Spokane previewed Division Street transit-oriented development study ahead of bus rapid transit

The Spokane Planning Commission on Jan. 8 heard a preview of the Division Street transit‑oriented development (TOD) study, a multi‑agency effort to align land‑use policy with planned bus rapid transit (BRT) on Division Street.

The project, led by city staff with consultant support, aims to study land use within roughly a half‑mile of the Division corridor, analyze eleven priority nodes identified in the earlier DivisionConnects work, select four to five nodes for in‑depth study and produce recommendations for changes to development policy and the development code. Colin Quinhurst, a city planning staff member who presented the overview, said the consultant team (MIG is the prime) will return in March with an existing conditions report and the results of public involvement planned for February.

Why it matters: Spokane Transit Authority is planning a high‑capacity, high‑frequency bus rapid transit investment within the Division right of way; the North Spokane Corridor’s completion is expected to shift traffic volumes and create an opportunity to reconfigure Division’s curb‑to‑curb elements. The TOD study is intended to create a land‑use “road map” so zoning and other policies support transit‑oriented, walkable, mixed‑use development rather than reacting after BRT opens.

Key details presented to the commission: - Project area and approach: the study looks at land uses and zoning within a half‑mile of Division and will focus detailed analysis on 4–5 station nodes (quarter‑mile/5‑minute walk radii) while producing guidance that can apply across the corridor. Quinhurst said the work follows earlier regional and corridor studies including the DivisionConnects effort and the STA locally preferred alternative for BRT. - Safety and access: consultants flagged that much of Division is part of the regional high‑injury network and that pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to stations is a primary focus. Wendy Wilbur of Kittleson Associates, a Spokane‑based consultant on the project, told commissioners the team will evaluate parallel and crossing routes to make stations accessible without driving. - Transit design and lane use: project materials explained that the planned BRT will use business‑access‑and‑transit (BAT) lanes that can allow right turns into businesses while keeping a dedicated bus lane for most through travel. - Coordination and schedule: the county and STA are formal partners; county staff and STA staff are on the project management calls. Quinhurst said the project kicked off in September, consultants toured the corridor and met with developers in late 2024. Public outreach (a workshop and pop‑ups plus an online survey) is scheduled for February, and the consultant team will present existing conditions and outreach findings to the Planning Commission in March.

Commissioners asked about modeling and timing relative to other regional traffic modeling work; Quinhurst said DivisionConnects and Iteris model outputs inform estimates of traffic shifting when the North Spokane Corridor opens.

Next steps and public involvement: the study will host public workshops (planned late February), pop‑up outreach at transit nodes and an online survey; the project website has materials on the city’s Engage Spokane hub. The commission will receive the existing conditions report and public input summary in March and can expect subsequent recommendations for zoning and code changes to follow.