Social Media- Are We Doing This Right?

It's been an extremely busy two days, so sorry for the lack of blog posts. I just finished up sitting on a panel for the American Planning Association conference in Boise. The panel was on using social media to get your message out and the challenges faced by government agencies doing so. It was pretty interesting. Most of the other agency representatives on the panel are doing strictly Facebook and/or Twitter. Our challenge at SRTC though is that we're a planning agency, so don't always have something of interest to the general public to put out every day, or even every week. Without fresh content, people tend to quit following you.

That's part of the reason we chose to blog initially. It provides a more varied platform, which means we can post our own news when it's happening, or we can help spread the news of other agencies, such as when the City of Post Falls has a public meeting, or the Idaho Transportation Department is doing construction work on the freeway or Citylink is making route changes.

Some insights I learned from the other panelists:

- People born between 1981 and 2000 are known as the 'Millenial Generation' and are generally getting the bulk of their current events information from their phones.

- Many agencies have actually hired positions just to do social media or have contracted with public relations firms to manage their social media accounts.

- Some items that we put out to the mainstream media doesn't get publicized, so using Twitter or Facebook or blogs lets you get the message directly to the public.

- Because we do behind-the-scenes planning and don't build roads or plow snow, The 'face' of an agency like KMPO is often our website or blog so we need to put some effort into it.

Okay, I'm getting kicked out of my hotel room now so have to wrap this up. Any comments in regards to social media in relation to transportation or public agencies?

Cat Utilizes Freeway Median

I was on I90 near Pleasant View yesterday afternoon when I noticed movement in the tall grass in the median. I slowed down so I could see what it was and saw a cat very obviously stalking something. On the one hand, the cat has an untapped hunting ground, because I've never seen any other cats in the middle of the freeway (at least not live ones) before. But on the other hand, I was worried about how it was going to get back across the road once it got it's meal.

Citylink Service Changes

In an effort to cut administrative costs, Citylink has made some changes to all of its' routes, effective yesterday, Oct. 11.

For the most part, the changes will add only a few minutes to a passenger's wait time to catch a bus, and most of the changes are at night to keep the impacts to a minimum.

Here's a link to Citylink's site so you can check those changes out.

Obama Calls For Republican Support For $50B Transportation Plan

President Obama yesterday lobbied for Republican support for spending on transportation projects, calling his proposal an overdue investment in the country's foundation.

Obama is proposing a $50 billion plan as a step toward a six-year program of transportation programs. Here's what Obama had to say, from the Seattle Times.

Very Important MTP Meeting Tomorrow Night

How do you envision Kootenai County's transportation infrastructure developing over the next twenty years? Do you want to see wider roadways, more bike lanes, improved transit service, more north-south travel options, or just better roadway maintenance over the long term?

KMPO has been working on the Kootenai County Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) for several months now and has a draft available for review and comment that includes many of the components above.

This is a big document, and an important one, because it lays out how transportation improvements will be funded over the next 20 years. It includes a list of over $1 billion of projects proposed to be constructed in that time.

We're asking all of you to look the document over and give us your input; do you have priority projects that you think are more important than others included in the project? Are there projects that aren't included in the MTP that should be?

Here's a link to look over the MTP. After you look it over, we're asking you to attend a public meeting tomorrow night to ask questions, submit comments and voice any concerns you may have. The meeting is from 5-7 p.m., Oct. 12 at the Idaho Transportation Department office, 600 W. Prairie Ave. in Coeur d'Alene. The meeting is 'open house' format so you can come anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and stay as long or as short a time as you'd like.

American Planning Association Conference This Week

It may be Monday, but at least I have something fun to look forward to this week. I'm not even a Transportation Planner, but have been invited to participate in the American Planning Association- Idaho Chapter Conference in Boise this week. I'll be sitting on a panel called 'Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, OH MY!' about using social media in the public sector and how succesful it's been. Should be interesting and I'm looking forward to getting ideas from the other panelists as well.

Here's more information on the Conference. If you're going to be there, be sure to stop by and say hi.

Transportation Roundup For Week Of Oct. 14

Bridge girders were installed last week for the future Wandermere Interchange on the North Spokane Corridor, Idaho State Police are offering a free winter driving and safety class, and the Kootenai County Metropolitan Transportation Plan is now available for review and comment. Here's what's happening in transportation this week from the Spokesman-Review's 'Getting There' column.

Two Area Trails Honored

We knew the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and the Route of the Hiawatha were cool, but apparently a lot of other people do too now.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy just named both trails to their 'Rail-Trail Hall of Fame.' Didn't know there was such a thing? I didn't either. Apparently that's because it's brand new and our trails were two of the first 25 nationwide to be honored.

Here's the story from the Coeur d'Alene Press.

Free Clinic For Pilots

Are you a pilot? Then I'd like a free ride somewhere. Oops, that's not where I was supposed to be going with this.

The Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Aeronautics is offering a Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic/Pilot Safety Clinic next weekend in Pocatello, and it's approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA.

All pilots, regardless of certificate or rating, are welcome to attend. Only flight instructors with an unexpired certificate may renew their certificate through this clinic. They must also attend all 16 hours and complete both written tests. All attendees will receive 3 knowledge credits through the FAA's Wings safety program when completing the clinic.

If you're interested, click here, then click on "Aeronautics," then "Safety and Education" and then select the "FIRCs" link. Got that? Good cause I'm not gonna say it again. Now go get your certificate renewed so you can take me up to take some aerial photos in the name of transportation.

Citylink- A Force To Be Reckoned With When It Comes To Public Transportation

Citylink, we salute you. Not only do you continue to provide free transit service to thousands of people, but you continue to increase the amount of people that you serve every month.

The stats are in, and the number of rides Citylink provided last month is up again. Here are those numbers. Show your appreciation by boarding a Citylink bus and telling the driver thank you for serving our community.

Voice Your Opinion On How Transportation Will Develop Locally In The Next 20 Years

As of yesterday, the draft 2010-2035 Kootenai Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is available for public comment and review. And that's a big deal because the MTP is a long-range plan for how transportation will develop in the region over the next twenty years. We're talking big money here folks.

The Plan includes the current condition of our local roadway system, projected future conditions, lists of over $1 billion in projects local jurisdictions hope to construct over the next two decades, and a financial plan of how to pay for those projects and general maintenance.

There will be an open house style meeting from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at the Idaho Transportation Department office in Coeur d'Alene (600 W. Prairie Ave.)to provide the public a chance to review and comment on the MTP. Open house means you can come and go anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is an important meeting as this document proposes how transportation will grow in the next two decades.

You can view the draft MTP here.

Bike/Ped Committee Looking For Agenda Items

The Pedestrian/Bicycle Advisory Committee to the Coeur d'Alene City Council has designated the October meeting as a workshop for setting priorities for the up and coming year.

The Ped/Bike Committee is soliciting input from the community for agenda items. If you have any ideas that you feel would impact and improve the Pedestrian / Bicycle community in Coeur d'Alene, please feel free to come to the workshop on October 13th at 5:30 pm in the old City Council Chambers at Coeur d'Alene City Hall (710 E. Mullan Ave.) Or you can email your ideas in advance by clicking here.

Public Transportation Roundtable Meeting Oct. 12

The quarterly Public Transportation Roundtable meeting is October 12th at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library (702 E. Front Ave.) from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. You can view the agenda here.

The purpose of the Roundtable is to promote continued coordinated planning and development of integrated public transportation services within and through Kootenai County.

Roundtable meetings are open to everyone so feel free to attend.

New Fuel Efficiency Goals Announced

Last Friday, the Obama administration presented options for increasing fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks by 2025. The EPA and DOT came up with a plan that includes increasing fuel efficiency requirements by 3% to 6% annually from 2017 to 2025.

Here's how the move is expected to affect oil consumption and pollution numbers. What do you think; is this a feasible plan? What about those of us that can't afford a new more fuel efficient plan?

Write Proposes Giving Taxpayers 'Receipt'

How much do you pay in taxes each year? And what does that money go to pay for? Most people don't know. For instance, how much of your money do you think goes toward Federal Highways each year? A couple thousand? A couple hundred? Well, if you make right around $34,000 per year, $68 of what you pay in taxes goes to federal highways.

But how would you know that since you never receive a breakdown of where your money is going? Ezra Klein of the Washington Post says why not give us a 'receipt' for our taxes. Read the article and let me know if you would appreciate getting a receipt or if it's all the same to you?

Commissioners Consider LID Projects - Again

Apparently, the debate over the East Side Highway District paying for overlays wthrough local improvement districts is still open. The only thing that's known now is that the projects in Coeur d'Alene and Harrison will definitely happen, whether they're paid for through LIDs or not. The concern is, if the almost $4 million in projects isn't funded through LIDs, where will it come from? According to Highway District commissioners, through layoffs and maintenance cutbacks.

Here's the whole story from the Coeur d'Alene Press.

AAA of Idaho Says Texting & Driving Report Is Invalid

I posted a thread recently about a new study that says collissions actually increased in three states where texting while driving laws were passed.

Well AAA of Idaho sin't happy about that report. They say the study is invalid and premature since texting and driving bans have been in place for only a few years.

Here's more on this story from Fox12Idaho.com.

TIP Available For Review & Comment

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) 2011-2015 for all of Kootenai County is now available for public review and comment. The TIP is a funding program document that lists federally and non-federally funded transportation improvements proposed by jurisdictions to be undertaken in Kootenai County in the next five years.

There will be a public meeting for an opportunity to view and submit comments on the TIP on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Post Falls City Hall from 4-6 p.m. Click here to view the TIP and find out how to submit comments on it. All comments must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2010.

Task Force Seeking Public Comment

With strained budgets the norm these days, Idaho's Governor’s Transportation Task Force is recommending several options to Governor Otter for ways to increase the transportation budget, including a local option sales tax.

The Task Force meets on October 8, and are looking for your input. Please take 30 seconds to let the Task Force know what you think of both a local option sales tax or any other comments you may have.

Here's a link to the comment page.

STA Route Popular With North Idahoans Proposed To Be Eliminated

I know a lot of people from Kootenai County travel to Liberty Lake to catch the #72 Spokane Transit route to their jobs downtown. Well bad news folks. In STA's latest round of proposed cuts for 2011, the 72 is slated for elimination. Don't get too excited though, because there's still the 74 route that goes to the same place, it just takes a little longer. It looks like the frequency of how often the 74 runs would be increased under the proposal.

What do you think? Is this a bad move or will the more frequent run times make up for the little bit of inconvenience? Here's an article from the Spokesman-Review on the proposed changes, and how you can submit your comments.