Getting There: Angle parking on West Main may be a look of the future

New angle parking on West Main Avenue in downtown Spokane may be the first of other street parking changes.

City planners said they are going to evaluate the success of the West Main parking arrangement with an eye on installing it elsewhere.

Last Friday, the mayor, City Council members and the public gathered at midblock between Browne and Division streets to celebrate the new look in what has become one of the most vibrant parts of downtown, filled with restaurants and stores that draw people to their charm.

Since the new parking became available, it has been filled with vehicles, proving a need for additional parking to serve the popular locale.

The former four-lane street has been reduced to two lanes on either side of the angle parking, which was installed in the middle of the street.

The parking is punctuated with a midblock crosswalk, seating areas and planters in the median.

The change had been sought by merchants and owners in the area.

Jim Sheehan, who spearheaded creation of the Community Building and Saranac on West Main, said the neighborhood “is really happy with what happened.”

Adjacent property owner John Waite said the new traffic and parking alignment is a signal pointing to a “new way of how we are going to do things in Spokane.”

While the change has widespread support, there are critics.

George Talotti, owner of the Red Lion BBQ and Pub at Main and Division, said he thinks the new parking configuration will have problems.

The uphill incline could result in traffic snarls during icy weather, he said.

Planters could become soiled with cigarette butts and plants may dry up and die if not maintained.

Also, new curbs that extend into the street at crosswalks put pedestrians at greater risk of being hit by a vehicle, he said.

Plus, the new left-turn signs are confusing to drivers, Talotti said.

“I think somebody is going to get hit sometime,” he said.

Louis Mueller, city planner on the project, said the changes are actually going to be safer, based on experiences in other communities.

The sidewalk “bump outs” at intersections will shorten the crossing distances for pedestrians.

Traffic moving next to the angle parking should average 13 mph, or the speed of vehicles in a store parking lot.

Mueller said the Community Building staff will take care of plantings along the block between Browne and Division.

The city will find a contractor to handle other planters across the city, he said.

A midblock pedestrian island includes bricks recycled from Wall Street’s reconstruction, and the bench seats are hunks of recycled granite that once were curbs downtown.

Corten steel planters have a dark patina that comes from oxidation, Mueller said. Each of them has a reservoir in the bottom to keep plants moist for long periods.

Mueller said the angle parking in the center of Main may be the first of its kind in the U.S. on a one-way street.

Lancaster, California, installed angle parking in the middle of the street across a 12-block span on a two-way street and has since seen its downtown draw more people, Mueller said.

The project includes back-in angle parking on Main between Bernard and Browne streets and pull-in angle parking from Division to Pine streets.

This year’s construction will be followed in 2017 by more work.

The city will install new pedestrian-friendly intersections on Division at Riverside and Sprague avenues and at Spokane Falls Boulevard.

The concrete work will be followed by a repaving project on Division and Browne north of I-90.

Meeting set on Euclid project

A planned sewer and street construction project on Euclid Avenue from Flora to Barker roads will be the subject of a community meeting on Nov. 16.

The meeting will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in room 34 at CCS Skyview School, 16924 E. Wellesley Ave.

City staff will provide overview presentations at 4:30 and 6 p.m., followed by a chance to ask questions or make comments.

Attendees should use the west parking lot.

For more information, or for persons who have mobility or other impairments, contact Craig Aldworth at (509) 720-5001.

Gasoline use sets record in June

Economic recovery in the U.S. along with lower gasoline prices has led to a new record of motor vehicle gas consumption.

The U.S. used 9.7 million barrels of gasoline in June, up from the previous record of 9.6 million barrels in July 2007, prior to the Great Recession.

At the same time, the number of vehicle miles traveled each day increased by 3 percent to 9.3 billion.

The fuel consumption increase was 1.8 percent.

The Today in Energy website reported that the difference is due to improved vehicle gas mileage.

In Spokane

Final paving on 37th Avenue east of Freya Street will be from Nov. 10 to 14.

Indiana Avenue from Dakota to Perry streets was expected to be open by Monday.

Lincoln Street from Fourth to Eighth avenues was also expected to be open by Monday.

Paving on Monroe and Lincoln streets from Main to Second avenues is scheduled again for Wednesday and Nov. 16.

Pettet Drive remains closed to traffic for installation of a new stormwater retention tank and repaving.

In Spokane Valley

First Avenue between Commercial and Howe roads will be reduced to one lane during paving through 3 p.m. Thursday.

Commercial from Sprague to First is closed until 3 p.m. Thursday.

Flora Road between Valleyway and Main Avenue will be reduced to a single lane from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for utility work.