[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6077962,"mediaKeyId","2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800","parentId",2962748,"title","City to rewrite transportation chapter to reflect recent TOD, safety and multimodal studies","audioSeconds",752,"startMs",636000,"endMs",1388000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800&start=636&end=1388","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800/thumbnail_636000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077962/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/City-to-rewrite-transportation-chapter-to-reflect-recent-TOD-safety-and-multimodal-studies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077962-d25c243efb24d89d68a5cb768a450240/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116442&Signature=U3VP2diWgUbiHpu1QrtxbapUenUx~yc0dqCptLpd144qG5GtfvQBTPc6jmNQVpKA2T5-VT4Vgww21WKLLUL0Cn-iWgjhiJ5Jb5SvDZDvZN5gRO57j~~AAH92wr0nD60tqrJTHDpJl8Y0eyTAyKa3m7uZBLn6xFJd5sqUG0mnMMlviaXIVYIHM0PJ6NeyBeKlKfYJR5TFr-xwMYQ3uoL~XtL71~Jd~PZyHOMo84ohZEd6LIM404pJklN9moXTuzU0qOCg7EqtCzZ3xSorjM3GmVfYelCEUeML05iT0LBedjQ7hHiyYwe3ImKA6L6Q~-xq3ln7BYoFOn3mpNNpHHQ34w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane City, WA","date","2025-04-11T14:49:21.51Z","article","Spokane planning staff told the combined Plan Commission and Transportation Commission on April 9 that the city will begin rewriting the transportation chapter of the Plan Spokane comprehensive update in July to integrate recommendations from a series of recent studies, and that drafts will be returned to the commissions this fall.

The rewrite matter because the transportation chapter guides project selection, capital programming and street design standards that will shape where and how multimodal investments — from bus rapid transit station area work to bicycle and pedestrian improvements — are implemented across Spokane.

\"As part of the comprehensive plan update, we'll be updating the transportation chapter,\" said Colin Quinhurst, planning staff who led the briefing. He told commissioners the rewrite will synthesize roughly nine adopted or near-adopted plans and studies from the last five years and translate their recommendations into the transportation chapter's policies and implementation steps. \"We thought this would be a good opportunity to kinda do some background on recent recommendations,\" Quinhurst said.

Staff said the rewrite will emphasize several themes that recur across recent planning work: matching street design with adjacent land uses (including transit-oriented development around high-frequency transit), improving neighborhood livability, prioritizing safety and convenient access for walking and biking, and aligning utility and pavement work so projects are efficient to build — a \"dig once\" approach. Quinhurst described the city’s planning hierarchy and timeline for turning high-level vision into projects: neighborhood/subarea plans → comprehensive plan (20-year horizon) → capital facilities plans → annual/6‑year capital programs.

Staff enumerated recent studies whose recommendations will be incorporated into the chapter, including the downtown plan, a TOD framework study, DivisionConnects (Division Street BRT planning), South Logan TOD work, the West Central neighborhood infrastructure planning, Hillyard subarea planning, the bicycle priority network work and other subarea or station-area studies. Quinhurst and staff cited the Downtown and TOD work as pushing the city to focus on station-area access and to treat lower‑traffic downtown streets as opportunities for bike facilities, parking and public space rather than always prioritizing vehicle throughput.

Commissioners raised several implementation questions. Commissioner Williams asked whether delays in the North–South corridor could change other project timing; staff replied that Spokane Transit Authority is \"actively revising their strategy right now to kind of phase it,\" and that staff and regional partners are discussing phased approaches to keep projects moving.

Commissioner Francis pressed staff on state mandates that could affect the rewrite; staff said the multimodal level-of-service requirement and a proposed TOD bill in the legislature are items to track and could influence content or reporting requirements in the comp plan appendices. Commissioners also noted that the city’s pedestrian master plan is roughly 10 years old and flagged that update as a gap; staff said interim steps (for example, the bike-priority work and a sidewalk-inventory update) are underway and that a full rewrite of the transportation chapter will provide an opportunity to align those pieces.

Quinhurst provided a timetable for the chapter rewrite: staff plan to begin drafting in July, return to the two commissions with draft text between August and November, and aim to produce a complete draft by December that can be incorporated into the larger Plan Spokane document.

Staff also summarized public engagement tied to Plan Spokane: one round of engagement generated roughly 170 participants across four open houses and one agency meeting; staff said those comments will be compiled and released later in April and that public workshops on specific chapters will begin in May. Quinhurst invited commissioners and the public to upcoming events, including Earth Day community workshops and market outreach.

The presentation finished with requests for commissioner feedback on priorities and local network issues such as connectivity, breaking up superblocks and handling street vacations so pedestrian and bike connections are preserved.

Looking ahead, staff said they will bring successive chapter drafts to both commissions, and pointed to the role of subarea planning and station-area work in making the chapter’s policies actionable during the capital-programming process.

Ending: Staff requested commissioner input as drafts emerge and reiterated the July start for drafting; Quinhurst said commissioners and the public will have multiple opportunities to review and comment through the late‑summer and fall schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 9th, 2025 Spokane City Plan Commission Workshop","oneSentenceSummary","Spokane planning staff told the combined Plan Commission and Transportation Commission on April 9 that the city will begin rewriting the transportation chapter of the Plan Spokane comprehensive update in July to integrate recommendations from a series of recent studies.","taxTitle","Spokane, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2644,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6077957,"Transportation Commission backs 2026–2031 six‑year streets program; staff lists 15 new projects including crosswalks, sidewalks and corridor rebuilds",3176,1997000,5173000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800&start=1997&end=5173","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800/thumbnail_1997000.jpg","/articles/6077957/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/Transportation-Commission-backs-20262031-sixyear-streets-program-staff-lists-15-new-projects-including-crosswalks-sidewalks-and-corridor-rebuilds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077957-38c24db6517dc19cbfbc85ef6584b42f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116442&Signature=kQYTVjBH8VsvKWP-IZYSbHaDQx1jTr6-w-qwMC8rS8N-hUZAEt3lFkbk~sxJ9~faTo91kyr55ItVPIA6pViKafeIkvtQGWiWLkwKVDuFyffxkXv-YmVyQUi6SflK1azlWYwBKHeeHbz9beNzUb8ZtMD-rCC2QlNgpDGBQ8mrJULHbQ7jYl-~20Fi86eDjfUt3M~ABldzr-cW~yaNDsAifT8Pt-DWO1Udb2Q5mP-0isfM9anSmyHGKR4K3kTUvJhinzeXNM1Qm918xAl9Kf7c9Nsh2YW~qGzzCT328-iVu0HlZ4Rt4L4lxwfziQk2~3vtmovTftXsaDf2bd2MrM1kZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spokane Transportation Commission voted on April 9 to confirm the proposed 2026–2031 Six‑Year Streets capital program is consistent with the city's comprehensive-plan policies and to recommend the program to the Plan Commission and ultimately City Council.

The vote was taken at a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and the newly formed Transportation Commission. Kevin Picasso, the city’s principal engineer in the Integrated Capital Management group, presented the annual update and said the 2026 program includes 15 new projects — the largest number of additions Picasso has managed in six years — and that seven of the additions are currently supported by grant awards or pending grant funding.

\"This is our annual update for the 2026 through . . . six year time frame,\" Picasso said during the presentation, adding that the street program must be adopted before July 1 to comply with state law. He described the program’s role as translating transportation policy into implementable projects.

Staff highlighted a set of new or advanced projects and estimated construction costs or grant amounts where available: high‑visibility (\"continental\") crosswalk replacements (HSIP, roughly $1.7 million construction; preliminary list ~30 locations); Driscoll Boulevard sidewalk infill from Garland to Wellesley (TIB grant, roughly $1.7 million total, about half grant‑funded); a Spokane School walk‑route package of improvements at five schools (Logan, Garfield, Audubon, Brown, Inland Trail) — about $2.0 million construction with ~$1.6 million in grant funds; Assembly–Wellesley intersection and corridor improvements (signal work, protected/buffered bike lanes and pedestrian crossings; ~$2.3 million, 2027 construction contingent on state budget); Long Grand Boulevard corridor safety and buffered-bicycle improvements (roughly $1.8 million, grant‑funding pending); a set of NEPDA‑led gravel‑road conversion projects (Rowan, Myrtle, Norwin) tied to neighborhood development funding; Division active‑transportation projects tied to DivisionConnects planning (funding not yet fully identified); and a downtown Sprague rebuild concept that would be a multi‑disciplinary, utility‑and‑street reconstruction similar in scope to recent Riverside work (no full funding identified).

Picasso also described several traffic‑impact‑fee projects anticipated in outer years if funding can be assembled: Sunset at Assembly (~$1 million), the complex 30th & Ray / Ferris connection (est. ~$6 million; options include signal or roundabout), and Hatch & 50th intersection improvements (est. ~$2 million). He explained impact fees typically fund a portion of such projects and that staff will continue pursuing grants and partner funds.

On funding, Picasso summarized the city’s heavy reliance on competitive grant programs and pointed out the local funding picture is constrained: federal, state and local grants fund a large share of project delivery, while local revenue streams (real‑estate excise tax, arterial‑street levy, motor‑vehicle fuel tax, and a utility allocation) have been essentially flat and must be balanced against bond repayments and the city’s maintenance obligations.

The Transportation Commission moved and adopted the requested action to confirm consistency and recommend the Six‑Year Streets program to the Plan Commission; commissioners said they were comfortable moving forward subject to follow‑up comments. The transportation commission's vote was recorded as passed; staff will bring the program to the Plan Commission for a formal consistency review and public hearing in May and to City Council in June for adoption.

Ending: Picasso asked commissioners to submit follow‑up questions and noted staff is available for one‑on‑one briefings; he reiterated that the list of projects and funding assumptions will be refined as grant applications resolve and design work proceeds.

","The Spokane Transportation Commission voted April 9 to confirm that the city’s proposed 2026–2031 Six‑Year Streets capital program is consistent with the comprehensive plan and to recommend it to the Plan Commission and City Council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6077952,"City drafts Complete Streets ordinance update to add ADA reference, standards and plan-based triggers",1357,5481000,6838000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800&start=5481&end=6838","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2962748-5f437252208f37e5b2d06c62b1423800/thumbnail_5481000.jpg","/articles/6077952/Spokane/Spokane-County/Washington/City-drafts-Complete-Streets-ordinance-update-to-add-ADA-reference-standards-and-plan-based-triggers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077952-f6a8616aadaed8e363f0de8b1b342fb0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116442&Signature=hlSP6a-iISCAzTcvcnUlZg1Xv7LyZlo5qU-547MmM1pi-BYlquaQedet1etnByaeaG6hEyd6wLGFmolwvwOs0gzs7w7Ozy90r7AURQULbvMxuvvpDNrhKnqu8FE9S6dwEifkHd5Ogo-siaPtC73DoROLpYUBJhOeCn0eoVwMVXnT6r4ukj~LhKXpTJuX9x~YsbW8cV1RnfzRRHGTd5WxXgEYlSEVG~nTBaP5Baz7c6e~yafWox26S-s8yCMbVNZTSnzYBcW-2XgXYWCXlrt10E0GHXFN2yrnHn1iIS1G8Nb6r9QldugoFbYMP2DNObdJpv2UXaNENN5qfgtdfu-Amg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City transportation leadership presented a draft update on April 9 to the city’s Complete Streets ordinance (Chapter 17 of the Plan Spokane policy code), proposing changes that explicitly reference disability-access planning, national design standards and a ‘‘plan‑based’’ approach to applying complete‑street elements.

\"The Complete Streets ordinance has not been updated since it passed in 2011,\" said John Schneider, director of Transportation and Sustainability, who introduced the draft and described the rationale: state statute and grant programs have evolved, community expectations for multimodal streets have increased, and an updated ordinance could improve the city's competitiveness for state grants.

Key changes in the draft ordinance included:
- A new reference to an ADA transition plan: staff noted the city does not yet have an adopted ADA transition plan and the draft ordinance references the plan to signal intent to compile ADA assessment and transition priorities.
- Explicit references to standards and guidance: the draft names AASHTO and NACTO as design references and adds the \"safe systems\" framework as an element to guide project design and safety outcomes.
- Clarified exception language: the draft adds regional‑equivalence language (allowing parallel routes to carry certain elements) and explains when development should be required to provide frontage or other improvements instead of the city constructing them.
- Performance measures and reporting: a new clause directs staff to consider measurable performance metrics to support grant applications and track outcomes.
- Emphasis on plan‑based triggers: the ordinance update keeps a plan-based approach so that complete‑street elements are required where plan documents (for example, bicycle master plans or pedestrian master plans) call for them; staff told commissioners this approach creates flexibility to tailor treatments by context.

Commissioners and attendees asked clarifying questions about how the ordinance will treat different contexts. One commissioner asked whether the plan‑based approach allows different Complete Streets treatments in industrial areas versus dense residential corridors; Schneider said that is the intent — the ordinance relies on area plans and the bicycle/pedestrian master plans to provide context‑sensitive direction and that keeping those plans current is essential to triggering the desired elements.

Several commissioners flagged specific wording that they said should be clarified: one asked that the ordinance retain an explicit multimodal definition in the Complete Streets definition text (so the concept of multi‑modal use is obvious at the top of the ordinance); another asked that when the city relies on development to build frontage improvements there be a reasonable time limit or interim treatment so underinvested neighborhoods are not left without safe connections for decades.

Schneider said the draft will go to the Transportation Commission for a recommendation in May and then to the Plan Commission and City Council. He invited written comments and suggested staff email (j.schneider@city.org) as the route for formal feedback for the May review. He also noted staff will coordinate with regional partners, including WSDOT, when truck‑route or corridor responsibilities overlap.

Ending: Schneider asked for commissioner input in the next two weeks and said staff will bring a refined draft to the Transportation Commission’s May meeting, then to the Plan Commission as part of the Plan Spokane process.

","City transportation leadership presented a redline draft April 9 updating the Complete Streets policy (Chapter 17) to reference an ADA transition plan, add national/design standards (AASHTO, NACTO), incorporate a safe-systems safety approach, and clarify when exceptions apply; staff said the update aims to improve grant competitiveness and better ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City to rewrite transportation chapter to reflect recent TOD, safety and multimodal studies

Transportation Commission backs 2026–2031 six‑year streets program; staff lists 15 new projects including crosswalks, sidewalks and corridor rebuilds

City drafts Complete Streets ordinance update to add ADA reference, standards and plan-based triggers