Sta Planning Major Changes In Transit Routes

South Side bus riders could be getting faster and more frequent service under a proposal to revamp routes throughout Spokane.

But in exchange, the Spokane Transit Authority would cut some of its neighborhood loop routes.

The proposal is the first big reorganization of STA routes in 16 years, said STA Director Allen Schweim.

STA is seeking public comment on the proposal, and top officials said they expect changes in the final plan after they hear from the public.

The switch probably won’t occur until a year from now.

“We want to try to compete more effectively with the automobile,” Schweim said.

That means moving passengers more quickly and giving better service to major destinations such as the colleges, the airport and shopping centers.

STA is paying $125,000 to a Portland consultant to design the new bus plan.

Pamphlets with questionnaires are available at The Plaza and other locations.

Schweim said the plan also emphasizes moving people to and from work more quickly and providing cross-town service throughout the urban area.

For example, the STA wants to start a new city loop route along Grand Boulevard, 29th Avenue and the Thor-Freya corridor.

The loop route would connect to the North Side and NorthTown via Wellesley. It would provide direct service between the two community colleges and link the colleges to neighborhoods and downtown.

Buses will travel every 15 minutes in each direction on the city loop.

Two-way 15-minute service will also begin on East Sprague Avenue.

For the first time, buses will run out to 57th and Havana during peak travel hours.

Several South Hill lines will be consolidated.

Some neighborhoods, such as Comstock Park and the upper areas along South Maple Street, will lose their through-buses.

A new two-way loop route for Cannon’s Addition and Browne’s Addition would connect with Deaconess Medical Center from downtown.

The Latah Creek area would get bus service for the first time with a new route there.

On the West Plains, buses to the airport would run every 30 minutes all day. Currently, buses to the airport run hourly at midday and half-hourly in the mornings and evenings.

Every hour, the bus would continue from the airport on through Airway Heights and Medical Lake in a new loop route on the West Plains.

Residents of Medical Lake will also get a new direct bus hourly into Spokane. This bus also will serve the industrial area southeast of the airport.

The Cheney express bus will run to the Riverpoint Higher Education Park so students won’t have to transfer buses to travel between college facilities at the two locations.

The consultants are calling for 30-minute service on the Cheney express line.

A separate express bus from downtown to Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake would also run between Cheney and Medical Lake after dropping off passengers at the hospital.

New “superstops” are planned in Cheney and along 29th Avenue, possibly at the Manito Center. They would include shelters, benches, postal boxes and automated teller machines.

Theresa Steuckle, spokeswoman for STA, said the changes may force some riders to walk farther to catch buses.

“Are you willing to walk a couple extra blocks to get faster service?” she asked. “I think the answer is yes.”

Still, about 98 percent of all riders will be within four to five blocks of a bus stop.

Schweim said STA can make the changes without adding any new buses or drivers to its operating costs. In fact, the plan as proposed by the consulting firm actually uses slightly fewer buses.

This comes at a time when ridership is increasing, largely because of the growing popularity of monthly passes, he said.

STA expects to break the 8 million mark for riders this year. The number of boardings is up 4.5 percent so far this year.

The transit system’s administrators are planning to give the Spokane City Council a briefing on the plan during the evening council meeting on Sept. 8. It will be broadcast on cable Channel 5.

Also, STA will be getting the word out through appearances to civic groups and through commuter trip reduction coordinators for local employers.

The STA board is planning a public hearing in October.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the North Side Voice