Call cops to cure traffic headaches

If you just can’t take it anymore, give your local police department a call.

Area traffic cops say they take seriously citizen complaints about patterns of poor driving in specific neighborhoods and locations.

In the city of Spokane, two officers – one on the day shift and one on the swing shift – spend at least half their workday patrolling areas called into the city’s traffic hotline, said police Sgt. Craig Meidl.

The hotline averages 20 calls a week.

“Their complaints will get worked,” Meidl said of citizens’ calls.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office also responds to all citizen traffic reports with officer visits, said Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Citizens should call the hotline and fill out a form detailing the problem.

“People need to be as specific about the time and day as they can be so we can most efficiently use our resources,” said Reagan.

For instance, report that the problem typically occurs between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on school days as opposed to saying something like “between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.”

And neighbors should be careful what they wish for. On a number of occasions, deputies have stopped the son or neighbor of the person who reported the problem. “Violations are violations,” said Reagan.

In Coeur d’Alene officers respond to complaints depending on the seriousness of the situation, said police Capt. Ron Clark.

The city’s traffic unit includes three officers and a sergeant.

Citizens should definitely call the police if they witness a repeated traffic problem, Clark said.

Of course, the outcome may not always be what they hoped for.

Shirley Erickson reported an ongoing Spokane problem at the Wellesley and “A” roundabout, where cars weren’t yielding to those already in the roundabout as required by law.

“People aren’t paying attention. It’s downright scary,” Erickson said.

But after two special traffic patrols, officers didn’t witness the same thing. They likely won’t return for at least a few weeks, Meidl said.

To reach the Spokane police traffic hotline, call (509) 625-4150. Spokane County Sheriff’s Office traffic calls go to (509) 477-3222. And in Coeur d’Alene, residents can call (208) 769-2320.

Late notice

Southwest Spokane Valley residents received a bit of a jolt Thursday morning when they found a block of their popular Dishman-Mica/Mullan route to work closed to traffic.

The road in the block of Mullan between Appleway and Sprague is being converted to concrete, and will be closed for one month.

But the sign announcing the closure didn’t go up until late in the day Wednesday, well after the morning rush when most drivers would have seen it. So there were a few mad drivers Thursday.

Deep breaths.

Felony DUI

It’s official. Chronic drunken driving will become a felony in Washington.

The state House and Senate both passed a bill to make repeated drunken driving a felony. Now it’s up to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is scheduled to sign the measure into law Wednesday.

Local state Rep. John Ahern spearheaded the effort.

But it could still take a while for drunken drivers to be sentenced to prison. The felony law would kick in for the fifth DUI in 10 years, and won’t take effect until July 2007.

Idaho’s law is tougher, allowing prosecutors to charge a driver with felony DUI after the third offense in five years.

Walking the talk

It’s not all about cars.

A dozen Spokane County pedestrian and bicycle projects now have adequate funding, thanks to state grants.

Included are projects to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Harvard Road westbound on-ramp to Interstate 90, build and improve sidewalks and paths at Ferris High School, on the former Ben Burr Railroad right of way, near 44th Avenue in Spokane Valley and by the Little Spokane River. Money was also granted to improve pedestrian crossings in Airway Heights, improve the walking environment on Perry Street and West Broadway Avenue, design pedestrian bridges in Fairfield, fund pedestrian and bike safety programs and establish Hillyard’s railroad museum.

Sunday drive grants

That leisurely drive is about to get a whole lot better with almost $565,000 recently granted to a Eastern Washington and North Idaho scenic byway project.

The Federal Highway Administration announced last week $22 million in grants nationwide.

The money is used for such things as scenic overlooks, planning for roadway improvements, trails, visitor centers and promotional materials.

Winners locally include Washington’s North Pend Oreille Scenic Byway, the Coulee Corridor and the Palouse Scenic Byway.

Grants in North Idaho are helping fund management of the Pend Oreille Scenic Byway and the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, which roughly follows the route of Lewis and Clark’s journey through Idaho. Other Northwest Passage money will go toward producing an auto tour CD.

Slow going

The city of Spokane begins work this week to install a water main under Inland Empire Way. The project starts at Ninth Avenue. Traffic will be detoured and new “no parking” signs will go up on the detour route.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will be sweeping I-90 today through Thursday between Latah Creek and Havana Street. Sweeping of the left lane will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and crews will alternate work in the eastbound and westbound lanes. Prepare for congestion and lane restrictions.

Mullan Road remains closed between Appleway and Sprague.

The south lane of 29th Avenue will be intermittently closed this week between Grand and Southeast Boulevard.

Crestline Street is still restricted to one lane from Francis to Lincoln.

The Valley Chapel Bridge is under construction, with single-lane restrictions at times.