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Peggy Gilliland is encouraged by the change in direction on State Route 27.
As the traffic coordinator for the local branch of the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, Gilliland has been involved in a project to improve safety conditions along a 20-mile stretch of the rural highway from Trent Avenue through the town of Rockford. The campaign began last May with a kickoff event at the Albertson’s store on 32nd Avenue, the approximate midway point of the project.
“What we’ve been hearing from law enforcement is that people are driving safer, reducing their speed,” Gilliland said. “The goal here is to educate the public that it’s important to drive safely at all times.”
The project includes a public awareness component consisting of signs – there are now nine along the corridor – and brochures. Gilliland and other members of the steering committee have also been meeting with business owners on SR-27 to let them know about the goals of the program.
There were 482 collisions on the highway from February 2004 through January 2007, according to police reports. The majority of incidents took place at heavily traveled intersections in the city of Spokane Valley, namely at streets like Sprague, Mission, Indiana and Broadway.
Sgt. Mike Zollars, who oversees traffic enforcement with the Spokane Valley Police Department and serves on the SR-27 committee, said a number of factors – including improper turns, following too close and speeding – contribute to the number of collisions in the city and beyond.
“Along SR-27, in the Valley especially, there are so many distractions that people don’t prepare for,” Zollars said.
The emphasis patrols associated with the safety campaign have helped generate awareness, Zollars added. The enforcement also includes canvassing side streets that feed into the highway like Trent and Sprague.
“The rules are put out there for a reason,” Zollars said. “There is a purpose for each one of them. We’re looking for collision causing violations that have led to problems on this road.”
As part of the safety emphasis, the state Liquor Control Board is checking in with businesses along the corridor that serve alcohol, bringing attention to the dangers associated with impaired driving.
Corridor safety projects have been part of the safety agenda in Washington since the early 1990s, according to Matthew Enders, who coordinates the statewide program from his office in Olympia. The SR-27 campaign is the seventh such effort in Spokane County since the idea originated, joining roadways such as SR-91 and Division Street. While most of the early projects were funded by state grants, the Federal Highway Administration now provides most of the financial support.
Enders said the focus on safety has been proven to make a difference.
“Overall, we see a one-third reduction in fatalities and serious injuries because of these projects,” he said.
Engineering changes are also part of the two-year span of the program – part of the plan to keep improvements sustainable long after the grant money is gone. Adjustments include retiming or adding traffic signals, widening lanes, removing foliage that limits motorists’ vision and installing radar speed monitors. In rural areas, motorists are reminded to watch out for deer and other wildlife darting out on the roadway.
“It’s about bringing attention to drivers that there are some issues we need to identify,” said Harold White, a maintenance and traffic engineer with the Washington Department of Transportation. “There are areas, like the stretch of road south of Freeman where the road curves. It’s vital that people are paying attention.”
Freeman School District Superintendent Sergio Hernandez, who serves on the steering committee, has expressed concern about the speed limit on the corridor near Freeman High School. Hernandez said there are plans to utilize funds from the capital facilities bond passed last year to add a bus-only lane. Other changes, such as lowering the speed limit near the school and adding signage have also been mentioned.
“This is an awareness campaign,” Hernandez said. “We’ve identified some of the challenges and now we’re working together to find solutions.”
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By
Craig Howard
