ITD Fined $65,000 By EPA

Another chapter in the saga of the Sand Creek Byway; The Environmental Protection Agency is fining the Idaho Transportation Department and Parsons RCI $65,000 for Clean Water Act violations. Here's why, from the Idaho Statesman.

Secretary LaHood Talks Alternative Transportation

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has multiple battles he's fighting; not only is he the sole Republican in President Obama's cabinet, he's also championing livable communities- places that offer ample housing and transportation options considerate of residents of all ages and the environment— despite the movement being unpopular with some of his fellow Republicans.

A big part of the concept of livable communities is alternative transportation,which LaHood fears may get swept under the rug in the upcoming federal transportation bill reauthorization.

LaHood recently sat down with AARP for this interview about living in a post-car world.

Drivers Rushing To Beat Old Man Winter

The record cold temperatures have Idaho drivers thinking about winterizing their cars. In fact, many are already putting on studded snow tires!Here's the story from KLEW TV.

Tally Of Roadside Trash From Cleanup Day

What is it with drivers in rural areas throwing things out the window? Each year, I take part in an annual fall cleanup day near Hauser Lake, and each year I compete with one of the other participants to see who can find the most unusual item. Here are some of the items I found this year:

- Several baggies full of cigarette butts (why bother bagging them up if you're just going to throw them out the window?)

- Pressurized whipped cream bottles (I find at least a couple of these every year. Call me naive, but is this what kids are doing these days??)

- A porn DVD next to an empty box of 'Extenz' male enhancement supplements

- A debit card

- A giant jar filled with either pickle juice or urine, I'm not sure which

I won for that last item, by the way. What's the weirdest thing you've found beside the road?

ISP Offers Winter Driving Class

A little nervous about driving in the snow this winter? Maybe you should brush up your driving skills. The Idaho State Police will hold free road-safety classes later this month.

Here's the details from the Spokesman's 'Getting There' column.

Ever Been Yelled At Or Harrassed While Walking Or Biking?

Over on the Spokesman-Review's 'Huckleberries' blog they're having a conversation about bicyclists and pedestrians being yelled at or harassed by drivers. Take a look and either let them know, or us here, if that's every happened to you.

I've had the usual 'Hey baby!' and 'Want a ride?' yelled at me, but the funniest story I've heard was from an ex-boyfriend who was pretty skinny and had beautiful long red hair in his younger years. He said he was walking down the street when a pickup full of men approached him from the back and slowed down, yelling things like 'Hey baby, want to come home with us?' and other, much more lewd, suggestions. When he turned around and they realized he was a guy, they freaked called him names and threatened to beat him up. Like it was his fault they were being sleazy or something.

Idaho Transportation Fund Is Shrinking

Despite a $54 million transportation funding compromise that ended Idaho’s second-longest legislative session earlier this year, Idaho's transportation fund is shrinking. In fact, it now stands at about $28 million – far less than what officials say is needed to keep Idaho’s roads up to par.

Here's the article from the Spokesman's 'Eye on Boise' blog.

Hiawatha Has Record Year

Nearly 33,000 cyclists embarked on the Route of the Hiawatha this past season, a 14% increase from last year’s total of roughly 28,700. And the trail had visitors from all over, including Norway, Luxembor, and Samoa.

Here's an article from the Shoshone News Press on the trails' busy season.

Safe Routes To School Grants Available

The Idaho Transportation Department has announced that communities may begin applying for 2012 funds to encourage students to safely walk and bicycle to school through the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program.

Successful SR2S programs increase the number of students walking and biking to school, help to improvem children's health, and cut down on vehicle emissions.

For more information on what kind of projects are eligible and how to apply, click here.

Press Takes Stand On Dog Shooting Incident

The Coeur d'Alene Press is speaking out today with an editorial about the dog that Kootenai County Deputies shot a couple weeks ago. The dog was running around on I90 near Post Falls and deputies and other drivers were not able to catch it.

The story was so upsetting to some people that it went national, and the Press received letters from as far away as Florida regarding the incident. After much public outcry, the public sentiment seems to be to villify the deputy who did the shooting. The Press editorial disagrees though.

Airlines To Charge Surcharge Around Holidays

The cost of flying keeps creeping up- and it may do so even more if you try to fly around the holidays.

Several big airlines, including airlines that fly into and out of Spokane International Airport, have added $10 surcharges for busy days around the holidays. Last month airlines added a $10 each-way surcharge for Nov. 29 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving) and Jan. 2 and 3. Now, the website FareCompare.com, says airlines will also charge more to fly on Nov. 30; Dec. 19, 26, and 27; March 14, 20, 21, 28; April 11; and May 28.

The surcharges were added by Delta, Northwest, American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines and US Airways.

Bike Vs. Bulbout: Bike: 0 Bulbout: 1

The new rage with planners is to install 'bulbouts' that shelter pedestrians from oncoming cars and slow traffic somewhat. But while bulbouts are good for walkers, one Montana woman says they're not so safe for bicyclists; and she has three broken teeth and 30 stitches to prove it. Here's more information on bulbouts, and this woman's story.

Apparently Texting Isn't Just Affecting Your Driving Behavior

Stimulus $ Covers Variety Of Projects In Area

An analysis of stimulus money says that well over $200 million has been directed to Eastern Washington and North Idaho counties. But one of the biggest criticism of the program is that it's difficult to determine how much money's been spent and how. Here's an overview the stimulus program in our area.

Citylink #s Down From Last Month, But Up From Last September

September was another very good month for Citylink. Numbers just released show ridership was down a little from last month but up a decent amount from the same time period last year. Here's a look at the latest numbers.

CDA Pedestrian Entrance To City Hall Closed

The City of Coeur d’Alene Street Department has closed off the pedestrian entrance to City Hall from the library parking lot until this Thursday. City Hall patrons will be diverted to alternate entrances until four large panels of concrete are replaced in that area.

Animals Are Coming Out Of The Woodwork

Here's what I saw while driving this weekend: one herd of elk, dozens of turkeys, more deer than I can shake a stick at, and six coyotes.
I know I've said it before, but it's that time of year again, so take it easy on roads in outlying areas. The animals are coming out of the woodwork so be careful. The number of roadkills I've seen lately is crazy. These pictures were taken out the bedroom window of a friend who lives near Hauser, by the way.

CDA Press Besieged By Angry Letters About Dog Killing

Still angry about Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies shooting a small dog on the freeway last week? So are dozens of other people who say they could have handled the incident better, while ensuring public safety. Check out the 'Letters' page of the Coeur d'Alene Press' website. Yep- almost all angry letters about the incident.

Police Say Dog Was Shot To Avoid Traffic Accidents

There's been a lot of outcry regarding a small dog that was euthanized last Friday near I90 in Post Falls because it was distracting drivers and obstructing freeway traffic. Today, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department said it had no choice but to shoot the dog, in order to ensure the welfare of the public.

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

No one wants little animals to be shot, but in this case do you think the action of the police was warranted to avoid traffic accidents and possible injury to humans?

Gas Tax Fund Shifts To Wait Another Year

A joint legislative committee has decided to hold off for another year on shifting gas tax funds away from the state parks department and the Idaho State Police- and Gov. Butch Otter is raising no objections. This is significant because the fund-shifting was key to a session-ending deal between Otter and lawmakers that allowed the legislative session to end... after 117 days.

Here's more from the Spokesman's 'Eye on Boise' blog.