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Upcoming TJ Meenach Drive Summer Street Closure

Upcoming TJ Meenach Drive Summer Street Closure


It’s that time again, schools are wrapping up their year, the sun is shining, and construction crews are working hard to improve, revitalize, and restore our communities infrastructure. On the East most boundary of Emerson-Garfield, work began in May on another exciting project that is taking form in a 1.4 million-gallon concrete, underground storage tank in park land to the east of TJ Meenach Drive, below Northwest Boulevard. This project includes stormwater ponds, new landscaping, underground infrastructure, and new paved pedestrian pathways.

While most of the work will have limited impact on traffic, the project does require multiple pipe connections that will require a closure of TJ Meenach from north of the bridge to Northwest Boulevard. That closure is scheduled to go into effect July 10 and last through the end of August, a SEVEN WEEK CLOSURE. The city has communicated that project MUST be completed by September 11, 2017. Traffic will be detoured onto Pettet Drive, which was recently resurfaced, then to Maxwell to the Maple/Ash Corridor. Please keep this in mind when planning your commute to work or your summer day of leisure.

TJ Meenach Drive connects both Emerson-Garfield and Audubon-Downriver Neighborhoods to people, places, and organizations including but not limited to the following:
Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute
Spokane Falls Community College
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP)
Spokanimal’s Dog Park at High Bridge
Highbridge Disc Golf Course
And many more

Come September, this project will help prevent overflows from combined wastewater and stormwater sewers from entering the river. In some parts of the City, wastewater and stormwater sewers are linked together and during periods of heavy rain or rapid snowmelt, these pipes can become overwhelmed and overflow to the river. Tanks like this store the excess water until the storm surge subsides and the water can be sent to the Riverside Park Water Reclamation Facility for treatment.

All of the work is part of the City’s Cleaner River Faster initiative. The City is investing more than $300 million in projects to improve water quality in the Spokane River. The Cleaner River Faster initiative also encourages the City to include above-ground benefits when completing underground infrastructure work. In this case, that emphasis will result in the new pedestrian trail and overlooks.

For more information, please visit the City of Spokane’s blog post. Here is a visual description of the project and its impact.

Cleaning from the Corridor – Saturday, April 29th from 9am – 12pm

Cleaning from the Corridor – Saturday, April 29th from 9am – 12pm


Spring is around the corner and so is the city’s annual volunteer event, Cleaning from the Corridor (CFTC).

This year the event CFTC will be focusing on the Monroe corridor and the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood with some satellite projects north and south along the corridor. CFTC aspires to create projects that leave a lasting impression and impact for those who live, work and play in the area we focus on.

In addition to volunteering, CFTC is holding a month long donation campaign, there will be a donation boxes at City Hall located on the first floor as well as other select locations along the Monroe corridor and at the Downtown and Shadle Spokane Public Library. On April 29th the donations will be counted and sorted as part of the larger event. If you can’t volunteer, donate!
Volunteer Projects Opportunities Include –

  • Landscaping
  • Public art (murals)
  • Planting raised garden beds and
  • Trash cleanup

Sign-up to Volunteer by going to www.VolunteerSpokane.org > click on Spokane Gives and then select the CFTC logo.

We look forward to seeing you at this year’s CFTC event in Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood!!

Let your friends and neighbors know! Feel free to post this flyer.

Open Houses Announced for Transportation Chapter of the City’s Comprehensive Plan

Open Houses Announced for Transportation Chapter of the City’s Comprehensive Plan

The last major update of the City’s long range / 20 year transportation plan occurred as part of the development of the 2001 Comprehensive Plan. The first steps of the 2017 update were to review the adopted plan and the implementation of strategies it recommended over the past 16 years. Overall, the theme and guiding values of the draft update to the transportation plan has largely stayed the same.

In order to achieve a vision that lives within a future with limited funds for transportation, this plan outlines an approach to developing a balanced multi-modal transportation system.

The Open House will review proposed changes to:

  • the Arterial Street Plan Map,
  • the Bicycle Master Plan Map, and
  • the city’s approach to build, maintain or repurpose our streets to achieve a balanced multi-modal transportation system.

The City is hosting the following Open Houses to review and receive feedback on the draft plan. Read the draft transportation chapter. View the Shaping Spokane website.

Open House #1
East Central Community Center – Senior Room
500 S Stone St.
February 28th, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Open House #2
Downtown – River Park Square 1st Floor near Nordstrom Coffee Bar
March 1st, 11:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Open House #3
West Central Community Center – Newton Lounge Room
1603 N Belt St.
March 2nd, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Open House #4
South Hill Library
3324 S Perry St.
March 7th, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Open House #5
Spokane City Hall, Chase Gallery
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd.
March 8th, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Before Plan Commission hearing on the draft plan

City Accepting Online Feedback on the North Monroe Corridor Project

City Accepting Online Feedback on the North Monroe Corridor Project

Want to know more about the North Monroe Corridor Project? The City has provided a detailed presentation that addresses many questions. If you would like to provide feedback to the City about this project, scroll through the entire presentation and click the link at the end of the presentation.

The City of Spokane is seeking input from citizens on the elements of a project to improve North Monroe Street that’s planned for construction in 2018. The project runs from just north of Indiana to Kiernan near the top of the Garland hill.

Citizens are asked to view an online presentation about the project and then fill out a survey about the various elements of the project at the end of the presentation.  The presentation can be viewed on a computer or a mobile device.  Feedback through that tool will be accepted through Monday, Feb.6.

Additionally, a public open house is scheduled on the project on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, 806 W. Knox. Surveys can be filled out at the open house. More information on the project is found on the City’s web site.

A citizens advisory board met for about six months to refine the project, which is designed to create a more livable community that serves all users of the street. This project balances safety, traffic needs, business health, and neighborhood health.

The project includes a street reconfiguration to two travel lanes with a center turn lane, down from four tight travel lanes and a narrow center lane. The project will include curb bumpouts at intersections that reduce pedestrian crossing distances, enhanced crossings at three locations with flashing yellow beacons, new lighting, and a climbing lane on the hill. The current tight on-street parking will be widened for easier use and spaces will be added.  Sidewalks will be widened.

City to Hold an Open House on North Monroe Corridor Project 1/26/17

City to Hold an Open House on North Monroe Corridor Project 1/26/17

The City of Spokane is seeking input from citizens on the elements of a project to improve North Monroe Street that’s planned for construction in 2018. The project runs from just north of Indiana to Kiernan near the top of the Garland hill.

A public open house is scheduled on the project on Thursday, January 26 from 4 to 7 pm at Knox Presbyterian Church (806 W Knox).

A citizens advisory board met for about six months in 2016 to refine the project, which is designed to create a more livable community that serves all users of the street—from business and property owners to pedestrians and neighborhood residents to motorists and transit users.

“This project is about balancing four considerations—safety, traffic needs, business health, and neighborhood health,” says Scott Simmons, the City’s Public Works & Utilities Division Director. “This corridor has long been identified for revitalization, and this project will serve multiple transportation needs while providing for economic health, neighborhood beautification, and safety.”

The project includes a reconfiguration of the street to two travel lanes with a center turn lane, down from four tight travel lanes and a narrow center lane today from about Shannon to Cora. The project also will include curb bumpouts at intersections that reduce pedestrian crossing distances, enhanced crossings at three locations with flashing yellow beacons, pedestrian lighting, and a climbing lane on the hill. The current tight on-street parking will be widened for easier use and spaces will be added.  Sidewalks will be widened.

In addition to the open house, the City is developing an online feedback tool that describes the various elements of the project, and then provides a survey for citizens to fill out. The online tool is expected to be launched about a week prior to the public meeting.  More information on the project is found on the City’s web site.