Bi-State Coordination Committee
recommends extending HOV lanes
The Bi-State Coordination Committee yesterday recommended
both continuation of the high occupancy lane test project on I-5 north of
Vancouver and, as part of the projected Delta Park I-5 widening, a connecting
HOV lane project.
The coordination committee, comprising both Washington
and Oregon transportation officials, chaired by Metro councilor
Rex Burkholder and vice chaired by
Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard, is an
advisory-only committee, but its advice is expected to carry considerable weight
in future bi-state transportation decisions.
The Vancouver HOV lane pilot project opened in October
2001. A series of studies have been conducted since, the latest completed this
year reporting that, for the first time, the HOV lane is carrying more people
per lane than either of the adjacent lanes for the two-hour peak periods it is
in operation.
An Oregon extension of the HOV lane would be south of the
Interstate Bridge through Delta Park to Lombard Street. The Oregon Department of
Transportation has nearly completed an environmental assessment on that project.
The coordination committee recommends that ODOT work
collaboratively with WSDOT to operate the projected HOV lane as a managed lane.
The coordination committee projects that by 2025 HOV
users would travel from Highway 500 to Interstate 84 in Oregon 12 minutes faster
than travelers using the adjacent lanes. The committee acknowledged, however,
that a tradeoff would be substantially increased travel times for single
occupancy lanes and freight carriers.
As a way of getting maximum transportation capacity
between points, the coordination committee recommended that the HOV lanes be
“managed lanes” in an effort to move all traffic through at about the same rate
of speed.
An example of managing traffic would be charging a toll
to single occupancy vehicles to travel HOV lanes and allowing hybrid vehicles
with single occupants access to the HOV or managed lane.
Everyone gets in to the YMCA for
free Saturday for Healthy Kids Day
The Clark County Family YMCA is opening its doors to kids
and families between 10 a.m. and 2 pm. Saturday, April 2, as part of Healthy
Kids Day. No registration is required.
The Y promises activities for children of all ages,
including an underwater Easter egg hunt in the pool from 11 a.m. to noon.
Swimming lessons will be offered, and there will be demonstrations of rock
climbing and fitness classes.
The Y is also offering new memberships without joining
fees on Saturday. The Y is at 11324 NE 51st Circle.
Applications are being accepted
for Clark County BIA scholarships
The Building Industry Association of Clark County is
accepting applications for eight $1,000 college scholarships through Friday,.
April 15, reports community affairs director
Joel White.
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited community
college or university. The scholarships are being offered students pursuing a
study that benefits the building trades, according to White.
Evergreen educator in running for
school district superintendent
After failing to get the top candidate in their first
list of finalists for superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools, the district
board has announced it will interview three more candidates for the position
being vacated by the retirement of Rick Melching.
Included on the short list is
John D. Deeder, chief academic officer
for the district. Deeder was hired in 2002 as director of curriculum and
instruction and was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2003. He became
chief academic officer last year.
The other two candidates are
Robert L. Corley, superintendent of
Flagler County Public Schools, Bunnell, Fla., and
William E. Roberts, superintendent of Nye
County School District, Pahrump, Nev.
For further information, call
694-0933, or go to
www.biasw.org/programs.html.
News briefs
The Vancouver Clinic’s second free lecture on sleep
illnesses is at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in the Vancouver Clinic, Columbia Tech
Center, 501 SE 172nd Avenue. Tours of the clinic’s Pacific Sleep Center NW will
also be offered. To reserve space, call 604-1740.
g Pacific Standard Time becomes
Pacific Daylight Time at 2 a.m., Sunday, but anytime before work on Monday is
fine.
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