Shuttles available to and from courts

Basketball players know that traveling isn’t allowed, but Hoopfest players, fans and just about anyone in Spokane will also run into problems if they try to get around downtown this weekend.

Most downtown streets will be closed for the 3-on-3 basketball tournament, with Lincoln, Monroe, Browne and Division streets remaining open for crosstown traffic.

As in past years, access will be maintained to downtown parking garages, which tend to fill quickly. Some parking lots are open to vehicles, but others are used for court space.

Drivers who don’t regularly travel downtown need to remember that work on Interstate 90 has closed many on-ramps and exits. Those coming from the east can only use exits up to Division Street to get into downtown. Those coming from the west must get off at or before Maple Street.

Spokane Transit Authority will operate shuttles again this year to take people from lots on the periphery of downtown to the courts.

One loop will travel between lots at the Riverpoint campus and the eastern edge of downtown. The other will travel a loop hitting the under-freeway parking lot at Jefferson Street, other street parking west of downtown and Hoopfest courts.

The shuttles run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Team and family passes that allow up to five people to ride as a group over the weekend are $10. They will be available ahead of the tournament at the STA Plaza or at team check-in Friday.

Individual day passes for the shuttles and entire STA system are $1 per person and will be on sale Saturday and Sunday aboard buses.

Regular STA buses will pick up and drop off passengers at alternate loading zones south of downtown Saturday and Sunday because the Plaza will be closed. According to www.spokanetransit.com, the alternate zones (depending on the bus route) are on Howard Street at Second and Third avenues, and on Second and Third avenues between Wall and Stevens streets.