Emphasis patrol at railroad crossings nab dozens

You'd think that after all of the car vs. train deaths we experienced in Idaho this past year that more people would pay attention to the warning signals at railroad crossings. Nope. That is not the case. A recent emphasis patrol conducted in Spokane nabbed dozens of offenders. Check out the Spokeman Review story and video here. I like the end of the video where the semi truck pulling two tankers of gasoline jams on it to beat the train. Apparently, he could lose his commercial drivers license for that misjudgement.

'Rare Find' or SRTC Door Stopper?

Since all of our transportation problems basically come down to a lack of funding, I think I've found yet another solution to our problems. I found an ad on Ebay for this book called 'Metropolitan Transportation Problems' by Wilfred Owen from 1968. The ad states that it is a 'Rare find!' Well, here in the SRTC offices, we have shelves and shelves of 'rare finds' like this. The starting bid on this one is $9.99, so if we got at least $10 for every old study we have sitting around this place, we could finish the NSC tomorrow!

Here's the whole ad if you're interested in bidding or just want to know how planners proposed to solve transportation problems back in 1968.

Roundup for Week of Mar. 31

From unsecured loads to highway lane restrictions, there's a lot going on in our area this week as far as transportation. Here's the roundup from the Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column for the week of March 31.

Regional Bike Plan Available for Review & Comment

A draft of the Spokane Regional Bike Plan, developed by SRTC, is available for public review and comment. The Plan defines the goals of the region and high priority bike projects as identified by the public, and includes identifying ways to make the area more bicycle friendly.

You can read the document here then submit comments by clicking here. Comments must be submitted by April 29.

WSP Trooper Goes Undercover To Catch Crossing Violators

It always amazes me that people are in such a hurry that they would risk their lives by driving around the swing arms at railroad crossings. But apparently a lot of people do, as a sting operation yesterday left dozens of drivers with tickets. Check out how a WSP trooper went undercover to catch these people, then read about SRTC's proposed Bridging the Valley project that would help eliminate incidences like this. Do you think the Bridging the Valley project will help to keep trains and automobiles apart?

Ask STA Your Questions Regarding Transit

This is your chance if you have any questions about transit in Spokane. Tonight, City Cable 5 is airing a live call in segment titled 'Spokane Transit Authority: Then and Now.' Everything from Lightrail to Bus Rapid Transit is sure to be mentioned. A news release from the City of Spokane is below, with the number to call included. At SRTC, we hear a lot of comments and questions regarding STA, so take advantage of this opportunity.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2008

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COUNCIL MEMBER FRENCH TO HOST “COUNCIL CONNECTION”
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The next edition of “Council Connection,” the cable television program featuring Spokane City Council members as hosts, will be shown live on Thursday, March 27, at 7p.m. on CityCable 5. Council Member Al French will host the hour-long program, which is titled “Spokane Transit Authority: Then and Now.”

Joining Council Member French will be guests: E. Susan Meyer, CEO of STA; Rich Munson, Mayor of the City of Spokane Valley; and Dick Denenny, Spokane Valley City Council Member.

Council Member French will accept calls from viewers during the program; the phone number to reach the show is 625-6337.

The program is shown live on the taping date and is then repeated for about a month until the next program is produced. CityCable 5 is the City of Spokane’s government-access cable station; it’s found on channel 5 on the Comcast cable system in Spokane.

It's Not Over, Folks

From the Spokesman-Review, Mar. 27:

Washington has extended the deadline for removal of studded snow tires to midnight on Saturday, April 5, due to snowy conditions on mountain passes. The normal removal date is Monday, March 31 at midnight. Idaho drivers should note that even though the deadline is later in that state, Idaho vehicles entering Washington will be ticketed if they still are using studded tires after April 5.

Newfangled Gas Gauge

I hear they're going to start putting these newfangled gas gauges in new cars. I drive an SUV though, so if mine had one it would have to go up to about $75.

They're Podiatrists, What Do They Know?

Our buddies over at the Metro(Spokane)blog have an interesting story on how the American Podiatric Medical Association rates Spokane as far as walkability. Here's our ranking.

SRTC is currently partnering with the Spokane Regional Health District to develop a Regional Pedestrian Plan. What would you like to see in it that would improve our rating on lists like this?

The tolling road map for Washington?

This 6-part Crosscut series is a little bit dated, as it refers to the upcoming RTID vote, which failed in the Puget Sound in November. But, I wanted to post it here because it is a very well done piece of journalism that explains the big picture on the future of transportation funding -- not only in Washington State, but nationwide.

I have done some fairly extensive research on transportation funding over the past couple of years. I have looked at local funding all the way up to the national funding options and this story is the closest thing I have seen in the mainstream media that explains where our nation is headed.

In fact, it correctly points out that our federal government is offering grants to five major metropolitan areas to create pilot projects using "congestion pricing." Those cities are New York, San Fransico, Minneapolis, Seattle, and I think the other one was somewhere in the southwest or in Florida (I can't recall, but I will update this when I find it).

The congestion pricing theory is based on the premise, that in many cases, we do not have a capacity shortage when it comes to transportation infrastructure. The real issue is how we manage our existing capacity. The question that always gets posed here is: "How often are you snarreled in traffic at 1 a.m. in the morning?"

The answer, of course, is "never."

So, if you can incentivize the use of the infrastructure during the "non-peak hours" by significantly reducing the cost of tolls, more people will wait to travel during those times. Those people may be delivery trucks, and other non-time dependent travelers.

Of couse, this type of tolling would also require a more sophisticated public transit system that commuters could opt to use in order to avoid the higher tolls that will be imposed during peak working hours.

This will definitely be controversial in the coming years as Congress wrestles with how to re-authorize the Trasportation Equity Act, and what to recommend as a way to fund future transportation needs.

Which would you favor more than the other: A congestion pricing program based in tolling? or a more comsumption-based tax like the gas tax?

Gas hits $5.40 in California town

The gas station owner in this story has a pretty good thing going. But the tourist passing through this tiny California town don't seem to think so. At $5.40 per gallon, some are saying that his gas may be the highest priced gas in the nation -- and, get this, he occassionaly sells out.

For now, we can take some solice in the fact that our prices are not even close. To keep track of the average price, check out the AAA fuel gage report.

Just Because It's Monday

As far as pop culture goes, this is a little behind the times. But the bloggers here at SRTC (at least this blogger) want you to know about a new device that makes our streets safer to drive on.

This Blogger Is Relieved...

Is it or isn't it? The latest word from STA is that the STA Plaza most likely won't be moving to the Intermodal Center. Read why and tell us, do you think the Plaza should move? And if so, why?

Transportation Roundup For Week of Mar. 24

A senator visits Spokane to learn about 'Smart buses,' trees must be removed to accomodate the relocation of utility wires, and downtown drivers may deal with closed roads due to a movie shoot. There's a little of everything going on as far as transportation this week in the area. Here's the roundup for the week of Mar. 24 from the Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column.

How long until this becomes a workforce mobility issue?

This is an intersting piece on how small business contractors and others in Seattle are coping with the rising cost of fuel. They are actually turning down jobs.

The question I have is: How long will it take for the general laborer in our region to start turning down work because it is too expensive to travel? Do you have any thoughts on that?

Rep. John Dingell wants to raise gas tax by 50 cents

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich, has proposed legislation that would raise the national gas tax by 50 cents a gallon. The congressman says the substantial increase would deter people from driving as much as they do, which would reduce pollution. Still, some policy analysts say that even if Americans quit driving, the effects on the environment would be negligible.

According to a report by Fox News, the automobile is the nation's biggest polluter; Americans use more gas than the next 20 countries combined.

Some environmentalists and economists say pain at the pump may be bad for Americans, but good medicine for a sick planet.

But others say it wouldn't change much. Even if Americans abandoned their cars, global emissions would fall by less than one percent.

"A tax on gas is a way to reduce dependence on import oil, reduce traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions," said Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute.

The Earth Policy Institute proposes raising the gas tax 30 cents per gallon each year over a decade and offset with a reduction of income taxes, Brown said.

David Ridenour, vice president of the National Center for Public Policy Research, said the proposal wouldn't help long term. Read the full story here

According to the story, less than half of the respodents to a recent poll oppose any increase in the gas tax and almost 30 percent would pay an additional 50 cents. How much would it take to incentivize you to start using alternative forms of transportation?

Early Congestion Warning

Officials are predicting that two big events scheduled for the same night in Spokane could make for traffic gridlock. Read how the annual Lilac Parade and a Shock game could cause some major inconvenience, and give us your opinion; should the Shock game have been cancelled? And I know there are permitting and coordination process in place, so how does something like this happen? Just an oversight??

Tour de Spokane Anyone?

Our buddies over at the blog '(metro)spokane' seem to think area bicyclists need an event all their own. Read their ideas and let us know if you would support a Tour de Spokane or Ciclovia Spokane.

Senate Bill 6900 is still alive for some -- even after the session has ended

Ok, we blogged about this when we first started this blog. In fact, it was our fourth post. The bill was dead then and it is still dead, but some people just can't seem to let things go.

Check out the post-session resurection of Senate Bill 6900 here at Eye on Olympia.

Time To Take Out A Second Mortgage...

Unfortunately for my piggybank, I had to make a trip to the gas station today.

WASHDOT takes "people-first approach" to NSC land acquisitions

WASHDOT is implementing a concrete plan to purchase the land they need to build out the North-South Corridor, but this time they are making sure that the process is not as harsh as it was in the 1950's -- when land acquisition for I-90 split the East Central Neighborhood in half.

The Inlander has a great story on the subject in its latest edition. Here is a excerpt:

Construction around I-90 is still years away, but the DOT is now acquiring land systematically from willing sellers around the projected site of the interchange. The new freeway will go north from I-90 between Fiske and Ralph Streets, but the high-speed interchange ramps will spread out as far as Haven and Thor. I-90 will be widened to accommodate extra lanes for the interchange.


Partly to atone for past sins and partly because it makes better business sense, the DOT is taking a new, people-first approach, says real estate acquisition supervisor Roxanne Grimm. "The process is simple, but a little different from what we've done in the past," Grimm says. "It seems to be working effectively as far as the taxpayers are concerned."

You can read the whole Inlander story online here.

Dangerous Deicer?

First, it was getting birds doped up, then the taste of it was luring deer and other wildlife onto roads where they were getting hit by cars,and now deicer is being blamed for damaging tens of thousands of trees along Washington's mountain passes. Read the story here.

Tell Your Favorite Bicyclist

County engineers want to get the word out that they're shutting down part of a popular south Spokane recreational bike ride route. Starting in April, Valley Chapel Road will be closed to all traffic 1/4 mile north of Spangle Creek Road to replace a bridge. Construction is expected to be complete by November '08. Please notify any bicyclists you know so alternate routes may be found. For more information, visit the County Engineering and Roads website.

Some bicyclists we know say this is a very popular ride route and this closure will effect hundreds of rides. What's your opinion? Do you use this route? And if so, why this particular route?

Should highway contruction projects be subjected to sales tax?

Washington State Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, fought during this legislative session to remove the cost of sales tax from the construction of the 520 bridge. This issue has been debated by lawmakers for years, and Chopp was finally successful in obtaining exemption -- as long as tolls are used to fund the bridge construction. The dollars saved are to be used to reduce the tolls. It looks like the issue is bi-partisan as well:

Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, said that while some Democrats contend it's just shifting tax money "from one pot to another," in the case of transportation, that shift is problematic because most big roads projects are primarily funded by the state's gas tax of 36 cents per gallon.

"The gas tax is protected by the 18th Amendment (of the state constitution), which says you can only use the gas tax for highways," he said.

By taxing highway projects, the gas tax money is diverted into the general fund, he said. Read the rest of this story here.

In the case of the North South Corridor, it is estimated that sales tax on construction will increase the cost by $250 million over the life of the project. As we pointed out earlier this month, the legislature wanted to consider rebating the sales tax on our project as well, as long as we raised $100 million in local taxes to help offset the costs. That bill died in committee, but stands a good chance of coming back in 2009.

Do you think that slaes tax should be eliminated on publically funded construction projects? Should there me a local match requirement such as tolls or increased car tab fees to be eligible?

How Aware Are You On The Road?

Sometimes it's hard to drive, eat breakfast, apply makeup, and tune the radio at the same time, while still being aware of your surroundings.
Take this quiz to see how aware you are.

Roundup For The Week of March 17

Get those studded tires removed, make room when you're pulled over by law enforcement, and get ready for delays caused by construction projects. Here's what's happening this week in our area, brought to you by the Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column.

Anyone need a tunnel?

This is an interesting story. If you had the money to purchase this tunnel in Plummer, what would you do with it? It stays 50 degrees year-round, it's a half-mile long and it comes with 54 acres of commercially zoned property. The owners are marketing it to wineries and mushroom growers. Can you think of any other uses?

City Cable to air piece on new SRTMC website, but not before we do!

City Cable 5 will begin airing this segment on the new Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center (SRTMC) soon. The SRTMC is an interesting organization. They manage all of the traffic cameras on the interstate and now you can as well on their new web site here . You can even customize the site to view your favorite commuting route and check it for traffic issues before you leave home or work to avoid any traffic jams. Now, aren't you glad you read our blog?

SRTMC employees are also the people who get write the messages on those electronic reader boards along the interstate. I must admit I've always wanted to write something on those boards. With the cameras and the boards you could really mess with people. Could you imagine passing the sign one day and reading: "Hey you...Yes you, in the white covertable. Put down the pink razor phone, flip up the makeup mirror and drive!"

What would you write on the boards?

InlandRail group says NOW is the time to resume planning for a new light rail route...

Kim (KC) Traver, President of the new InlandRail group, left this pro light rail comment on an older thread below. We are going to post it out front today because this topic has been coming up in conversations among many transportation officals in our region lately. Here is what KC has to say on the matter:

How high do gasoline prices have to go before we plan for alternative transportation that is affordable, sustainable, and supportive of the Growth Management Act?

A majority of Spokane County residents are supportive of rail transit but the Spokane Transit Authority Board of Directors discontinued the work on light rail as "too proactive and ahead of its time".

All we are asking is that PLANNING for light rail transit resume so the region is postured to implement a system whenever the time is right for implementation.

Ironically, the former STA Light Rail Steering Committee calculated that the annual cost of delaying light rail is more than the annual cost of operating a light rail system.

It is time to conduct preliminary engineering for a south valley route between Spokane and Liberty Lake. We should also start NOW on planning the route to connect Spokane's downtown business district with the Spokane International Airport.

What IS in STA's comprehensive transit plan "2020", if not provisions for a regional high-capacity rail transit system? -- KC Traver, PE, President

He's got a point. The national media was reporting yesterday that gasoline prices could rise any where between $3.75 to $4.00 per gallon this spring. What are your thoughts?

Letter #6,765 to the Editor Regarding Potholes

Letters to the Spokesman-Review Editor
Send out a pothole patrol

The city's policy of having citizens "call in" pothole locations is ludicrous. The caller is required to know the exact location of the pothole, which requires one to note the block number and the cross street, which in turn for most of us requires stopping the vehicle and finding paper and pencil to record the location and then make the call.

Come on, Mayor Mary, give us a break. Why can't the city initiate a "pothole patrol" which would prioritize the main artery potholes, e.g., Maple Street Bridge, major intersections, etc.? The "neighborhood" pothole call-ins would remain the responsibility of those living in the affected neighborhoods. Surely this would decrease the city's response time, especially on high-traffic streets.

My final thought is that some knowledgeable city employee needs to make an accurate pre-winter estimate of how many tons of patching material need to be on hand to get the job done. Let's start taking this annual problem seriously for a change.

Carl Smith
Spokane

So do you agree with Mr. Smith or do you feel that the pothole hotline is an effective way to identify the location of offending holes?

Initiative 960 Proves A Challenge To Lawmakers

Due to Initiative 960, State House lawmakers last night struggled to cut down approximately $700 million worth of fees they were being asked to approve; fees that would have added five dollars here and ten dollars there to the budgets of average people like you and I.

Read what they ended up approving and let us know if you agree with Initiative 960.

$$$ Cha-Ching...Time to budget accordingly or you could try to find another way to work

The president of OPEC announced today that crude oil prices are likely to stay above $100 a barrel throughout 2008. Of course, he cited the weakening US currency and the "geopolitical" atmosphere as the root cause for the price hike. The price may start to correct itself in 2009, after the seating of a new US president and if the dollar starts to rebound, he added. Read the full story here .

Oh, and by the way, crude oil topped an all time high today at $107 per barrel.


Are you feeling the pain at the pump?

Another Innovative Solution

Turns out we've been overthinking this. All we need to solve the problem of congestion is a funnel and an intern.



So anyone know where we can get an intern?

Street Sweeping, Train Tunnels, & Construction Projects

The sweepers are hitting the streets to knock down the dust, the NSC corridor is moving forward with the construction of a train tunnel, and the construction season is officially getting started. Here's a roundup for the week of March 10 from the Spokesman-Review.

Hammond weathers tough decisions as new Transportation Secretary

The Seattle Times did great piece on Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond today. It highlights the fact that in just a few short months as secretary she has had to make a lot of tough decisions. She shut down some ferries, some highways due to flooding and mountain passes due to avalanche dangers. Still, she maintains a sense of humor through it all, as well as the respect of her piers. Check out the story here.

WSDOT to start construction of railroad tunnel for NSC

KREM 2 News reported this morning that Washington State Department of Transportation is ready to begin construction of a 1,500-foot tunnel under a portion of the North South Corridor(NSC). You can see the video clip here. And for regular updates on the NSC project, you can check out WSDOT's website here .

Letter of the Day...

Thursday, March 6, 2008


Letters to the editor
Freeway will relieve roads

People write saying we don't need the north corridor freeway. Being an old timer, I heard the same thing before they built I-90 through town and Valley. There is more traffic now on Sprague than 1950s. They need to extend Appleway to Liberty Lake, a rail transit system to Coeur d'Alene, Spokane International and Fairchild AFB.

When we go hunting, fishing, camping, berry picking, etc., heading north early in the morning, there is a steady column of vehicles coming toward us, all the way to Colville or Newport. When they get toward town they branch off on Country Homes Boulevard, Alberta, Northwest Boulevard, Maple-Ash, Monroe, Wall, Division, Lidgerwood, Addison, Nevada, Crestline, Market, Freya, Bigelow Gulch, Argonne, Bruce, Upriver, Forker and many others, putting millions of dollars of damage to our streets, especially studded tires or big trucks, plus polluting our air.

Twenty years from now it will be many times worse. We need a rail transit system going north also. Gas will be over $7. Raise gas tax 5 cents for Spokane, Stevens, Pend Oreille and Seattle area, and then the rest of state five years later. The more you drive, the more you pay. None of this nonsense of $150 licenses.


Paul B. Dougherty
Spokane

Paul makes a some good points in his letter to the editor that ran in the Spokesman Review this morning. Many people don't realize that the North Spokane Corridor (aka, North/South Freeway), includes the right of way for a light rail link to the north. So, when the freeway portion of this corridor is built out, the land for the light rail project will have been purchased, which is the most expensive part of building a light rail system. By the way, the corridor also has separated bike paths and park-n-ride lots. Wouldn't it be great if the east/west light rail system could be built out and operational when the North Spokane Corridor is completed?

Minority party weighs in with it's own transportation plan

While the Chairs of the Washington State House & Senate Transportation Committees are calling it "dead on arrival," the a group of GOP lawmakers appear to have put quite a bit of thought into a new transportation plan for the state.

The proposal will not raise taxes. Instead, the republicans would put together about $6 billion by diverting existing revenue streams to transportation. The new pot of money would than be spent on major highway projects statewide. One of the primary shifts would strip $1.5 billion away from the Alaskan Way Viaduct and have private investors replace it with a tunnel.

The GOP says they can fix the safety issues on Highway 2, and still have money left for projects like our North South Corridor.

You can read the full story here

What are your thoughts on this plan?

They're back ... and they seem to be a little ticked off

We didn't know this yesterday when we posted the thread below, but it appears that The InlandRail web site went live this morning, and man, it's an interesting read. Not only is this group focused on a new and improved light rail concept but their goals and objectives are much broader in scope. Check them out here.

As we mentioned in the post below, the skyrocketing price of fuel is reason enough to give light rail another look. And it looks like the InlandRail board of directors has done just that. They are now advocating for an electrified Light Rail Transit system rather than diesel powered, and the first leg would go from the Spokane County Fairgrounds west to the airport. The second leg would go from Liberty Lake to downtown Coeur d'Alene.

What about the Spokane Valley, you ask?

Well, I'll just let InlandRail's "vision" page explain that one. Read what they have to say about the Valley and STA under the "Other Thoughts" heading.

What do you think? Is it time? Will this new non-profit be able to pull it off?

Is it time to take another run at Light Rail?

Bloomberg reported today that crude oil prices could climb as high as $120 per barrel within the next six months. In California gas prices have already topped the $4.00 per gallon mark. It looks like the politics of oil combined with the weakening dollar could spike the price even higher in the future. Read the story here.

While all of this is playing out on the international level, what are we doing locally to cope with this? I can think of a few things that we should be considering to ease the impacts:

1) Pay attention and vote your conscience on the Spokane Transit Authority's reauthorization of the local option sales tax. STA will ask voters in May to re-authorize the same amount of sales tax it already collects for operations today. This is not an increase. Read more about how STA plans to spend that money here. By the way, if voters fail to re-authorize the existing tax, STA will have to scale back on the amount of service it provides today.

2) While a 2006 ballot measure failed to move light rail forward, plans for that project have not been tossed out. In fact, a new non-profit has been formed to resurrect the project. The group is called The Inland Empire Rail Transit Association, and you can check out their web site here.

3) Finally, there has been some discussion of connecting the STA bus system with the City Link bus system in Kootenai County. While those talks are preliminary at this time, there certainly is a need for a bus transit connection between Kootenai and Spokane counties. (Heck, I commute from Post Falls every day and I would pay to ride it).

Question: what do you think we should be doing locally to offset the impacts of rising fuel costs?

WSDOT Wants Your Feedback On Mountain Pass Snow Management

As of Mar. 3, Snoqualmie Pass received 436 inches of snow this past winter. You can compare that amount to previous years' snowfall and let WSDOT know how they did at snow management on the Pass this year by clicking here , then leaving your comments.

Pothole Asphalt Stores All Used Up

The City of Spokane says it's already run through its' store of 300 tons of asphalt to patch potholes.

Read the story here and let us know if this is encouraging because it means more potholes are being filled or if you think it all went to fill one giant pothole.

Because Transportation Isn't Always A Serious Subject

We've finally done it! we've come up with a way to prevent congestion. Watch the video and let us know if you think this would work on the S-curve of I90 near Sprague every morning.

In the abscence of an actual horn in our office, Jeff Selle has been standing in line for coffee all afternoon yelling,'HONK, HONK, HONK.'


Tired Of Traffic? A New DOT Report Urges Drivers: 'Honk'

Lisa Brown Vs. Tim Eyman

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown plans to sue to overturn the tax-limiting provisions of Initiative 960, a measure sponsored by Tim Eyman aimed at curbing the Legislature's power to raise taxes.

Read the story and weigh in, who would you put your money on in this bout, Tim Eyman or Lisa Brown?

New Website to Help Avoid Commute Delays

The Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center (SRTMC) has a new website that can help save time, gas, and frustration for area drivers. The new high-tech, customizable site provides real-time traffic information to help motorists avoid accidents, delays, and construction projects.

The SRTMC is a collaboration of the Cities of Spokane and Spokane Valley, Spokane Transit Authority, Spokane County, Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC).

Check out the site, and your route, here.