I was asked to compile some information to be included in the 2011-2030 Washington Transportation Plan (WTP 2030) that the Washington State Transportation Commission is developing.
WTP 2030 is an effort to craft a new vision and goals for an integrated statewide transportation system.
One of the questions I was asked to provide information on was ‘Identify your region’s top recent accomplishments; either infrastructure projects or policy-based accomplishments.’
I sat down with the boss and here’s what we came up with:
– Obtaining TIGER funds for the North Spokane Corridor
– Doing a major over-haul of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) in 2007, then updating it in 2008 and again this upcoming summer.
– The SmartRoutes non-motorized transportation initiative
– And the near-completion of the Fish Lake Trail, using stimulus funds.
All this looking back over the past few years got me thinking; some of those projects are pretty behind-the-scenes and beauracratically-oriented. If I asked the average Joe on a Spokane street what he thought are some of our area’s recent major accomplishments in transportation, what would he say? So I’m asking you; what do you see as our major accomplishments? Why?
If several years ago isn't too old, how about the rebuilding of the Monroe Street Bridge?
Hey Melissa, that's a great one! It has to be something that's happened since 2006, and I believe that project wrapped up in August or September of '06 (I worked the grand opening so I'm pretty sure that was the year)so I think it counts. I'll double-check though. Thanks!
Oops. You made a mistake. Getting funds for the NSC isn't an accomplishment. That would be like saying it was an accomplishment to eat a whole cake if my goal is to lose weight.
Most young people manage to get out of Spokane before they reach 20, so the transportation here cant be all that bad!
The NSC was identified as a 'regional priority' by local stakeholders, which means getting funds for it an accomplishment. Those stakeholders represent all walks of life, so the majority seems to rule in this case.
As for younger people leaving Spokane, I've been surprised lately how many younger people are settling in other places, then coming back to Spokane within a couple years when they actually miss it. We have several young people involved in transportation, a lot of them who are advocates for non-motorized transportation.
Unfortunately local stakeholders have been fed lies about the true "benefits" of the NSC. By this standard, if I convinced the stakeholders to jump off of a tall building by telling them there was gold at the bottom and forgetting to mention the certain death part, and they believed me, it would be considered an accomplishment?
Believe me Anonymous, people are so wary of the government anymore that they do their own research into projects like these. If only it was that easy- I just go out and tell people we're going to build a road through their house and they ask when. Yeah- doesn't happen.
I speak to the public a LOT. It's my job. And everytime I do, people ask me about the NSC. And 90% of the time it's positive. People ask me how long until it's complete because they're tired of taking 30-40 minutes to drive from the Y to the south hill, or when commuter bus routes will start running on it because they want to use transit to get from one side of town to the other, and I even get people from Idaho asking me about it.
Yes, I do hear from detractors occasionally, but it's been pretty few and far between. Of course you have the right to your opinion, and definetely to express your opinion, but one thing I have tried to emphasize to the few people I know against the NSC is that construction is not going to stop at this point.
The NSC detractors really crack me up. They insinuate that if we stop building this corridor that somehow life would be better for everyone… But they can never explain how it would be better.
These detractors just complain that building the NSC will promote sprawl…HELLO! the sprawl has already happened up north and that is why the corridor is needed!
This project is also about moving freight through the region in a more efficient manner… I for one will hail the day I no longer have to navigate through a sea of semi trucks while trying to get to the north side in rush hour traffic.
All you detractors do is whine… you have no solutions or better ideas … just a bunch of nattering nabobs of negativity..
Well, it's about time we had some snippy debates on this blog. I remember living near the corner of Wellesley and Crestline and how it used to take a better part of a half hour to get anywhere. Now I've lived in two smaller cities on the West side of the mountains and whine about a half hour commute to work each way. I have become accustomed to 5-10 minute travel times to get anywhere.
I can't believe any of you folks over there can stand living very far North or South of I90. I can't believe some people in Oly will commute to Seattle which is 60 miles of pain and suffering.
The new freeway definitely will not beget the sprawl! It's been there for years, already. Hell, Hillyard has been around since at least the 40s.
I guess I'd better highlight an accomplishment, as instructed…
Oh! I know! When I was visiting family in Spokane a couple of weeks ago, I noticed something really cool.
Spokane is the only city I know of that has an official highway of some kind that has nothing to do with automobiles.
I don't know how to post a photo in here, so I guess I'll make it my avatar.
I was thinking of the improvements to Market in Hillyard. Some of that was local bond money, but over 2 million came from grants to improve the sidewalks and put in bike racks and soon benches. They put in wiring for electric cars (not hooked to anything yet, but it is there).
Holy cow! I lock myself in my office for the better part of the day and look what happens! Well I'm glad something did because I didn't get anything done.
Holly, here's what's been going on with 291, if that's what you mean. Hard to tell from your avatar. Hope I have the right area/sign: The State Route 291 corridor was selected for a traffic safety project. The corridor extends from Francis Avenue at Division Street along State Route Hwy 291 to Nine Mile Falls, WA. The SR291 corridor consists of an approximate 11.0 mile section extending from Division Street at Francis Avenue to the Stevens County line. The traffic load ranges from 8,800 to 31,250 vehicles per day. The traffic is mainly of commuter and local traffic, with some recreational traffic on a seasonal basis.
Available data indicates that 447 crashes occured during the three-year period Jan 2000-Dec 2002. Two percent (2%) of the crashes along the corridor involved fatalities or disabling injuries.
By the way, what were you doing in that neighborhood when you were here? I thought you were staying with your mom in the old 'hood?
Charles- Good call on Hillyard. I will have to add it to my list. I did a little unofficial walking tour of the Hillyard business district a couple weeks ago and everyone I talked to could not have been much happier about how the construction worked out. There were even people who said their business picked up when construction crews were in the area, because they frequented their business!
The bicycle route for state highway 291 is a dubious accomplishment, since it passes through Riverside State Park, which is closed after dark. You could therefore be ticketed for riding after dark.
– Ventura
Well, I saw this sign on a paved trail in Riverfront Park and thought it connected with the Centennial Trail. So much for that. Oh well… HA HA!!!
The NSC supporters really crack me up. They insinuate that if we build this corridor that somehow life would be better for everyone…but they can never explain how it would be better.
These supporters just complain about their 20 minute commute. HELLO! You chose to live in the sprawl that has happened up north knowing the existing transportation options.
The project claims to be about moving freight through the region in a more efficient manner (although 70+ % of freight operators have no complaints about freight travel times). I for one will hail the day you no longer have to navigate through a sea of semi trucks while trying to get to your northside sprawl when you make responsible life choices and move to a more sustainable location.
All you supporters do is whine about your commute…you have no long term solutions (look at every metropolitan region in the country and WSDOTs own traffic analysis as an example of how freeways provide short term relief but create long term problems). Commute complainers are just a bunch of nattering nabobs of negativity (whatever that means).
Anonymous- no one said that the NSC is the magic pill that will make everyone's lives better. It's just like anything else, there are pros and cons. As for HOW it will improve things, there will be less congestion on north-south arterials, meaning less air pollution and shorter drive times. It will get trucks off the north-south routes, which will also lessen congestion, meaning less air pollution and shorter drive times. It will provide a new 10-mile long bike trail, which will allow a route for bicycle commuters to get downtown, thereby taking more cars off the road and once again reducing air pollution and lessening congestion. It will preserve right of way for a possible light rail system in the future, which would also take cars off the road, reduce congestion and cut down on air pollution. And don't forget the park and rides that will be built along the freeway- yet another example of getting cars off the road, etc.