 |
Before becoming mayor – even before Spokane Valley became a city – Richard Munson was bullish on Broadway Avenue.
In 2002, Spokane County road engineers announced plans to convert Broadway from a four-lane arterial from Pines to Sullivan roads to two lanes with a center turn lane. The reconfigurement would allow for bike lanes and for better visibility for those turning left at intersections, said Ross Kelley, county road engineer at the time.
Munson – who had already announced his intention to run for City Council – wasn’t convinced. And since the incorporation vote had already passed, he certainly didn’t think it was up to the county to decide.
“I strongly recommend you don’t do anything until the new city takes over,” Munson said.
County leaders eventually agreed and turned over all their prep work to the new city. A couple of years later, Munson found himself on the losing end of a council vote to move forward with the project.
Last week, it happened again.
In a 5-2 vote – Munson was joined by Council Member Rose Dempsey – the council agree to include expand the three-lane portion of Broadway from Pines westward to Park Road. Munson said he contends Broadway has an “intersection problem, not a lane problem,” but the rest of the lawmakers stated they want to see traffic “calmed” around the schools in the area.
The project is set to begin next year and will cost $933,000 for restriping and cuts in curbs to comply with American Disability Act requirements. The city, however, will only have to pay $187,000 due to the receipt of grant funds.
City road engineers said the restriping and addition of bike lanes will allow for a buffer between cars and the sidewalks. They also said that those living on Broadway – as residents between Pines and Sullivan have already discovered – can use the center turn lane when backing onto the arterial before entering traffic.
Munson said he didn’t note a significant difference in the reduction of accidents and that spending nearly $200,000 for restriping was “unnecessary.”
“Spend it on potholes or pavement management,” he said, although he admitted the ADA improvements need to happen.
Council Member Gary Schimmels said the change is needed as it’s a “safety issue.”
“You have six schools (between Sullivan and Park roads),” he said. “Four lanes are dangerous.”
Council Member Steve Taylor – who was against the original change east of Pines – agreed it was safer for children under the three-lane configuration.
“I’d like to see it go all the way to Park,” he said.
Also at the June 16 meeting, the council learned that bids to construct the new Discovery Playground at Mirabeau Point Park had all gone over 47-percent of the budged amount and would likely top $1 million. The reason, according to Mike Stone, parks director, is that a Colorado consultant failed to figure in Washington’s requirement to pay union-directed “prevailing wages.”
City Manager David Mercier said there is over $400,000 saved from CenterPlace’s construction that could be used to build the “universal park” that will have a number of attractions for children with developmental disabilities.
The council will decide on June 30 whether to move forward.
|
|
By
Mike Huffman
