Review Plan For Valley's Appleway Trail

Spokane Valley staff asks you to review the Draft Master Plan for the proposed Appleway Trail at an open house on Wednesday, May 22 from 4-6 p.m. at CenterPlace Regional Event Center (2426 N. Discovery Place).

A meeting seeking public input on the trail was held in March. That input was used to develop the draft plan, which includes ideas that will provide an attractive alternative commuting route and recreational area for community members to meet and enjoy the outdoors.


The proposed trail would run down the old Milwaukee railroad right-of-way, which starts at the east end of Appleway Blvd. at University Rd. and continues east to Evergreen Rd. Features and amenities of the trail include:

• A meandering pathway;
• Casual seating areas;
• Space for potential community gardens;
• Grasses and wildflowers;
• Shade trees;
• Birdhouses, and more.

SRTC Board Meeting This Week

The SRTC Policy Board meets this week. Thursday, May 9 at 1 p.m.to be specific. The agenda for the meeting is here. Take a look and feel free to attend if you can. These meetings never fail to be interesting.

New Spokane City Construction Work For This Week

Third Ave. from Division to Arthur- Work to rehabilitate Third Avenue from Division east to Arthur begins today. The project includes replacing a 12-inch water main. One lane of traffic will remain open during construction, and local access to businesses will be maintained. Work will continue into October.

Wall Street from 3rd to 6th Avenues- Work to rehabilitate Wall Street from 3rd to 6th avenues is scheduled to be completed and reopened to traffic by Friday, May 3.

Atlantic from Sharp to Boone- The City's Grinder/Inlay crew starts work today on Altantic from Sharp to Boone. That stretch of roadway will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in both directions.

Assembly at Broad- Restrictions on Monday and Tuesday of this week for street repair following a water main break last week.

WSDOT Construction For Next Week

US 2-Division Street, Ruby, & Browne Street/I-90 to Euclid- From about 7 p.m. until about 5 a.m. the following morning, starting on Sunday, May 5, and continuing for about 3 weeks during the work week, Division, Ruby, and/or Browne Streets may be reduced to two lanes at various times and locations. You may experience slow traffic and congestion near work areas. Crews will be patching and repairing pavement.

I-90/Stateline Interchange- Spokane Bridge Road (under the freeway) will be limited to single-lane, alternating traffic for gas line work by Avista. No mainline freeway impacts.

US 195/Cheney-Spokane Road Interchange- Northbound US 195 is reduced to one lane in the vicinity of Cheney-Spokane Rd. Northbound drivers should be alert for congestion and slowing traffic. The southbound off ramp to Cheney-Spokane Road is now closed so drivers will need to be alert for southbound highway traffic slowing to make right turns into Cheney-Spokane Road. This is a long-term construction configuration to accommodate the new northbound Cheney-Spokane Road northbound on ramp.

WA Is Most Bike Friendly State Sixth Year In A Row!

Can we get some of
these to celebrate please?

We've done it again folks- Washington has taken the top spot as the most bicycle friendly state in the country for the sixth year running!

Colorado and Oregon rounded out the top three, as ranked by the League of American Bicyclists’ annual Bicycle Friendly States appraisal.

While we've been holding steady for several years now, there were some shake-ups down the list.

DC Streets Blog has the list, and the methodology behind it.

Bike To School Day Next Wednesday

So make the appropriate arrangements because next Wednesday, May 8 is National Bike to School Day. I haven't heard anything specific that's happening locally to mark the date but I'm sure some area schools are doing something.

If not, oh well, take it upon yourself to get your kids to school via bike that day. Heck, ride with them. The exercise and time spent with the kids can't hurt.

Let me know if your child's school has something organized please.

Spokane City Parking Getting A Makeover

Looking toward the future, and maybe brining in a couple bucks, the City of Spokane is overhauling its on-street parking system. Under new Business and Developer Services Director Jan Quintral, the City is installing new technology that will let people pay for parking easier, but also for the City to give tickets and collect on them.

It's not all about shaking down drivers though- in an effort to rebrand parking, parking enforcement officers have been renamed "parking ambassadors" and there is a movement to get stickers put on meters informing drivers that the money they pay for parking will go to sidewalks and landscaping, rather than the general fund.

So when does the new technology come into play and how will two hour meters give the City extra revenue? The Inlander has the story.

Ray Street Closed at 23rd For Two Weeks

Ray Street is scheduled to be closed at 23rd Avenue for two weeks, starting on Monday, May 6. A signed detour route will take motorists to Freya Street.
The closure is needed for water main work related to the replacement of the Lincoln Heights Booster Station, which helps deliver water to residents and businesses located on the upper South Hill.
The $1.8 million booster station project is being funded by City of Spokane Water Department. The new station will be much more energy efficient than the existing station, which includes some pumps that are as many as 80 years old. The new station will have five pumps, compared to the eight pumps needed to do the same job today.

Transportation Benefit District To Pay For Improvements To 6.5 Miles of City Streets

Street construction season is in full swing in the City of Spokane. In addition to the big rehabilitation projects, street maintenance work paid for through the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) is happening as well.
For 2013, the TBD Board approved projects that will improve about 6.5 miles of streets. Grind and overlay work is planned on:

• Normandie from Garland Avenue to Rockwell Avenue.
• Fifth Avenue from Lincoln Street to Stevens Street.
• Colton Street from Magnesium Road to Jay Avenue.

Chip seal projects will be completed on:

• Sinto/Sharp from Napa to Regal and adjacent blocks.
• Carlisle Avenue from Maple Street to Jefferson and adjacent blocks.
• Chestnut Street from Sunset Blvd. to Second Avenue and adjacent blocks.

Crews also will apply about 350,000 linear feet of crack sealing material in residential areas, and sidewalks and curbing will be repaired and replaced in each of the three City Council Districts.

The TBD Board, consisting of the City’s seven Council Members, approved the projects at a meeting in December. They were recommended by the Citizens Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB) that advises the TBD Board on how to spend the dollars raised by the TBD.
The TBD was created to pay for street maintenance and pedestrian improvements. It is funded through a $20 vehicle license tab fee. The TBD raises about $2.5 million a year. There's more info about the TBD and the projects for this year in this video the City produced:

May Is National Bike Week

May is National Bike Month so get your bike out and get on it. This year, the local Bike to Work Week is May 13-19 and there are lots of activities to mark it.

Like pancakes? There's a pancake feed to kick off Bike to Work Week. There's also a party to wrap it up at the end of the week and several events in between. To register, and find out all the things that are happening, go to the Spokane Bikes website.

Man Who Retired Debt Free At 30 Says Not Owning Car Played Large Part

Alert: you're going to feel bad about yourself after reading this article. The Washington Post recently interviewed "Mr. Money Mustache," a man who retired at the age of 30 with no debt, on how he was able to do this. Time after time in this article, he comes back to how not owning a car, or buying an affordable used car you can pay cash for, is one of the biggest ways to live debt free. Here's the article. Check it out and report back on how his advice is working for you.

These Officers Aren't Going To Catch You- They're Too Stiff To Chase

Okay, this is really kind of creepy. With two road deaths every single day, officials in Bangalore, India realize they need to do something to address the problem. But the steps they took are maybe what some other jurisdictions would have chosen.

They're putting more cops on the streets. But not real cops. Cardboard cutout cops. In theory, maybe not a bad idea, but if you look at the pictures of them, they look kind of hokey. They all have their arms crossed and look more like they're waiting for the bus or hanging around outside a conveninence store than like they're looking for crazy drivers to bust. Check it out. The article and pictures are here.

Charlotte Mayor Tapped To Take Over For U.S. Transporation Secretary

The Charlotte, N.C. Observer and the Huffington Post are reporting that Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx will replace Ray LaHood as USDOT Secretary and the White House has confirmed his nomination late Sunday afternoon.

Foxx was elected Mayor in 2009 but doesn't appear to have an extensive background in transportation. The White House says what he does have though is knowledge of the type of infrastructure needed to create jobs and compete in a globe economy.

Transportation Issues Daily has more on this move and Foxx's background.

Officials Numbers Are In For This Month's Bike Swap

The second-annual Spokane Bike Swap held earlier this month was a major success, construction on Third Avenue from Division to Arthur streets starts next Monday, May 6 and repaving work starts Sunday on Division and Ruby Streets.

The Spokesman-Review's "Getting There" column has a roundup of all the area transportation happenings for this week.

Bicycles; An Integral Part Of Your Emergency Plan?

Thanks to Barb at the Bicycle Alliance of Washington for sending me this one. It's an article by a emergency planner on how bicycles can be an integral part of disaster preparedness and response.

We saw it after Tropical Storm Sandy on the east coast this year. Public transit was flooded and at a standstill, even for weeks after the storm passed. People took to their bikes to get supplies and to get where they needed to go.


This article says simply owning a bike and using it regularly increases your ability to deal with any kind of disaster because you are more likely to be fit and healthy, prepared for physical and mental challenges and you can cover considerable distances by bicycle even when roads are closed to cars and mass transit. Here's more on how your bike could help you fend for yourself in the case of disasters of all kinds.

Neighbor Days Festival & Spokane's First "Kidical Mass" Ride

SRTC took part in the West Central Community Center's Neighbor Days Festival this past weekend, to talk to people about our Horizon 2040 plan. 

There were a lot of people there, particularly families, so a variety of thoughts were shared with me on transportation. I was surprised to hear though, that for a neighborhood fairly close to downtown, very few of the people I talked to said they use public transportation. A couple people told me their households had downsized to one car though and they had adjusted schedules/work situations accordingly.

There was also a lot of support for bike and pedestrian facilities from the people I talked to, particularly fixing or filling in missing sidewalks, as there is a concentration of elderly and disabled people in the West Central neighborhood. 

The festival was capped by the first "Kidical Mass" for our community, a three mile bike ride for children, families and pretty much anyone else who wants to take part. Kidical Mass was introduced by the folks who organize the Spokane Summer Parkways events and there will be two more this year; in the Chief Garry Neighborhood on May 18th, at 1pm and in the South Perry Neighborhood on September 12th (market night), at 5pm.The rides highlight safe riding and learning to ride and signal on the road.

I90 Closures At Snoqualmie This Week

There are four rock-blasting closures planned for this week on I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass, one that could be as long as four hours. Closures scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. from Gold Creek to the Price Creek Sno-Park in both directions.
But the length of the Wednesday closure, starting at 7 p.m., will depend on the amount of time it takes to remove boulders and large pieces of debris. Crews will also evaluate and repair any damage to the highway. Drivers need to plan for up to four hours of additional travel time.
Also, crews are repairing bridge decks along I-90 between Easton and Ellensburg. Construction starts April 29, and you can expect single-lane closures during the day.

Come See SRTC At West Central Community Center Neighbor Day Tomorrow

If you're not doing anything tomorrow, come outside to enjoy the nice weather at the West Central Community Center's Neighbor Day Festival at A.M. Cannon Park, 1511 N. Elm St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
I'll be there talking to people about Horizon 2040 and area transportation in general. While that should be the highlight of your festival experience, there will also be carnival booths, arts and crafts, food vendors, games and music by a DJ. And did I mention I'll be there?

Spokane City and Spokane Valley Construction Work For Next Week

Spokane Valley
24th Ave from Adams Rd to Sullivan Rd - Narrowed lanes and brief delays weekdays between 7 am and 5 pm through mid-May for sidewalk work.
Pines ITS project - Curb lane closures on northbound Pines weekdays from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm weekdays into July for signal conduit work.

Sprague/Sullivan ITS project - Curb lane closures on westbound Sprague between Evergreen and Sullivan, and on northbound Sullivan between Sprague and I-90 from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm weekdays for signal conduit work.

Sullivan Rd. Street Preservation - Sullivan between the Spokane River and Trent Ave. reduced to one lane each direction weekdays from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm through mid-June for signal and stormwater improvements.
University Rd. between Trent and Fairview - University southbound will be closed between Trent and Fairview from 8:00 am to noon on Monday, April 29th for railroad crossing work.
Spokane City
Bloomsday street prep work- Citizens are asked to remove parked vehicles from the Bloomsday route so crews can clean it. Do not park on Riverside Ave. from Maple to Hemlock streets; cars will be towed. Cars will be towed from the south side of Riverside on Monday, April 29, and from the north side on Tuesday, April 30. Towing in other areas is possible on Wednesday; signs will be placed. Citizens should anticipate moving all parked vehicles off the course prior to the race on Sunday, May 5. At the start, vehicles should be moved Saturday night; for the rest of the course, vehicles need to be moved before 7 am.

Third Ave from Arthur to Division- Work to rehabilitate Third Avenue from Division east to Arthur is scheduled to begin Monday, May 6. The project includes replacing a water main. One lane of traffic will remain open during construction, and local access to businesses will be maintained.
Eighth and Ninth avenues water transmission main- This project is substantially complete, with only a few punch list items remaining. All streets have reopened. The overall project included replacing existing water transmission mains and line and installing new lines in Eighth and Ninth avenues from Division to Cowley streets; Eighth Ave. from Chandler to Hatch streets; Chandler St. from Eighth to Ninth avenues.
Lincoln Heights Booster Station- This project to replace the Lincoln Heights Booster is beginning. On April 30, Ray Street at 23rd Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction for two days. The majority of this project will not cause traffic disruptions.

Three Projects To Be Added To Or Changed In Transportation Improvement Program

We're making some changes to the plan that dictates what local transportation projects will get funded in the next few years, so you'll want to check them out. We're proposing to add a project to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that recently received Interstate Maintenance program (IM) funds, change an existing project, and add another project that may potentially be selected for a Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program (CMAQ) grant.


The TIP is a document that identifies projects proposed to be undertaken or constructed during the upcoming four years. It includes project names and descriptions, the jurisdiction sponsoring them, funding attached to each project, and where the funding came from (local, state or federal funds).


The amendment we're proposing to it includes these projects:

• I-90/Barker Rd to Idaho State Line – Paving
• US 395/NSC BNSF Railway Structures/Realignment
• Replace Eight 40' Fixed Route Coaches

Details on these projects can be found at http://www.srtc.org/tip.html. Once you look at them, let us know if you think this is a wise way to spend transportation money. There's info on that page on how to submit comments also.