State Legislators Ask Governor For TasK Force To Look At Coal Train Impact

I sat in on a meeting with an Eastern Washington University Planning class a couple weeks ago and they had questions about the proposal to move more coal trains through our area. I said I'd try to post updates to the blog, so here's the latest: Four state legislators sat down with Gov. Chris Gregoire yesterday to ask her to establish and "empower" a task force that would examine all impacts of the trains cross the state from Spokane to Bellingham.

State Senate-elect Andy Billig from here in Spokane was in on that effort. Here's the story, from the Seattle P.I.

City Leaf Pickup Service Begins Sunday

It's that time of year again- City of Spokane crews begin leaf pickup activities on Sunday, Nov. 11. The crews begin on the North Side and gradually move to the South Hill.


The service is intended to remove only the leaves that naturally fall into the streets so please don't rake leaves into the street. The City asks residents to move their vehicles from the streets when leaf pickup crews will be in their neighborhoods, allowing trucks and crews room to do their job.
The leaf pickup schedule for Nov. 11 through Nov. 15, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and hand-picking until 2:30 a.m., is as follows:

Sunday, Nov. 11—Woodridge Area: south of north City limits, north of Barnes Rd., west of Wieber Dr., and east of Comanche Dr.

Driscoll Blvd. Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Belt St., and east of Northwest Blvd.

Audubon Park Area: south of Garland Ave., north of Northwest Blvd., west of Monroe St., and east of Northwest Blvd.
Monday, Nov. 12—Woodridge Area: south of north City limits, north of Barnes Rd., west of Wieber Dr., and east of Comanche Dr.

Driscoll Blvd. Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Belt St., and east of Northwest Blvd.

Audubon Park Area: south of Garland Ave., north of Northwest Blvd., west of Monroe St., and east of Northwest Blvd.

Downriver Area: south of Northwest Blvd., north of Riverview Dr., west of Meenach Dr., and east of Columbia Circle.
Tuesday, Nov. 13—Woodridge Area: south of north City limits, north of Barnes Rd., west of Wieber Dr., and east of Comanche Dr.

Pacific Park Area: south of Barnes St., north of Sutherlin Dr., west of

Farmdale St., and east of Forest Blvd.

Driscoll Blvd. Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Belt St., and east of Northwest Blvd.

Shadle Park Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Wall St., and east of Belt St.

Downriver Area: south of Northwest Blvd., north of Riverview Dr., west of Meenach Dr., and east of Columbia Circle.
Wednesday, Nov. 14—Pacific Park Area: south of Barnes St., north of Sutherlin Dr., west of Farmdale St., and east of Forest Blvd.

Indian Trail Rd. Area: south of Johansen Rd., north of Francis Ave.,

west of Cedar St., and east of Nine Mile Rd.

Shadle Park Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Wall St., and east of Belt St.

Northwest Blvd. Area: south of Northwest Blvd., north of Maxwell Ave., east of Pettit Dr., and west of Monroe St.

Thursday, Nov. 15—Indian Trail Rd. Area: south of Johansen Rd., north of Francis Ave., west of Cedar St., and east of Nine Mile Rd.

Shadle Park Area: south of Wellesley Ave., north of Garland Ave., west of Wall St., and east of Belt St.

Northwest Blvd. Area: south of Northwest Blvd., north of Maxwell Ave., east of Pettit Dr., and west of Monroe St.

West Central Area: South of Maxwell Ave., north of Bridge Ave., west of Washington St., and east of the Spokane River.

Adams Street Project Completion Celebration

You're invited to join Spokane Mayor David Condon, City Council Members Jon Snyder and Mike Allen, and the Cliff-Cannon and Manito-Cannon Hill Neighborhoods at a celebration on Saturday, Nov. 10 for the completion of the Adams Street residential project under the City’s 10-Year Street Bond Program.


The celebration is at 4 p.m. at the corner of Adams Street and 15th Avenue. The project rehabilitated Adams Street from 21st to 15th avenues; Jefferson Street from 21st to 15th avenues; Madison St. from 21st to 17th avenues; 17th, 18th, and 19th avenues from Cedar to Madison streets; and 20th Avenue from Adams to Madison streets. The project was completed on time and on budget.

Mike Taylor, Director of Engineering Services, will give an update on the progress of paving and restoring streets under the 10-Year Street Bond and provide a preview of Bond projects scheduled for construction in spring of 2013.

New Mileage Rules Could Price Some Families Out Of Cars

The Obama administration recently finalized rules that will require cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. to get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, which is roughly double the current standards. While this mandate has some great benefits (its expected to save drivers more than $8,000 in fuel over the life of a given vehicle and reduce the nation’s oil consumption by more than two million barrels a day), an article in the Auto section of the Spokesman-Review says the new requirements could drive up the price of a new car beyond some families’ reach.

The National Automobile Dealers Association estimates the average car’s sticker price could rise by around $3,000 once the new rules are phased in. Here's the article.

Passage Of Marijuana Initiative Means New Driving Under The Influence Laws

The recreational use of marijuana was approved in Washington State last night, so how is that going to affect transportation? Well, driving under the influence laws will be changing. Initiative I-502 also established a THC blood limit of five nanograms per milliliter (5 ng/ml) in drivers 21 and over. That level is reduced to 0.00 for drivers under age 21.


Already, not everyone is happy with this. The group Patients Against New Approach Washington says this level is not supported by science and would subject suspected impaired drivers to highly-invasive blood testing, unnecessary confinement and a criminal conviction that will haunt them for life.

They consider the zero tolerance clause for those under 21 even worse though, because a designated driver subjected to second hand marijuana smoke could be held criminally liable for the acitivities of others.
Because I can't find a website for the Patients Against New Approach Washington group stating their concerns, I'm going to link to a site I never thought I would use, Toke of the Town. I believe the article posted there on this topic has factual information and some valid points, but be warned that if you go to this site there is some PG-13 content, to say the least.

Woman Sentenced To Wearing "Idiot" Sign

Talk about a shaming. A woman caught on camera driving on a sidewalk to avoid a Cleveland school bus that was unloading children will have to stand at an intersection wearing a sign warning about idiots.
The Seattle PI says a Municipal Court judge on Monday ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to stand at an intersection for two days next week. She will have to wear a sign saying: "Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus." The judge ordered her to wear the sign from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. both days.

Hardin's license was suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.

Deadline This Week To Apply To Be On Transportation Advisory Committee

You've only got a few days left to apply to be a member of SRTC's Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is a citizen committee that provides transparency and a community perspective to the local transportation planning process. The TAC advises the SRTC Policy Board regarding plans, programs and activities to determine consistency with SRTC's policies; makes recommendations on regional transportation policies; and tackles other activities as directed by the Board.

We're looking for a diverse team of TAC members. We're looking for everyday people and those who represent groups such as people with disabilities, senior citizens, youth, the business and freight moving communities, traditional automobile users and advocates for non-motorized transportation or public transit.

The time commitment is very manageable, in my opinion. The TAC meets onces a month (the fourth Monday of each month) at 3 p.m. in the SRTC office at 221 W. First Ave. While the group makes decisions that have a real impact on the community, it's a fun committee and the meetings are always interesting. Plus you get to be the first to know about upcoming projects so you can wow friends and family with your transportation knowledge.

More information and the application is here: http://www.srtc.org/tac_page.html. Hurry though, the deadline to turn apps in is this Friday, November 9.

Golf Carts Approved For Street Travel In Hillyard

It's official,  residents in Hillyard soon will have a new way to get around the neighborhood.
The Spokane City Council last night approved a new zone where electric golf carts can drive on streets with speed limits that are 25 mph or slower. Cart drivers must be at least 16 years old, have special insurance for their cart and will have to register with the city and pay an annual $50 fee.

The Spokesman-Review has more.

Do Texting While Driving Bans Increase Accidents?

Do bans on texting and driving actually increase accidents? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 3 of every 4 states that have enacted a ban on texting while driving have seen crashes actually go up rather than down.

It's hard to say for sure why, but experts believe its a result of people trying to avoid getting caught. Folks trying to keep their phones out of view will often hold the phone much lower, below the wheel perhaps, in order to keep it out of view. That means the driver's eyes are looking down and away from the road. KSL.com Utah has the story.

Vanpool Fare Change Public Meeting

Spokane Transit will host a public meeting next Thursday, November 15 to gather input on a change to the Vanpool Fare Policy.

The individual fare for a Vanpool participant is a calculation based on program costs, mileage driven, and number of participants in a group. Currently the resulting fare matrix is rounded to the nearest penny. In order to simplify billing and accounting for both STA and our customers, this update recommends that the fare matrix be rounded to whole dollar increments.


STA staff want to know your thoughts on this. The meeting is at 10 a.m. on November 15 in the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Boardroom, 1229 W. Boone Ave, Spokane, Washington, 99201.

Council To Vote On Golf Carts On Hillyard Streets

Golf carts could soon be seen, legally, on Hillyard streets. The carts are already legal in Liberty Lake and Medical Lake, but keep in mind those communities built paths for them in many areas. Spokane's City Council will vote on this tonight, what do you think?

Why Isn't Transportation Playing A Bigger Role In The Presidential Election?

What's missing from the presidential race? Planes, trains, roads and bridges, perhaps? As Superstorm Sandy reminded us, we can't afford to do without them, so why isn't transportation a hot topic this election season? The World has some ideas in this article.

Gas Shortages Causing Major East Coast Headaches

Things are getting ugly on the east coast. People are getting angry and scared as gas is rationed and the weather gets cold. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered rationing of gas sales in 12 New Jersey counties while Governor Andrew Cuomo sought to boost supplies in New York to help reduce miles-long lines at filling stations.


President Barack Obama also took steps over the weekend to alleviate the region’s fuel shortage, including waiving a law that ordinarily permits only U.S.-flag tankers to move refined products between U.S. ports.

About 1.2 million customers in New Jersey remain without power five days after Hurricane Sandy and are lining up for gas to fuel generators.The power outages have also shut down many gas stations. As a result, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers can be fueled on odd- numbered days, while those ending in even numbers can get gas on even-numbered days, starting at noon today. And police are on hand to enforce the order. Bloomberg Business Week has more on the fuel shortages and resulting issues.

Tips To Avoid Purchasing Flood-Damaged Cars In The Wake of Sandy

Just like after Hurricane Katrina, AAA is warning potential car buyers to do their homework in order to avoid purchasing a flood-damaged vehicle from Superstorm Sandy.

In addition to the obvious damage done to upholstery and carpeting, flood water is a corrosive and abrasive mixture of water and dirt that can get into every inch of a car, damaging the engine, transmission and pretty much every other part of the vehicle.

With these cars expected to flood the market any day now, how do you tell if they've been water damaged?

AAA has some tips.

Construction Updates and Projects Wrapping Up Next Week

WSDOT

US 195/Cheney-Spokane Road Intersection- Over the next week, during daytime hours, there may be lane restrictions on Cheney-Spokane Road and/or the southbound off ramp lane at US 195 for utility company conduit work and paving. The intersection will remain open. You can expect delays.

 

I-90/Beck Road Interchange- Eastbound I90 reduced to one lane tomorrow, (Friday Nov. 2) from the Washington State Line to Pleasantview Road in Post Falls so crews can pave the ramps for the new Beck Road interchange. The speed limit on that stretch of I-90 has been temporarily reduced to 55 mph.

SPOKANE CITY

Dalke Ave. from Myrtle to Freya- The project to pave Dalke Ave from Myrtle to Freya streets is complete and the streets have reopened.

37th Ave. Traffic Signal- The project to install a traffic signal at the 37th Ave. and Grand Blvd. is complete.

Adams St. from 21st to 15th avenues and surrounding streets- The project to rehabilitate Adams St. from 21st to 15th avenues and surrounding residential streets is substantially complete. The project also rehabilitated Jefferson St. from 21st to 15th avenues; Madison St. from 21st to 17th avenues; 17th, 18th, and 19th avenues from Cedar to Madison streets; and 20th Ave. from Adams to Madison streets. Additionally, ADA curb ramps were installed, where necessary, and storm drains were repaired. Adams St. from 21st to 15th avenues and surrounding streets has reopened.

14th and 15th Avenues from Chestnut St. to Inland Empire Way- The project to pave 14th and 15th avenues between Chestnut St. and Inland Empire Way and install curbs and sidewalks is nearing completion. All streets will reopen to traffic by Friday, Nov. 9. Until then, local access will be maintained.

Oak St. from Inland Empire Way to 28th Ave.- The project to pave Oak Street from Inland Empire Way to 28th Avenue and install curbs and sidewalks is nearing completion. All streets will reopen to traffic by Friday, Nov. 9. Until then, local access will be maintained.

Intersection of Monroe and Gardner Streets- On Tuesday, Nov. 6, left hand turns from Monroe St. onto Gardner Ave. will be restricted to accommodate possible extra traffic from people turning in ballots to the Spokane County Elections Office.

Candidates Share Their Stance On Local Transportation Issues

Don't vote yet! The Spokesman-Review interviewed local candidates on hot topics, and transportation was one of them. They posted a couple videos where some candidates share their stances on the North Spokane Corridor, "Electric Bus" and the Sullivan Bridge, among other transportation topics. Unfortunately, I can't get the video to play, so I can't just post the video. I suspect it's my computer though, so I am going to just give you the link and you can try it on your computer.

Here is Dellwo versus Holy on the topic of the NSC and Electric Bus.

And this one takes you to Biviana versus Shea talking about the NSC and Sullivan Bridge.

Next Week's Board Meeting Agenda/Packet Available

The SRTC Policy Board is next Thursday, Nov. 8 and it's preceeded by a brown bag lunch session this time. Here's the packet if you'd like to take a look. As always, Board meetings are open to the public so feel free to attend. The brown bag session is on Urban Transportation Corridors; what they are, how they would work here and if it's feasible to get them here. More information on that is in the packet. It's open to the public too, so again, feel free to attend.

New Yorkers Take To The Streets On Foot To Get To Work

With subways out of commission from water damage from Superstorm Sandy and buses only running on limited routes, New Yorkers are having to find another way to commute. Thousands of people are hitting the streets walking, riding their bikes and even skateboarding to get to work, now that the storm danger is past, but services aren't back up and running.

The BikePortland blog has some cool pictures of hundreds of people jamming sidewalks and bridges trying to get to work.

Commute Alternatives You May Want To Try

I was talking to a woman yesterday who works in Human Resources at a local health services company and she said she hears occasionally from people that they couldn't get to work because their car wouldn't start. Her comment was that they're probably not trying very hard since there are other options. And then this article on commute options came out on the Down to Earth Northwest blog today, so I thought it was timely.

Boy Hit By Truck In Spokane Valley

A 13-year-old boy was hit by a pickup truck in Spokane Valley last night. It's not clear what happened yet but authorities say he was wearing dark clothing when hit. The driver is cooperating with police on the investigation.

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