On the right path
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Daniel Gordon, 12, foreground, and Cody Shaw, 15, pass by the intersection of Spokane Street and 15th Avenue on their way to the Post Falls Library after school Tuesday. The city of Post Falls is seeking public comment on a bicyclist and pedestrian improvement plan that recently was developed.</p>
POST FALLS - Troy Jenson believes Post Falls has a good start with bike and pedestrian pathways.
But he also thinks they need to be finished.
"Post Falls has the potential to be great for recreation," the Post Falls resident said. "There's the Centennial Trail that runs through the city and there's some great spots to ride. The problem is that a lot of the areas lead to nowhere and bikers or walkers have to either continue in the street or on a dirt path to get where they want to go."
The city, through multiple workshops, has developed a bike and pedestrian improvement plan that includes more than $2 million in potential projects. Public comment on the plan is being sought through Jan. 3.
The focus of the plan is connectivity with existing pathways between residential areas and schools and residential areas and the city center.
High priority pedestrian areas in the city center include Fourth, Seventh, 12th, Railroad, Compton, Lincoln and Mullan.
Another pedestrian priority is along Seltice Way over Interstate 90 between Bay and Idaho.
"That's one of the biggest areas we've been trying to get a grant for, but have not been successful to date," said Rob Palus, assistant city engineer.
Bike priorities include along Poleline, Compton, Lincoln and Mullan.
Post Falls resident Mary Bremer said more pathways are needed considering she often sees residents walking or riding close to traffic or in areas without sidewalks.
"It would be nice if our network of pathways were more complete, but improvements have been made such as along 15th, Spokane and Ponderosa," she said.
Most of the projects in the plan are in the $150,000 range.
Palus said no funding sources have been identified or provided for any of the projects. It will involve city staff's efforts over the coming years to pursue dollars when available.
But Palus said it is important to receive public comment on the plan now so priorities can be identified and implemented when funding becomes available.
Improvements that are already expected to receive funding such as the Highway 41 trail beneath the I-90 overpass and the Clark Fork rail crossing in the area of the Montrose subdivision and West Ridge Elementary are not on the plan's list.
Bike and pedestrian improvements are a part of the city's 2004 transportation master plan, but Palus said those are more of a "generic blush" of what's needed. The bike/pedestrian plan identifies more specific projects and costs.
"There's a lot of gaps in the existing (recreation) system that need filled as time and money allow," Palus said. "It's lacking connections."
A survey, supporting maps and project ranking tables are available at www.postfallsidaho.org.
The survey can be filled out at www.postfallsidaho.org or downloaded, printed and mailed or delivered to: Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, 83854.