Here's the Scoop On Stimulus Money In Our Area

Now that it's clearer how much of the $787 billion economic stimulus package funding Washington State will get, we've been getting tons of questions about where it will be used.

We now know that Washington will receive $492 million in federal transportation money and SRTC is responsible for allocating $10.4 million of it to local government agencies for transportation projects in Spokane County.

On February 25, SRTC held a special meeting of its Transportation Technical Committee (TTC) to discuss and recommend specific transportation projects for stimulus funding. Potential projects had been identified in December by a group consisting of staff from area government agencies and elected officials. Here is that list of projects.

Projects under consideration needed to be regionally significant, geographically distributed among the regions of Spokane County, and ready to go out to advertisement within 120 days of the state receiving the stimulus money, expected to be sometime the week of March 2.

Approximately nine projects made the TTC's short list to receive stimulus funding. A memo is being prepared to inform the SRTC Board of the chosen projects. Until then, the project list will not be released. The Board will consider the recommended list of projects at their regularly-scheduled meeting on March 12.

When the Board approves the final list of projects, jurisdictions receiving stimulus money will be required to advertise the projects for contractor bidding within 120 days.

We'll post the list of chosen projects when the Board is notified next week.

A Star Is Born

KHQ News has a new television show addressing the economy that will air Sunday mornings starting this Sunday, March 1. In the premiere episode, SRTC's Jeff Selle joins other local experts to talk about how stimulus funding will effect our area. Here are some pictures from the set.

Gas Prices Are Going Up, But This Is Ridiculous

A Spokane man thought he was paying $26 for gas in the Tri Cities the other day. Turns out, that stop for gas cost him a lot more- like $81,400,836,908 more.

Here's the story.

Nothing To Do On Sunday? Here's An Idea

They're Dropping Like Flies Lately

The eastbound lanes of Trent Avenue are blocked at Fancher where a pedestrian has been hit by a car, according to police. The pedestrian does not appear to have suffered life-threatening injuries, but still, this is happening all the time lately it seems like. Come on folks, it's light by 6:45 a.m. now so you can't use the excuse that it was dark outside. We all need to be more attentive. Okay, stepping down off my soap box now...

Student Asks For Drivers To Respect Handicap Parking Spots

Spokesman-Review Letters to the Editor
Respect reserved parking

I am a freshman at Mead High School, and my dad was recently injured. He is now restricted to a wheelchair. In a parking lot, handicap parking spots are intended for disabled people only. Unfortunately, there are many people who look for a quick way to the front door and abuse the handicap spots. With slick ice on the streets, it takes someone in a wheelchair even longer to wheel up to a door.
People often forget handicap-accessible cars often have ramps. Handicap spots with ramp space are crucial. I get extremely frustrated when I see a perfectly normal and healthy individual jump right out of their car to walk to the door from a handicap parking space, while my dad drives around searching for somewhere to deploy his ramp. He usually finds this spot in the very back of the parking lot, where no cars park.
My dad would give anything to be able to walk even 10 steps to the door. Please, do a favor for disabled people around town; only park in a handicap spot if you are in need of one. You will be appreciated.

Ciara McManus
Spokane

Has anyone else noticed a lot of this abuse going on recently? I hear about it occasionally but it seems it's gotten worse lately.

County Weight Restrictions In Effect

It's official- seasonal weight restrictions are in effect throughout the county.
Every year at this time, roadway surfaces and the structures beneath become weakened by the freeze and thaw cycle, making roads vulnerable to damage.

Weight restrictions reduce the need for road maintenance and car repairs. Restrictions will be in place for approximately six weeks.

Effected roads in the county are posted with signs indicating maximum weights. Typically, these restrictions do not apply to the average car or pickup, but commercial and construction vehicles may need to lighten their loads to comply with the restrictions. And here's the part you need to know; Spokane County commercial vehicle enforcement officers will be on patrol and violators will be fined!

State Plan Revealed For Stimulus Plan Money

Top House and Senate lawmakers yesterday unveiled their plan for spending $341 million in federal transportation money that’s coming to the state from President Obama’s economic stimulus plan.

Locally, the plan includes $2.4 million for asphalt work on U.S. 395 from the Spokane County line to Loon Lake, and another $9 million to continue that work from Loon Lake to Immel Road.

Here's the rest of the list of where the money will go.

Cameras Catch Lots Of Red Light Runners

Since the installation of the red light cameras in September, almost 1,600 tickets have been issued, including to the driver of an STA bus, several taxis, and a school bus driver! KXLY has more on this story.

Put These Dates On Your Calendar

As you've probably heard, the Spokane Transit Authority is considering raising fares. STA is holding drop-in style meetings in March to get your input on the idea.

The two meetings are on Wednesday, March 4th at the downtown Plaza from 2-6 p.m. and at Riverpark Square on March 9th and 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is your chance to put in your two cents, so take advantage of it.

If you aren't familiar with the fare hikes here's the proposal on how much they would go up.

If You Walk Or Ride In Kootenai County, Take This Short Survey!

SRTC contracts with the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (the MPO for Kootenai County), so we do a lot of work on both sides of the Washington-Idaho border.

Our latest project on the Idaho side is to develop a Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, and we're asking for help from the public to do so through an online survey. Because North Idaho has some great bicycling trails and walking paths, we know a lot of people from Washington travel over there to use them. So if you're one of those people, we'd like you to take our survey.

The input received will help to identify policies, goals, and projects to include in the Non-Motorized Plan. To take the survey, click here, then hit the link at the top of the KMPO home page.

Again, you do not have to be a Kootenai County resident to take this survey.

Please complete the survey by March 13, and thanks for your time.

Monroe Street Bridge Lane Closure

Southbound traffic on the Monroe Street Bridge will be reduced to one lane from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Wednesday through Friday (Feb. 25 through 27). Crews will be pulling cable through conduit. Signs directing traffic will be in place.

Two Bills Take On Studded Tires

Senator Chris Marr is doing the math, and he says the benefit of better traction during treacherous weather conditions doesn't make up for the amount of damage studded tires do to our roadways.

With Washington facing a $500 million transportation budget shortfall, Marr is proposing a bill that would ban studded tires. And he's not the only lawmaker trying to mitigate the damage done by studs. Here's more on this story.

Downtown Lane Closures For Tuesday

Lane closures are planned on Spokane Falls Boulevard and Stevens Street from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., tomorrow (Tuesday). The south lane of Spokane Falls Boulevard will be closed. Additionally, the center lane of Stevens St. will be closed to traffic; while the right and left lanes will remain open.

Avista Utilities will be replacing a manhole and performing cable maintenance. If you drive in the area you can anticipate delays and may want to consider an alternate route.

Downtown Parking Confusion

Some people who read a Spokesman article late last week about the new downtown Spokane 'Entertainment Parking District' were still confused about where they can park and for how long, so the Spokesman's Jim Camden is breaking it down for you.

Roundup For the Week of Feb. 23

A man who was seriously injured in an accident several years ago speaks out about needed improvements to an area intersection, Riverside will be closed tomorrow, and an bicycling group wants to teach you how to ride in traffic. Those are just a few of the things going on in transportation this week from the Spokesman's 'Getting There' column.

Obama To Nation's Mayors: 'I'm Watching You.'

Watch your backs mayors, President Obama says he's watching you. Obama warned the nation's mayors today that he will "call them out" if they waste the economic stimulus plan money.

Obama demanded accountability, from local government as well as his own agencies. He said the new legislation gives him tools to "watch the taxpayers' money with more rigor and transparency than ever," and that he will use them.

Here's more on this story.

Downtown Street Closure

A note from the City of Spokane:

Riverside Ave. from Lincoln to Post streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, until 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The closure is needed to install HVAC equipment in the Small Business Administration building. Drivers will be detoured to Main or Sprague avenues.

Parking Signs Confusing Drivers

If you park within a three block area of downtown bounded by Madison St., Post St., Sprague Ave., and First Ave., you may be confused by some new signs that popped up recently.

That area has recently been designated an 'Entertainment Parkind District' to provide entertainment venues with specialized parking rules designed to accommodate large groups and tour buses.

Newly placed disabled signs have been attached to the meters within the district to indicate that vehicles with a disabled placard may park at the meters within the district for up to four hours. Many people, however, have interpreted them to mean that the spaces are limited to disabled parking, when they are meant to help encourage turnover in the spaces for those attending events at the entertainment venues located within the district.

Get Your Crosswalk Questions Answered

With the snow and ice melting off the streets, and more people out walking and bicycling, the subject of crosswalks has been coming up often again lately. Namely, the lack of painted crosswalks or questions on why faded crosswalks aren't repainted a lot of the time. The City has a 'Frequently Asked Questions' document on their website

Wondering why some crosswalks aren't marked? What the official guidelines for crosswalks are? Where crosswalks are normally marked? Check out the link above for answers.