunch too! 
