How to get to Hoopfest
Getting to and from Hoopfest could be a bit more challenging this year because of Interstate 90 construction downtown, but organizers and Spokane Transit employees are urging people to plan ahead and consider several options to make getting around a bit easier.
About half of Hoopfest’s participants are from outside Spokane County, said Hoopfest spokeswoman Megan Freehan.
That means they may not know about the construction on Interstate 90 downtown, where it is reduced to two lanes in each direction and several exits and on-ramps are closed.
“The biggest thing is we’re asking local residents to use anything other than the freeway to get there because for our out-of-town people, that’s all they know,” Freehan said.
While under-the-freeway parking is still available, it’s a bit more limited than in past years because I-90 construction work requires several water basins that cover many parking spots.
In addition to the freeway complications, north-south routes through downtown are limited because of the numbers of courts on the street. Through access will be preserved on Lincoln and Monroe and on Division and Browne. The Stevens/Washington couplet will be closed in places to make way for courts.
Access will be maintained to downtown parking garages.
Those wanting to avoid driving downtown entirely may want to take the bus.
Spokane Transit is offering a $2 weekend “Hoop Loop” pass that is good Saturday and Sunday on both regular buses and two special downtown shuttles linking parking on the outskirts of downtown to Hoopfest courts.
The concept is different than the past Hoopfest shuttle route, which was designed to move people already at the event from court to court, said STA spokeswoman Molly Myers.
That shuttle just wasn’t used much, and STA and Hoopfest staff determined that what they really needed was a way to get people from their parked cars to the event area.
“We’re hoping this is going to be more useful to folks,” Myers said.
Those not wanting to buy the pass can pay 50 cents for a one-way shuttle ride.