Council Steps On Gas Rather Than Brake Experiment Increases Speed Limits On 14 Streets, Lowers It On 12 Others

A citywide plan to lower speed limits on Spokane’s neighborhood streets screeched to a halt Monday.

Instead, city council members unanimously approved a pilot program that raised more speed limits than it lowered, dropping the speed on 12 streets while bumping it up on 14.

Councilman Mike Brewer said the original plan moved too fast and needed more study prior to the sweeping changes proposed.

“Traffic circles work. Four-way stop signs work,” Brewer said. “The amount of time it would take to change the signs, the amount of money. It’s better to take a few (streets) and review it a year from now.”

Don Ramsey, a city traffic planner, said the original proposal to lower the speed limit on 60 sections of neighborhood “collectors” came after months of study involving neighbors under siege from heavy traffic.

Several council members and residents criticized the plan because it lacked police input. Lowered speed limits need tough enforcement, they argued.

Ramsey explained that the plan was “a policing matter more than an enforcement matter.”

Spokane resident Bob Apple argued that higher speed limits attract drivers.

“If you don’t give people a benefit to get to collectors, they’re not going to do it,” Apple said.

The city’s traffic department took heat from council members who said the proposal was poorly planned.

“I can’t frankly understand why we’re doing this,” said Mayor Jack Geraghty. “We should have a full traffic study. We’re doing it ad hoc - ‘I know of a street somewhere …”’

Resident Gina Schrock was disappointed by the council’s decision. She said she thought lowering speed limits should be a “broad policy.”

“Anything you can do to protect neighborhoods is a plus,” Schrock said.

Also Monday, the council:

Approved by a 5-1 vote a $37,000 contract with an Indianapolis engineering firm to study financing for the River Park Square parking garage. The city plans to buy the garage.

Councilman Chris Anderson dissented. Councilman Orville Barnes was absent.

Upheld a hearing examiner’s decision to allow a work-release facility at 720 N. Monroe.

The council voted 5-1 to let Allvest Inc., of Granite Falls, Wash., build 12 apartments to house 45 federal prisoners. Anderson dissented.

Approved an agreement with the Spokane Transit Authority that allows the city to assign a police officer to the new downtown Plaza. STA plans to pay the city $26,000 for the first six months and $61,000 the next 12 months.

The city will use the money to hire another officer.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: AMENDED STREET LIST — PILOT PROGRAM The speed limit on these streets will be lowered from 30 to 25 mph, unless otherwise noted: Addison from Lyons to Standard Standard from Addison to Colton Place Colton Place from Standard to Colton Street Colton Street from Colton Place to Magnesium Cozza Drive from Division to Nevada 14th from Cedar to Grand Liberty Park Place from Second to Madelia Madelia from Fourth to Liberty Park Place Fourth from Madelia to Pittsburg Pittsburg from Fifth to Fourth Fifth from Pittsburg to Freya Palouse Highway from Regal to the south city limits (from 45 to 35 mph)

The speed limits on these streets will be increased from 30 to 35 mph, unless otherwise noted Lincoln from Division to Nevada Freya Street from Sprague to Freya Way Freya Way from Greene to Freya Street Greene from Freya Way to Indiana Market from Lacrosse to Wellesley Haven Place from Haven Street to Market Fort Wright Drive from 1000 feet east of Randolph to Meenach Drive Meenach Drive from Fort Wright Drive to Northwest Boulevard Northwest Boulevard from Monroe to Alberta Mission from Haven to Trent Springfield from Freya Street to Broadway Broadway from Springfield to the east city limits Sprague from Regal to Havana Sunset Boulevard from Audubon to Lindeke (increased from 30 to 40 mph)