[Vision2020] Ring Road vs internal Hwy 8 bypass

[Dan Carscallen]

Nils says in part:
". . . I had trouble with the Hwy 95 & 8 intersection at the south end
of downtown. And the more trouble I had, the more I found myself taking
that gargantuan intersection and making it worse. Or making something
that felt like freeway on-ramps . . . And the more I looked at the (4
lane?) monster I was running down the old railroad with a big light and
intersection at 6th, the more I didn't like the whole concept . . . I'm
not sure I'm ready for a ring, but a western bypass has more appeal than
my new road bi-secting downtown from UI.  My criteria for western
by-pass is that gets traffic out of downtown, and is planned so Palouse
River Dr plugs in to help traffic from Mt View and east on Hwy 8 get to
Pullman."

Having sat in on a lot of the discussions prior to the recent public
unveiling, I can see where you are coming from.  It is nice to hear some
more people come up with more ideas, though.  While ITD's recent
origin/destination study didn't justify a bypass for Moscow, I think
most people will tell you they would like to see it.  I'd like to see
it, along with some connectivity around town.  

I think people get worked up a bit when they see the entire "Ring Road"
concept (I'm with Walter Steed, maybe we should call it "Fred") without
realizing that *if* it ever gets built, it will be built in segments.
Probably the southwestern section first, then the northwestern quarter,
thereby giving us our western bypass.  Next would probably be the
southeastern quarter, giving us a Hwy 8 bypass.  The Northeastern
quarter would probably be last, if built at all.

My dream, if you will, would be to see the ring road built, in some form
or another, turn Main street into something even more walkable than it
is, and turn Washington and Jackson back into two-way streets.

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

DC