Gas prices going up again

Gas prices almost certainly will hit record highs in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene this week.

They already have in many other parts of the nation.

But that won’t stop people from piling into the family car for summer trips, starting on Memorial Day weekend.

According to AAA, about 37.6 million Americans will take trips over Memorial Day weekend farther than 50 miles from home. That’s up slightly from last year when gas prices were about 75 cents lower per gallon.

Most plan to travel by car.

People here had better fill up the tank early.

On Friday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular unleaded gas in Spokane was $2.95, just 2 cents off the record set last September. In Coeur d’Alene, it was $2.85, 2 cents under the record price there, also reached last September.

With a holiday weekend ahead, those prices are bound to climb.

Bus fare changes in works

Forget about messing with bus transfers.

By the end of the year, the Spokane Transit Authority may do away with them, opting instead for a two-hour bus fare that would allow passengers to pay once and then ride any number of buses during that time.

Unlike a transfer, this two-hour ticket dispensed on the bus or purchased ahead of time could be used on the same bus or for a return trip if it can be taken within two hours of the first trip.

The new two-hour fare would cost $1, the same as a one-way fare now. The tickets would be time-stamped when first used.

Also under consideration is a $2.50 one-day pass for unlimited rides on one calendar day.

Both will require a new farebox system, which STA is currently bidding out. It’s estimated it will cost about $2.6 million. The current fare boxes are about two decades old.

Tickets would spell the end of bus tokens.

STA is not considering raising fares at this time because increasing ridership is a higher priority.

Only about 17 percent of costs were paid for in 2005 by the $5.9 million in farebox revenue. That’s down from almost 20 percent of the costs paid for with fares and passes in 2004.

Division calling

Washington State Department of Transportation officials spent the better part of a month telling local drivers to find alternate routes downtown during the Interstate 90 viaduct repair project this summer – especially from the Spokane Valley. Leave Division to out-of-towners.

“Take the Hamilton exit.” “Take the Second Avenue exit.” So went the refrain.

Turns out too many people listened, and now Hamilton is getting jammed up while the Division Street exit is free and clear.

“What we need is a few more people at Division and a few less at Hamilton,” said WSDOT spokesman Al Gilson.

“Be careful what you wish for,” was Getting There’s warning.

But, OK, you have the information now. So some of you can try Division.

Just not too many of you.

Slow going

Growing numbers of projects make it unwieldy to list all of them in the print edition of this newspaper. So, until the end of the construction season, “Getting There” will list the largest construction projects and new projects in the paper. Ongoing project information still is available at www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/gettingthere.

I-90

I-90 is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Division and Maple. Most nights it will be further reduced to one lane in each direction. The Monroe/Lincoln ramps are closed, as are the westbound Browne Street on-ramp and the eastbound Maple on-ramp and eastbound Division exit. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph. No changing lanes.

North Spokane

Rutter Parkway is closed from Highway 291 to Hope Lane starting Wednesday. The closure will last until late June. Flaggers will also be directing single-lane traffic most days at the intersection of Rutter Parkway and Highway 291. And the highway may be closed for up to 20 minutes at a time for blasting near the intersection.

Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place.

Monroe Street may be obstructed at times between Everett to Francis as the road is patched.

The intersection of Haven Street and Wellesley Avenue is closed through Monday, May 22, at 6 p.m. Haven Street is closed all week in Hillyard from southbound Market to northbound Market.

South Spokane

Freya Street reconstruction starts this week. It will start at 37th Avenue and move north. Local access only from 18th Avenue to 37th Avenue. Detours will be in place.

Work to prepare Bernard Street for construction may cause some delays at 14th Avenue.

Work to rehabilitate 29th Avenue between Southeast Boulevard and Grand Boulevard has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction, and drivers are unable to enter or exit Perry at 29th.

Spokane sweeping

Crews will sweep in northwest Spokane in the area bounded by Monroe Street, Division Street, Wellesley Avenue and Gray Court. In Northeast Spokane, sweeping is in the area between Crestline, Havana, Bruce and Wellesley. On the South Hill, crews will tackle the area bounded by Fifth Avenue, Rockwood Boulevard, Southeast Boulevard and Cowley.

Please move cars off streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

Spokane Valley

Work on a quiet rail zone at University Road may cause delays today on University from Fairview to Trent as crews extend the curb.

Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.

Idaho

The southbound lane of Chase Road is closed at the Union Pacific Crossing in Post Falls through Thursday. Flaggers will direct traffic.

Poleline Road is closed from McGuire Road to Chase Road through June 5. Detours will be posted.