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Spokane Transit outlines Wellesley high-performance transit plan, prioritizes shelters and station locations
Summary
Spokane Transit presented a corridor development plan that targets Route 33 (Wellesley) for conversion to high-performance transit; staff said Route 33 had over 600,000 riders in 2025 (about 2,000 average weekday boardings), and proposed an evaluation matrix to prioritize shelters and stations with a draft due in September and adoption targeted in October/November.
Spokane Transit staff presented the Wellesley Corridor Development Plan at the Spokane Land Commission workshop, describing the corridor study that would formalize the route as a high-performance-transit (HPT) line and identify priority station locations and amenities.
"High performance transit is our term for our core lines serving local and regional corridors all day, two-way, frequent, easy to use," said Mike Tresider, senior transit planner with Spokane Transit. He said Route 33 (Wellesley) recorded more than 600,000 riders in 2025 and averages roughly 2,000 boardings on a typical weekday, making it one of the system's busiest east'west routes.
STA presented an evaluation matrix that scores stops by average boardings, transit connections, destination access and right-of-way feasibility. Under STA's policy thresholds, a bench is recommended where daily boardings exceed 10 and a shelter where boardings exceed 25; higher-scoring stops ("Tier 1") are logical candidates for HPT stations. The matrix also considers available right of way, adjacent land uses and transfer opportunities to ensure shelters serve key anchors such as community colleges, high schools, Northtown Mall and shopping centers.
STA said it will pursue public engagement in June, refine the matrix with community feedback, apply for a WSDOT regional mobility grant, and route the draft to the STA planning and development committee in September for a public meeting and board adoption in October/November. Capital planning was described for 2027''29 construction phases if funding is secured.
Commissioners and stakeholders raised practical issues including stop consolidation to improve speed and reliability, the difficulty of installing shelters in curb-tight corridors with retaining walls, the prospect of site agreements or city-owned parcels for shelters, and improved wayfinding at transfer stations. STA said acquisition or easements are a last resort and that the agency will prioritize city-owned properties and site licenses before pursuing property purchases.
