Plowing plan seeks optimal coverage

Condition green, condition yellow, condition red – colors aren’t just for traffic lights and terrorism warnings; they also guide how street departments handle plowing.

In Spokane, green means monitoring wet roadways. Yellow brings deicing trucks to slick roadways, freezing rain conditions and up to 2 inches of snow. Any more snow than that, and crews go into red mode, using snowplows to clear streets, said Engineering Department spokeswoman Ann Nolan.

First up are emergency routes. Then arterials are plowed. After that, secondary arterials and bus routes get attention. Residential hills come next, with flat residential streets coming last.

That’s provided there is no more snow. If more falls, crews will start at the beginning of the list again, clearing major arterials.

If crews can plow straight through, it takes about 72 hours.

That compares to a 40-hour goal for clearing all streets in Coeur d’Alene. Residential streets aren’t plowed in Coeur d’Alene, however, unless there is 5 inches or more of snowfall.

In Coeur d’Alene, the order of priority is: emergency routes, hills and curves, arterials, bus routes, residential streets, cul-de-sacs.

Coeur d’Alene crews also use gates to avoid plowing large berms in front of driveways, something not done in Spokane.

Snow berms in front of driveways seem to be a big complaint of many Spokane homeowners each winter.

The city of Spokane has long said it can’t afford the time or labor it would take to avoid the problem.

And even in Coeur d’Alene, driveways along major arterials aren’t spared the berms. Plus, pushing the snow away from driveways can create quite a pile in front of mailboxes.

For north Spokane resident Charles Riddle, it’s the snow plowed from the street onto the sidewalk that draws ire.

At 75 years old, Riddle said he has trouble shoveling the heavy stuff that plows deposit.

“It just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever,” he said, adding that the city shouldn’t plow snow onto sidewalks when it requires that they be kept clear.

Spokane, Spokane Valley, Spokane County and Coeur d’Alene all require property owners to clear sidewalks of snow – a fact many people seem to ignore.

Nolan said she understands Riddle’s concerns, but adds there is no other way to efficiently plow streets.

Holiday hopping

The number of people taking planes, trains and automobiles over the Christmas and New Year holidays is expected to increase 2.2 percent over last year, according to AAA.

AAA estimates almost 65 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the holidays.

Those driving on highways should check their equipment and state travelers’ information by calling 511 to learn about weather and road conditions.

Air passengers need to remember the 3-1-1 rule. That rule is short for 3-ounce containers of liquids and gels, one quart-size bag, one per passenger.

Bring the gift wrap, gift bags, ribbons and other wrapping materials along. Wrapped gifts are not allowed in checked or carry-on luggage.

Driver’s education

It may be annoying to business owners and customers, but it’s not illegal to cut through a parking lot to avoid waiting at a traffic light.

Spokane police Sgt. Craig Meidl said that drivers can turn into parking lots and exit them on another street if they choose, provided they follow all traffic laws.

Those include signaling, not cutting off or blocking other traffic, driving on the right side of the street and stopping before re-entering traffic.

STA hits target

Spokane Transit Authority hit its goal of 8 million fixed route riders in a year on Dec. 12 – two years earlier than the target date.

That’s the most riders local buses have seen in one year since the late 1990s, said STA spokeswoman Molly Myers.

Weekday ridership is up 9.4 percent so far this year over last.

Leaf pickup

Spokane crews will continue collecting leaves from city streets if they have enough snow-free days to do so. The schedule could change with snow, however, since crews will be moved to plowing.

Residents are asked to move vehicles off the street for both leaf pickup and plowing.

This week’s leaf pickup schedule:

Today: East Sprague area bounded by Sprague Avenue, Interstate 90, the east city limits and the Spokane River.

Tuesday: Chief Garry area bounded by the Spokane River on the north, Sprague Avenue, the east city limits and the Spokane River on the west.

Wednesday: Chief Garry area again.

Slow going

Downtown Spokane

Post Street is restricted between the Post Street Bridge and Spokane Falls Boulevard. Expect slowdowns.

North Spokane

Signal work on Waikiki and North Five Mile Road could cause closures and one-way traffic. Expect delays.

Signal work at Hastings and Mill Road could create lane closures, causing delays.