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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Signs point toward caution


Tom Taylor hangs a sign at a new school crossing on Garland Avenue. 
 (Jed Conklin / The Spokesman-Review)

School’s in for fall.

That means kids will hit the pavement in most local school districts Tuesday.

And the police will be keeping a close eye as we drive in school zones. Keep it to 20 mph when children are present.

Spokane and Spokane County road crews were busy last week installing school zone and school bus stop signs in preparation for opening week.

Barry Greene, a Spokane County traffic engineer, says his department has asked rural school districts to make sure their buses actually are picking up children at stops that are labeled with “Bus stop ahead” signs.

Those signs typically are used on winding roads where there isn’t good visibility. The county is trying to remove signs from inactive bus stops.

More sign issues

Both Spokane and Spokane County spend thousands of dollars each year replacing stolen and vandalized road signs.

Kids who think a stop sign would look cool on their bedroom wall would be wise to remember the hazards that come from removing road signs.

Several years ago, three young men were killed in Florida when they were hit by a truck as they drove through an intersection where, authorities said, a stop sign had been removed as a prank.

It’s such an important safety issue that both Spokane and Spokane County replace downed or missing stop signs 24 hours a day – and within one hour of a report.

“The critical signs, we can’t afford to have them missing,” says Kent Green of the Spokane Street Department.

“As people lose respect and common courtesy for each other, it seems to happen more often now,” Green says of stolen and vandalized signs.

The county’s Barry Greene says it isn’t just a matter of pranks. Sometimes it’s a political statement.

“In the Valley the other day, we replaced some stop signs that had ‘eating meat’ below the word ‘stop,’ ” he says.

I prefer people who add a red dot to the nose of the deer on the deer-crossing signs.

Collision course

U.S. Highway 195 became a death zone this summer with three serious accidents within a matter of days.

The Washington State Patrol stepped up its enforcement efforts on the highway between Pullman and Spokane, and it reports accidents have declined.

But please keep in mind that this highway still can be very dangerous, especially on Washington State University football game days.

Drive carefully.

With a whimper

Big Sky launched air service between Olympia and Spokane with a bang in 2002. But now, less than two years later, it’s over.

The airline announced last week that it couldn’t make any money on the route, which it is canceling as of Saturday.

Customers holding Big Sky tickets between the two cities can obtain a refund by calling (800) 237-7788.

Delayed

No wonder your iPod is running out of juice on more flights.

More flights are late.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, just 77.6 percent of U.S. flights from January through July arrived on time. That’s 5.7 percent worse than during the same months last year.

And “on time” is a loose term, defined by the FAA as within 15 minutes of when the flight was scheduled to arrive.

They sure don’t give us that kind of leeway when we’re late and the plane still is sitting at the gate.

Fair warning

Spokane police will be conducting emphasis patrols in school zones this week.

Also keep an eye on pedestrians along Northwest Boulevard, Division Street and Sprague Avenue, where police will be monitoring motorists’ compliance with crosswalk laws.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies also will be monitoring school zones.

In addition to ticketing speeders, deputies will be handing out citations to people who don’t use seat belts, park on the wrong side of the street or don’t use child restraints.

And high school drivers, you’d better keep your noses clean. They’re watching you, too.

Slow going

Motorists should expect delays in the city of Spokane this week along Division Street between Lyons Avenue and Magnesium Road and on Ash Street between Knox and Spofford avenues as crews make road repairs. The same is true along Upriver Drive.

Eastbound Interstate 90 will be reduced to two lanes Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. near the Division Street exit for repairs. Also on I-90, watch out for intermittent ramp closures between Sullivan Road and the Idaho state line.

Outside Spokane County, state road crews will be working on I-90 from the Grant-Adams county line to the state Highway 21 interchange starting Tuesday. Expect single-lane traffic for about five miles. Plus, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.

Work on this project is expected to continue until the middle of October.