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STA outlines 6‑year transit plan, mobility‑on‑demand pilots and Wellesley high‑performance transit
Summary
Spokane Transit Authority staff presented the agency's six‑year Transit Development Plan, describing phased mobility‑on‑demand pilots (2026–2030), capital priorities including Wellesley High‑Performance Transit and Argonne Station improvements, and an outreach schedule culminating in an August submittal and June public hearing.
Madeline Arredondo, associate transit planner at Spokane Transit (STA), presented the agency’s six‑year Transit Development Plan (TDP), describing planned service and capital investments and the schedule for adoption.
“Our transit development plan … is our 6 year mid range planning tool,” Madeline told the commission, explaining that the TDP combines service planning, capital projects and financial projections and is required by state law and federal funding rules. STA expects to finalize an adopted plan for submittal in August and to use the TDP to satisfy federal reporting tied to FTA apportionments.
Key near‑term elements include a Service Improvement Program (2027–29) focused on North Spokane adjustments, connections with West Plains, and a phased rollout of mobility‑on‑demand pilots. Madeline said the mobility pilots will be tiered across five geographic zones, beginning with North Spokane in 2026 and extending to Northeast Spokane through 2030, with each pilot lasting three years.
The capital improvement program (CIP) assigns roughly 49% of CIP dollars to high‑performance transit, and identified projects include Division Street BRT, Wellesley High‑Performance Transit (Route 33 conversion), and an Argonne Station park‑and‑ride with an eastbound flyer stop and approximately 40–44 parking spaces. Madeline noted STA’s federal funding streams used for vehicle and facility purchases and said a draft TDP would be published for public review the next day, with two open houses (June 9 central library hybrid; June 11 Spokane Valley) and a public hearing June 18 ahead of board adoption.
Emily Poole, STA’s Chief Planning and Development Officer, said the agency is working with WSDOT, the city of Spokane Valley and consultants on modeling and design for interchange impacts and that technical advisory committees include jurisdictional stakeholders.
Commissioners asked about fiscal conservatism and whether STA might be less cautious to expand service; Emily and Madeline replied that the draft TDP documents how reserves and Connect 2035 projects will be used and that additional financial details are in the draft scheduled for public release.
No formal commission vote occurred on the TDP at this meeting; commissioners were directed to the draft materials and upcoming outreach events.
