Plan Commission recommends Spokane’s updated six-year streets program with 11 new projects

The Spokane Plan Commission on an April 2026 hearing voted to recommend the city’s updated six-year streets program for 2027–2032, which adds 11 new projects with about $27 million in total project costs and roughly $15 million in grant funds.

Kevin Picasso of Integrated Capital Management, staff presenting the annual update, said the program is the vehicle for transportation capital improvements and noted a state requirement to have an updated program in place before July 1 each year. "This leads to a city council action in June, prior to a July 1 deadline," Picasso said. He summarized recently funded projects including the Latah Bridge design, Division BRT connection improvements, and the Fishlake-to-Centennial trail connection, and described several new and preservation projects proposed for 2027–2029 construction.

Why it matters: the six-year streets program establishes the schedule and funding framework the city uses to design, bid and build transportation projects; projects in the program are typically advanced to secure grants, start design, and sequence construction with other major city and regional efforts.

Picasso outlined project details and timing: Monroe Street bridge deck rehabilitation (not fully funded; staff said earliest realistic construction year could be 2029 while grant applications are pending); a bundle of smaller bridge deck repairs at Riverside 1st and Sprague (~$1.6 million, state-local bridge dollars); Graham Boulevard grind/overlay and restripe (locally funded, lane reconfiguration to three lanes and tie-ins to the 27x27 bicycle network, targeted for 2027); and a SRTC-funded Centennial Trail study to bring segments up to current standards. He also described smaller sidewalk infill work on Alberta Street, multiple preservation projects funded through SRTC and federal programs (Mission Avenue, Crestline Street chipseal, Ash/Maple/Monroe corridor preservation and an NHS asset management grant supporting 29th Avenue and Sprague segments), a locally funded Driscoll Boulevard chipseal with conversion to protected bike lanes in places, and an impact-fee-funded intersection improvement at Magnesium and Nevada.

A commissioner asked how the city will avoid concurrent closures on critical north–south routes if several bridge projects overlap. Picasso said staff would stagger construction the way prior preservation work was phased — "We chose not to [build] them at the same time because they're both critical north–south routes. Do one one year, one the next." He added the Monroe Street project is not fully funded and has a pending grant currently under evaluation.

On plan consistency, Picasso said staff evaluates each new project against comprehensive plan goals using a matrix but does not apply a numeric threshold or a required count of policies for inclusion. "We don't necessarily score them or count them up," he said, noting the exercise is intended to ensure projects are not contrary to plan goals.

A motion to recommend the changes to the six-year streets program as presented by staff was made by a commissioner and seconded by the chair. The clerk polled members; the recorded vote (as called during the roll) was President Binks Aye; Vice President Patterson Aye; Commissioner Lenhart Aye; Commissioner Rasenin Abstain; Commissioner Tamush Yes; Commissioner Williams Aye; Commissioner Yachts Aye; Commissioner Madsen Aye. The motion passed with a reported tally of 7 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain. The commission’s recommendation will go to the city council for final action.

The chair thanked staff for assembling and coordinating the program and the commission adjourned the hearing.