Spokane County commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 1 to adopt the county
2026
20231 Transportation Improvement Program, the 2026 annual construction program and the county
stormwater and wastewater capital improvement programs as presented by county staff.

Matt Zercor, identified in the meeting as the county engineer, said the near-term transportation program for 2026 is about $15,000,000 with $2,600,000 coming in county dollars. "So next year is a $15,000,000 program," Zercor said, and added that typical annual project counts run 15 to 20 projects and that larger out-year totals are included primarily as grant-ready candidates. Major 2026 projects listed by staff include the Bruce and Peel roundabout ($1,600,000), a Hastings pedestrian-safety and channelization project (approximately $500,000), a Wellesley and Appleway roundabout ($1,500,000), Crestline sidewalk completion and Market Street preservation (Freya to .287). Zercor said the county is advancing Craig Road realignment and a roundabout for delivery next year.

On stormwater, Zercor outlined several localized projects (Fruit Hill, Hastings in Pittsburgh, Lowe Road, Minidoka, Molcher) and said the county is developing a countywide rural culvert inventory targeted for completion in 2028 and a ditch-tracking program. He said the county will pilot a stormwater contract "to clean culverts for 225,000," work intended to reduce equipment wear and shift some maintenance to contractors. Zercor also said the county plans to buy into regional monitoring under new Little Spokane permit requirements and to develop private-facility inspection and enforcement provisions.

Wastewater capital plans presented include multiple multi-year projects: Donwood and Grace sewer projects (design in 2025; Grace construction in 2026 and Donwood in 2027, total value listed at $6,000,000), Lane Park sewer work (design 2026
27; construction 2028), a Marion Hay force-main redundancy project ($2,000,000), an undercrossing on Highway 2 to serve areas east of Highway 2 (estimated $1.3 million, completion projected 2028) and the Mead sewer extension (design in 2026, construction in 2027, $2,000,000).

The board took no public testimony on the programs and, after a motion by Commissioner French to adopt the programs "as presented today," voted 5
to 0 to approve. The staff presentation identified the county's 22.7% share of city wastewater treatment plant upgrades and noted that the share reserves 10 million gallons per day of capacity for the county.

Next steps include advancing design and permitting work for culverts and bridges, pursuing grant funding for out-year transportation projects, and carrying the approved projects into the county's 2026 construction program and procurement schedules.