[Vision2020] Third Street bridge plan back in spotlight

[Moscow Cares]

One can certainly see that it is an election year here in Moscow.

Candidate posters are scattered around town.  

Forums are conducted at popular local venues.

And, for the umpteenth time, the topic of discussion returns to the Third Street Bridge . . . just like it did ten years ago . . .

http://www.moscowcares.com/ThirdStreetBridge

Courtesy of today's (October 24, 2015) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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Third Street bridge plan back in spotlight
Moscow City Council candidates are getting asked about it
A topic coming up repeatedly during this year's Moscow City Council election is whether to construct a bridge over Paradise Creek to fully connect East Third Street, which stops on the west side of Paradise Creek and resumes on the other side.
Such a project would provide access from downtown on a more level east-west route than hilly Sixth and D streets.
Whether it would be a bridge strictly for pedestrians and bicyclists costing about $70,000 or wide enough for vehicular traffic at a cost of about $1.1 million is still up for debate.
All four candidates have expressed interest in at least a narrow bridge being constructed there for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Incumbent Councilor Dan Carscallen pointed out that how residents feel about the concept probably depends on where they live. Those living on busier Sixth Street might be "all thumbs up" about a bridge wide enough to carry vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, he said.
Frank Bongiorno's Third Street home is next to the creek's west edge, and he's definitely both thumbs down about the possibility of a full access bridge.
been asking the council candidates about it and attends other community events in which the bridge idea might be discussed.
Some drivers already go too fast through the neighborhood. He has seen people use his driveway to turn their cars around once they realize the street ends abruptly. And, on at least one occasion, he saw someone "roll up into my driveway and drive back over my grass," he said.
Bongiorno dons boots and waders to pull things out of creek, such as tree branches and litter. He clips the grass there.
He also helped a couple remove their bicycles from the creek bed once they realized they couldn't pedal back up the east bank and continue that way toward Mountain View.
"I'd even use a pedestrian bridge," Bongiorno said.
He spotted John Freeland, one of the council candidates, looking around the creek area recently.
"I told him about it," Bongiorno said.
Emergency access
Carscallen has said his time volunteering for the fire department makes him want to see access created there for emergency vehicles, which would require a wider bridge. But he has also said either type of bridge there would improve travel around the city.
Challenger Kathryn Bonzo pointed to the need for more east-west access in town and suggested people living around the site be brought together to talk about it with officials.
The other challenger, Freeland, thinks a vehicle-width bridge is too expensive and not especially popular. But he would consider the narrow version for pedestrians and bicyclists.
"Moscow on the Move," the city's long-term transportation plan, suggests additions that could somewhat reduce speeds and decrease traffic volume so the route doesn't become overly used by drivers if the bridge constructed also provides room for vehicles.
There's 60 feet of right-of-way available there and a multimodal bridge would need to be at least 50 feet wide from outside to outside, said Kevin Lilly, city engineer.
This would include two 12-foot vehicle lanes, bicycle lanes, curbs and gutters, and sidewalk along both sides.
A pedestrian and bicycle bridge would be much narrower, with a "10-12 foot-wide deck and be 12-14 foot total width," Lilly wrote in a email.
A bridge wide enough to accommodate vehicles, walkers and cyclists would require pursuing a grant because constructing it would be "horrendously expensive," said City Councilor Wayne Krauss, who is the Transportation Commission liaison.
It isn't in the city's budget for this fiscal year, he said.
Extra and potentially faster traffic is expected to roll across a full-width bridge over Paradise Creek and through the surrounding neighborhood.
Residents there as well as people going to and from East City Park and Lena Whitmore Elementary School could be made safer with traffic calming devices, said Les MacDonald, public works director.
Built quicker
The other incumbent, Jim Boland, is an avid cyclist. He also sees merit with both bridge plans, but has pointed out to groups of people that the pedestrian bridge could be built relatively quickly if there were enough donations to make it a reality.
Friends of the Third Street Bridge raised $7,000 for a pedestrian model several years ago. The city contributed another $10,000 toward its construction, but used about $2,000 for a different expense. So there's about $15,000 in the city's budget for such a project.
Candidates are quoting the earlier cost estimate of $60,000. Today it's more likely to cost at least $70,000, MacDonald said.
People interested in donating money for a pedestrian bridge to fully connect East Third Street to Mountain View Road can contact the city's Finance Department for details.

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"People interested in donating money for a pedestrian bridge to fully connect East Third Street to Mountain View Road can contact the city's Finance Department for details."

Translation:  If the residents on Third Street want a pedestrian bridge installed, let them pay for it.

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
  
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