STA plans new center

Fri., Dec. 22, 2006

By Amy Cannata amyc@spokesman.com

Spokane Community College students and North Side residents will soon have a new place to catch the bus.

The Spokane Transit Authority is planning to build a transit center on the southeast corner of Mission Avenue and Greene Street, across the street from SCC.

“We have approximately five routes that come into that area now. What it will allow us to do is bring those buses into the center, off the street and into one area where they can stage,” said STA Planner Gordon Howell.

The location is particularly ideal for bus passengers traveling between north Spokane and Spokane Valley to transfer buses without having to go to the downtown STA Plaza.

The SCC transit center is not being planned as a Plaza replacement, however, Howell explained.

“This project stands alone,” he said.

STA has $1.3 million set aside this year to buy property, design the center and conduct environmental studies.

It will likely be built in 2007 for about $2.7 million, said Howell.

The property is now owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation, which will eventually need a portion of the site for North Spokane Corridor drainage. The department is working with STA on identifying a footprint for the transit center, said WSDOT spokesman Al Gilson

“An STA park and ride has always been included in that spot as part of the (North Spokane Corridor) project,” Gilson said.

The site could hold as many as 600 parking spaces, said Howell.

The Department of Transportation has ranked it seventh of about 40 statewide projects, making it likely STA could win $2.9 million in state funding, he added.

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