If you haven’t told your colleagues, co-workers, friends, family, and everyone you know about the Transportation Planning game, please do so now. The game is available through Monday November 29th. 

“A Thousand Visions” – A Transportation Planning Game, is available online at www.spokanetransportationvision.com.  It allows players to choose the level they are willing to be ‘taxed’, which determines how much money they have to spend on transportation improvements.  Players are then challenged to ‘fund’ projects they prioritize as highest for the region, much like buying properties in the game Monopoly. The goal is to make it through all available projects, funding those players consider most important, without blowing their budget. The game takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. SRTC hopes that at least 1,000 people, but preferably many more, will use this opportunity to help shape the region’s transportation vision.  The game is part of a larger effort called the Transportation Vision Project, in place to develop a long-term regional vision for the future of transportation. SRTC is partnering with consulting firm MIG, Inc. to coordinate ongoing efforts, identify strategies for achieving the vision that is identified through this process, and deploy resources to accomplish regional goals.

 
Questions range from the completion of the North-South Corridor to light rail and a big part of this game is how you choose spending on priority projects. For example: How about a registration tab fee of $45 a year on vehicles up to 6,000 pounds that could potentially bring in $24 million annually? Want more bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure? Your voice matters. Press play.

Barker Road access in jeopardy.  The Spokane River Forum reports that due to construction issues, the long term viability of public access to the Spokane River at Barker Road is in danger. This popular access point for put in and take out is at the Barker Road Bridge. But when designing for replacement of the bridge access was not part of the original plan. The City of Spokane Valley then worked with engineers to site the bridge in a manner that would preserve access.

According to the forum, “the bridge design called for an access lane that goes to the low water mark of the river. During construction, a platform to support bridge construction was placed over this area. Unfortunately, construction activities resulted in the natural river bank slope to the river being washed away, leaving a steep embankment. The extent of damage could not be noted until the platform was removed last summer.” Andy Dunau, the Forum’s Executive Director, said “Barker Road is a critical part of the water trail we’re working with stakeholders throughout the region to develop. We’ve identified partners and fundraising to do a new topographic survey and design work to get Barker right. To make this work, we need to start with a clean piece of paper and everyone will need to contribute. We’re hopeful the City of Spokane Valley agrees.”Full story HERE.

“I’m dreaming of a green Christmas.” As the holiday season approaches, and if you’re looking for ways to celebrate and be festive while staying true to living simply and sustainably, check out the Faith And Environment Network’s “I’m Dreaming Of A Green Christmas” this Thursday at 5:30pm, St John’s Episcopalian Cathedral, 127 E 12th Ave. Enjoy a local, organic dinner and wonderful homemade pies while learning how you can make your holiday season simple, enjoyable and sustainable. Entertainment by Whitworth University’s Improv Group and demonstrations on how to give easy handmade or locally produced gifts.  Bring your own ideas to share with the group as we all learn how to create a less hectic holiday season. Dinner is $10 for Adults Kids are FREE and Craft Projects will be available. Vendors include Sun People Dry Goods, Petunia’s Marketplace, Le Luz Soy Candles.

Sarah Palin’s Alaska. I sort of dissed Sarah Palin’s reality show. INow, it’s worse than I thought, claiming political neutrality but the purpose is indeed political. And more dangerous than any reality show before it says Mary Elizabeth Williams: Even if you're not on Team Pit Bull/Grizzly Bear/Other Throat Ripping Spirit Animal, you might enjoy the show anyway, for its unquestionably breathtaking Alaskan scenery, its occasionally rogue-going younger Palins (9-year-old Piper's critique of her mother's Blackberry addiction is pretty swell) and for its near-constant willingness to put Palin in the line of danger.

In the space of the series' first hour, Palin sits nervously near a family of bears hunting for dinner, takes a bumpy ride in bad weather in a bush plane, lands on a glacier, sidesteps crevasses and clings perilously to Ruth Glacier as she climbs it one slippery step at a time. Previews for the rest of the series show her dog sledding, rafting, kayaking and shooting rifles -- and naturally repeating her mantra, "Don't retreat, just reload." And with seven episodes to go, it's just a matter of time before somebody's tying her to the train tracks. I guess in lieu of installing a hot tub, the producers had to do something to jazz up the works. But if you'd rather skip the former governor's whole transparent ploy for America's eyeballs, here's a spoiler alert -- no actual Palins were harmed in the making of this show. Full story HERE.

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