“The Steering Committee felt it was important to give the public one more opportunity to learn about the study and provide input before we move on to the future project phases, including environmental analyses,” said Mark Kushner, Benton-Franklin Council of Governments Transportation Director.

There are currently four options under consideration. The steering committee is tasked with narrowing that down to a final three, and then present them to the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments for action.

October 13: Columbia River Bridge Study Public Meeting is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

All of this is documented in the airport’s master plan, which was recently updated thanks in large part to federal funding. It’s a long series of PDF documents that I found quite interesting, but if you don’t have time to read through it all, here’s my summary:

Recommended Upgrades/Changes (not a complete list)

• Extend the two primary runways from their current 7,700 feet length to 9,170 feet
• Increase runway pavement strength
• Acquire property at the ends of existing primary runways
• Expand terminal building to allow space for a fifth airline ticket counter
• Redesign the ticket counter and baggage handling area
• Add additional car rental counter space
• Add another walk-through metal detector at the security checkpoint
• Add another jet bridge boarding gate (where you walk up the ramp directly onto the plane)
• Add concessions in main/secure terminal (already planned)
• Add more bathrooms in main/secure terminal
• Expand parking space availability (already in progress)

The plan doesn’t suggest expanding the check-in lobby because more travelers are doing check-in from home via the Internet, and more are flying with carry-on luggage that doesn’t require airline handling. It also doesn’t suggest an expansion of the baggage claim area or capabilities.

You can download the full report here (again: recommended), or just wait until this winter when airport officials are planning a public workshop to talk about the master plan.

Consultant Suggests Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) Expansion is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

The Port of Pasco is basicallt relocating the drainage basin which nows sits right in the middle of the parking area. It’ll be filled in and leveled and turned into new parking spots. Of course, to do that, some of the parking spaces immediately surrounding it have to be blocked off while the work is ongoing. Here’s a map showing the affected area, including some of the spaces in both the short-term and long-term lots that will be blocked.

The shaded area above will be closed to parking during the project, which should run from today (August 23) until November 1st. You can download the full news release in PDF format.

Related to this project is a plan to build a new snack bar/concession area inside the secure area of the airport terminal. The new food area will be built at the far end of the terminal and should measure about 500 square feet. Cindy Goulet, who runs the existing snack bar, gift shop, and Florentyna’s Restaurant inside the airport, will also run the new food area as part of her agreement with the Port.

That project is also expected to be done by November 1st.

Pasco Airport Construction Underway is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

After the first survey earlier this year, the initial set of 10 options was narrowed down to these four options:

1. A new span from the North Richland area to Franklin County using Sagemoor Road.
2. A new span between Richland/Kennewick and Pasco using Columbia Center Boulevard and Road 100.
3. A new span between Kennewick and Pasco using Edison Street and Road 68.
4. Widening the existing US 395 “Blue Bridge” between Kennewick and Pasco.

You can see them in red on this map:

(click for larger version)

There’s no guarantee a new bridge will ever be built; it’ll take a lot of government funding to make that happen. But the organizers are in the process of gathering the info they need to show why the area needs additional traffic options over the Columbia River. You can help out by taking the survey. It’s only 3 questions.

New Columbia River Bridge Survey Ready is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

After reviewing the public input, and considering things like finances, impact on the surrounding neighborhoods, estimated traffic volumes, and forth, the original 10 options have been narrowed to these four (highlighted in red):

The four options are:

#1 –A new span located just north of the Hanford 300 Area and connects to Columbia River Road and W Sagemoor Road on the east.

#5 — A new span from Columbia Center Boulevard in Kennewick to Road 100 in Pasco

#6 — A new span from Edison Street in Kennewick to Road 68 in Pasco

#7 – An additional bridge next to the existing US 395 “Blue Bridge

There’s a ton of data on the CRCSTC web site, including the results of the public survey. Tri-Citians who took the survey favor a bridge between Road 68 and Edison St. — what’s listed as option #6 above. The second preferred option is a bridge between Road 100 and Columbia Center Blvd.

You should check out the CRCSTC web site, which has a lot of interesting data if you’re interested in what’s going on with this bridge study. Or just wait for the next batch of information about the four finalists, and another public survey to get additional input this summer.

Columbia River Bridge Options Down to Final 4 is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

You have until June 15th to submit your idea. You can download an entry form on the city’s web site.

Name the Waterslides at Memorial Pool is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

Session 1: June 21 – July 2, registration begins June 16
Session 2: July 5-16, registration begins June 30
Session 3: July 19-30, registration begins July 14
Session 4: Aug. 2-13, registration begins July 28
Session 5: Aug. 16-27, registration begins Aug. 11

The lessons happen mostly in the morning at Memorial, Richardson, and Kurtzman pools. You should call 545-3456 to get exact schedule details.

If you have friends outside of Pasco who want to join you, they can register a day after the first registration date listed above.

Pasco’s swim lessons cost between $15 and $27.

Pasco Swimming Lessons is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

The survey is pretty short, and you’ll be asked at one point to prioritize your personal top three options of the ten shown, and another questions asks for your top three options that you think are in the best long-term options of the Tri-Cities. There are also questions about your typical traffic habits when driving over the existing Columbia River bridges.

You can learn more about the options and the survey by visiting www.crcstc.com. Once there, look for links to take the survey itself.

Based on survey feedback, organizers will soon narrow the list down to five sites. And then another public survey before November will help choose a single preferred site with two alternatives.

Survey: New Columbia River Bridge is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

According to the Herald, the new swimming pool rates (and session lengths) will be as follows:

• Memorial Pool: youths are $3, adults are $5 (sessions run 3.5 hours)
• Kurtzman Pool: youths are $1, adults are $2 (sessions run 3.5 hours, except on weekday nights when they’re 1.5 hours)
• Richardson Pool: youths are $1, adults are $2 (sessions run 3.5 hours, except on weekday nights when they’re 1.5 hours)

Those Memorial Pool rates are a lot higher than last year’s $1 youth, $2 adult fees. We’ll see if the prices impact usage this summer.

Pasco Pools Cost More in 2010 is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.

To get there, head east on Hwy. 12 as if you’re going to Walla Walla, but turn right on Tank Farm Rd. and follow it over the train tracks to the end of the road. It’s about five miles outside of Pasco.

You can learn more about the center and park on the Washington State Parks web site.

Sacajawea State Park Interpretive Center is now open is a post from the Pasco Real Estate Blog.