Sta Wants To Acquire Land To Expand Park-And-Ride Lot

A 15-year-old race track for radio controlled cars at Sullivan Park may be moved to make way for a larger Spokane Transit Authority park-and-ride lot.

That’s what would happen if Spokane County and the STA can come to an agreement about the value of 1.75 acres within the 5.2-acre park that the STA wants to acquire.

In a meeting with county commissioners on Tuesday, Wyn Birkenthal, manager of the county Parks and Recreation Department, said STA had offered $45,699 for the property.

Commissioners rejected that, however, because it less than half the appraised value of the property. They directed Birkenthal to come up with a counteroffer.

Board members of the race-track club know of the county’s plans, Birkenthal said.

“We told them we are going to help them wherever we can,” he said.

That might include assisting the club in building a new track at the off-road vehicle park in Airway Heights, Birkenthal said.

Club members could not be reached for comment.

The STA’s existing park-and-ride lot, north of Sullivan Park, is in an abandoned gravel pit, said Christine Fueston, STA planning and grants manager.

The transit authority wants to build a paved, lighted and landscaped park-and-ride lot for 132 cars.

The entire project would require around four acres, with the rest of the land coming from the Washington Department of Transportation.

The lot would share an entrance with the park. That would allow north-bound STA buses on Sullivan Road to make a left turn at a light rather than having to jump across uncontrolled oncoming traffic, Fueston said.

“Buses are not very fast moving, and coming in on a traffic signal is much safer if you are making a turn,” Fueston said.

, DataTimes