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Council members say North Spokane Corridor, NEPDA investments could unlock Northeast development
Summary
Council Members Jonathan Bridal and Michael Cathcart discussed how completion of the North Spokane Corridor and work by the Northeast Public Development Authority could spur roads, utilities and private development across Northeast Spokane, while noting timelines and project gaps remain unresolved.
Council Member Jonathan Bridal and Council Member Michael Cathcart said completing the North Spokane Corridor and targeted local investments from the Northeast Public Development Authority could spur housing, business and transportation improvements across Northeast Spokane.
"It looks like we will hopefully get this freeway completed by 2030," Council Member Michael Cathcart said, adding, "we've got a lot of work to do to make sure" connected trails and segments are finished.
The corridor and NEPDA matter because they change who pays for local infrastructure and where development is likely to occur. Cathcart described NEPDA as an entity that can redirect tax revenue from new investment into local projects: "we are able to use some tax money that comes in when investment is made, and repurpose those tax dollars locally in the area to, you know, redo roads. It could be pedestrian facilities. It can be, utilities. It can be all kinds of things that help make development happen."
Bridal and Cathcart said the corridor would improve travel times, increase access to jobs and enable the city to move through-traffic off local streets. Both council members cautioned the completion date is not fixed: Cathcart said the 2030 target could change depending on future funding and legislative actions.
They also raised a separate infrastructure concern tied to active trails: Cathcart said the Children of the Sun Trail currently comes "to a complete halt where it's at" and that work remains to connect it to planned endpoints in East Central.
The council members highlighted specific development and historic-preservation moves that NEPDA has supported, including the agency’s recent acquisition of the Paul Hamilton House in the Hillyard area and plans to restore a Ferris wheel artifact for public display in downtown Hillyard. They said those projects are intended to attract visitors and private investment to parts of the city that have lagged behind in public improvements.
No formal vote or ordinance was proposed during the discussion. Council members encouraged continued coordination between city transportation planning, NEPDA and private developers to align financing and construction timelines.
For more information or to follow NEPDA work, council members invited residents to contact their offices through the city website.
