CDA Gas Prices Still Super Low

Gas prices have already started going back up in our area. A couple weeks ago I got gas for as low as $1.45 a gallon. Now it's back up to $1.59 at a lot of Spokane stations. Prices have remained low in Coeur d'Alene though, with one person telling me they got gas for $1.35 this week! Analysts say don't get used to it though. Here's a Coeur d'Alene Press story on north Idaho gas prices.

Western WA Flood Pictures

If you think we've got a problem with standing water at intersections and storm drains, here's some perspective for you: click here for flooding pictures from the WSDOT blog.

A Little Bit Of Transportation History

Here's an interesting Youtube video on the history of the Model T. The part that I found interesting is toward the end where it talks about how cities were just starting to develop infrastructure at the time of the Model T, and there were few roads and the ones that did exist were rough to say the least. Because of that, the Model T was built to withstand everything. Guess you could call it the predecessor to the Hummer.

Letter Writer Says Side Streets Neglected

Spokesman-Review Letters To The Editor
Even out the plowing

Everyone is struggling with driving at this time — and the plows are not much help. I am on my third try with chains and I don’t mean cheap ones.
More than one source has confirmed what I thought to be the problem. Why are some streets, Division, Ash, etc., gone over and over to the point of being perfectly clear while side streets are left barely passable? They brag that the main arterials are clear so people can get around.
Right. Are we supposed to have our vehicles towed from the ignored streets to those taking priority? That’s the dilemma they’re causing, because chains are not made for bare pavement, and that’s what we have to contend with.
When the storms attack to the max, please take the time to keep all streets the way the side streets look when they’re finally reached. Chains will then serve their purpose!

Pam Billington
Spokane

What's your thoughts? It's important to have the arterials clear, but do you feel they were kept too clear, at the expense to side streets?

The Numbers Behind STA's Proposed Fare Increases

The Spokane Transit Authority board is considering a fare increase later this year, due to rising costs at STA. Here's how fares would increase under the two-step plan:

- $1 fares for youths and adults would go to $1.25 in September, then to $1.50 in January 2011.

- The adult monthly pass would go from $33 to $40 in September and $45 in 2011.

- Adult fares for express routes have been the same as regular routes. Those fares would become more expensive, increasing them to $1.50 in September and $2 in 2011.

- Express routes would have monthly pass of $45 in September and $50 in 2011.

- A single fare for seniors and people with disabilities would go from 50 cents now to 60 cents in September and 75 cents in 2011.

Here's some more info you may not know:

- Sales taxes currently pay 83% of the cost of running Spokane Transit Authority buses.

- STA last raised fares in 2002.

- If bus riders paid the full cost of providing transit service in Spokane, a one-way fare would be $5.

- Public open houses to take comment on the fare increase proposal will be scheduled in March.

Not All Cities Passive About Winter Sidewalk Maintenance

Area roads are finally getting cleaned up, but most area sidewalks are still impassable, especially after repeated thawing and freezing of snow pushed onto the sidewalks by plows.

Local officials say there's nothing they can do though, besides asking residents to shovel sidewalks in front of their house. Officials in other cities take a different approach though. Here's what other jurisdictions are doing to keep their sidewalks clear.

Check For Road Closures Here

Across the state, some roads that were closed yesterday are now open, and some that were open yesterday are now closed. If you're traveling, you may want to check out this county-by-county list of road closures from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Eastbound I90 @ Snoqualmie Now Open

The eastbound lanes of I-90 Snoqualmie Pass are now open to all traffic. Westbound lanes will open by noon. Here are some crazy pictures from the pass that show why you couldn't use it prior to this morning.

The Washington State Department Of Transportation is also working to open I-5 from 11miles south of Chehalis to about 20 miles south of Olympia.

In the meantime, the closure has caused thousands of truckers to cool their heels on either side of the pass, causing area shortages on things like snow tires, snow chains, snow shovels and de-icer as well as a few types of groceries.Here's the story from the Spokesman-Review.

Drivers Aren't Obeying Hands-Free Law

An editorial in the Spokesman-Review today says that drivers don't take the law banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving seriously. Here's the story.

Now, the Spokesman's 'Huckleberries' blog is asking if Idaho should ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and/or should such an offense be a primary rather than secondary one? Click here to weigh in with your opinion.

State Road Closures & Flooding Pictures

If you're planning to head to the west side this week, better think twice. Close to 60 sections of roadway are closed across the state, most in Western Washington.

The closures from yesterday in our area are open again (most were in the Palouse area) but all major passes over the Cascades are closed and I-5 remains closed from 11 miles south of Chehalis to about 20 miles south of Olympia due to flooding.

Other closures are in a county-by-county list of road closures at the WSDOT web site.
The main north south rail lines along I-5 are closed at Chehalis due to water over the lines. The Amtrak Cascades have cancelled service today.

KING TV out of Seattle has a slide show of flooding pictures. If you haven't seen enough water yet, here are some more pictures.

Washington State Road Closures

Just in case you're trying to get anywhere in the state, here's a map of road closures from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

L.A. Approves Cyclist Bill of Rights

It's not bicycling weather with all this ice on the ground, but this should take your mind off the cruddy weather: the Los Angeles City Council recently voted to
approve a Cyclist’s Bill of Rights!

It still has some hoops to jump through (the Cyclists’ Bill of Rights will be forwarded to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Planning Department, Department of Public Works, and Los Angeles Bicycle Advisory Committee to report with recommendations on how to incorporate the principles into the City of Los Angeles Bicycle Master Plan and other relevant documents)but this is a big first step. Here's a look at L.A.'s 'Cyclists Bill of Rights.

This Just In From The City of Spokane

The City of Spokane Street Department will end its Condition Red snow emergency early this evening, moving snow removal crews from the City’s Water and Wastewater departments back to their regular duties and changing shifting from 24 hours a day to usual winter scheduling of 20 hours a day. City snow removal crews have worked under Condition Red status since Dec. 17.

Two pothole repair crews are even working today to fill potholes that have been created through this freeze-thaw cycle.

In the meantime, City of Spokane Mayor Mary Verner will hold a press conference at noon today at the City's Streets Department Normandie complex near Washington and Sinto. She will address current conditions and plans and take a moment to reflect on the last three weeks.

Latest Closures

Here are some closures for Wednesday, Jan. 7:

- In Whitman County, U.S. Highway 272 just west of Palouse

- Highway 26 three miles west of Colfax and Highway 194 near the Almota grain elevators is partially blocked by mudslides

- Highway 27 is reduced to one lane due to snow drifts

- Snoqualmie and Stevens passes are closed due to extreme avalanche danger

- US 97 Blewett Pass is closed from the Big Y junction to the Lauderdale junction due to heavy snow and mud slides over the roadway.

- Whites Pass is open, but traction devices are required

Deep snow is no longer the issue causing driving problems, it's now deep puddles. Spokane City crews today are switching from plowing to storm drain cleaning to try to clear the roads of standing water and prevent flooding. They can't get to all the drains though and are asking for your help to keep your neighborhood from flooding. If you can help, the City has added information on the location of storm drains to its GIS mapping program on the Internet. Here's a link.

Area Mountain Pass Pictures

If you think we have a lot of snow, check out more pictures like this one of area passes on the Washington State Department of Transportation blog, then thank whomever you believe in that you don't live there!

Drifting Traps Drivers

Winter driving is more than just annoying and slow, it can be dangerous too, and not just because of the threat of accidents. You can also get stranded on remote roads due to drifting. The Spokane County Sheriff's Department last week had to call in a snowmobiling club to check for stranded drivers in a remote part of Spokane County.
Here's the story.

Just Move Over & Let Cars Merge Please

Just an observation on my part, but there is a serious lack of courtesy on I90 lately. It took me 1 1/2 hours to get downtown this morning from Newman Lake. Not because there were a lot of accidents (I only saw one slide-off), but because people are not letting others merge. There are basically two lanes now. People getting on the freeway need to merge into the right lane, but people already in that lane are doing anything but moving over to let them in. It was a huge cluster as speeds slowed to a crawl near every on-ramp between Liberty Lake and downtown. And the on-ramps were backed up and at a dead stop. Come on people, have some courtesy!

Road Closures & Areas To Avoid

Several area state highways are closed due to drifting snow today and Whitman County is basically locked down. Here are the closures:

- Route 23- from Steptoe to the Lincoln County line
- Route 26- from Colfax west for 13 miles
- Route 271- from Rosalia to Oaksdale
- Route 27 from Pullman to Oaksdale
- Route 195 from Spangle to Stateline
- Shoqualmie Pass is closed due to avalanche danger. Both White and Stevens pass are still open at this time.
- SR 129 from Anatone to the Oregon State Line in Asotin County is closed for the same reasons.

And here are some areas to avoid this morning:

- A semi is stuck at First and Division
- Havana Street is closed just north of Sprague to Main due to a broken water main about 150 feet north of Sprague Avenue.
- Several slide offs have been reported on Interstate 90

Anyone Know How Much It Costs To Replace License Plates?

Things just kept getting worse yesterday. First, I realized I was snowed in when I got up at 5:30 a.m. and found a fresh 8 inches of snow on the ground, instead of the predicted 2-5 inches. On top of that, the neighbor's plow was out of commission after he got a little crazy plowing after the last storm. So, I'm stuck at home. No big deal right? I'll do a little blogging, etc. Oh wait, now the power goes out. Five hours later, the power comes back on and the neighbor gets the road plowed. I get my car out and discover... my front license plate is missing.

Anyone care to guess how much new license plates are? $31.75. I dug around looking for the plate, but with the drifts and drifts of snow, I gave up and paid the money. So don't 'misplace' your plates, they're kind of spendy.

Saturday Morning Update From City of Spokane

City of Spokane snow removal crews are concentrating on residential plowing today and tonight, thanks to a break from new snow. Sanders also are out in all quadrants of the City, and de-icers will begin to work on the snow emergency routes as the temperature rises.

Browne's Addition will be plowed again in the upcoming week; north-south streets on Tuesday, Jan. 6, and east-west streets on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Plowing will begin at 9a.m. each day. Because the streets are very narrow in Browne's Addition, parked cars must be moved from the streets or they will be towed.