Rathdrum becoming walker friendly
Rathdrum’s schoolchildren should be safer walking to and from school this fall once pedestrian pathways along Higway 53 near the Highway 41 intersection and in front of Lakeland High School are completed.
The work is the second part of a two-phase project started last summer with pedestrian improvements along Highway 53, Highway 41 and on McCartney and Coeur d’Alene Streets.
It’s part of Rathdrum’s effort to address growth in the region; and make the city pedestrian friendly. The work is outlined in the city’s Pedestrian and Pathways Plan, adopted in November 2004, which is undergoing a technical upgrade.
The original plan includes a network of pathways that connect all areas of the city to pedestrian destinations such as parks, schools and shopping centers. It outlines a series of bicycle loops that give pedestrians safe walking and riding paths in every neighborhood and considers ties to regional trails, pedestrian enhancements and design guidelines. Currently, several pedestrian improvements are “in the works:”
•A pathway along Stevens, through to Highway 41 is scheduled for 2008 construction. “Survey work has been done and the Traffic Safety Committee will be looking at how to address some issues and make some recommendations for construction,” said Chris Riffe, city planner.
•Improvements sparked by new development, are also planned in the near future along Highway 41, and on Nagel, Meyer, Lancaster and Radcliff roads, to name a few.
•Installation this summer of a stoplight at the intersection of Boekel Road and Highway 41.
The pedestrian plan also outlines regional connectivity possibilities. For many years, local resident Ellen Larsen sought support for the development of a trail along the old Milwaukee Railroad line heading north toward Twin Lakes. In 2006, the Lakeland Sunrise Rotary Club joined forces with her, and together they are seeking to make the trail a reality.
“Our first goal is to establish political support for the trail – get it classified by (the Idaho Transportation Department) as a pedestrian trail even if there are no improvements,” said Rotary club president-elect Kevin Sharrai. Once the trail has been classified, Sharrai would like to install signs “…and then we will go out and clean up the area a little bit so people can go out and ride their bikes or walk it.”
“The grandiose plan is to follow the line from Rathdrum to Spirit Lake; interconnect Spirit Lake to Athol with a trail along Highway 54; and then continue up to Blanchard and Priest River on the old Milwaukee line,” Sharrai said.
South of the city, ITD has a conceptualized plan for pedestrian pathways to be constructed on both sides of Highway 41. Rathdrum last year completed a pedestrian pathway south to Boekel Road.
A designated bicycle lane runs from Meyer Road to Ramsey Road heading east of town on Highway 53. Extension of this pathway could tie into the pedestrian trail that parallels U.S. Highway 95 and runs from Coeur d’Alene to Garwood. Plans to extend the existing pathway to Sagle along U.S. 95 is “being conceptualized” and that connection would complete a meandering trail leading north to all that Sandpoint has to offer and south to all the recreational facilities of Coeur d’Alene, including access to the Centennial Trail, Riffe said.
There are no improvements or plans to date for trails west of town. However, other regional ties are possible as development continues in the area. Meyer, Lancaster, Huetter and Greensferry Roads may some day offer opportunities to tie to regional pathway systems.
As Rathdrum becomes more pedestrian friendly, residents may someday be able to walk to local parks, go for a evening cruise around their neighborhood, or jump on their bike and ride to Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene or even downtown Spokane along the Centennial Trail.