Here’s an update from the Washington State Department of Transportation on the North Spokane Corridor:
We’re still on track for a fall 2011 opening of the next portion of the NSC . This will be a four-lane segment from Farwell Road to the existing US 395 at Wandermere. When it opens, the drivable NSC will extend from Francis up to Wandermere— over 5 ½ miles of the NSC will be useable.
Right now we are seeing about 4,000 vehicles per day using the Francis to Farwell segment that opened last August. We expect those numbers to climb substantially next year when the Farwell to US 395 section and the NSC/US 2 interchange open next year. Another factor that could boost NSC use will be the completion of the railroad overpass on Freya Street between Sprague Avenue and Trent Avenue. Through traffic on Freya has been detoured over to Fancher since early August and that might be affecting vehicle volumes further north. That City of Spokane job should wrap up later in 2010.
Why are we wasting our money on this project that will increase sprawl,split neighborhoods, destroy businesses on Division, and scar the landscape? The freeway philosophy of yesteryear cannot apply today. Has nobody learned anything from the mistakes of others over the last 60 years? SRTC must stand up and do what's right. Stop the NSC at Wellesley.
Sorry Anonymous, but the train has already left the station on that one. Millions of dollars have already gone into that project so it wouldn't be fiscally responsible to abandon it now. If we quit at Wellesley, we'd have a really dang expensive 5 mile freeway to nowhere that no one uses because it doesn't connect with anything.
I agree that the freeway philosophy of yesteryear shouldn't apply anymore, but Division, Market and the other north-south arterials are at capacity. It took me 25 minutes to get from downtown to Francis a couple of Friday evenings ago during peak traffic. Part of the problem is due to semis and large trucks clogging traffic. Once the freeway is built, they'll move to the freeway easing congestion somewhat on the arterials.
I don't see the freeway ruining businesses on Division either. People who use the freeway are generally on their way somewhere, such as work, and aren't stopping to shop. However, they still have to eat and shop, etc. so will continue use those businesses.
Whether you love or hate the freeway, there are a couple good things that are coming out of it; there will be a 10-mile long bike path along it for bike commuters and others, and there will be park and ride lots. So at least WSDOT is doing the responsible thing in encouraging people to find an alternative to driving alone.
I actually have to agree with the first post on this one. I agree with SRTC on the business issue, they probably wont go away in the short term and the bike path is nice.
But taffic is a part of what can help to create a revitalized urban core. Around here, some people will put up with a 25 minute commute everyday. But if it is made into an 8 minute commute, people will want to move out there. Eventually it will become a 25 minute commute again. There certainly isnt enough through truck traffic to necessitate an entire freeway. Much of it is local traffic. And if you relieve that traffic pressure, there is no incentive to live in the urban core and have a lower environmental footprint.
Stopping the freeway at Wellesley is an interesting idea and I do have to say SRTC that it isn't fiscally irresponsible to stop the spending of billions of dollars for limited benefits. You could put those billions toward productive projects. To complete the NSC would waste many more billions of dollars than have already been spent by creating unforeseen costs associated with the negative impacts on health, environment and society that are a result of the freeway. Stopping a bad project before it gets worse IS fiscally responsible.
You've got a point about making it too easy for people to live in outlying areas, but its already happening whether a freeway is put in or not because as you said, people around here are willing to drive 25 minutes to work each way. You can't throw a rock without hitting a new development in the hinterlands these days. I just hope a lot of those people will utilize the new amenities that come along with the freeway, like the park and ride or the bike path that weren't available in the past.