City Will Get More Funds For Light Rail Transportation Spending Plan Includes $4 Million From Feds For Three Area Projects

Wed., Oct. 6, 1999

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

Environmentally friendly public transportation in Spokane is likely to get a boost from federal taxpayers.

Congress set aside $4 million for three area projects, including $2 million for light rail and $1.5 million for alternative-fuel buses.

Another $500,000 would be spent on expanding a computerized traffic information system along Interstate 90.

“Now is the time to be proactive in developing environmentally friendly and efficient transportation … so the city of Spokane is well-equipped for the future,” said Sen. Slade Gorton in a written statement.

Congress gave final approval to the transportation spending plan Monday.

President Clinton is expected to sign it later this week.

Glen Miles of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council said the federal light rail dollars will move the $300 million project from early design work into the engineering phase.

Spokane will now have a total of $8 million to pursue light rail from downtown to Liberty Lake, Miles said. That includes $3 million from the federal government, $2 million from the state, plus another $3 million from the Spokane Transit Authority.

The county owns most of the land needed for the 16-mile project.

Light rail is an above-ground rail line that can run on streets or beside them and is powered by overhead electric wires.

Electricity soon may run some of Spokane’s buses, too.

STA’s Allen Schweim said his agency has watched the alternative-fuel transportation industry for years, waiting for the technology to be available in buses.

That time is here, and with money from Congress, Spokane may become a test site, he said. The alternative-fuel buses have small engines that power a generator, which creates electricity to run the bus, Schweim said. “It’s much more efficient than what we have today. It offers much better fuel economy.”

STA doesn’t plan to buy the buses right away but likely will wait until their costs come down, Schweim said. The $1.5 million award from Congress is good for three years.

Communication between the state Department of Transportation and the State Patrol may improve with $500,000 from Congress.

The money will be used to add cameras and variable message signs along Interstate 90 in Spokane, expanding the state’s “Intelligent Transportation Systems” project.

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