Workers or not, the limit’s still 50

Don’t let the lack of work fool you.

Interstate 90 between Argonne and Sullivan is still a construction zone. And you’d better obey that 50 mph speed limit if you don’t want to get a speeding ticket.

Getting There received calls from two construction zone critics last week wondering why the speed limit hasn’t been upped for the winter non-construction season.

“It would appear to me as a taxpayer this is nothing more than a revenue program for the state. But I go 50. They’re not going to get my money,” said Hal Campbell.

It’s not about money, said Washington Department of Transportation spokesman Al Gilson.

The problem is at the westbound on-ramps, where decreased sight distance is a hazard, Gilson said.

Since those haven’t changed, the speed limit hasn’t either. And it’s a bad policy to have different speed limits on the different sides of the freeway, he added.

People may feel more comfortable driving the stretch of interstate because of the larger shoulders now in place, but they were only put in to make room for winter snow, Gilson said, urging patience.

“It takes them about an extra minute to go through the construction zone,” he said.

That explanation doesn’t cut it for Ed Looker.

“There’s no construction there,” Looker said. “And they wonder why people develop road rage.”

Pedestrians are people, too

As you’re enduring driving in the snow this winter, keep in mind there are travelers on foot out there.

Think the roads are messy? Try wading through knee- or even thigh-deep snow because people have refused to clear their sidewalks.

I once saw a man in a motorized wheelchair in the street because the sidewalk in front of the strip mall on the northwest corner of Sprague and Pines was impassable.

That’s just unconscionable. Please get the shovel or snow blower going.

And who likes that nasty slush that gets splashed up on your windshield? Try getting a face full of it from a passing car.

Try to be considerate of pedestrians. Thanks.

Police plate

Washington state police, troopers and deputies are trying to raise money for a law enforcement memorial for officers killed in the line of duty. You can help by buying a special fund-raising license plate.

So far the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation has raised all but $300,000 of the $1.6 million memorial cost. Any money raised after the memorial is paid for will go to families of officers killed on duty. About two officers are killed on the job each year in Washington.

The special plates cost $30 more a year than standard plates. Of that, $28 goes to the memorial foundation, and is tax-deductible. Plates can be purchased from the Washington State Department of Licensing.

Online success

Washingtonians are taking to the state’s new online driver’s license renewal program.

In November, the online renewal option’s first month, 564 people used it. In December, that number jumped to 1,271 drivers.

Not everyone is eligible, though. You have to be between the ages of 25-65, have your Social Security number and digital photo on file with the Department of Licensing and be able to pay with a credit card. Online renewal participants must also not have any medical or vision problems requiring a physician’s certification.

For more info, visit www.licensemeonline.dol.wa.gov.

Make that travel pay

High school students can earn some college cash if they win AAA’s Travel High School Challenge.

The three-part competition starts with an online quiz about popular travel destinations. That quiz will be offered through Jan. 19 at www.aaa.com/travelchallenge.

The top five scorers in each state advance to a proctored test in March. The winner of each state’s competition gets $1,000 plus a trip to the national finals May 7-10 at Universal Orlando.

There the top three winners will get $25,000 scholarships, with three second-place winners earning $10,000 scholarships.