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

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.