SR 904 needs attention

Two weeks ago, two accidents occurred on state Route 904. One was a head-on collision with multiple injuries. Accidents on SR 904 are not isolated occurrences. The last fatal crash was only three months ago; more than 65 accidents have occurred since 2009.

SR 904 from Four Lakes to Cheney is the main route to Eastern Washington University and the Cheney School District, with 17,000 to 19,000 vehicles per day forced into a two-lane, no-passing highway. Clearly, the highway’s design is antiquated and unsafe. While the recently released Majority Coalition Caucus transportation proposal demonstrated significant progress, we are concerned by the absence of funding for the SR 904 project.

This undersized road is pushed beyond its capacity every day. EWU has record enrollment for the fifth consecutive year, and the Cheney School District is the fastest-growing school district in Spokane County. Congestion on SR 904 and the resulting safety issues will only increase.

We are concerned that an essential safety project with a simple solution has been lost in the transportation funding negotiations. We encourage Sen. Mike Baumgartner and Reps. Kevin Parker and Jeff Holy to ensure the safety of our kids and students by securing funding to widen SR 904.

Tom Trulove Cheney mayor

Debra Clemens Cheney schools superintendent

Rodolfo Arevalo EWU president