Maple/Ash Traffic Topic Of Meeting

All the planning and bickering over a North-South freeway has been a waste of time. Spokane already has one.

“Everyone knows (the Maple/Ash corridor) is really the North-South freeway,” said neighbor Susan Huyler. “Just nobody wants to admit it.”

In the year she’s lived near the intersection of Maple and Joseph streets, Huyler has become increasingly concerned about cars and trucks racing along the busy arterial.

She’s especially worried about students walking along Maple and trying to cross the street to reach Ridgeview Elementary School.

“I don’t want a child to die, but if this keeps up, it will happen,” predicted Huyler.

The speeding traffic will be discussed Monday by the Public Safety Committee.

City council member Jeff Colliton chairs the committee which reviews issues and can recommend that police step up their efforts in an area.

Public comment will be allowed during the meeting, said Colliton.

“Our concerns are primarily with speed on Maple and Ash,” said Kathy Williams, principal of Ridgeview Elementary School. “It feels like a freeway.

“Drivers are not paying attention at the crosswalks. We put on the flashing red lights and they go right through the intersection,” she added.

Right now, students act as safety patrol crossguards with adult supervision. But Williams is considering switching to all adult crossguards.

“Safety patrol develops responsibility (and) most of the students enjoy it, but it has become a safety issue,” said Williams.

Almost all of the 430 students walk or are driven by parents to the 44-year old school.

Speeding is constant, day and night, said Huyler.

Huyler said commuters race down the road from 6 to 8 a.m.

In the afternoon, traffic is so fast and heavy Huyler sometimes can’t make a right turn into her driveway.

“I have to go around the block and try it again,” she said.

In the middle of the night, trucks rumble along the road, well above the speed limit. Huyler’s windows rattle. She takes names and calls the companies with the speeding trucks.

“Even Spokane Transit Authority is roaring up the road. If we can’t count on the buses to slow down drivers, who can we count on?” asked Huyler.

Huyler hopes others with similar concerns, especially about school students, will speak up.

“This road has degenerated tremendously. Somebody has to make them slow down,” she said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEETING SCHEDULED The Public Safety Committee meets Monday at 11 a.m. in City Hall, fifth floor.