STA shuttles filling up
Park-and-ride lots often out of room
In a tight economy, Spokane Transit Authority shuttle buses are a bargain that more and more Spokane residents are taking advantage of to get around their neighborhoods, filling up buses and park-and-ride lots across the city.
The South Side Medical Shuttle was designed to get people to and from hospitals and doctors’ offices on Spokane’s South Hill, running every 20 minutes from the downtown bus plaza to Sacred Heart Medical Center, Deaconess Medical Center and other medical buildings. Still, more than a quarter of the people using it are not bound for those locations, but rather nearby apartment buildings, houses or other nonmedial businesses, said STA spokeswoman Peggy Robideaux.
“The fact that it works for others, too, is just a bonus,” said STA CEO Susan Meyer.
At 50 cents a ride the shuttle is cheaper than a $1 ride on other city bus routes, and it runs more frequently than other South Hill buses.
Ridership on the route was up about 17 percent during the first half of the year, compared with the same period in 2007.
On the north end of downtown is another bargain, Meyer said.
“The Plaza-Arena Shuttle remains an undiscovered gem because it’s such a deal to get parking and the shuttle for only $19,” she said.
That’s the monthly price for a “CityTicket” to park at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and take the shuttle to the Spokane Transit Plaza. During peak hours the shuttle runs every five minutes.
About 556 people bought CityTickets in August, said STA Operations Director Steve Blaska.
Farther afield, popular bus routes originating at park-and-ride lots are being constrained by a lack of parking.
Those living near the Hastings park-and-ride lot at Spokane’s far north end know how crowded it can be on a typical weekday.
The new North Express Route starts there before cruising down to the Plaza with only a minimum number of stops.
The lot has spaces for 135 cars, which are almost always full. One recent day an STA count found 60 cars parked along the streets near the lot.
Also crowded is the Five Mile park-and-ride lot.
It has 99 spaces to accommodate both bus riders and carpoolers and vanpool users.
“We’re looking at moving vanpoolers and carpoolers to a different lot,” said Meyer.