STA Treating Incident As Learning Opportunity

Spokane Transit is issuing an apology for an incident in which three young people were kicked off a bus by a driver for discussing bisexuality.

The good news is that the incident is being used as a learning opportunity; the Odyssey Youth Center of Spokane has been asked to work with STA to include training for drivers on being sensitive to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender issues.

Here's the story.

Woman Apparently Hit And Killed By Vehicle

Spokane Police are releasing more information on a pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle last night. It happened on Maple just north of Knox just before 9pm. According to Police, the woman had been walking in the north bound lane, wearing dark clothing, when she was struck by a north bound car.

Investigators are continuing the investigation. The woman has been identified as Darleen R. Ridgway (8/6/63).

Roads Are Icy In Outlying Areas

I'm in a bad mood because this is the first time I have to say this for the year: slow it down out there, it's slick on the roads. I was doing some running around in an outlying area this morning and the roads were icy already! I was quite surprised to see that, although its to be expected this time of year.

Apparently there were several accidents caused by the conditions, including a driver who was ejected from a vehicle and seriously injured in a rollover accident on U.S. Highway 395 near Hatch Road. The Spokesman-Review has the story.

SRTC Board Meeting Thursday, Nov. 10

SRTC's Board meets for their monthly meeting this Thursday, Nov. 10. The Board agenda and packet can be viewed here. As always, everyone is welcome to attend Board meetings and there is an agenda item for public comments.

Proposed Transportation Bill Dissected

On Friday evening, Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer and Republican Senator Jim Inhofe released a summary and text of their proposal for a two-year surface transportation bill.

So that you don't have to read the whole thing to know what's in the bill, Transportation Issues Daily put together a handy guide of 13 Things You Will Want to Know; the Committee summary, and a link to the bill text.

I-90 Project Wrapped Up For Winter

Crews are suspending work for the season on the I-90/Latah Creek Bridge project. Minor items, including striping, will be underway this week as the roadway is prepared for winter. All lanes and ramps will be open for winter. The speed limit will be returned to 60 miles per hour. Work will resume in the spring to grind the pavement to remove studded tire ruts, repair cracked pavement, and resurface bridges.

School Transportation Could Be Victim Of Recession

School buses may be the next victim of the recession in Washington. Governor Chris Gregoire is considering eliminating state dollars for school bus service. She is sending lawmakers a long list of ideas, including many she admits could hurt regular people.

How would that affect our area? We're not sure yet, but Vancouver's newspaper 'The Columbian' takes a closer look at school bus usage in the state.

Road Construction Update For Next Week

Thursday is road construction update day and I'm running out of updates to give you. A couple more projects are wrapping up in the next week. Here's all the new stuff.

Two City Of Spokane Open Houses To Mark On Your Calendar

On Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., an open house at Grant Elementary School, 1300 E. Ninth Ave is set for the project to relocate a water transmission main in Eighth and Ninth avenues from Division to Hatch streets.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., an open house at Lidgerwood Elementary School, 5510 N. Lidgerwood St. is set for the project to rehabilitate Lidgerwood Street from North to Francis avenues and surrounding streets under the 10-Year Street Bond.

Traffic Counter Could Possibly Be Smarter Than Me

Here's something interesting I found out yesterday from a Washington State Department of Transportation employee: a bike/pedestrian counter has been installed along the Children of the Sun Trail that runs paralell with the North Spokane Corridor to see how many people are using it. Big deal right?

What's cool about this counter though is that it detects metal in spokes and shoe heels. Just to make sure it's picking up the right stuff though, an infrared sensor was included that can sense body heat. This helps to ensure that what it is sensing is indeed human. And no, it won't count animals, unless they're riding a bike or wearing shoes, so the hope is that this will give some pretty accurate counts that can be used in the future for furthering the bicycle/pedestrian cause.

Senate Votes On Two Transportation Jobs Bills Today

Today the Senate will vote on two transportation jobs bills. But don't get too excited, because neither is expected to get the required 60 votes to pass.

Why? Transportation Issues Daily has the answer.

Amendment Voted Down That Would Have Given 'Enhancements' Money to Bridge Repair

Republican senators yesterday failed in their third recent effort to eliminate federal money for bike paths, walking trails and other transportation enhancement projects.

An amendment by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was defeated that would have forbidden the government from spending any money on enhancement projects and re-directed funds to bridge repairs.

According to this New York Times article though, this issue is expected to come up again soon.

NSC/US 2 Interchange to Open November 16

The Washington State Department of Transportation says the opening of the next component of the North Spokane Corridor (NSC) is coming soon. The NSC/US 2 interchange will open to traffic on Wednesday, November 16th, which is expected to get more people using the NSC.

The Spokesman-Review has all the details.

Studded Tires Legal In WA Now

Studded tires legal in Washington starting today. That doesn't mean you have to use them though, there are a lot of new alternatives that reportedly perform just as well, if not better, than studs.

Take the City's Pedestrian Plan Survey

The City of Spokane is offering you a key opportunity to be involved in the update of their Pedestrian Plan.
This Pedestrian Survey is designed to gather information on pedestrian wants and needs in the City. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

The Pedestrian Plan Update will include ways to promote pedestrian safety and access to help ensure that our community is a safe, convenient, and attractive place to walk.

More information on the Pedestrian Plan is available here.

1 Week Left To Apply For TAC

What are you waiting for? There's only one week left to get your application in to be a member of SRTC's Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), so you better get in gear.

The TAC is a citizens’ advisory group responsible for advising the SRTC Board on policy recommendations regarding plans, programs, and activities conducted by SRTC. The purpose of the TAC is to promote transparency and provide an opportunity for the public to be involved in SRTC's programs.

The TAC is composed of 13 members that meet on a monthly basis for three year terms. The deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Here's a link to the application.

Voters Support A Lot Of Things, But Not So Much Initiative 1125

What's more popular in Washington State than the anti- tolling Initiative 1125? Oh let's see; President Barack Obama, gay marriage, and marijuana legalization. And Mitt Romney has almost as much support as the measure.

That's right, according to the newly released 'Washington Poll,' all those issues have more support among Washington State voters than the ballot measure that would essentially prevent future tolling in the State. Transportation Issues Daily has the story- and the numbers.

Eco-Friendly Gas Station? Really??

‘Eco-friendly’ gas station? Isn't that an oxymoron? You would think so, but that's the designation one Portland area gas station is striving for.

Highland Chevron in Beaverton is trying to balance the selling fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases by addressing other factors that can reduce its carbon footprint, including heating, cooling, lighting and stormwater drainage.

The Down To Earth Northwest blog explains how the station consumes zero net energy and is environmentally friendly.

Spokane Valley Bike & Pedestrian Master Program Approved

This happened last week but I was out sick at the time so didn't blog about it: The Spokane Valley City Council voted unanimously to pass the Bike and Pedestrian Master Program and integrate it as part of the city’s comprehensive plan!

That's good news because having a bike and pedestrian plan will make it easier for the City to recieve grants and funding for future transportation projects. For a while there though, it looked the a couple Council members might not support the plan. Here's the story from the Spokane Valley News Herald.

Spokane Valley To Assess Speed Limits

You could be seeing some revised speed limits in Spokane Valley soon. The City Council has set aside time to reasses current speed limits at it's Nov. 15 meeting, but will be looking at one area in particular, the Indiana and Mission parkways.

The city has received over 100 letters complaining about the current 25 mile per hour speed limit in that area, suggesting the city has essentially created a speed trap for businesses and their customers in the area.

The Spokane Valley News Herald has the story.