FRIDAY, April 1, 2005

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.
 

Headlines at home and from around the world:
(Click on the headlines below for the rest of the story)

Bush expected to sign bill extending the time to convert from standard to daylight savings time from one hour to 25 hours, extra day would take effect at 1 a.m. Sunday; Monday would not begin until next Tuesday--Washington Gazette, Tauf Charneski

Bill to continue Clark Public Utilities' appliance repair program proceeding through the state House--Columbian, Don Jenkins

Stock markets are iffy--Columbian, Jonathan Nelson

County commissioners expected to pick district court judge from pool of four within the next two weeks--Oregonian, Wendy Owen

U. of W. picked to help Afghanistan rebuilt its legal profession--Seattle Times, Lornet Turnbull

Oil prices hit record of over $57 a barrel--USA TODAY, AP

March job growth disappointing--Washington Post, Jonathan Weisman

Columbian's best bets for entertainment

Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam [updates every five minutes]--USDA Forest Service, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Friday on the air

Vancouver Optimist Club Oratorical Contest—4:30 p.m. CVTV
Animal Control Hearings (3/23)—7 p.m. CVTV
Everett at Portland Winter Hawks (live)—7 p.m. KCMD
Portland Blazers at Seattle (live)—7:30 p.m. KGW-TV, KXL, KXMG
Telecommunications Commission—9 p.m. CVTV
Clark College Orchestra Winter Concert—11:30 p.m. CVTV
 

Town tabloids and the weather 

Linda Nielsen handling courier chores.g John Bryden training a flying gonzo. g Theresa Baker celebrating tomorrow with cake and candles. g Roxane Sutherland spreading good news. g Gary Sahlstrom maintaining appearances. g Friday, April showers, 56. Saturday, light precipitation, some sun, 53.Sunday, more showers and sunbreaks, 51.