Transportation update: SRTC plan, low ridership on Peaceful Valley route, Grand Boulevard and fee exemption for heavy vehicles
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Summary
The Spokane Plan Commission received a Transportation Commission update summarizing SRTC service changes, street project options and a state‑level vehicle fee exemption that is excluding some heavy consumer trucks from paying the TBD fee.
A Transportation Commission representative told the Spokane Plan Commission on Oct. 22 that the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) has published a new long-range plan and that several service- and route-level changes are scheduled to take effect as part of a multi‑year program.
The presentation said an analysis found extremely low ridership on the Peaceful Valley bus segment (as few as one to two riders per day), prompting route adjustments and a reallocation of service hours to better serve neighborhoods such as Hilliard and areas around Shadle Center. The representative said shelters, lighting and route optimization are planned in the SRTC 10‑year initiative, with the formal public package to be published Nov. 5.
Staff also summarized upcoming street projects under consideration, including restriping options for Grand Boulevard (three‑lane or four‑lane configurations with tradeoffs for traffic flow and pedestrian crossings) and alternatives for Spokane Falls Boulevard that include protected bike lanes, shared‑use paths and upgraded crossings to improve access to the convention center.
The presentation flagged a state‑level issue: the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) $20 vehicle registration fee has an exemption for vehicles over 6,000 pounds written into the original statute. The speaker noted that some modern consumer trucks (examples cited in discussion: a Cybertruck at about 6,600 pounds and Silverado 1500 at about 7,500) fall above that threshold and therefore do not pay the fee. The commission discussed that a state‑level fix may be necessary to address the unintended exclusion.
A hearing on a proposed shared‑streets ordinance was deferred so staff could gather more information about how shared streets should operate on routes used by transit (STA indicated they would move buses off true shared‑street segments). The Transportation Commission representative said members want clearer examples and more information before adopting a shared‑streets ordinance.
No formal action was taken; the report was informational and commissioners asked for follow‑up where necessary.