The Parking Meters Have Eyes

The new parking meters in Madrid, Spain are very judgmental. They determine parking rates by what kind of car you drive! How do they know when you're driving? When paying for parking, drivers have to enter their license plate number into a key pad on the meter. Information on your car is pulled up from that, then a parking rate is determined, based on the car's age and model. Hybrids and fuel-efficient models are given a discount.

But will this unfairly penalize people who are driving older cars because they can't afford a new one?
Here's the story from Bloomberg Businessweek.

Gas Prices At Six Year High

Heading out of town for the holiday weekend? That's gonna cost you. AAA says U.S. gas prices are the highest they've been since 2008. $3.70 is expected to be the national average per gallon by July 4, but many places around here are already at $3.69 or above and I've seen as high as $3.80.

 According to this article by The Hill, the price hike is due to uncertainties in Iraq.

Some Old School Stuff From Our Files

Digging through some old files today I found some pretty cool stuff. This photo was in with a bunch of other random photos. It's where the current Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be extended soon, where Brown Building Supply used to be and the railroad tracks run. The caption on the back says "I90 ramp construction in background." Yep, that's the Hamilton Street ramp. Anyone know when that was built?

I also found a letter from the State of Washington Office of Financial Management from 1984 with population numbers attached. According to this, unincorporated Spokane County had 349,000 residents that year, with 171,500 within the City of Spokane.

And my favorite item? A flyer from 2003 that advertised a happy hour event offering citizens a chance to hear about SRTC's Southside Transportation Plan while having alcoholic beverages. Here's the agenda that was included on the flyer:

5-6 p.m.             Social Hour

6-6:30 p.m.        Presentation

6:30-6:45 p.m.   Citizen Input

6:45- 9 p.m.       Party on!!!

I'm not joking, it really said that. I miss the old days.

Holiday Closures

It's a holiday week so don't forget to do your government business early if you have any. Independence Day is this Friday so all government offices will be closed. 

There will be lots happening though, so if you come downtown for fireworks and other celebrations in the park, parking meters are free on Friday.

Also, road construction activities will be suspended by Thursday afternoon on most projects. The Washington State Department of Transportation isn't doing any work on Snoqualmie Pass from Thursday through Monday, July 7. They are expecting heavy traffic on I-90 though so allow extra time if you're travelling anywhere.

Paris Launches For Bike-Share Program for Kids

In the U.S., bike-share programs are popping up all over, which is a good thing. But what do you do if you have children you need to transport or would like to take with you? Then bike-share programs, and often transit systems or other alternative-transportation methods, usually won't work for you.

The French are getting creative though, in finding a way around the problem. In Paris, they've launched what is believed to be the first bike-share program for children. The program offers several size bikes to fit kids of all ages, and even has bikes with training wheels. They also come with helmets, unlike with adult bike-share programs.

StreetsBlogUSA has more on this fledgling program.

Plan In Place For When Highway Trust Fund Runs Out

I've been telling you for a while now that the Highway Trust Fund is dangerously low on funds and on track to run out of money in August. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today sent a letter to the head of each state Department of Transportation and transit agencies in the U.S. with the plan for what will happen with transportation funding starting Aug. 1.

Normally, each state is assigned a percentage of federal funds based on an annual federal formula. The states spend that money as they see fit, and send the bill to the feds for reimbursement. That's going to change soon though. Under the new plan, we’ll use the same percentage each state is assigned annually to determine how much they’ll receive of whatever is left in the fund.



So how much less money will that be than what we're currently spending on transportation? And what will be the impact to our transportation infrastructure? Secretary Foxx has some answers on his blog.

Bicyclists Still Facing Anger on the Roads

While bicycling is growing in our community, and being more accepted by those who don't ride than in the
past, there are still those who feel the road is for cars only and aren't shy about telling people that. Unfortunately, many bicyclists are still getting harassed sometimes by those behind the wheel.

The Spokesman-Review takes a look at the threat a lot of riders are facing on the road.

Spokane Considered Building a Monorail At One Point

While most people know that Spokane had a streetcar system in the early 1900s, did you know that there was talk of building a monorail line here in the late 1970s? Neither did I. A Spokane County commissioner proposed the transportation option in response to a shortage of parking on the south side of the river to transport people to Riverfront Park and the Opera House from the Coliseum parking lot.

The Transit 509 blog has the history of the brief foray into building a monorail here.

And because I can't think of monorails without thinking of the classic Simpson's "Monorail" episode guest starring Leonard Nemoy, here's a clip of the monorail song for your Monday morning viewing pleasure.

The Bicycle As An Emblem of the Women's Movement

Here's yet another reason I love bicycles- they helped further the women's rights movement. In the 1890s, bicycling became a craze across America, for men and women. It provided the lower classes a means of getting places they hadn't been able to afford before, as horses, carriages and wagons were expensive, required extensive maintenance and were often only attainable to the wealthy or upper classes. Bicycles were affordable and easy for everyone to ride and offered a new independence to women who had been constrained by a lack of transportation options in the past.

Bicycles also changed the fashions of the day for women, making it more acceptable to see the occasional ankle or a glimpse of bloomers. This shift in fashion lead to other advances for women in the long run.

The Atlantic's Citylab shows how the bicycling fad kicked off women's lib.

Regional Road Construction Update

WSDOT

US 2/Espanola Road to Interstate 90- Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Friday, expect intermittent lane closures in the vicinity of Flint Rd. so crews can resurface the highway and install a signal system at the intersection. Flint Road is closed from US 2 to the south. A detour is available.  Flint Road is closed to the north between 7pm and 6am, Monday through Friday. At the Espanola Road intersection Tuesday evening, July 1^st, beginning at about 7 p.m. until paving is completed the following day, expect single-lane, alternating traffic, directed by flaggers.

I-90/Liberty Park to Havana Street- During overnight hours, from about 9 p.m. until the following morning at 5 a.m., on and off ramp closures and outside lane closures as crews replace the existing lighting.

I-90 Westbound/Fancher Off Ramp Intersection- Lane restrictions at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Fancher Road at the end of this off-ramp.

I-90/Eastbound Sullivan Road Interchange Off Ramp- From about 8 a.m. until as late as 3 p.m., lane restrictions on the Sullivan Road eastbound off ramp and possibly the left lane of northbound and southbound Sullivan Road for traffic signal revisions.

US 195/Cheney-Spokane Road Interchange- Northbound on and off-ramps, plus the southbound off-ramp are open to traffic.  The southbound on-ramp is under construction.  Drivers need to use Qualchan Road to access southbound US 195 during this work.  The Qualchan Road intersection and the Inland Empire Way Intersection are now restricted to southbound access only (right turn in/right turn out).  No left-turns or cross traffic are allowed.  This is a long-term configuration.  The Cheney-Spokane Road interchange is now the northbound US 195 access for these two intersections.

SR 290/Sullivan Road Overpass- On Monday, June 30, between about 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. the westbound SR 290/Trent Road right lane will be closed at Sullivan Road for bridge girder repairs.  All on and off ramps will be open. 

SR 904/Cheney (Betz Road) to I-90 @ Four Lakes- Some paving remains followed by paint striping and other final items on a project to resurface the roadway. In general, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., drivers should expect single-lane alternating traffic on SR 904 between Four Lakes and Cheney, directed by flaggers and/or pilot cars with delays.  All lanes will be open during daytime hours.  

NSC/BNSF Railway Structures/Realignment & Ped/Bike Trail Extension- Drivers on Freya, north of Francis, and at the NSC southbound off-ramp roundabout, should be alert for flaggers directing traffic as trucks enter and exit the work area.  During morning commute hours, southbound NSC drivers should be prepared to stop near the roundabout and expect some congestion and delays.

SPOKANE VALLEY

Argonne Road from Broadway to Sprague - Reduced to one lane southbound through early July for resurfacing.

Sprague Avenue westbound from Thierman to I-90 Overpass - Reduced to two lanes through early July for resurfacing, stormwater drainage improvements, and sidewalk work.

Sprague Avenue eastbound from the I-90 Overpass to Thierman - Reduced to one lane through early July for resurfacing, stormwater drainage improvements, and sidewalk work.

Sprague Avenue between University and Herald - Reduced to two lanes westbound through mid-July for resurfacing.

Sprague Avenue westbound between Vista and Park - Reduced to two lanes through Thursday, July 3 at 10 p.m. for roadwork.

Trent Avenue beneath the Sullivan overpass - Westbound curb lane closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 30 for repairs to the Sullivan overpass.

4^th Avenue between Thierman and David - Closed through 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 for utility work.  Signs redirect traffic via Eastern and 2^nd.


Montgomery Avenue at Long - Montgomery just north of Long, and Long just west of Montgomery are reduced to a single lane until 5 p.m. today and from 7 a.m.to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 for installation of a turn lane.  Flaggers will direct traffic through the work area.

SPOKANE CITY

·        Hoopfest Road Closures- Most of downtown will be converted to basketball courts for Hoopfest Saturday and Sunday.  Expect closures from First to Boone avenues and from Browne to Lincoln streets.  All of downtown will experience traffic congestion. The 2014 Spokane Regional Road Construction Map shows all the closures here. Zoom in to the downtown area to view them. 

      Hillyard Appreciation Day Street Closures Saturday- Broad, Wabash, Olympic, and Queen will be closed from Market to Greene Street. Greene Street will be closed from Broad to Queen Street. Queen Street will be closed from Haven to Market Street. Festivities run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

     Monroe Street Bridge Inspection- The Monroe Street Bridge gas line is set to be inspected by Avista on Tuesday, July 2, starting at 7:30 a.m. One lane on the west side, south bound curb lane will be closed for the work. 

     
Grand Boulevard Construction- McClellan Street between 8^th and 9^th Avenue has one lane southbound.  Northbound is detoured onto 9^th Avenue over to Cowley. 9^th Avenue/Rockwood Boulevard between Grand Boulevard and the hospital tower is closed with driveway access.  Local access only at Cowley and 9^th to the hospital.  Southbound on Stevens has access to the medical building on 9^th Avenue. Traffic will be impacted both north and south bound mainly between 8^th and McClellan, 9^th and Rockwood, to Cliff and Grand. This project will preserve the roadway and upgrade ADA ramps and curbs and sidewalks.

Cedar Road/Country Homes Boulevard Intersection- This project will install a traffic signal at the Cedar Road/Country Homes Boulevard intersection. Traffic is routed along the west 1/2 of Country Homes Blvd. through the Cedar Rd. intersection with one lane access each way (north and south).  Removal of existing asphalt, concrete curb and sidewalk and water line work begins on the east 1/2 of the intersection.

Cedar Road between Francis Ave. and Country Homes Boulevard is closed.

Mission Avenue Construction- Construction continues with the two eastbound lanes of Mission from Hamilton to Perry Street closed. This project will reconstruct the street by replacing the asphalt surfacing, including ADA ramps, as needed.  

Westview Elementary Sidewalk- This project will remove existing curb/gutter, relocate drainage structures, and cut and remove asphalt needed to install new curb/gutter on the north-northwest side of Bismark and create a 35’ road width from Assembly to Driscoll and 32’ from Driscoll to Moore. In addition, the project will install 5’ sidewalk with 5’ planter strip on Fotheringham from the alley one half block south of Bismark to Bismark and on Bismark from Fotheringham to the alley one half block south of Bismark to Bismark.  ADA ramps will be installed on all new sidewalk corners, and on connecting corners where needed.

Francis Avenue from Division to Crestline- Traffic has switched over to the north half of Francis Ave. allowing the removal of existing curb, sidewalk and asphalt pavement to begin on the south half. ITS installation along Colton St. and Dalke Ave. is proceeding.  Colton Street from Francis to Dalke Avenue will be closed for approximately 2 weeks to perform ITS installation. Dalke Avenue from Division Street to Colton Street will have an area along the north curb closed for approximately two weeks to perform ITS installation. 

This project will rehabilitate Francis Avenue from Division to Crestline Streets. The work is curb to curb and includes installation of ADA curb ramps, where needed. 

Francis and Freya Intersection Work- A signal removal and replacement is underway at the Francis/Freya intersection. Flagging at the intersection will occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The dedicated right turn lane will be closed for southbound traffic on Freya Street in order to construct the new roadway at the northwest corner. All traffic movements will still be allowed. The right turn onto westbound Francis Avenue will be routed from the through lane.  Additional traffic congestion is anticipated.

Arthur Street Closure- Arthur Street is closed from 5^th Avenue to 2^nd Avenue. Third Avenue is reduced to one lane at the intersection of Arthur. This project is to repave Arthur from I-90 to 2^nd Avenue, add sidewalks along the west side of Arthur, and adds curb ramps and pedestrian lighting to various intersections. 

SPOKANE COUNTY

Farwell Road - Under construction from Market to the North Spokane Corridor. Watch for lane restrictions.

Bruce Road Bridge and Bruce Road Approach- Bridge replacement underway. Detour in place.

Country Homes Boulevard- Southbound lanes closed from Cedar to Wall.

The Best and Worst States For Teen Drivers

Did you know the leading cause of death for teenagers is car crashes? I would have thought it was angry parents but apparently I'm wrong.

16- to 19-year-olds have the highest crash rate of any age group, with the number of collisions increasing in the summer. These incidents don't just hurt families though, there's also an economic fallout that comes from increased insurance costs, higher health care costs, car repair and maintenance costs.

So what are the best states for drivers, based on number of accidents, driving laws affecting teens and costs (car insurance rates and vehicle repairs)? A new study looks at the best, and worst, states for teen drivers. And guess which list Washington is on?

Guess you'll have to check out the article to find out.

Idaho Interstate Speeds Increase Next Week

Got a lead foot? Then head east. Starting next Tuesday, July 1, the speed limit on Idaho's interstate highways increases to 80 miles per hour!

While many drivers in the Gem State are rejoicing, not everyone is happy with the decision to jack up the speed limit, and some imply it may not even have been done legally. The Idaho State Journal tells us why.

Woman Sues Employer Over Commute Anxiety

A woman who says busy roads cause her anxiety is suing a former employer who refused to change her
schedule to avoid rush-hour traffic.

The woman's lawsuit against Fulton Financial Corp.
says she "began to feel great anxiety and depression, which was especially aggravated by crowded roadways experienced during the heavy traffic of rush hour." Although her suit says this was considered a medical condition that qualified her as being disabled, Fulton denied her a work shift that would allow her to come in after the morning rush hour and prior to the evening rush.

Northwest Cable News has the rest of the story.

Robots Valet Park Cars At German Airport

Hate trying to find parking at the airport?
Travelers at Duesseldorf airport in Germany can soon leave the job to a robot valet. The robot, named Ray, can be booked using a smartphone app.

All travelers need to do is leave their car in a designated area and confirm it's empty and ready to go.

Here's more on how Ray works, and how much he costs to use.

High Impact Sprague and Fancher Intersection Closures

This could have a high impact if you're not aware of it: the Sprague Avenue and Fancher intersection in Spokane Valley has some closures this Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28:

• Friday at 12 noon until Saturday at 12 noon - Right turn lane from westbound Sprague onto northbound Fancher will be closed for signal work.  Signs will redirect westbound Sprague traffic via Thierman, Broadway and Fancher.
  
  
• Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Sprague westbound reduced to one lane.
  
  
• Friday from 7 p.m. overnight until Saturday at 12 noon.
• Sprague westbound through-lanes closed.  Left turn at Fancher leading to I-90 westbound on-ramp will remain open.
• Sprague Avenue eastbound reduced to one lane.
• Fancher northbound reduced to one lane. 
  
  
• Access to businesses will remain available.
  
  
• Signs and/or flaggers will direct traffic through the work area.

New Funding Proposal Details & Town Hall Meetings

The City of Spokane has two more opportunities to learn about the streets funding proposal during a

community conversation this Thursday, June 26, at 6 p.m.

The City will host a simultaneous telephone town hall and traditional town hall discussion in the City Council Chambers in the lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. CityCable 5 also will cablecast the entire evening live, and citizens can follow along @SpokaneCity on Facebook and Twitter.  Thousands of City residents will be contacted and invited to participate by phone.  

The 20-year proposal is designed to provide significant new street work for the same amount of money citizens pay today for such repairs. It will:

·         Focus on improving arterial streets, with the goal of completing some repair or maintenance work on all 266 miles of arterials during the 20 year life of the proposal.

·         Allow the City to double the amount it spend on residential street repair, by directing some dollars currently spent on arterials to residential areas.

On the arterials, work will include both significant repairs, including complete rehabilitation projects and maintenance, including grind and overlay work.

The City will prioritize work based on factors that include pavement condition, traffic volumes, economic development opportunities, pedestrian and bike plan priorities, transit needs, and safety/collision data.  The City’s update to the transportation and utility chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, called Link Spokane, will finalize the criteria to evaluate projects.

Attached is a list of proposed projects the City anticipates during the first two years and maps showing project locations.  Initially, some funding will be used to add components to projects that are already planned.

“We want to distribute the projects geographically and provide a mix of reconstruction and maintenance to bring up the quality of our entire arterial system,” says Mayor David Condon.

Citizens currently pay 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $57 a year on a $100,000 home, for repayment of the 2004 Street Bond. Payments are currently scheduled to continue for another 16 years without any additional street improvements.

With strategic refinancing, that same 57 cents per $1,000 of property value would provide an average of about $25 million annually for street funding, including matching dollars from City utilities and state and federal grants. The amounts grow over time.

Millions of Hondas, Mazdas and Nissans Recalled For Air Bag Issues

Honda, Mazda and Nissan are recalling millions of vehicles globally for defective airbags that could possibly explode. No accidents have been reported related to the recall.

1 million of the Hondas recalled are in North America, manufactured between 2000 and 2005.

The recalled Nissans were manufactured from 2001 through 2003, while Mazda Motor Corp. recalled nearly 160,000 vehicles manufactured from 2002 through 2004.

The recalled models, and how to find info on them, include:

Toyota
Corolla, Matrix, Tundra, Yaris and Camry
http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/resources/recalls

Honda
 Fit, Element and CR-V
http://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls

Nissan 
Cube, X-Trail and some Infiniti models
http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/contactus/recall

Mazda
Atenza and RX-8
Owners of record will be notified of this issue and instructed to take their vehicles to a Mazda dealer to replace the air bag inflator with a new one.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/06/23/3248801/honda-mazda-nissan-issue-recall.html?sp=/99/103/524/#storylink=cpy

WSDOT Pavement Preservation Funding Levels

An email newsletter sent out by the Washington State Department of Transportation Eastern Region on Friday has this item of interest:

As I mentioned last month, our pavement preservation program is steadily dwindling.  Over the next two budget biennia, the statewide preservation funds will shrink by 52%. 

Here in our seven-county region, after this construction season is complete, we will still have a paving backlog of about $75 million.  We have a reasonably sized asphalt paving program this season, but our chip seal mileage is significantly smaller.  We are sealing 80 miles of highway this year, down from 105 in 2013 and 150 in 2012.


Our future paving program shows significantly fewer paving projects in the next two biennia based on current revenue.  This will result in drivers seeing (and feeling) a noticeable continuing decline in the quality of our highway system.

Local Road Construction Update

SPOKANE CITY
Wall Street Closures- Wall Street between Main and Spokane Falls Boulevard will be closed beginning at
9 a.m., Friday, June 20, for set up of a bazaar. On Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Wall Street will be closed from Riverside to Spokane Falls Boulevard.  Main Street will stay open to traffic.

Main and Post Closures- On Saturday, June 21 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Main will be closed from Lincoln to Wall Street for the Stiletto Sprint fundraiser. Post will be closed from Riverside to Main Street.

Alki and Olive Closures- Both streets will be closed west of Freya Sunday, June 22 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the NAPA Customer Appreciation car show.

Grand Boulevard Construction- McClellan Street between 8^th and 9^th Avenue has one lane southbound.  Northbound is detoured onto 9^th Avenue over to Cowley.  9^th Avenue/Rockwood Boulevard between Grand Boulevard and the hospital tower is closed.  There is local access only at Cowley and 9^th to the hospital.  Southbound on Stevens has access to the medical building on 9^th Avenue. Traffic will be impacted both north and south bound mainly between 8^th and McClellan, 9^th and Rockwood, to Cliff and Grand. This work will take approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Work south of 14^th is being done by the Wastewater Department.  This project will apply preservation treatments that consist of crack sealing, grind and overlay and some pavement rejuvenation techniques.  Upgrades to ADA ramps and minor curb and sidewalk repairs will also be done.

Cedar Road/Country Homes Boulevard Intersection Work- Work on removals of existing asphalt pavement, curb and sidewalk has begun. This project is for installation of a traffic signal at the Cedar Road/Country Homes Boulevard intersection. Traffic will be routed along the west half of Country Homes Blvd. through the Cedar Rd. intersection with one lane access each way (north and south).  Removal of existing asphalt, concrete curb and sidewalk and water line work will begin on the east half of the intersection. Cedar Road between Francis Ave. and Country Homes Boulevard is closed to through traffic with local access only.

Mission Avenue Street Closure- Construction continues with the two eastbound lanes of Mission from Hamilton to Perry Street closed. This project will reconstruct the street by replacing the asphalt surfacing, including ADA ramps, as needed.

Westview Elementary Sidewalks- This project will remove existing curb/gutter, relocate drainage structures, and cut and remove asphalt needed to install new curb/gutter on the north-northwest side of Bismark and create a 35’ road width from Assembly to Driscoll and 32’ from Driscoll to Moore.  In addition, the project will install 5’ sidewalk with 5’ planter strip on Fotheringham from the alley one half block south of Bismark to Bismark and on Bismark from Fotheringham to the alley one half block south of Bismark to Bismark.  ADA ramps will be installed on all new sidewalk corners, and on connecting corners where needed.

Francis from Division to Crestline- Traffic has switched over to the north ½ of Francis Ave. allowing the removal of existing curb, sidewalk and asphalt pavement to begin on the south ½.  The water line and Storm drainage structure installations will commence soon after removals are completed.  ITS installation along Colton St. and Dalke Ave. is proceeding.  Colton Street from Francis to Dalke Avenue will be closed for approximately 2 weeks to perform ITS installation.  Dalke Avenue from Division Street to Colton Street will have an area along the north curb closed for approximately 2 weeks to perform ITS installation. 

This project will rehabilitate Francis Avenue from Division to Crestline Streets.  The work is curb to curb and includes installation of ADA curb ramps, where needed.

Francis and Freya Intersection- Traffic has switched over to the north half of Francis Ave. allowing the removal of existing curb, sidewalk and asphalt pavement to begin on the south half. The water line and storm drainage structure installations will commence soon after removals are completed.  ITS installation along Colton St. and Dalke Ave. is proceeding.  Colton Street from Francis to Dalke Avenue will be closed for approximately two weeks to perform ITS installation.  Dalke Avenue from Division Street to Colton Street will have an area along the north curb closed for approximately two weeks to perform ITS installation. 

This project will rehabilitate Francis Avenue from Division to Crestline Streets.  The work is curb to curb and includes installation of ADA curb ramps, where needed. 

Arthur Street Closure- Arthur Street will be closed from 5^th Avenue to 2^nd Avenue. 3rd Avenue will be reduced to one lane at the intersection of Arthur.  This project is to repave Arthur from I-90 to 2^nd Avenue, add sidewalks along the west side of Arthur, and adds curb ramps and pedestrian lighting to various intersections. 

WSDOT

US 2/Espanola Road to Interstate 90- Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., Monday through Friday, expect intermittent lane closures in the vicinity of Flint Rd. so crews can resurface the highway and install a signal system at the Flint Rd. intersection. Flint is closed from US 2 to the south. A detour is available.  Flint Road is closed to the north between 7pm and 6am, Monday through Friday.  Also, be alert for natural gas line work just west of the Fairchild AFB main gate. Today, Thursday, June 19, US 2 is reduced to single-lane alternating traffic 24/7, directed by flaggers, possibly for a couple days. 

I-90/Garden Springs to Pines Road- Sunday through Wednesday, June 22-25, be alert for intermittent lane restrictions in the right or left lane on eastbound or westbound I-90 during non-commute hours. Crews are sweeping the freeway shoulder.

I-90/Liberty Park to Havana Street- During evening and overnight hours, from about 9 p.m. until the following morning at 5 a.m., be alert for on and off ramp closures and outside lane closures from 7 p.m. to the following morning at 6 a.m. Crews are replacing lighting fixtures.

I-90 Westbound/Fancher Off Ramp Intersection- Lane restrictions at the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Fancher Road at the end of this off-ramp with possible overnight westbound off-ramp closures.

I-90/Eastbound Sullivan Road Interchange Off Ramp- On Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24, from about 8 a.m. until as late as 3 p.m., be alert for lane restrictions on the Sullivan Road eastbound off ramp and possibly the left lane of southbound Sullivan Road. The traffic signal system there is being revised.

I-90/Barker Road to Idaho Border- On Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and 26, be alert for intermittent right lane restrictions on east bound or westbound I-90 for survey work.

US 195/Cheney-Spokane Road Interchange- Northbound on and off-ramps, plus the southbound off-ramp are open to traffic. The southbound on-ramp is under construction.  Drivers need to use Qualchan Road to access southbound US 195 during this work. The Qualchan Road intersection and the Inland Empire Way Intersection are now restricted to southbound access only (right turn in/right turn out).  No left-turns or cross traffic are allowed.  This is a long-term configuration.  The Cheney-Spokane Road interchange is now the northbound US 195 access for these two intersections.

SR 290-Trent Avenue/Hamilton Street to Sullivan Road- Trent Avenue will be reduced to one lane each direction for pavement patching.  Drivers should be alert for slower traffic and some congestion near the ½ mile-long work zone.  Work will start at Hamilton and proceed east. On Friday, June 20, from 7 p.m. until as late as 4 a.m. the following morning, Hamilton Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction for patching at the Trent/Hamilton intersection.  Drivers should expect delays.

SR 290/Sullivan Road Overpass- Beginning Monday, June 23, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. the westbound SR 290/Trent Road right lane will be closed at Sullivan Road for bridge girder repairs. All on and off ramps will be open. 

SR 904/Cheney (Betz Road) to I-90 @ Four Lakes- On Thursday, June 19, from about 7 p.m. until as late as 6 a.m. the following morning, intermittent on-off ramp closures at the I-90/Four Lakes Interchange for final pavement grinding. On Saturday, June 21, from about 7 p.m. until as late as 6 a.m. the following morning, the westbound on ramp and eastbound off ramp at the I-90/Four Lakes Interchange will be closed for paving.  On Monday, June 23, from about 7 p.m. until as late as 6 a.m. the following morning, the eastbound on ramp at the I-90/Four Lakes Interchange will be closed for paving.  Traffic will be detoured via the Exit 272 (Medical lake Interchange), Hayford Road and Melville Road.  In general, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., expect single-lane alternating traffic on SR 904 between Four Lakes and Cheney, directed by flaggers and/or pilot cars with delays. All lanes will be open during daytime hours.  

North Spokane Corridor/Francis Avenue Bridge and Intersection Improvements- Roadwork scheduled to be completed by late Friday, June 20.  Minor clean-up items may be underway through June with possible intermittent lane restrictions.

SPOKANE VALLEY

8^th Avenue between Havana and Carnahan - Lane reductions on Monday, June 23 between 8:30 a.m. and mid-afternoon for sewer work. 

28^th Avenue just north of intersection with 29^th - Closed from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, June 23 for wastewater sampling. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work area.

Adams Rd from 4^th to Sprague - Closed through Wednesday June 25 for utility work and resurfacing.  Signs will redirect traffic via Progress Rd.

Argonne Road from Broadway Ave. to Sprague Ave. - Reduced to one lane southbound around the clock through early July for resurfacing.

Dishman-Mica northbound just south of 28^th- Reduced to one lane from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, June 23 for wastewater sampling.

Pines Road from Mission to Mansfield - Southbound traffic reduced to one lane from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 26 for utility work. 

Sprague Avenue from Havana to I-90 - Reduced to one lane in each direction at times into mid-July for resurfacing.

Sprague Avenue westbound from Thierman Rd. to I-90 Overpass - Reduced to two lanes through early July for resurfacing, stormwater drainage improvements, and sidewalk work.

Sprague Avenue between University and Herald - Reduced to two lanes westbound from Monday, June 23 through mid-July for resurfacing.  

Sprague Avenue westbound between Vista and Park - Reduced to two lanes around the clock 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 26 through Thursday, July 3 at 10 p.m. for roadwork.

SR 290-Trent Avenue from Havana to Sullivan - Expect reductions to one lane in each direction for WSDOT Pavement patching from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through the end of June.

Trent Avenue beneath the Sullivan overpass - Westbound curb lane will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday, June 23 through the end of June for repairs to the Sullivan overpass.  

Why Portland Has Once Again Made Us Feel Inferior

In the transportation world, we have a love/hate relationship with Portland. If it was a sibling, your mom would have said, "Why can't you be more like Portland?" And when talking about non-motorized issues, we always hear, "It's a start, but we'll never be Portland." Heck, even the people who live in Portland seem to feel some angst and a need to mock themselves and their city, as evidenced by the show Portlandia.

On our end though, it really is rooted in jealousy. Portland has bike lanes, bike trails, bike lockers, bike sharing programs, bike-this and bike that! It also had zero bike deaths last year.

So why has Portland been able to achieve so much in the way of non-motorized facilities and mind-set while other cities are struggling to establish basic bike networks?

Grist has four reasons Portland became a cyclists' utopia.