This would cut my commute times down

The flying car was on display at this airshow that was held at Wittman Regional Airport, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Spokesman: Cars are paying more for roads than trucks do...

BOISE - Idaho motorists are paying more and more of the cost of maintaining the state’s roads, while drivers of heavy trucks are paying less, according to a new state study - though the trucks are causing far more damage to the roads.

Meanwhile, Idaho faces a “widening gap” between its road funding and its needs, experts told Gov. Butch Otter’s transportation funding task force Tuesday, and task force members said the most promising source to fill that gap is a gas tax increase, the very thing Otter failed to persuade lawmakers to endorse for two years running.

More of the story Here

Boekel Road to be closed to through traffic beginning Monday

COEUR D'ALENE - Boekel Road, between U.S. 95 and Government Way, will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday (July 26) and will remain closed through Friday (July 30), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.

The work is part of a major reconstruction project on U.S. 95 from Wyoming Avenue to Idaho 53.

The week-long closure is the result of rain delays in May and June. Access to businesses on Boekel will be maintained.

The contractor for the $6 million project is Interstate Concrete and Asphalt of Coeur d'Alene. The project is funded with savings from federal highway stimulus projects bid earlier this year. The project is expected to be complete by this October.

ITD and the Idaho State Police advise motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for information on the state highway or interstate system.

Downtown Traffic Detours Set in Place Starting Friday Morning

This weekend hosts the exciting annual Downtown Street Fair, Taste of the Coeur d’Alenes, and Art on the Green. The Street Fair has expanded and streets will be blocked on Sherman and Northwest Boulevard at Lakeside rather than at Second Street, to add additional vendor space.

Traffic headed into the downtown area will be routed to the east on Lakeside and then can go south on Third Street, or north on Fourth Street. Traffic leaving the city’s Third Street parking lot will be directed eastbound only and northbound on Fourth or Seventh streets. Resort traffic only will be directed southbound on Second Street and leaving the resort eastbound only on Front.

For more information, please contact 769-2233.

25% Of Nation's Bridges Deficient

This is scary news; 25 percent of the country's bridges remain "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete," according to testimony at a House Transportation Subcommittee hearing Wednesday. About 150,000 bridges -- nearly one in four -- are considered deficient, Here's the story from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

Blogging Hiatus 2010

Things may get kind of quiet on the blog for a little while. No, we won't be experiencing technical difficulties, but I will be heading off for vacation next week.

I've asked Jeff Selle in our office to fill in on blogging but that will depend on how much time he has on his hands. He's not used to multi-tasking like I do: With one hand I'm posting an article on how every time you start your car engine you're killing a penguin and with the other hand I'm trying to type a newsletter with no typos.

Depending on how things go, I may do a little blogging 'from the field,' but don't expect things to get completely back to normal here until August 2.

Public Transportation Roundtable Meeting Next Week

KMPO will host a Public Transportation Roundtable meeting next Wednesday, July 28th at the Coeur d'Alene Library from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

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

Here's the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

KMPO July Newsletter Available

It's only late July but it's already been one heck of a busy summer. What have we been up to here at KMPO? A little of everything. Here's our July newsletter to bring you up to date.

I90 Seal Coating Delays

Seal coating will begin on Interstate 90 over the Fourth of July Pass on Thursday (July 29).

Crews will begin Thursday on the westbound travel lane and then switch to the eastbound travel lane. Seal coating of the westbound and eastbound passing lanes will follow.

The interstate will be reduced to one lane in each direction during seal coating. The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph through the work zone.

Seal coating is a process designed to prolong the life of the roadway surface. A thin layer of asphalt is laid down, followed by a layer of rock chips. Once the liquid asphalt has set up, excess rock chips that have not adhered to the surface are removed.

McEuen Field Consultant Chosen

A consulting team has been chosen to lead the effort to revamp McEuen Field in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Possible amenities the team will consider for the park include bike and pedestrian paths and possibly incorporating the Centennial Trail into the park.

Here's more on the decision from the Coeur d'Alene Press.

Neider Avenue Closure

The Coeur d’Alene Water Department will be temporarily closing Neider Avenue from US 95 to Fruitland Lane for three days beginning Monday, July 26th. Crews will be replacing a water main in the area. Neider Avenue should be reopened by Thursday, July 29th.

The southern lane of Neider Avenue will have daily closures for approximately 1½ weeks to complete the water main installation. The businesses affected will have continuous customer access from the Fruitland Lane side of Neider Avenue.

Former ITD Director Back In Court

Fired Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe was back in court yesterday so that a judge can decide whether or not the state’s transportation director is an at-will employee who can be fired for any or no reason.

Meanwhile, the Idaho Transportation Department acknowledged that a controversial management contract that Lowe contends she was fired for trying to scale back has now swelled to $85 million.

Here's the latest from the Spokesman-Review.

Impact Fees Back For More Consideration

The subject of impact fees are back before Kootenai County commissioners. A hearing will be held next month on measures that would create new impact fees to help accommodate new growth.

Impact fees collected from builders of new homes would help pay for improvement projects of all kinds, including ones for the law enforcement and fire departments, as well as local highway districts.

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

Citylink Ridership Numbers Up In June

Citylink's ridership numbers were up AGAIN in June, with increased numbers on every route. Here are the June numbers.

Harrison Street Closure

Harrison Street between 14th and 16th streets in Coeur d'Alene will be closed today and tomorrow to prepare for the installation of a signal at 15th Street and Harrison Avenue.

The signal is being installed due to increased traffic and congestion in that location.

Luke I Am Your -- Public Transit Rider??

Blogger Holly thought it imperative that I post this before the weekend. For the republic. I've seen some strange characters on public transportation but this beats them all.

The Downside Of Owning A Vehicle

We've been talking a lot lately about how easy it is to get around Kootenai County because there's so little congestion. That leads many people, myself included, to own their own vehicle and to drive to the majority of places they frequent. There's a downside to that though and I'm experiencing it today.

I had so much overtime from all the meetings this week that I had to take today and tomorrow off. Am I lying on the beach though enjoying my day off? No. Fishing? No. Taking a hike? Mowing the lawn? Walking the dog? Creating a voodoo doll of my boss? No, none of the regular stuff I do on my days off. Instead I'm sitting in my mechanic's waiting room as he rattles off all the repairs I need. Here's the damage so far:

1 tie rod + 1 idler arm + 1 alignment + 4 new tires + 1 battery = Holy cow, Glenn I need a raise! I take back what I said about the voodoo doll. Riding my bike more often is looking better and better.

Hey Kids- Look At Those Whales! Those Aren't Whales!

Thanks to blogger Holly for sending this Seattle Times article. Apparently there was a full moon over Puget Sounds last Sunday. Four, in fact. My favorite line is the last: 'The men apparently had been drinking beer.' Well duh.

So what's the dumbest thing you've done when angry at another driver? I have to admit I'm the queen of leaving nasty notes on peoples cars who park badly and take up two spots. Or people who park in handicap spots without permits.

Council Votes Against Proposed Safety Measure For Cyclists

Following up on a post from yesterday, the Hayden City Council last night decided against a recommendation to pursue truck weight limits on Government Way to improve safety for bicyclists. Here's the update from the Coeur d'Alene Press.

US 95 Project Gets Environmental Clearance

The Idaho Transportation Department has just announced that a project to realign and reconstruct 31 miles of U.S. 95 north of Coeur dAlene received environmental clearance last week, allowing the development of future construction projects in the corridor.

The Federal Highway Administration approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on July 2 for the U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle corridor project. That approval clears the way for planned right of way purchases and the beginning of preliminary design.

The Garwood to Sagle corridor serves a rapidly growing population in northern Kootenai and southern Bonner counties and is an important part of Idaho's primary north-south highway.

That decision includes approval of an alignment for the future highway, which was identified as the Preferred Alternative in the FEIS. Right of way acquisition will focus on the southern end of the corridor, from Boekel Road to Granite Hill, in Kootenai and Bonner counties. Construction will begin when funding becomes available.

The U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle corridor is one of six transportation corridors throughout the state funded through the GARVEE Transportation Program, which allows Idaho to plan, design and build more highway projects in less time than through traditional transportation funding methods. It uses Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to fund critical improvements in the six transportation corridors.