Grand Blvd. Lanes Reduced

Grand Blvd. from 27th to 28th avenues is reduced by one lane for motorists traveling southbound until tomorrow morning. Signs are in place. The closure is needed for utility work.

An Update From The City Of Spokane

The Wellesley Avenue and Belt Street Signal Upgrade project is nearing completion. The project replaced the existing traffic signal and added a left turn phase at the intersection. Belt St. at its intersection with Wellesley Ave. remains closed to traffic.

The $410,000 project was funded with federal and City funds.

Get Your Free Bike Map

With summer here, you fair weather bicyclists no longer have an excuse. And to make it even easier to ride, we'll help you out with a free bike map showing bicycle routes across the county, specifying whether they're shared use, bike lanes, recreation routes, etc.

The maps are available free at area bike shops, including:

Argonne Cycle, 3215 N. Argonne Rd.
Bicycle Butler, 6520 N. Ash
Fitness Fanatics, 12425 E. Trent
North Division Bicycle Shop, 10503 N. Division
REI, 1125 N. Monroe
Spoke 'N Sport, 212 N. Division
Two Wheel Transit, 1405 W. 1st Ave.
Wheel Sport Central, 1711 N. Division
Wheel Sport East, 606 N. Sullivan
Wheel Sport South, 2820 E. 29th Ave.
Cycle Sports, 1318 N. Libertly Lake Dr.
Bicycle Time, 210 C St., Cheney


For information on how to get yourThe 2009 Spokane Regional Bike Map is also posted on the SRTC website.- SL

City Releases Request For Proposal For Bus Benches

The City of Spokane today released a request for proposals (RFP) for bus benches that are safe, comfortable, and placed where riders need them. The RFP seeks private companies willing to purchase or construct, install, and maintain the benches. Proposals are due Monday, June 22.

The successful bidder will receive a 5-year contract to place bus benches in a minimum of 200 locations in the City with the possibility for a 5-year renewal. The RFP allows benches with advertising.

WA State Holiday Travel Numbers Up 10% From '08

Early traffic counts conducted by the Washington State Department of Transportation show an increase of nearly 10% in holiday weekend traffic from 2008, with I-90 Snoqualmie Pass showing a 9% increase, Stevens Pass a 12% increase and I-5 near Olympia a 7% increase.

These increases, combined with traffic collisions, led to long delays. Travel was especially tough over I-90 Snoqualmie Pass both Friday afternoon and Monday.

Here are some statistics from the west side (there was no mention in the news release of traffic in other areas) for Memorial Day weekend '09, as compared to '08:

- 199,000 vehicles traveled over Snoqualmie Pass between Friday and Monday, an increase of 16,500 vehicles.

- Travelers headed west across Snoqualmie Pass on Monday faced 22 miles of stop-and-go traffic as a result of several minor collisions.

- 38,200 vehicles traveled US 2 from Friday through Monday, an increase of 4,300 vehicles.

- 269,700 vehicles traveled I-5 south of Olympia into Lewis County between Friday and Monday, an increase of 17,700 vehicles.

Mission Ave. Lane Reductions

Beginning at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, and ending at 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, travel on Mission Ave. from Perry St. to Upriver Dr. will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Schimmels Construction will be excavating the Witter Pool water tap.

I'm In Love... With Olympia's Bike- And Walkability

I thought it needed a change of scenery so I took SRTC's Commute Trip Reduction bike on a roadtrip this weekend. We went to Olympia to visit my friend Holly (seen here with her daughter Sarah who looks as bored as is required of a teenager). We spent all weekend riding the many bike trails in the area. In this picture, we had ridden to the farmer's market downtown and there were so many bikes we had to lock ours to trees as all the bike racks were full. I was impressed with how pretty much every street (besides the ones through purely residential areas) had bike lanes on both sides of the streets. We rode all kinds of places that I would be nervous to go on a bike in our area.

And not only were a lot of other people riding also, but they were coming up with some pretty creative ways to utilize their bikes, such as this trailer made of PVC.

The walkability was also impressive. When we got the itch to take in the nightlife Saturday night, we walked downtown. At 10:30 at night! And it wasn't considered weird, as everything is close together and centered around the downtown area. So close in fact, that most the area kids ride everywhere. We kept bumping into Holly's kids all over town, and when I would ask how they had gotten there, they would say they had ridden their bikes. And she hadn't even had to nag them to go outside and quit playing video games.

33 Spokane County Schools Take Part In 'No Idle Zone' Program

Spokane County is up to 33 schools now that are taking part in the 'No-Idle Zone' program! The program is aimed at informing parents of the impacts of vehicle idling and encourage them to not idle cars when dropping off and picking up children from school.

Research by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency shows that schools are a "hot spot" of vehicle idling. Schools that take part in the program send a letter and fact sheet home to parents along with a voluntary pledge form not to let their cars idle. There are also student activities and 'No Idle Zone' signs are provided for the school to post.

For information on how to get your child's school involved, here's a link.

Parking Restrictions Public Hearing Tonight

A reminder that the Board of County Commissioners tonight will hold a public hearing on revisions to the Spokane County Traffic Code that would restrict parking in portions of the unincorporated area around Liberty Lake.

The Spokane Valley Fire District has requested these revisions to the traffic code as a matter of public safety. Testimony will be taken at the hearing, which starts at 5:30 p.m. in the BOCC Hearing Room on the lower level of the Public Works Building (1026 W. Broadway Ave, Spokane).

The proposed revisions are detailed on the Spokane County website.

WA Won't Reach Biofuels Goal

Washington state won’t reach its goal next month of having biofuels make up at least 20 percent of its fuel use in state vehicles and ferries.

The state had set a June 1 target for alternative fuels to make up a fifth of its fuel use. But as of the end of last year, such fuel accounted for just over 2%. Here's more from the Spokesman-Review.

Get Your Car Off The Street In Browne's Addition

As has been known to happen with me in the past, I'm pretty late in getting the warning to you, but if you live in Browne's Addition, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR CAR OFF THE STREET BY 9 THIS MORNING!

The City of Spokane will do street sweeping in Browne’s Addition today and tomorrow, May 26 and 27, starting at 9 a.m. The trucks will be on the north-south streets in Browne’s Addition on Tuesday and the east-west streets on Wednesday.

Cars must be moved because the streets are so narrow the trucks cannot get through with parked vehicles lining the streets. Crews posted informational signs last week notifying residents. Vehicles parked on the street when the trucks come in will be subject to towing. If your vehicle is towed, call 625-4100.

We're #1!! We're #1!!

Hey Washingtonians, we're #1 for something and it's not meth use! The League of American Bicyclists released the second annual ranking of Bicycle Friendly States and we're at the top of the list! Here's more about how the ranking criteria, then click on the link on the left to see the rankings.

Holiday Closures

I'm taking an extra day off to make the weekend even longer, so here's your early warning about holiday closures:

- SRTC will be closed on Monday, May 25

- Spokane City Hall will be closed along with other City facilities, including the garbage transfer stations and the waste-to-energy plant

- Spokane City parking meters don’t have to be plugged on Monday

- The Spokane City Council legislative meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m.

- City offices will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen on Tuesday, May 27

- All Spokane Valley City offices will be closed on Monday

- Washington State Department of Transportation offices will be closed on Monday and most construction work will be suspended by noon on Friday, May 22 in anticipation of increased holiday traffic.

- Liberty Lake government offices will be closed on Monday

- Spokane County offices will be closed on Monday

New Site Lets You Rent Bike Anywhere In U.S. & Canada

A new website-RentaBikeNow.com- has just launched North America's only coast-to-coast bike rental service that provides bikes, accessories and tours so travelers can easily ride bikes everywhere!

Through this service, millions of cyclists across the globe can easily reserve quality bikes online from hundreds of participating bike shops before they travel throughout the US and Canada. By simply selecting a destination, travel dates and type of bike, travelers can search among available bikes and reserve the specific model that suits their size and riding style. Bikes are presented with specs, photos, pricing and shop hours to help travelers find the perfect bike and most convenient bike shop.

Has anyone tried a service like this before? What do you think?

Traffic Fatalities Down In Washington

Fatal traffic accidents are down this year, according to a report from the National Safety Council.

In Washington, fatalities involving motor vehicles were down to 91 so far in 2009, from 108 in the first three months of 2008, the Washington State Patrol said.

The WSP attributes the major causes of traffic collisions to speed, aggressive driving, driving under the influence, and drivers following other vehicles too closely.

AAA Forecasts Increase In Holiday Travel

A three-year decline in Memorial Day travel is expected to reverse itself this weekend with a small increase in the number of Americans hitting the road, rails or skies. Here's what AAA is predicting for this holiday weekend.

Verner Changes Mind About Bus Benches

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner this week backed off her original demand that all bus benches with ads be removed by next Tuesday. Verner's change of heart came after the Spokane Transit Authority refused to buy replacement benches and the Spokane City Council changed its sign law to allow the ads. Here's more from the Spokesman-Review.

Northbound Division Reduced To 2 Lanes Wednesday

Tomorrow (Wednesday), from 8:30 a.m. until about 3:30 p.m., northbound Division Street will be reduced to two through lanes from Pacific Avenue to Riverside Avenue. Crews will be replacing the lid on a utility vault.

The left-turn lane from Division to westbound Sprague Avenue will remain open. Drivers on northbound Division Street should expect slow traffic, congestion, and possible delays.

Gas Pump Fights Back- Has This Happened To Anyone Else?

So luckily this happened at the end of the day yesterday instead of the beginning, because I probably would have gone home to change my clothes and gone back to bed.

On my way home, I stopped at my neighborhood convenience store to get gas. I stuck the nozzle into the gas tank and pushed the trigger. I don't know if it was the force from the flowing gas or what, but the entire hose POPPED OFF THE GAS PUMP, dousing me in gas! So I've got one end of the hose stuck in my car and the other lying on the ground and I'm covered in gas. And the manager at the store was not very apologetic when I stormed in to complain. She simply said to move to another pump, and that the 37 cents worth of gas that sprayed all over me would show up on my debit card. After some angry words, she agreed to have my clothes cleaned if I brought them back in later. It was a long, smelly drive home. I should have taken their %$#@ hose with me.

Senate Bill Steers Away From the Car

Senate Democrats have submitted legislation that suggests the nation's transportation policy is headed for a major overhaul, with a strong emphasis on reducing automobile use and boosting public transit.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that they say lays out the guidelines of what they expect the next five-year federal transportation spending plan to accomplish. Here's more from the Washington Post.