Highest/Lowest Gas Prices In Country

I saw a friend on Facebook post about how she got gas for below $3 per gallon, and she was pretty excited about it. Another friend posted that he got it for $2.85 somewhere in Coeur d'Alene. Although that's not the state average, it seemed really low, so I started wondering, is that the cheapest gas in the country? Turns out, no it's not. Utah has that claim to fame. KSL.com reports that the AAA of Utah lists the average price for regular, self-serve gas at $2.80 per gallon.

That's down a cent from last month, but still 22 cents higher than this time last year. Wyoming comes in second with a statewide average of $2.91 a gallon. The national average for gas is $3.09 per gallon.

Hawaii has the highest prices in the country, at $3.69 per gallon.

Device Tracks Your Lost Luggage

So it's not unusual for an airline to lose your luggage when you're travelling right? Especially if you have a layover and you make your next flight but your bags don't. A new device can help with this situation. The Trakdot is a tracking device that's about the size of a deck of cards and powered by AA batteries. You throw it in your suitcase, and when the bag doesn't show up on the carousel at the airport, you can check its' location via an app, text message or email.

So in theory that's a great idea. The one flaw I see though is on the airline's end; are they going to take the word of some device you claim is in your luggage as to the location of your suitcase, and are they going to be motivated to actually check that location. It's worth a try though. The LA Times has the details.

Browne's Addtion Plowing Thursday & Friday

The City of Spokane will plow the streets of Browne’s Addition on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 10 and 11, starting at 8:30 a.m. each day.
Cars must be moved from the north-south streets on Thursday, and from the east-west streets on Friday in order to give the plows room to get through the narrow streets. Vehicles parked in those areas my be towed. If your vehicle is towed, call 625-4100.

Several Transportation Items On City's 2013 Legislative Agenda

The City of Spokane City Council last night approved the 2013 legislative agenda, the list of priorities that the City uses to lobby the state legislature. The list includes several transportation items, such as supporting
efforts to fund completion of the North South Corridor, fund the regional transportation system’s operation and maintenance, support improvements to the Medical Lake interchange and more.

Here's the entire list, from Councilmember Jon Snyder's blog.

Rule Proposed Saying Electric Vehicles Need To Be Louder

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants cars to be louder. Well, just electric cars. The NHTSA is proposing a law that would require electric cars to make a detectable sound when travelling less than 18 miles per hour so they can be heard by bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Seattle Times has the details on the so called 'Quiet-Car Rule.'

Toyota Had Most Vehicle Recalls In 2012

For the third time in four years, Toyota Motor Corp. recalled more vehicles than any other automaker operating in the U.S. market during 2012. Toyota’s various safety-related service actions involved a total of 5.3 million cars, trucks and crossovers last year, nearly half of those in a single recall involving potential vehicle fires. Here's a look at some of Toyota's problems in the past year.

 

City & Valley Snow Removal Updates

City of Spokane snow removal crews made good progress overnight under the Stage 2 Snow Event declared yesterday. They have completed the residential hill routes and are moving into other residential areas this morning. They will work 24 hours a day until they complete a full-City plow that includes all residential areas.
The City has about 68 pieces of snow removal equipment out, including private contractors. Crews currently are working in Routes 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the South Side and in 10, 11, 12, and 13 on the North Side. To see the residential routes, go to the City’s residential plow map. The next routes scheduled are 5 and 6 to the south and 9 and 7 to the north.

Cul-de-sacs are plowed by separate teams that include either backhoes or loaders; cul-de-sacs may not be plowed at the same time as the rest of a street. Cul-de-sac teams are working on both the north and south sides today.

Citizens should be parked on the even side of the street in all residential areas by now.

Spokane Valley crews continued plowing and clearing slush from primary and secondary arterials and hillside areas last night and into this morning. They are coordinating with the Spokane Valley police department to address problem areas.

City of Spokane Launches Texting Service For Parking Restrictions

The City of Spokane is launching a texting service to let the public know about parking restrictions that are in place as part of snow removal efforts. This is a pilot project designed to test the interest and effectiveness of such a service.
To sign up for this service, just send a text to (509) 385-5775. Text the word “Brownes” to that number if you live in Browne’s Addition, the word “Hills” if you live along an arterial or in a residential hill route—those numbered 20 and above on our residential plow route map- and the word “Parking” if you live outside of these areas.
I just did the general 'Parking' one and am waiting to see if I get any texts today.

City of Spokane Upgrades To Stage 2 Snow Condition

The City of Spokane has just announced they're upgrading the snow declaration to a Stage 2 Snow Condition, which means City crews will work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until they complete a full-City plow that includes all residential areas. The City is calling in private contract graders to help with the snow removal effort.


The City has about 50 plows, sanders, de-icers, and graders out working to improve driving conditions now. City crews currently are working in arterials and in residential hill routes 22, 23, and 24—essentially Indian Trail, Five Mile, and the Eagle Ridge area. They are using teams of plows and graders in the residential areas. Crews will leave berms at the end of driveways in the residential areas.
By 11 a.m. today, parked vehicles need to be moved off the arterial streets and STA fixed bus routes. By 6 p.m., vehicles should be parked on the even side of the street in residential hill routes. Parking also is restricted downtown between 2 and 6 a.m. during Stage 2 Snow Emergencies to assist with plowing there.

Public Transit Incentives Included In Fiscal Cliff Bill

Thanks to Paul for sending this article to me. You've most likely heard about all the big stuff in the fiscal cliff bill that finally passed last week, but Congress also managed to include all sorts of corporate tax breaks and other provisions in the final bill, covering everything from electric scooters to NASCAR racetracks and incentives for commuting via public tranist. 
So here are ten of the more curious tax provisions in the fiscal cliff bill. Number ten itself is the one I want you to pay attention to but if you feel you must read through the first nine I'm okay with that too.

Projects Sought For Federal Transit Administration Funding

So listen up out there any of you folks reading this that work for social service agencies; SRTC is issuing a call for projects for public transit transportation programs. Spokane Transit Authority (STA) is the designated recipient for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Transportation for Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities, Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and Section 5317 New Freedom funding for the Spokane Urbanized Area (UZA). As the Metropolitan Planning Orgnanization for Spokane County, SRTC is responsible for developing and administering the competitive grants process to award those funds.

You don't have to be a transportation agency to apply for money from any of those programs though. Any agency that provides transportation (such as community centers that provide rides to the center, etc.) may be eligible. Your project just has to fit the following criteria:

• Does the project address a strategy or need in the Spokane County Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan?
• Does the applicant report the commitment of the required local match?
• Does the project meet the objectives of the Section 5310, 5316 or 5317 programs?
• Effectiveness of project: community benefit, performance, efficiency, long term commitment, etc.

This Call for Projects will determine the final list of projects for these sources of funding. For more information or an application, go to http://www.srtc.org/sta_cfp.html.

Jurisdictions Working To Move Snow

As of 6 a.m. this morning, the City of Spokane has declared a Stage 1 Snow Condition. The City has plows, sanders, de-icers, and graders out working to improve driving conditions. Snow may change to rain later this morning, and the City will continue to monitor conditions and make changes to snow removal efforts as needed.

A Stage 1 Snow declaration means that City snow removal crews will work 24 hours a day to plow all arterials, STA fixed bus routes, and all streets in the City’s residential hill routes.
Cars must be moved from all arterials and STA fixed bus routes within 6 hours, or by 11 a.m. today, Monday, Jan. 7, and on the even side of the street in the residential hill areas by 6 p.m. tonight.

Crews in Spokane Valley deiced primary and secondary arterials and hills last night and are plowing today.

They will continue monitoring conditions to respond as needed, and will coordinate with the Spokane Valley police department to address problem areas.

Spokane County crews have been working since last night to plow 2,500 miles of road and will continue to work in 12-hour shifts, using 90 pieces of equipment (de-icing and sanding trucks, plows and graders) until roads are clear and conditions improve.


This morning, crews are working to keep Priority 1 roads (emergency routes and primary arterials) clear, while trying to make progress on Priority 2 and 3 roads (secondary arterials, hilly residential, flat residential). County crews have also been sanding and de-icing hills and intersections to the north and south where higher elevations receive more snow.

January SRTC Board Agenda

Next Thursday is the monthly SRTC Board meeting. Which means the
agenda and packet for the meeting are available now. On the agenda in January? Two separate 'Calls for Projects' for available funding through a couple different programs and a somewhat eye-opening presentation by our Executive Director on Horizon 2040; the long term transportation plan we're working on right now.

Board meetings are always open to the public so attend if you can.

Hundreds of Thousands of Subarus Recalled Due To Fire Danger

Because everyone and their dog pretty much drives a Subaru around here, you should probably know about this recall. Subaru is recalling nearly 634,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. because lights beneath the doors can overheat and catch fire. Yikes, that could be bad.
So check this out if you own a Subaru. The recall covers several models and years.

Plenty of Pedestrians; Not Enough Sidewalks

I hear people complain often about how we need more sidewalks in our region. True enough; there are gaps in many areas of our sidewalk system and some existing sidewalks are cracked and broken. Mumbai, India has the the same complaint, only for a different reason. They have plenty of pedestrians and not enough sidewalks.

There are approximately 15 million walking trips around Mumbai EVERY DAY. That's because the majority of the households there earn less than $100 a month, making walking the sole means of travel.

For all the pedestrians though, there's little pedestrian infrastructure. In fact, a walkability index for Indian cities scored a ridiculously low average. The Atlantic Cities takes a look at just how bad things are and how a handful of walking advocates are working to change conditions.

STA Experiences Record Ridership

Congratulations to Spokane Transit Authority! STA broke their record for ridership in 2012,  providing over 11 million rides on fixed-route buses. What's impressive about this though is that this record comes just one year after a servicre reduction that many felt would have a lasting effect on the system's ridership numbers. Here's the press release from STA and some other impressive numbers they wracked up last year.

Five New Republicans Join WA State House Transportation Committee

I blogged last week about the new Democratic members of the Washington State House Transportation Committee. Well now, it’s the Republican's turn. The committee will have five new Republican members and nine returning members when the Legislature convenes on January 14. Transportation Issues Daily looks at the makeup of the group.

Ignition Interlock Devices Now Come With Cameras In WA

Whoa- I hadn't heard about this before; starting yesterday, law enforcement is getting even more serious about preventing driving under the influence. All new ignition interlock devices installed in vehicles of people convicted of DUIs will also feature a camera.
Ignition interlock devices require a clean breath sample before allowing a car to start.The point of the cameras is to keep a sober passenger or child from blowing into the device in order to get it started for the person who has been drinking. The Yakima Herald has more.

Top 25 Cities For Bicycling Named

The website "Walk Score" recently announced its top 25 cities for bicycling and there were some surprises this year.  And yes, there is a Washington city in the top 15.

The cities are scored on four factors: bike lanes, hills, destinations and road connectivity, and bike commuting mode share. Here's the top ranking cities.

Could Budget Negotiations Ruin Promising Year For Transit?

2013 looks to be a good year for public transit. Roughly $64.3 billion in transit expansion projects will begin construction this year alone. However, the next stage of budget negotiations following the New Year’s Eve “fiscal cliff” drama could have a major dampening effect. Streetsblog shows how the New Starts program that funds major transit projects could lose funding.