Getting There: West Main to get new kind of street parking

Spokane’s West Main Avenue from Bernard to Division streets is going to get a new kind of angle parking in a realignment that starts Sept. 12.

The goal is to improve safety and increase on-street parking for the growing number of people who use West Main for shopping, dining or working.

The heart of the project involves the block from Browne Street on the west to Division on the east, which has become a vibrant urban enclave.

Traffic will be reduced to two lanes and the center of the street will be striped for angle parking in what the city is calling a pilot project that could be used elsewhere if successful.

The plan includes a midblock pedestrian crossing, planters, seating and traffic-channeling structures.

“This project has the promise of changing the focus and orientation of drivers,” said Rebecca Mack, a staff member at the Community Building on West Main.

Louis Mueller, city planner on the project, said the idea is to help slow traffic to make the environment safe and comfortable for pedestrians and bicycle riders.

The angle parking in the center of the street can also be used for street gatherings or festivals.

Mueller said the angle parking, lane restrictions and channeling structures are expected to slow vehicle speeds down to 13 mph, from the current average of 25 to 30 mph.

Other cities around the country have been moving in this direction, including Bellingham and Lancaster, California, he said.

As a result, the block from Browne to Division will gain 20 automobile and six bicycle parking spaces.

Curbside parallel parking will be maintained but designated for loading zones from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mueller said drivers need to read the loading zone signs to avoid getting a ticket.

The plan is being well received by owners along Main, Mack said.

Taxi drivers are asking for taxi zones, but business owners want as much parking as they can get. Mueller said the city is looking at a couple of potential taxi spots.

To the west, the block of Main from Bernard to Browne will get back-in angle parking on the north side of the street for a gain of six motorcycle spots.

Back-in angle parking is considered safer as drivers pulling out have a better view of oncoming bicycles or cars.

To the east, the block of Main from Division to Pine will get pull-in angle parking on the north side of the street for a gain of one auto and two motorcycle parking slots.

A separate project to rebuild the intersection and sidewalks at Main and Division has nearly been completed. It will include pedestrian-scale lighting to improve visibility along the sidewalks there, Mueller said. Streetlights are set at a lower height for better pedestrian visibility.

New parking meter kiosks will replace individual parking meters. The kiosks take bank cards, phone directions or coins and allow drivers to buy only the amount of time they need.

A parking app for mobile phones is available at parksimple.org.

The system also works with a voice phone and text message. The system sends alerts when the meter is about to expire, and time can be extended by 15 minutes from the alert.

The work should be finished within five weeks.

Wellesley-Freya intersection closed

In other projects, the intersection of Wellesley Avenue and Freya Street is closed for construction of a roundabout.

Also, crews are installing fiber-optic cable on U.S. Highway 2 from Interstate 90 to Spotted Road. The work may result in lane or shoulder restrictions during evening and nighttime hours.

A detour on I-90 may slow traffic at the west end of Sprague Lake where the state is repairing the westbound overpass bridge over the BNSF Railway tracks. Another bridge job is underway at Wahl Road to the west.

Traffic restrictions and delays are possible at several intersections undergoing improvements. They are U.S. Highway 2 at Colbert; state Highway 231 and Devils Gap Road; state Highway 291 at Suncrest; and U.S. Highway 395 from Loon Lake to Kettle Falls.

Also, Highway 291 may have flaggers and single-file traffic near Tum Tum for installation of curve warning signs.

Hawthorne reopens

In Spokane County, Hawthorne Road from Division to Waikiki Road is now open with some lane restrictions for landscaping work. Access is available to Whitworth University.

Argonne Road continues to see reductions to one lane in each direction for a road reconstruction and stormwater job from the Spokane River to Wellesley.

Work in the raised islands on Country Homes Boulevard is causing lane and parking restrictions.

Road reconstruction is also underway on Hatch Road from Colbert to Burk Road and on Burk Road from Hatch to Perry Road.

Buses running on holiday schedule

Spokane Transit Authority buses will be running on a limited holiday schedule on Monday. Consult bus timetables.

Lanes restricted in Spokane Valley

In Spokane Valley, lane restrictions on northbound McDonald Road from Mission to Broadway avenues will last about one more week.

Southbound McDonald from Mission to Sprague avenues will have a lane reduction for about three more weeks.

Lane restrictions are continuing on the Sullivan Road bridge over the Spokane River.

I-90 pass blasting set for this week

Late-season rock blasting on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will result in hourlong closures of the freeway at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.