City Street Sweeping Schedule

Here's the City's street sweeping plan for next week:

Northwest: Kathleen Ave. to the north City limits and Indian Trail Rd. to Skyline Dr. Francis Ave. to Strong Rd. and Ash St. to Indian Trail Rd.

Northeast: Hough St. to South Riverton Dr. and Mission Ave. to the river. Division St. to Mission Ave. and Helena St./South Riverton Dr. to Trent Ave./Parkwater Rd.

South: Second Ave. to 29th Ave. and Monroe St. to Cannon St.
14th Ave. to Fourth Ave. and Grand Blvd. to Monroe St. Fifth Ave. to Rockwood Blvd. and Southeast Blvd. to Rockwood Blvd.

Sweeping will be done between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Residents are asked to move their vehicles from the street during sweeping.

A Couple Things You Should Know For Next Week

- Some City streets will be closed this Sunday, May 3, for the annual Bloomsday Run. The start area, downtown on Riverside Ave. between Lincoln and Post streets, will close at 5:00 a.m. The streets surrounding the start area close at 7:00 a.m., and the rest of the course closes at 8:15 a.m. to traffic. Additionally, the Monroe St. Bridge will close at 5:30 a.m. and Washington couplet closes at 7 a.m.

The race begins at 9 a.m.; the streets in the downtown core will reopen around 11:30 a.m. and the remaining streets will reopen around 2 p.m.

- A project to install a concrete intersection and make improvements to the traffic signals at Francis Ave. and Nevada St. begins Monday, May 4. Nevada St. from Rosewood to Decatur avenues will be closed to traffic. Francis Ave. will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

The Photored Cameras Would Have Gotten Him If He Lived In Spokane

Not sure where this happened or if it's true, but I received this picture from a City employee today with the explanation 'The driver of this pickup was drunk when he hit the left turn light and sheared off the light post at the base, and then kept driving on about 2 miles to a bar, where he stopped for more beer!! How impaired do you have to be to NOT notice that you are carrying a stop light? ( I Wonder if the light was green? ) The truck was towed about 2.5 miles to a towing yard, with the light still pinched between the two tow hooks and the bumper bent around it. It took several good hard pulls with a backhoe to get the pole free.'

So there you go folks, one more reason not to drink and drive; those poles aren't cheap.

Valley Seeking ARRA Funds For Bike Master Plan

Spokane Valley is eligible for $823,000 in Federal Recovery Act grant funds to spend on energy conservation planning or projects that result in energy savings and long-term sustainability.

One of the projects they are interested in developing with that money for is a Bike Master Plan (BMP). A goal of the Comprehensive Plan is the adoption of a BMP that will enable the City to leverage funds for the construction of alternative transportation facilities.

The City is conducting a public meeting on May 7th from 5-7:00 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers to gather public input on that project idea and others.

The goal of the grant is to create energy savings, new jobs, and long-term environmental benefits for cities. Other ideas being considered are:

- Exchanging traditional traffic lights with LED lights
- Conducting energy audits on City-owned facilities
- Preparing a long-term energy plan for the City
- Sprague Avenue traffic signal coordination system from University to Sullivan

Those Wacky Wyomingians. Or is it Wyoman?

Here's something interesting I found while digging around on the internet today. Wyoming allows drivers to keep studded tires on their vehicles year-round.

2 Area Bike/Ped Projects Get Capital Funds

Good news for a couple local bike and pedestrian facilities. The Iron Bridge & Centennial Trail realignment both were awarded grants from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.

The Centennial Trail Realignment at Gateway Park will realign the Trail to pass safely beneath the new Spokane Road ("Old I-90") Bridge, which is being replaced in the 2008-2009 biennium. This project received a grant of $197,974.

The Historic Iron Bridge Renovation project received $530,000 in grant money. It's not clear yet if this will be enough money to fund the entire project. The City of Spokane has some commitments as far as how to raise the match money required to get this grant, but aren't sure yet if that amount will cover the entire price tag of the project.

This project would renovate and open Spokane’s Historic Iron Bridge for bicycle and pedestrian use.

It's Official; We're The Cranky Bureaucrats

We're calling out other public agencies; what's the matter Colonel Sanders? Too chicken to take part in Bike To Work Week? Speaking of chicken, this is our BTW spokeschicken. He got the job based solely on his gear, not his credentials. How many chickens do you know that have their own bike helmets?

Anway, Bike To Work Barb (also known as BTW organizer Barb Chamberlain) sent us an email after we registered our team yesterday (Go Cranky Bureaucrats!!) saying that there are only two other teams from public agencies registered so far, and both are from WSDOT. So how about it City of Spokane? Spokane Transit? Spokane County? To quote Barb, 'It would be great to have a transportation agency Bike To Work cage match.'

We'll even give you the link to register. Here it is. Go crazy transportation agencies. We've got your number.

Riverfront Park Bridge Gets Weight Restrictions

New weight restrictions have been imposed on the South Howard Street Bridge in Riverfront Park, in an effort to extend its useful life. This bridge is adjacent to the Rotary Riverfront fountain in Riverfront Park.

For the most part, this shouldn't affect you (if it does, we need to talk about your commute route) as this bridge is only used for limited service and special event vehicles. The new restrictions will ban all trucks and cars from using it. Fencing will be installed to cordon off a 25’ section of the bridge to help reduce pedestrian loading.

A commissioned study determined this bridge has deteriorated to the point where reducing the load is the only way to extend its life. This is the only bridge inside the park that has these restrictions.

US 195 Blocked At Cheney-Spokane Road

U.S. Highway 195 is blocked at Cheney-Spokane Road this afternoon following a two-vehicle collision just after 3 p.m.

A Washington State Patrol spokeswoman said one occupant needed to be extricated.

Southbound traffic was being diverted at Inland Empire Way.

This is the same intersection where Lorissa Green, 16, of Cheney, was killed in January when she was t-boned by an oncoming pickup truck. Her death prompted an outcry for improvements to the intersection.

Lawmakers this month approved a budget allocating $250,000 for a separated exit lane alongside the southbound lanes for traffic turning to go south and west on Cheney-Spokane Road.

SRTC April Newsletter Available

SRTC's April newsletter is out (and barely in time, April is almost over!). Click here to see what projects and activities we've been working on the past few months, and what's coming up on the horizon.

Backlash Against Traffic Cameras Leaves One Dead

I blogged a couple weeks ago about how some people are fighting back against cameras that either record red light runners or speeders. Well, it's no longer a joking matter, or just a case of vandalism in Arizona, where a photo-radar van operator was gunned down last week. Here's the story.

Traction Sand Causing Problems At Treatment Plant

Where does all the sand go that is put on city streets to help traction in the winter? If you live in Seattle, it goes into the sewer. Where it's now causing all kinds of problems.

This year's record amount of sand is shutting down pumps and requiring increased maintenance at King County's sewage treatment plant. Here's the story.

Agencies Worried About Paratransit Price Increase

If STA approves recommended fare hikes, the most dramatic increases would be felt by paratransit riders. And that has the agencies who work with people with disabilities concerned. Here's a Spokesman article about the potential impact.

Gas Price Q & A

Gas prices are definetely rising, but are we going to see them get as high as $4 again? AAA says that's not likely. Here are some questions and answers about gas and gas prices, from the Spokesman-Review.

Roundup For the Week of April 27

Some changes go into effect today on US 2 as a result of construction on the North Spokane Corridor, registration is open for Bike To Work Week, and the way you get on and off the freeway at Pines has changed. Here's a roundup of transportation news from the Spokesman's 'Getting There' column.

Southeast Blvd. Project Starts Tomorrow

A project to rehabilitate Southeast Blvd. from 29th to Perry Street begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28.

The project includes replacing a distribution main from 29th Avenue to Rockwood Boulevard, one from Rockwood Boulevard, and one from 18th Avenue to Perry Street.

Southeast Blvd. from 29th Ave. to Rockwood Blvd. will be closed to traffic with local access only. Motorists will be detoured onto 17th Ave. to Ray St. to 29th Ave.

The $1.9 million project is being funded by the 10-Year Street Bond and Water Department.

Spokane Valley Public Hearing Tomorrow

The Spokane Valley City Council will hold a public hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) night to hear final comments on the Sprague and Appleway Corridors Subarea Plan. It starts at 6 p.m. in the CenterPlace Great Room, located at 2436 Discovery Place in Spokane Valley.

The Subarea Plan proposes new development regulations for all properties within the Plan Area, including building use, building height, setbacks, building orientation, signs, parking, streets and open space and building design. It also includes recommendations for street network improvements for Sprague and Appleway. Here's a link to the Plan.

Residential Street Sweeping Starts Monday

It's a sure sign of spring when neighborhood street sweeping starts.

Sweeping will be done between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, starting April 27. Residents are asked to move their vehicles from the street during sweeping.

Next week, crews will sweep the areas bounded by these streets:

Northwest: A St. to Driscoll Blvd. and Rowan Ave. to Francis Ave.
Wellesley Ave. to Rowan Ave. and Driscoll Blvd. to A St.
Kathleen Ave. to the north City limits and Indian Trail Rd. to Skyline Dr.

Northeast: Hough St. to South Riverton Dr. and Mission Ave. to the river.
Division St. to Mission Ave. and Helena St./South Riverton Dr. to Trent Ave./Parkwater Rd.

South: 18th Ave. to Fifth Ave. and Southeast Blvd. to Crestline St.
Second Ave. to 29th Ave. and Monroe St. to Cannon St.

Downtown Road Closure

Post St. from Spokane Falls Blvd. to Bridge Ave. will be closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. this Sunday, April 26 for the Earth Day celebration.Detours will be in place.

Workshops Update Your Cycling Skills

A little rusty on your bicycling skills? I know I am. You can update your cycling skills through Bike Commuting Workshops next week taught by certified instructor Eileen Hyatt.

The workshops feature traffic skills, tips on clothing, gear, and lighting as well as prize drawings and refreshments. They also feature roadside repair instruction by techs from Bronze Gear sponsor North Division Bicycle Shop.

The workshops are free and available on a walk-in basis--no need to register. Here are the dates:

Tuesday April 28, 6-7:30pm at Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley
Wednesday, April 29, 6-7:30pm at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division
Monday, May 4, 6-7:30pm at North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne