Getting There: American Airlines counter, terminal moving at Spokane airport

American Airlines is moving its ticket counter and gate to the C concourse terminal at Spokane International Airport from the A/B concourse.

The change, which begins Wednesday, will improve efficiency, airport spokesman Todd Woodard said.

American Airlines has developed a marketing alliance with Alaska Airlines, which has been operating for years out of Concourse C. Passengers changing planes from American to Alaska or vice versa will no longer have to leave the secure portion of the airport and go through another security check to transfer flights between the two airlines, Woodard said.

In addition, the C concourse has capacity to handle additional passengers at the security check stations and at the concessions inside the secure portion of the concourse, he said.

“The move assists in rebalancing passenger flows between the two terminals and better utilizes existing services such as passenger screening and food, beverage and retail concessions,” Woodard said in a news release.

He said airport officials suggested the move and American Airlines wanted to go along with it.

STA celebrates 35 years

Spokane Transit Authority last week celebrated the 35th anniversary of the ballot measure in 1981 that created the agency.

Voters in Spokane County on March 10, 1981, overwhelmingly adopted a sales tax to fund the regional bus system.

STA took over from a bus system operated by the city of Spokane from 1968 to 1981.

At the time, about 90,000 people living in Spokane Valley were served by just two bus routes. Today, there are eight routes there.

STA was able to bring bus service to within a quarter-mile of most homes within its service area, which is known as the Public Transportation Benefit Area.

Moran Prairie and the West Plains also gained service.

Within a few years, ridership grew 18 percent.

Forum set on Palouse safety

The Washington state Department of Transportation is planning a live online forum for the early evening of April 5 to answer questions and concerns over the safety of two main highways serving Washington State University and the Palouse region.

Two fatal accidents last fall generated an outpouring of concern and a digital petition, said Al Gilson, DOT spokesman in Spokane. Much of the concern has been shared over social media, he said.

Some of those concerned have called for building four-lane, limited-access highways on the routes of U.S. Highway 195 and state Highway 26, he said.

The state is planning to install more passing lanes from an increase in transportation funding approved by lawmakers last year.

DOT engineers want to hear from the public about other ideas. To participate, send an email to DOT at sr26us195@wsdot.wa.gov.

The online forum is being planned in conjunction with WSU.

Slide closes Idaho highway

A big rock slide has closed Idaho Highway 14 west of tiny Elk City, Idaho, 124 miles southeast of Lewiston.

West Company Inc. of Airway Heights won an emergency contract for $1.34 million to reopen the road. The company began to clear debris and repair the highway through the slide area Friday.

The work plan calls for building a berm and catch basin on the uphill side of the road to stop additional slides from blocking the rebuilt roadway, which will take a new elevated path through the area.

Spokane work gets underway

Work will resume March 21 on a sewer and water utility project on Hartson Avenue from Altamont to Fiske streets.

The project includes new roadway, sidewalks, curbing and handicap ramps.

Elsewhere in the city, work resumes March 21 on the project started last year to rebuild Monroe and Lincoln streets from Second to Eighth avenues.

Indiana Avenue from Dakota to Perry streets will have partial closures for two months to reset utility lines.

Utility work on Fifth Avenue from Lincoln to Monroe may affect traffic at medical facilities there on Tuesday and Wednesday.