Transportation Roundup For Week Of April 30

You'll be seeing another roundabout in the area soon, Bloomsday runners and walkers should check out the option of using STA shuttles instead of trying to fight the traffic into and out of downtown Spokane on Sunday, and a whole bunch of area construction projects that are continuing or getting underway.

Here's a roundup of transportation happenings in the area for the week from the Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column.

Bicycling and Hot Tubbing On The Same Trip? I'm Sold!

Okay, I know there have been a lot of new technology developments in the area of bicycling in recent years, but this is my favorite; the Dutchtub. It's a portable outdoor hot tub from the Netherlands that you tow behind your bike. They're wood-fired and have seating for four (that's what they claim anyway). You just have to provide the wood and water, but the add for them claims they're low enough to fit under most downspouts.  So, where we taking this baby?  I envision it on the deck outside my office.  Or next to my tent next time I go camping. Possibly on a picnic in the Dishman Hills.  Or maybe... well, use your creativity.  Anyway, here's the link to check it out, although I can't promise we'll be getting them here anytime soon: http://bikeportland.org/2012/04/23/look-out-portland-here-come-dutchtubs-70757.

May Is Bike Month!

Tomorrow is the first day of May, and May is Bike Month so get ready to ride!  If you haven't signed up to take part in local Bike Month festivities, go to http://spokanebikes.net/wordpress/ and do it now! There's a month-long 'Commute Challenge' and Bike to Work week (May 20-26) events including a Ride of Silence, Kick Off Breakfast and daily 'energizer stations.'  Plus there's information on the site on group rides, local bicycling shops and services and clubs.  I'd recommend checking it out.

Watch This Before Driving Over The Pass

You've been waiting for it (you just didn't know it) and the 2012 Construction Video for the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East project is now available.  Don't get stuck in traffic while trying to take a family vacation or a business trip!  Watch this video to know what to expect.
Besides, the news release that comes with it says the video is "full of twists and turns, explosive detail and it’s only a click away."

Spokane City Street Sweeping Starts Monday

Sweeping of residential streets within the City of Spokane starts Monday, April 30.  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. In the coming week, crews will sweep the areas bounded by these streets:

Northwest: Monroe St. to Ash St. and Wellesley Ave. to Francis Ave.

Northeast: Mission Ave. to Euclid Ave. and Ruby St. to Hamilton St.

Wellesley Ave. to Euclid Ave. and Nevada St. to Division St.

South: Water Ave. to Sixth Ave. and Eagle Ridge Rd. to Monroe St.

Spokane Mayor Advocates For NSC In D.C.

A news release out of the City of Spokane says Mayor David Condon was in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with Washington’s Congressional delegation, EPA officials, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to discuss the City's priorities.

The release says Condon met with Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, as well as 5th District Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and 6th District Congressman Norm Dicks to advocate for
Spokane’s most pressing needs, which include completing the North Spokane Corridor and addressing water and sewer infrastructure.
SRTC's Executive Director, Kevin Wallace, was also in D.C. this week as part of the delegation, although, as a government agency, SRTC doesn't advocate.  Kevin was there to educate and provide background.

Anyway, if you want to read about the Mayor's trip, here's a link to the City's news release.

Spokane Valley Construction For Next Week

- Farr Road between Appleway Boulevard and Sprague Avenue - Expect lane closures in both directions at different times from 7 a.m. to mid-afternoon on Thursday, May 3 for resurfacing.


- University Road at intersections from 4th Avenue through 16th Avenue-Curb lane closures in both directions at different times will continue between the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, May 4 for sidewalk ADA upgrades.

- 8000 Block of E. Riverway Avenue - Expect delays and minor congestion due to heavy equipment in the area.

Will Horn Honking Clear Up Traffic Jams?

Did you know that the answer to traffic congestion is to honk your horn?  Well that's what The Onion says anyway.


Tired Of Traffic? A New DOT Report Urges Drivers: 'Honk'

Sporty Bikes Inspired By Sporty Cars

If you can't afford a Porsche, maybe you can afford a bike inspired by the luxury car.

The Porsche 911 is the design inspiration behind two new Porsche bicycles, the RS and S. The RS edition is more of a racing bike, made from carbon fiber, while the S edition is heavier.
You won't find these bikes at your neighborhood bicycle shop though; they're sold exclusively through authorized Porsche dealers. They are available in small, medium and large sizes to fit any rider's profile. Here's some more information and a couple more pictures in case you're interested.

Spokane Valley 2012 Road Construction Projects

Just like across the rest of the county, road construction is getting underway this week in Spokane Valley.  The additional money to fund construction mentioned in the story above means that the Valley will be able to complete more projects than originally planned. There are now 23 resurfacing projects that could happen in 2012.

Here's a link to projects planned for Spokane Valley this construction season.

Valley Council Votes To Use $2M From General Fund For Street Maintenance

The Spokane Valley City Council approved a plan to help bridge the gap in what the city has in the bank versus what it needs to pay for continued street maintenance. The council voted to use over $2 million from the city’s 2011 general fund balance over $26 million for street-preservation efforts. This has a couple council members concerned they may not be able to foot the bill for the Sullivan Road Bridge if other funding can't be found.
The Spokane Valley News Herald has the complete story.

Clean Up Day Yields Small Treasures

So we had the annual clean up day of roads in my community this Saturday.  Fortunately I didn't find any underpants again this year, but I did find a basketball, four golf balls, one empty bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 lime flavor, a note about the high/low points of an unidentified movie, a Moody Blues CD (left) and a whole mess of these little frogs (right), in a ditch beside the road.  We sold the aluminum cans we picked up for the first year ever to a recycling place and got $27 to go in the Property Owners Association treasury.  Now we just have to find something worthy to spend the money on.

National Work Zone Awareness Week

With construction projects starting last week and this week, it's perfect timing that this week is National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW).  NWZAW is held each year to bring national attention to motorist and worker safety and mobility issues in work zones.

The theme this year is "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones! Drive Smart to Arrive Alive."  Catchy- wish I'd thought of it myself.

Transportation Roundup For Week of April 23

Spokane Transit officials are seeking a federal grant to look at ways to turn the North Division bus route into a high-performance route, the STA board approved a construction contract to remodel a portion of the second floor of the STA Plaza, work resumes today on a project to repair concrete pavement on Interstate 90, there's a Pedestrian Plan open house this week and construction gets underway on Francis Avenue.  Holy cow there's a lot going on in  transportation this week!
The Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column has a roundup of what's happening in the area.

I90 Rock Blasting Closure

Crews start rock blasting on Interstate 90 east of Snoqualmie Pass again this week as part of the $551 million I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East – Hyak to Keechelus Dam project to widen a five-mile stretch of the highway from four to six lanes.

I-90 will be closed in both directions between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday, April 26, from Gold Creek (milepost 56) to the Price Creek Sno-Park (milepost 61). This work is weather dependent and may change.

Original Plan Was To Get Rid Of Ferries, Build Bridges Across Puget Sound!- Link Fixed Now

Thanks to @Charles Hansen for sending me the article below. When I was a kid, my folks used to take us on all kinds of summer vacations and adventures on the west side of the state that required riding the ferry. And with summer on the way, you may be planning your own vacation involving a ferry across Puget Sound.

If things had gone as planned though, that wouldn't have been an option today- because there were plans in place at one point to replace the ferries with a series of bridges that would cross Puget Sound!

Crazy?? Well, it doesn't seem like the most feasible option by today's standards. This article lays out the whole plan to only use ferries as a temporary measure and includes a 1965 map of the proposed cross-sound bridges.

TTC Meeting Agenda For Next Week

Next Wednesday, April 25 is the next Transportation Technical Committee (TTC). Here is the agenda meeting and packet. Everyone is welcome, so feel free to attend. There's a public comment period also so now's the time if you have something transportation-related to say.

WSDOT Construction For This Week And Next

- Today and Friday, April 20, from about 9 a.m. until as late as 5 p.m., southbound US 395 will be detoured onto Wandermere Road from the Hatch Road Interchange to the Division Street/Wandermere Road Intersection. Northbound traffic is not affected. The detour will be in place to allow work needed for the new NSC Interchange.

- Work resumes Monday, April 23rd on the I-90/Geiger Blvd. to Downtown project to grind concrete pavement to remove studded tire ruts and resurface the Latah Creek Bridges. Be alert for lane restrictions and be aware the speed limit is reduced to 50 mph when work is underway. I-90 may be reduced to one travel lane in each direction depending on the location of the work.

Spokane Valley Road Construction For Next Week

Appleway Boulevard between Dishman Mica Road and University Road - Traffic will be reduced to two-lanes from Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27 for resurfacing.

Farr Road at Appleway Boulevard - Expect intersection to be closed to north and south traffic for a brief period midday on Tuesday, April 24 for resurfacing. Drivers are advised to detour via Dishman Mica Road.

University Road at intersections from 4th Avenue through 16th Avenue- Expect curb lane closures in both directions at different times between the hours of 7 am to 5 pm from Monday, April 23 to Friday, April 27 for sidewalk ADA upgrades.

8000 Block of E Riverway Avenue - Expect delays and minor congestion due to heavy equipment in the area.

Faces Of Transportation Contest

So here's a contest I think I can do good in for once. And some of you amateur photographers out there may want to take part as well. The annual Faces of Transportation Photo Contest is open to the public this year! The rules are at the link, but the basics are that each photo should include faces of people and represent the positive effects of transportation on individuals and/or communities.

The theme of this year’s competition is “Framing the Benefits of Transportation.” Digital photographs will be accepted in three categories: “Building the Future,” “On the Road,” and “Taking a Ride.”

So what do you think? Here are a couple photos I've taken recently that maybe I could use.