Open House on US 195 Safety Improvements

US 195 through the Latah Valley

If you drive US 195, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) wants you to know about some proposed safety improvements to US 195 they are considering. The WSDOT will host a public open house on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 4-7 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 5810 S. Meadowlane Road, to explain the potential improvements, answer questions and take suggestions. No formal presentation is planned. Attendees are welcome to come and go during the three-hour open house.

The WSDOT spent the past few months evaluating crashes at five intersections on US 195 in the Latah Valley neighborhood. As part of the study, engineers worked with the community and the City of Spokane to develop low-cost improvements at these intersections that will reduce the number and severity of collisions.

City Sharing North Monroe Project Plans

Construction season is still in full swing for 2016 but we're already thinking about 2018! The City of Spokane is sharing plans for a major project to  improve safety, enhance the streetscape, and reconfigure traffic on North Monroe Street, between Indiana and Cora avenues.

The proposed project would be a "road diet"of narrowing the road down to three lanes with a center turn lane, pedestrian lighting, benches, transit shelters, new sidewalks, street trees, and stormwater components. The project will also include three to four pedestrian islands.

More information on the project, and how you can be involved in it's development, can be found here.

If It Wouldn't Happen At Your Place...

An interesting take on road rage. If it wouldn't happen at your workplace, you probably shouldn't subject road construction workers to it.

2016 Especially Deadly Year on Our Roads

A rough year on American roads this year. About 35,000 lives are lost annually in traffic deaths in the U.S. but this year was even worse. According to Streetsblog, the National Safety Council estimates that motor vehicle fatalities rose 9 percent in the first six months of 2016 compared to 2015, and 18 percent from 2014. At this rate, 2016 is shaping up to be the deadliest year for driving since 2007. This Labor Day weekend alone is projected to have 438 fatalities.

The cause? The speculation is that low gas prices have more people driving, which translates to more collisions. As I reported on this blog yesterday, the first half of 2016 hit a new record for the number of vehicle miles driven- up over three percent from last year.

Chart courtesy of National Safety Council

Local Road Construction Update

WSDOT

North Spokane Corridor/Wellesley & Freya Roundabout Construction- The Wellesley/Freya intersection is closed to traffic.  

US 2-Division Street/Curb and Sidewalk- Northbound Division Street is reduced to 1 or 2 lanes for curb and sidewalk improvements.  Drivers may experience congestion and delays.

I-90/US 2 to Argonne Rd.- Sunday through Wednesday, Aug. 28-31, from about 6 a.m. until as late as 3:30 p.m., be alert for left or right lane restrictions, slow traffic, and possible congestion while crews sweep the median and shoulders.

SR 290-Trent Ave./Spokane River Bridge- On Monday, Aug. 29, beginning at 9 a.m. until as late as 3 p.m., the Trent Ave. Bridge just east of Hamilton will be reduced to one lane in each direction for a routine bridge inspection.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Seven Mile Bridge & Seven Mile Road- Bridge deck work underway. A bypass road in place with a reduced speed limit of 25 mph.

Hawthorne Road West (Waikiki to US395)- Road reconstruction, stormwater drainage swales, trees, irrigation, curb, signal improvement, bike lane, striping. Road closed through August 30.

Hawthorne Road East (US395 to US2)- Road reconstruction, stormwater upgrades, curb, signal, bike, striping. Road closed.

Argonne Road (Spokane River to Wellesley)- Road reconstruction, stormwater retrofit.

Argonne is reduced to one lane in each direction, expect long delays, use alternate route, right turns only at Maringo Drive. The Centennial Trail will be closed at the intersection of Upriver Drive and Argonne Road on August 27 and 28. 

Hatch Road (Colbert to Burk) Burk Road (Hatch to Perry)- Road reconstruction. Road Closed through September 1.

SPOKANE VALLEY

McDonald northbound from Mission to Sprague - Reduced to one lane for about one more week. 

Park between Nora and Mission- Narrowed lanes through the end of August with brief interruptions to driveway access.  

Sprague between Park and Vista- Narrowed lanes on Tuesday, August 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. for fog sealing.  Brief interruptions to driveway access may also be expected.

Sullivan Road Bridge Replacement Project- Southbound traffic is reduced to two lanes except between the hours of 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, August 29 when southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane on the new bridge.  At times, southbound Sullivan at the Flora Pit Road may be reduced to one lane.  Northbound traffic is reduced to one lane, with that lane switching onto the new bridge sometime during the overnight hours of Wednesday, August 31. Left turns from southbound Sullivan onto eastbound Indiana are not allowed through Wednesday, August 31. Until then, southbound traffic headed for Indiana east of Sullivan will be redirected at Euclid via Barker and Mission. Turns from Indiana onto northbound Sullivan are reduced to one lane.

SPOKANE CITY

37^th Avenue, Regal Street to Custer Street- 37^th Avenue from Freya to Custer Street is closed to reconstruct the road, including pavement replacement, curbs, sidewalk, bike lanes, stormwater piping, and water main installation. The detour route is Glenrose to Palouse Highway to Regal Street. 

Ben Burr Trail and Connection to the Centennial Trail- Lane restrictions in place on 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues from Arthur to Altamont Street.  The crossing at Perry Street under the I-90 freeway will be closed Monday, August 29 through Friday, September 9. Work continues along the trail at 3^rd Avenue and Arthur and 2^nd Avenue and Perry. This project will design and construct a paved trail for bicyclists and pedestrian as well as security lighting installation.  The project will be from the Centennial Trail at the Gonzaga Bridge southeast of Erie Street and continuing to Liberty Park where a connection will be made to the existing Ben Burr Trail.  The trail will then continue on the existing Ben Burr Trail to the trailhead immediately south of Underhill Park.

Bridge Avenue and Monroe Street CSO Work- Summit Blvd/Bridge Avenue is closed to traffic. 

Lincoln has one northbound lane open.  Lincoln southbound is closed at Broadway with local access maintained to Anthony’s restaurant and parking lots.

Hazels Creek Stormwater Treatment Project- Work continues on Freya south of 37^th Avenue on construction of a stormwater treatment system with disposal ponds and stormwater piping.

25^th Avenue, Southeast Boulevard to Lacey Court- 25^th Avenue is closed at Southeast Blvd until approximately September 16. The entrance to Rockwood Towers is off of Ray Street and East 23^rd Court. This project will reconstruct 25^th Avenue.  

Indiana Avenue from Dakota to Perry Street-  Perry St. is reduced to one lane in each direction to perform work within and near the Perry/Indiana intersection.  Crescent Ave. east of the Perry/Indiana intersection is closed at the intersection and railroad crossing.  Crescent Ave. east and north of the railroad tracks is open. The work and related lane reductions at the Perry/Indiana intersection continues through August. This project will include curb ramps, storm swales, new curb, waterline replacement, signal installation work and some parking removal. Work along Indiana Ave. is as follows:

• Beginning at Perry St. and proceeding from East to West. 
• Indiana Ave. from Ruby St. to Perry St. will be closed to through traffic with East-West traffic detoured to Mission Ave. and Montgomery Ave. and Illinois Ave.   
• North-South arterials within the construction zone at Hamilton Ave. and Perry St. will remain open.

Lyons Avenue Grind and Overlay Work-Lyons Avenue has lane closures from Pittsburgh Street to Perry Street. Street crews will start grinding Lyons Avenue Wednesday, August 24 and completion is set for Wednesday, August 31. The detour for this project is Lyons to Holyoke Avenue via Pittsburgh and Perry Street.

Main Avenue and Division Street Intersection Improvements-Work is on the southeast corner of Division and Main. Pedestrian access will be maintained.  Work continues on sidewalk removal and excavation for underground storm water improvements.  

Throughout the project there will be lane restrictions on both Main and Division.  Traffic control will be in place. 

Work on this project involves curb bumpouts at all four corners of Division Street and Main Avenue, the removal and replacement of existing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, ADA upgrades, installation of planter boxes and planting.

Martin Luther King Jr. Way Phase 2A, Sherman to Erie Street- Phase 2A is an extension of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Sherman to Erie Street. This is a continuation of the Riverside Extension Phase 1 project. Improvements include a new asphalt pavement street, utility infrastructure, storm drainage improvements, street lighting, street trees, and re-vegetation with native species. In lieu of sidewalks, the project proposes to construct a section of the Ben Burr trail to provide pedestrian circulation. 

Monroe/Lincoln Street Couplet, 8th Avenue to 2nd Avenue- This project reconstructs the roadway from 8^th to 2^nd Avenue and installs storm water and water facilities. Work on Monroe Street from 4th Ave south to 8^th Ave continues. Monroe Street is open with one lane southbound. Lincoln Street is closed. 5^th Avenue is open to east and west traffic. There will be intermittent closures at the intersection of Lincoln and 5^th Avenue as the City works on curb and road grade. Marked detours are in place. 

Monroe and Lincoln Street, Main Avenue to 2nd Avenue- Storm and sewer work continues with 4 way stops at the intersections of 1^st, Sprague, and Riverside Avenues. Both Monroe and Lincoln have lane restrictions with four way stop signs located at the intersections of 1st, Sprague, and Riverside Avenues. This is a full depth roadway replacement and full depth replacement between curbs on Lincoln Street and Monroe Street; Main Avenue from Monroe Street to Lincoln Street; and Monroe Street from Spokane Falls Boulevard to Main Avenue. Some minor curbing and ADA curb ramps will be installed where necessary.

Parking Restrictions on Main Avenue and Howard Street- Parking spaces and meters have been removed from the north side of Main Avenue between Wall Street and Howard Street and the west side of Howard Street between Spokane Falls Boulevard and Main Avenue. These meters and spaces have been removed for crews to begin construction on the former Macy’s building.  

Pettet Drive/TJ Meenach Combined Sewer Overflow (CS) 12) Project- Pettet Drive is closed to traffic until sometime in November. The clover leaf that services TJ Meenach, Down River and Pettit Drive (three out of the four legs) is in service. The leg that comes off of Pettit, north bound re-directs citizens to Northwest Blvd. Vehicles traveling southbound on Down River Drive can enter onto TJ Meenach or continue under the bridge and turn uphill to Northwest Blvd. This project will build a 690,000 gallon storage facility and connections to existing CSO Basin 10 outfall.  Work also includes repaving of Pettet Drive and pedestrian/bike trail construction.

Street Maintenance Grind and Overlay- Crews begin work on Park Boulevard from Euclid to Columbia Circle, Monday, August 29. There will be lane and road closures.  

1^ST Avenue Et Al, Erie to Helena- This project will provide storm water conveyance to Pacific and Perry Infiltration Facility and replace old water distribution lines. The project also includes associated street construction.Work on the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Ivory Street is as follows:

• 1^st Avenue from Erie Street to Helena Street
• Perry Street from 1^st Avenue to Sprague Avenue
•  Ivory Street from 2^nd Avenue to Sprague Avenue
•  Helena Street from 1^st Avenue to Sprague Avenue
• Perry Street from 2^nd Avenue to Hogan Street

Miles Driven in First Half of 2016 Breaks Record

Well so much for that trend of people driving less. Equipment World reports taht vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) in the first six months of 2016 has broken a record- with 1.58 trillion million miles driven, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The previous record of 1.54 trillion miles was set in 2015.

For comparison sake, 1.58 trillion miles is approximately 250 round trips from Earth to Pluto.

The west had a VMT increase of 4.1 percent. The Northeast region had the smallest percentage increase at 2.4 percent. Hawaii was the state with the biggest increase- 8.6 percent and Idaho and Utah tied for second at 5.1 percent.

The only VMT decrease was seen in North Dakota, with a 2.4 percent drop.

Cops Use Sonar to Catch Drivers Who Pass Too Close to Cyclists

An officer demonstrates how
the bike sonar works.

We hear all the time about bicyclists who had close calls with cars who passed them too closely, even though the law in many states requires drivers to give riders at least three feet of space. Unfortunately, that law is hard to enforce and hard to prove unless a rider is actually hit by a car.

As a result, some cities are starting to use the biking equivalent of a radar gun. It works by mounting a small gadget on the handlebars on a police bike that sends out sonar to measure the exact distance to a passing car. If someone veers too closely, the cop can ticket them.

This technology, called C3FT, is being used in 11 cities, including Minneapolis, Houston, and Las Vegas.

Spokane Valley Comp Plan Update

Comp Plans deal with land use and development, which tie in closely with transportation. If you have any concerns with transportation in Spokane Valley, you may want to attend this meeting.

Local Road Construction Update

SPOKANE VALLEY

Flora between Mission and Boone - Closed through Thursday, August 26 for utility and access work. Traffic is redirected via Boone, Arc and Mission.

McDonald northbound from Mission to Sprague - Reduced to one lane around the clock for about 2 weeks.

 
Mission between Lilly and Park - Closed through August 26^th with signs redirecting traffic via Thierman, Broadway and Park.  

Park between Nora and Mission - Expect narrowed lanes through the end of August. Expect brief interruptions to driveway access with those affected notified directly in advance.

Sullivan Road Bridge Replacement- Traffic is reduced to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound. Southbound Sullivan may be restricted to one lane periodically at Flora Pit Road during work hours. Turns from Indiana onto northbound Sullivan are reduced to one lane. Left turns from southbound Sullivan onto eastbound Indiana are not allowed for the next 2 to 3 weeks. Southbound traffic headed for Indiana east of Sullivan will be redirected at Euclid via Barker and Mission.

WSDOT

North Spokane Corridor/Wellesley & Freya Roundabout- Beginning Monday, Aug. 22, the Wellesley/Freya intersection will be closed for construction of a roundabout. A detour will be in place.  This is a long-term closure that will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days per week, for the duration of the project.

US 2-Division Street/Curb and Sidewalk- Northbound Division Street is reduced to one or two lanes for curb and sidewalk improvements.  Drivers may experience congestion and delays.

US 2/SR 206-Intersection Striping- On Sunday, Aug. 21, from about 7 a.m. until as late as 3 p.m., drivers should be alert for lane and left turn restrictions to accommodate turn arrow and crosswalk paint striping.

I-90/US 2 to Argonne Rd.- On Sunday, Aug. 28, from about 6 a.m. until as late as 3:30 p.m., drivers should be alert for left lane restrictions, slow traffic, and possible congestion for median sweeping.

I-90/Hamilton Eastbound On-Ramp- On Sunday, Aug. 21, from 6 a.m. until as late as 3:30 p.m., the southbound Hamilton Street to eastbound I-90 on ramp will be closed for bridge deck repairs.  Drivers will be directed to the Altamont eastbound I-90 on-ramp via a signed detour.

I-90-Westbound/Sprague Ave. to Argonne Road- Monday through Thursday, Aug. 22-25, from about 8 p.m. until as late as 4:30 a.m., westbound I-90 will be reduced to two or one through lanes for pavement maintenance. Expect delays.

US 195/Paradise Road to I-90- Monday through Thursday, Aug. 22-25, from about 6 a.m. until as late as 3:30 p.m., be alert for northbound or southbound lane restrictions for removal of winter traction sand buildup from under guardrail.

US 395-Division Street/Hawthorne Rd. Intersection- Hawthorne Road is closed east and west of Division for intersection improvements and a new signal system.  Division Street turn lanes are closed.  All mainline lanes of Division are open during the day.  Drivers should be alert for a single lane in each direction on Division during evening and overnight hours.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Seven Mile Bridge & Seven Mile Road- Bridge deck work. A bypass road is in place, with a reduced speed limit of 25 mph.

Hawthorne Road West (Waikiki to US395)- Road reconstruction, stormwater drainage swales, trees, irrigation, curb, signal improvement, bike lane, striping. The road is completely closed until August 30.

Hawthorne Road East (US395 to US2)- Road reconstruction, stormwater upgrades, curb, signal, bike, striping. Road closed. On street parking prohibited.

Argonne Road (Spokane River to Wellesley)- Road reconstruction, stormwater retrofit. Argonne is reduced to one lane in each direction, expect long delays, use alternate route, right turns only at Maringo Dr. (no cross traffic movements).

Centennial Trail Impacts - Trail will be closed at the intersection of Upriver Drive and Argonne Road through August 28.   

Country Homes (Wall to SR 395)- Stormwater work in the raised islands, look for construction to begin in early September. Lane restriction, use alternate route, road will remain open.

Hatch Road (Colbert to Burk) Burk Road (Hatch to Perry)- Road reconstruction. Road Closed to thru traffic through August 27.

SPOKANE CITY

1^ST Avenue Et Al, Erie to Helena- This project will provide storm water conveyance to Pacific and Perry Infiltration Facility and replace old water distribution lines. The project also includes associated street construction.Work on the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Ivory Street is as follows:

• 1^st Avenue from Erie Street to Helena Street
• Perry Street from 1^st Avenue to Sprague Avenue
• Ivory Street from 2^nd Avenue to Sprague Avenue
• Helena Street from 1^st Avenue to Sprague Avenue
• Perry Street from 2^nd Avenue to Hogan Street

37^th Avenue, Regal Street to Custer Street-37^th Avenue from Freya to Custer Street is closed. 37^th is closed at Havana Street.  Citizen access is along the detour route at Palouse Hwy. The detour route is Glenrose to Palouse Highway to Regal Street. This work is to reconstruct the road, including pavement replacement, curbs, sidewalk, bike lanes, stormwater piping, and a 36 inch water main.

Ben Burr Trail and Connection to the Centennial Trail- Work continues along the trail at 3^rd Avenue and Arthur and 2^nd Avenue and Perry.  This project will design and construct a shared use paved trail connection for bicyclists and pedestrian. The project will be from the Centennial Trail at the Gonzaga Bridge southeast of Erie Street and continuing to Liberty Park where a connection will be made to the existing Ben Burr Trail.  The trail will then continue on the existing Ben Burr Trail to the trailhead immediately south of Underhill Park.

Bridge Avenue and Monroe Street CSO Work- Summit Blvd/Bridge Avenue is closed to traffic. 

Lincoln has one northbound lane open.  Lincoln southbound is closed at Broadway with local access maintained to Anthony’s restaurant and parking lots. This project will construct a Combined Sewer Overflow Tank (CSO) tank.

Hazels Creek Stormwater Treatment Project- Work continues on Freya south of 37^th Avenue. Construction of a stormwater treatment system with disposal ponds and stormwater piping is beginning.  This system will be an extension of the existing Hazel’s Creek Facility on 42^nd Avenue.

Indiana Avenue from Dakota to Perry Street- Perry St. will continue to be reduced to one travel lane in each direction to perform work within and near the Perry/Indiana intersection.  Starting approximately August 22nd Crescent Ave. east of the Perry/Indiana intersection will be closed at the intersection and railroad crossing.  Crescent Ave. east and north of the railroad tracks will remain open and provide access to Avista’s campus.  Avista traffic is advised to use Upriver Dr. to Greene St. or Mission Ave.  The work and related lane reductions at the Perry/Indiana intersection will continue through August. Work along Indiana Ave. is as follows:

o   Beginning at Perry St. and proceeding from East to West.  

o   Indiana Ave. from Ruby St. to Perry St. will be closed to through traffic with East-West traffic detoured to Mission Ave. and Montgomery Ave. and Illinois Ave.   

o   North-South arterials within the construction zone at Hamilton Ave. and Perry St. will remain open.

This project will include curb ramps, storm swales, new curb, waterline replacement, signal installation work and some parking removal

Main Avenue and Division Street Intersection Improvements- Work will start on the southeast corner of Division and Main the week of August 22.  Pedestrian access will be maintained.  Work continues on sidewalk removal and excavation for underground storm water improvements.  Pedestrian detours will be in place. Throughout the project there will be lane restrictions on both Main and Division.  Traffic control will be in place. Work on this project involves curb bumpouts at all four corners of Division Street and Main Avenue, the removal and replacement of existing curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, ADA upgrades, installation of planter boxes and planting.

Martin Luther King Jr. Way Phase 2a, Sherman to Erie Street- Phase 2A is an extension of Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Sherman to Erie Street. This project will provide vehicular and truck traffic an efficient transportation route that eliminates several safety issues and increases capacity into and out of the downtown area while passing along the south edge of the University District. These improvements include a new asphalt pavement street, utility infrastructure, storm drainage improvements, street lighting, street trees, and re-vegetation with native species. In lieu of sidewalks, the project proposes to construct a section of the Ben Burr trail to provide pedestrian circulation. The trail will be separated from the roadway traffic and aligned parallel to the Spokane River, allowing pedestrians through access with greater aesthetic experience. The right-of-way area for the sidewalk will be used to provide bike lanes and planting/storm water treatment areas.

Monroe/Lincoln Street Couplet, 8th Avenue to 2nd Avenue- Work on Monroe Street from 4th Ave south to 8^th Ave continues. The intersection of 5^th Avenue and Lincoln Street is closed. Crews are working on pipe installations.

o   Monroe Street is open with one lane southbound.

o   Northbound traffic will continue to be detoured until the project is complete.

o   Lincoln Street is closed for 5 weeks.

o   5^th Avenue is open to east and west traffic. There will be intermittent closures at the intersection of Lincoln and 5^th Avenue as the City works on storm and water lines. Access to the Deaconess Hospital emergency room will be maintained.

o   Access to Deaconess Medical Center (DHEC) will be from Monroe

o   Local Access will be maintained for residents and businesses as much as possible during this closure.  Detours will be in place for thru traffic. Signs will be up to notify drivers.

o   Detours:  The detour for through traffic will be along 14th Avenue and Bernard/Washington/Stevens and 2nd and 3rd Avenue.

o   The on ramp for eastbound traffic at Monroe is open

o   Traffic exiting Maple Street eastbound will be detoured off of 4^th at Jefferson Street

This project reconstructs the roadway from 8^th to 2^nd Avenue and installs storm water and water facilities.  The portion of this project that reconstructed the street from 2^nd to 4^th Avenues is substantially complete. 

Monroe and Lincoln Street, Main Avenue to 2nd Avenue- This is a full depth roadway replacement and full depth replacement between curbs on Lincoln Street and Monroe Street; Main Avenue from Monroe Street to Lincoln Street; and Monroe Street from Spokane Falls Boulevard to Main Avenue. Some minor curbing and ADA curb ramps will be installed where necessary. Storm and sewer work continues with 4 way stops at the intersections of 1^st, Sprague, and Riverside Avenues. The east side of Monroe Street and 1^st Avenue is closed Monday, August 22 for installation of storm sewer manholes and pipe. Eastbound traffic on 1^st Avenue from Monroe to Lincoln will be detoured south along Monroe to 3^rd Avenue, east to 3^rd Avenue to Lincoln, and then north to 1^st Avenue.

Parking Restrictions on Main Avenue and Howard Street- Parking meters have been removed from the north side of Main Avenue between Wall Street and Howard Street and the west side of Howard Street between Spokane Falls Boulevard and Main Avenue. These meters have been removed as crews begin construction on the former Macy’s building. 

Pettet Drive/TJ Meenach Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO 12) Project- Pettet Drive is closed into November. The clover leaf that services TJ Meenach, Down River and Pettit Drive (three out of the four legs) is in service. The leg that comes off of Pettit, north bound re-directs citizens to Northwest Blvd. Vehicles  traveling southbound on Down River Drive have two options; enter onto TJ Meenach or continue under the bridge and turn uphill to Northwest Blvd. This project will build a 690,000 gallon storage facility and connections to existing CSO Basin 10 outfall.  Work also includes repaving of Pettet Drive and pedestrian/bike trail construction.

Street Maintenance Grind and Overlay- Crews are working on Thurston from Lee to Regal.  Pre leveling and sub-grade work are finished with the exception of iron that has to be raised/lowered by the water dept. That should be finished by Friday and paving will start Monday 8/22/16 and wrap by Thursday barring any unforeseen problems. Work will then move to Lyons from Perry to Pittsburg.  

Data-Based Transportation Planning Doesn't Necessarily Plan for Pedestrians/Bicyclists

Data-based planning isn't going to help these folks get
across the street.

In transportation planning, many decisions are based on data. Unfortunately, as an article from CityLab yesterday points out, there are large amounts of data available on some things (such as traffic counts and flows), and almost nothing about others (bike and pedestrian counts and patterns). CityLab says this car-centric data we have fundamentally warps decision-making and the problem could get worse as we come to rely more and more on data.

When you ask people about their experiences walking, you often hear horror stories of drivers who don't yield to pedestrians, a lack of sidewalks and sidewalks too close to speeding traffic, among other things. Because we, to some degree, lack the metrics to define and measure those complaints, the problems basically don't exist. This makes it difficult to design transportation systems that address these issues.


CityLab has lots more and it's interesting reading. Check out the entire article at the link above.

How Many Americans Don't Know How to Ride a Bike and Who Are They?

If you were to guess how many Americans don't know how to ride a bike, what number would you throw out? That's what a survey from a couple years ago asked (not sure why it's just coming to light now). Based on 1,196 adults in the United States who responded to the survey, the answer is 6% of Americans don't know how to ride a bike, according to FiveThirtyEight.

And here is who is the least likely to know how to ride a bike: people in the Northeast. Not sure why but 12% of the people who said they don't reside in the Northeast. White Americans are most likely to know how to drive. Four percent said they don't know how to ride, while 7% of hispanics and ten percent of African Americans said they don't know how. As for marital status, single people are twice as likely to know how to ride a bike than married people. And surprisingly, more older people than young people know how to ride bikes. You can see all the stats here if you want more.

Transportation Technical Committee Meets Next Week

The August meeting of the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC) is coming right up. The meeting is next Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 1:30 p.m. The agenda is here. As always, everyone is welcome to attend all SRTC committee meetings, so if something on the agenda catches your eye, feel free to attend.

Proposed Amendment to Transportation Improvement Program

We're looking for input on an amendment to the 2016-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that proposes adding one new project and making changes to two projects already in the program.

The TIP is a document that identifies projects slated to be constructed during the upcoming four years. It includes project names and descriptions, the jurisdiction sponsoring them, funding attached to each project, and where the funding came from (local, state or federal funds). The TIP is updated throughout the year as SRTC’s member jurisdictions have projects to add, change or remove from the program, often as funding becomes available. 

The amendment currently under consideration would make the following changes:

·         Walk Bike Bus Spokane- Transfer $11,800 from the preliminary engineering phase of this program to a new construction phase to build a covered bike parking kiosk in the Garland District.

·         Eastern Region Regionwide ADA Project- Pedestrian Access Upgrades- Increased total project cost from $1,570,810 to $2,959,750 due to adding more Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) locations to be upgraded.

·         US 395/North Spokane Corridor (NSC) Freya St. Structures- This new project to the TIP will construct the NSC mainline bridges over Freya Street and construct the second phase of mainline retaining walls adjacent to the BNSF railway tracks.

More information is below. Click the graphic to view it full size.

A public comment period for the amendment starts today. We welcome your thoughts on these projects. All comments must be received by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2016 by emailing to contact.srtc@srtc.org, mailing to SRTC at 421 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 500, Spokane, WA, or by calling (509) 343-6370.

Traffic Skills 101 Class for Bicyclists

Want to learn how ride your bicycle safely, confidently and legally in Spokane? Then take the Traffic Skills 101 class for bicyclists. The first session is this Wednesday, August 17 from 5:30 – 8:30pm. The cost is only $10. To register go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2591860.

League of American Bicyclist certified trainers from the Spokane Regional Health District will offer their fundamental class, Traffic Skills 101 here in Spokane. The 9-hour course will be offered through two sessions. Session 1 will be On Wednesday, August 17th from 5:30  8:30 p.m. and Session 2 on Saturday, August 20th from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

This course provides instruction and guidance in the basic principles of vehicular bicycling. It will give you the confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. You will learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, fix a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. Click the flyer below to view it full size.

Council Votes to Remove Oil/Coal Train Fines From Ballot

Spokane's City Council did an about-face last night and withdrew a measure from the November ballot that would have let voters decide whether to fine railroad operators up to $261 per train car carrying flammable crude or coal through downtown Spokane.

According to the Spokesman-Review, the City Council voted 5-2 to against the measure. Council President Ben Stuckart, who initially led the charge to fine the railroads, now says he believes the fine would expose citizens to too much legal liability.

“I don’t believe that it’s legally defensible, or defensible for us to bring forward,” Stuckart is quoted as saying in the Spokesman.

The two votes to keep the issue on the ballot came from Councilman Breean Beggs and Lori Kinnear.
Beggs said he believed the ordinance could have withstood a legal challenge. 

Local Construction Update

SPOKANE COUNTY
Seven Mile Bridge & Seven Mile Road- Work is underway on the bridge deck. A marked
detour is in place. The speed limit has is reduced to 25 mph.

Hawthorne Road West (Waikiki to US395)- Road reconstruction, installation of stormwater drainage swales, tree planting, irrigation components, curb installation, signal improvement, bike lane installation and striping. The road is completely closed until August 30.

Hawthorne Road East (US395 to US2)- Road reconstruction, stormwater upgrades, curbing, signal, bike lane installation and roadway striping. The road is closed to traffic.

Argonne Road (Spokane River to Wellesley)- Road reconstruction and stormwater system retrofit. Argonne is reduced to one lane in each direction. Expect long delays. Right turns only at Maringo (No cross traffic movements).

SPOKANE VALLEY

32^nd from Dishman-Mica to Pines- Expect rolling closures to all but local traffic eastward from Dishman-Mica to Pines around the clock Monday, August 15 through Wednesday, August 17. Detours are posted.

Flora between Mission and Boone- Closed to all but local traffic through Thursday, August 26 for utility and access work. Traffic is redirected via Boone, Arc and Mission.

McDonald from Sprague to 16^th- Closed to all but local traffic through Friday, September 2 for resurfacing and other improvements. Intersections at 4^th and 8^th will be closed with signs redirecting sidewalk and street traffic.

McDonald northbound from Mission to Sprague- Reduced to one lane for about 3 weeks beginning Monday, August 15.

Mission between Lilly and Park - Closed through August 26^th with signs redirecting traffic via Thierman, Broadway and Park.  

Park between Nora and Mission - Expect narrowed lanes through the end of August. 

Sullivan Road Bridge Replacement-Traffic is reduced to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound. Turns from Indiana onto northbound Sullivan are reduced to one lane. Left turns from Sullivan onto eastbound Indiana will be closed for the next 3 to 4 weeks. Southbound traffic headed for Indiana east of Sullivan will be redirected at Euclid via Barker and Mission.

WSDOT

North Spokane corridor/Wellesley & Freya Roundabout- Utility company preliminary work prior to contractor construction. Possible shoulder lane restrictions.

US 2-Division Street/Curb and Sidewalk- Northbound Division Street is reduced to one or two lanes for curb and sidewalk improvements.  Drivers may experience congestion and delays.

I-90/Westbound Freya Off-Ramp- Crews are constructing a new westbound Freya Street off-ramp approximately ¼ mile to the east of the current ramp. Second Avenue is closed between Havana Street and Freya Street with a marked detour in place. 

US 395-Division Street/Hawthorne Rd. Intersection- Intersection improvements and installation of a new traffic signal system. Non-intersection work east and west on Hawthorne Road is a Spokane County project. Hawthorne Road is closed east and west of Division.  Division Street turn lanes are closed.  All mainline lanes of Division are open.

Wellesley and Freya Roundabout Work Starts Next Monday

Drivers who use the intersection of Wellesley Avenue and Freya Street should plan for potential delays starting next Monday. Beginning Monday, Aug. 22, the Washington State Department of Transportation starts a $2.1 million project to build a new roundabout in Hillyard, just north of the Esmeralda golf course.

The roundabout replaces stop signs at the busy intersection and widens both streets. This will help with large trucks traveling to and from nearby industrial and distribution businesses. WSDOT is funding and building this project because the future Wellesley Avenue Interchange on the US 395/North Spokane Corridor freeway adds to the need for improvements at this location.

New Centennial Trail Section Complete

Staff at Riverside State Park invites you to help celebrate the completion of the northwest extension of the Spokane River Centennial Trail. This extends the Centennial Trail approximately two miles from Sontag Community Park to Nine Mile Recreation area on Lake Spokane. This key addition enhances Centennial Trail access and provides an important link within the community.

4 p.m.

August 15

Nine Mile Recreation Area

11226 W Charles Rd., Nine Mile Falls

Speeches will be followed by time for mingling and walking the new section of trail. State Parks staff and partners will be on hand to talk about upcoming work on the trail and other priority projects. Event parking will be available at the Nine Mile Recreation Area.

The Centennial Trail begins at the Washington/Idaho state line and ends at Nine Mile Falls. The trail’s path generally follows the contours of the Spokane River, allowing access for many types of outdoor non-motorized recreational activities. The Spokane River Centennial Trail connects with the North Idaho Centennial Trail. Together, the trails span more than 60 miles and connect the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene communities.

Funding for this project was provided by Friends of the Centennial Trail, Avista Corp. and Washington State Parks through a grant program from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. The name “Centennial” refers to the trail’s initial construction period, which occurred soon after the Washington State Centennial.

Roundtable Discussion With Social Service Providers

We are hosting a series of "roundtable" discussions with members of the community, in advance of updating our long-range transportation plan, Horizon  2040. Yesterday we met with representatives of local social service agencies; people who work with folks who are disabled, senior citizens, developmentally disabled, and suffering from mental illness.

We basically asked four questions and opened the floor to a discussion. The questions were:

1. What are your thoughts on trends in transportation?
2. What do you think is working well with transportation in our region?
3. What concerns you about transportation in our region?
4. If you could offer the SRTC Board advice before starting an update to Horizon 2040, what would it be?

Here is some of what we heard:

•  There are only two slots for wheelchairs on buses. If those are full, you have to wait for the next bus. With STA’s new computer system, you should be able to see in real time if those slots are taken before the bus gets to your stop.
• There's a definite need for an Uber or Lyft drive with a wheelchair-accessible van.
•  Disabilities are NOT seasonal. Because of barriers like snow, some people can use paratransit some months but not others.  
• It has to be 85 degrees or hotter for “weather” riders to be allowed to ride the bus.
• There is a limited number of bags allowed on paratransit, which makes it hard for people to do their shopping for the week but they don’t have another way to do it. This forces people to shop at places in their immediate neighborhood, such as mini marts, which can cost more and not offer healthy choices. Don’t try to buy a watermelon because how are you going to get that home?
•  Overlay health care facilities on transportation maps when planning. 
•  A $45 bus pass consumes a huge part of many clients’ monthly budgets. They are encouraged to get into the community but transportation poses a big barrier.
•  Spokane City and other jurisidictions have a mandate to avoid concentrations of affordable housing. Unfortunately, the best place to build affordable housing  is on existing transit routes but that exacerbates the concentration issues. 
• A mobile farmers market is in the works.

ODOT Scores Major Star For Crosswalk PSAs

Awww... ya gotta love those Oregonians. Because who else would they get to star in their pedestrian public service announcements than Bigfoot?? That's right, Sasquatch is going to need an agent now.

China Test-Runs It's Long-Awaited "Straddling Bus"

After years of waiting, China's infamous "straddling bus" went on its inaugural test run yesterday.

The bus, officially named the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB),  will operate above the streets, while traffic passes by underneath. It will be able to carry up to 1,200 passengers (check out the picture of the interior- lots of room) and travel almost 40 miles per hour.

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The test-run was apparently less than spectacular as it didn't exactly simulate real world traffic conditions with just one bus carriage on a controlled track of only 300 meters in length. But even so, a lot of people were excited to see even that, as the TEB has been talked about for a long time but not much has happened with it.

In Which States Does the TSA Confiscate the Most Weapons?

If you tried to guess which airports have the most weapons seized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), you would think it would be the airports that have the most traffic right? Well you would be wrong.

MarketWatch reports that over 22,000 items were seized by the Transportation Security Administration in 2015.

At Anchorage International Airport, the 55th busiest U.S. airport when ranked by number of boarding passengers, the TSA confiscated 434 weapons or dangerous items in 2015. In comparison, the nation's second busiest airport, Los Angeles International Airport, collected just 199 items.

Denver International Airport had 1,006 items seized last year, most of them martial arts weapons. The weapon of choice at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, is knives, while Atlanta had the most guns collected, at 172.

Even more frightening (at least to me), the majority of the seized guns were loaded!