December 31, 2009 in Washington Voices

Spokane bus re-routing draws heat

Ex-councilman Eugster joins fight over Browne’s Addition decision

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Complaints over two Spokane Transit Authority buses that were re-routed through Browne’s Addition in September continue to come in.

Mike Maurer, who lives on Coeur d’Alene Street, was one of the first to complain to STA, and he’s now joined by former City Council member Steve Eugster and his neighbor Karl Fleming, both of whom live on West Pacific Avenue.

In his latest letter to STA and the city, Eugster makes the argument that STA has turned Browne’s Addition neighborhood streets into arterials by bringing buses, which formerly ran on the Sunset Highway and U.S. Highway 2, through the historic neighborhood.

“Under the comprehensive plan we have to have an arterial street plan; these streets are not arterials,” Eugster said. “By running these buses down residential streets, STA has converted them to arterials. You can’t just do that.” Establishing a new arterial requires a change in the land-use code, Eugster added.

He had no problem with the original Browne’s Addition bus – route 40 – which would come into the neighborhood, pick people up and go back downtown at a lesser frequency.

“These new buses connect Browne’s Addition to the casino in Airway Heights and to the airport,” Eugster said.

In September, route 40 was eliminated and replaced by routes 60 and 61, which means Browne’s Addition now has 15-minute service into Spokane and 30 minutes to the airport.

During peak hours, as many as eight buses run past Eugster’s and Maurer’s homes every hour.

Fleming and Eugster conducted a comparison study of bus frequency in Browne’s Addition and other residential neighborhoods, finding that Browne’s Addition gets more through buses than any other residential neighborhood in Spokane.

That, said STA chief executive officer E. Susan Meyer, is simply not true.

“They left one neighborhood out of their study and that’s the area around Gonzaga, the Logan and Nevada-Lidgerwood neighborhoods,” said Meyer. “That neighborhood has the same level of service.”

Eugster also contends that the route 60 and 61 buses are larger than the route 40 bus.

Meyer said the buses are the same size.

“Occasionally, there could have been a smaller bus on route 40, but it was a 40-foot bus,” Meyer said, adding that the change in bus routes and the increase in service are meant to be a good thing.

“The neighborhood now has 15-minute service into Spokane and 30-minute service to the airport,” Meyer said. “Prior to this change, we only had hourly service to the airport.”

Meyer added that Browne’s Addition has the highest-density residential zoning, allowing for 15 units of apartment and single-family housing per acre.

“It’s a prime location for folks to like to have public transit,” Meyer said. “Mr. Eugster makes it sound like it’s unusual that the neighborhood is now connected to other areas. It always has been. Historically, as early as back in the ’30s when the streetcars came out, there was a lot more service than there is today.”

STA has scheduled two additional public meetings in late January to continue the conversation with Browne’s Addition residents about the bus service.

“We can keep the service as it is, or go back to the way it was before,” Meyer said. “Or we can move one segment of the routes off Coeur d’Alene Street and onto Spruce Street, but that would require getting rid of on-street parking on Spruce.”

Eugster calls the meetings irrelevant.

“If I am correct and this is a violation of the land-use code, then public opinion is not going to change the law,” Eugster said.

Meyer explained that STA would like to continue the conversation with residents in Browne’s Addition.

“We have heard from a lot of people who have called us, and their opinions range from ‘This is great’ to ‘I don’t want this on my street.’ Neighbors don’t always have the same interests in mind.”

Four comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  sethmiller on January 02 at 9:44 a.m.

  I don't understand the argument that adding two buses per hour makes Pacific and Coeur d'Alene into arterials. There are some problems with the new routes (less access to Rosauers, having to modify routes when it snows) but no system is perfect.
  I greatly appreciate the additional access to downtown and the airport and the population density of the area seems like the best argument for the additional route running through the neighborhood.

• 

  otherside on January 02 at 4:12 p.m.

  “Fleming and Eugster conducted a comparison study of bus frequency in Browne’s Addition and other residential neighborhoods” - that's hilarious! Every time now when I pull out more than one bus schedule I'll call it conducting a comparison study. Of course, since this was probably the first time Fleming or Eugster had ever looked at a bus schedule it would have been quite a study for them. People that think they're too good to ride public transit seem to care less about their neighbors who choose to live in the city so they can take advantage of the bus.

  Last year STA sent postcards to all of us living in Browne's asking for input about proposed changes. Evidently the majority indicated they wanted to have more service. I don't understand what the big deal is about having some buses passing through the neighborhood and providing a service for people. I haven't been on one yet that stops in front of a house as the driver yells out, “Remember that Eugster character from the city council? There's where he lives!” Buses drive through our streets, some trucks, and lots of cars. That's life in the city. There's plenty of rural areas in Spokane County for people who don't enjoy living around people.

• 

  Nuinashe on January 04 at 9:22 p.m.

  As a resident of Browne's Addition I am thankful that the bus runs as often as it does.

  Not only does it make the commute to work more efficient; I am able to do ALL of my small errands without starting my car.
  

• 

  kittyklitzke on January 14 at 3:08 p.m.

  I embrace the increased bus service. We'd be crazy to say no to that!!!! 15 minute frequency is when it starts getting more convenient than driving. It is now easier for me to ride the bus to the airport than to drive, ditto for downtown when you factor in parking. As a young professional who works in East Downtown and flies to Seattle frequently for work this has greatly contributed to the convenience of my travel and my commute.

  Maurer and Eugster are acting as if they represent the neighborhood. They do not. Most of us know that running a bus down a street does not make it an arterial and most of us appreciate the service. Browne's addition had 15 minute service back in the 1930's and it is about time we got it back. Smart people in our neighborhood appreciate it for what it is; walkable, livable, convenient, and connected to other areas by transit. Those who refuse to take advantage of our excellent neighborhood infrastructure just so they can feel like they are in suburbia need to rethink their situation.