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Spokane Valley council adopts 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program over maintenance concerns
Summary
The Spokane Valley City Council adopted a six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2026–2031, 4–1, after public comment and council debate over prioritizing large new projects versus preservation and maintenance.
The Spokane Valley City Council on June 15 adopted a resolution approving the city’s 2026–2031 Transportation Improvement Program, 4–1, moving a $250 million-plus project list forward as the city’s priority package for grant applications and project planning.
The TIP identifies intersections, bridge and grade‑separation projects, trail and sidewalk work, and an annual pavement‑preservation placeholder. Council and the public debated whether the list emphasizes new construction over maintenance of existing infrastructure.
City Engineering Manager Adam Jackson told the council the TIP is the required public process to identify planned transportation expenditures and helps jurisdictions compete for state and federal grants. Jackson described categories including bridge closeouts and preservation, intersection improvements, and safety, sidewalk and trail projects.
Members of the public urged caution. At the public hearing, Robert (Bob) West and others asked why state highways and interchanges — including parts of Trent and Pines — appear on the city TIP when the state maintains those facilities. Jackson and staff said the state’s prioritization can make local advocacy and project packaging necessary for the city to secure improvements that primarily benefit Spokane Valley.
Council Member Al Merkel said he planned to oppose the TIP, arguing that the draft lists about $250 million in mostly new‑construction projects and that the city should emphasize maintenance of existing assets and public safety instead of pursuing projects the city might not be able to maintain. Deputy Mayor Ben Wicks and other council members said the TIP is a tool to list priorities for grants and that being on the list is necessary to secure state and federal investment. Wicks pointed to the Pines grade‑separation project, which he said is a roughly $47 million effort that would not have progressed without local advocacy.
The council voted on a motion to adopt the resolution as presented; the motion carried 4–1. The council record shows no individual roll‑call breakdown beyond the final 4–1 tally.
The adopted TIP remains a planning document. Council members noted it is updated annually and that projects on the list are intended to improve the city’s competitiveness for grant funding, not to obligate the city to immediate construction. Council members also asked staff to clarify how specific highway segments and projects intersect with state priorities and responsibilities.
Council discussion and public commenters also raised specific local questions about the Argonne/Mullen area, bridge closeouts such as the Sands Road bridge identified for monitoring, and the balance between preservation and new construction going forward.
