Adding lanes would uncork bottleneckon interstate

It’s a big tease.

Traffic is flowing pretty smoothly as you drive east on Interstate 90 in the Spokane Valley. That trip to Post Falls is going to take no time.

Then you hit Sullivan, and the freeway drops to two lanes in each direction at precisely the same moment that irritating driver in the left lane decides 55 mph is fast enough.

Oh, if only the freeway were six lanes all the way to the Idaho state line.

The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to make that a reality some day.

The agency is hosting an open house Thursday to tell people about the status of the project.

The short version is that the state has money for some design work and right of way purchasing, but the $10 million available is not much considering the scope of plans, said Transportation spokesman Al Gilson.

Traffic at the state line increased from 37,000 trips a day on average in 1995 to 45,000 trips a day in 2005.

Plans call for adding a lane in each direction in five phases: Sullivan Road to Barker Road; Barker Road interchange to Harvard Road in Liberty Lake; Harvard Road interchange, Harvard Road to Idaho Road; and finally the Idaho Road interchange.

The open house is from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Hope Lutheran Church, 17909 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley.

Idaho speeds

Should trucks and cars have the same speed limit on Idaho freeways?

Spokesman-Review Idaho government reporter Betsy Russell wrote about a proposal to change the law so that trucks could go 5 mph faster than their current 65 mph limit, and passenger vehicles would go 5 mph slower than the 75 mph limit they have now.

Judging by the Idaho traffic on I-90, trucks already drive at least 70 mph.

Let Getting There know your thoughts on the issue. Contact information is at the bottom of this article.

STA skate shuttles

Maybe it was the free coffee.

Then again, it could have been the convenience of not having to search for parking.

Spokane Transit Authority’s shuttle buses were a big hit during the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Skaters, coaches, volunteers and fans took about 44,000 rides on the shuttles over the eight-day event late last month, said STA spokeswoman Molly Myers. STA sold 1,500 of its $10 eight-day passes.

It also sold 450 two-hour passes and 436 day passes, raising more than $16,000 in fares.

Individual rides were 50 cents, except for skaters, coaches, officials and media who rode for free.

Shuttles traveled every 10 minutes around downtown, transporting people to the Spokane Arena, Spokane Convention Center, hotels and shops.

STA spent $90,000 operating the shuttles, said Myers.

On-plane oxygen

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has imposed new requirements on air passengers traveling with oxygen tanks.

The rule increases packaging requirements for oxygen bottles both in the cargo hold and the cabin to prevent them from rupturing or leaking and causing a fire.

Airlines and passengers must follow the rule by this fall, but are being encouraged to adopt the new standards this spring, said Joe Delcambre, a spokesman for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The problem is that no manufacturer currently makes packaging that meets the new specifications.

Delcambre said one company has indicated an ability to upgrade its current packaging to meet the requirements, but hasn’t done so yet.

Passengers who need supplemental oxygen should contact their airline.

Safe driving class

The Idaho State Police is offering a Road Safe class Saturday at 1 p.m.

The class at the Region One office at 602 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, will teach drivers about winter conditions, dealing with road rage and drunken driving. It is free.

To reserve a space, call (208) 772-6055.

Slow going

Traffic may be slowed near the Spokane Convention Center Thursday afternoon and Friday morning as farm machinery is removed after the annual Ag Expo.

Alberta Street will be closed sporadically today and all day Tuesday-Wednesday from Fairview/Northwest Boulevard to Cleveland Avenue for utility work. Traffic will be detoured.

Expect lane restrictions and delays this week near Deaconess Medical Center as crews perform utility work on surrounding streets.