STA offering Hoopfest shuttles and cut-rate fares; weather should be fine

Hoopfest on Saturday and Sunday should bring some fine summer weather.

To help players and spectators get downtown for the basketball action, Spokane Transit Authority is providing a shuttle service and cut-rate fares.

STA is offering an all-day fare that’s good on any route, including the shuttles, for $1.50 – less than half the normal $3.50 all-day fare.

The passes are available for cash when boarding. Just be sure to have the exact amount since coach operators cannot make change.

The Hoop Loop shuttles will run every 10 minutes from the Riverpoint branch campus area just east of Division Street, where parking will be free. Inbound stops are at Riverpoint Boulevard near the Centennial Trail bridge over the Spokane River and on Spokane Falls Boulevard near Sherman Street.

Drop-off and return pickup spots will be at several locations downtown; large blue signs will mark the loop stops.

Shuttle hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Regular bus service into and out of downtown at the STA Plaza will be disrupted during Hoopfest starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Alternate loading and unloading areas will be used, located along Second and Third avenues adjacent to and on Howard Street.

The Plaza will be open, but the buses are arriving and departing from alternate points to the south. Buses will be running on regular Saturday and Sunday schedules. Park-and-ride lots will have bus service on both days.

As for Hoopfest weather, Friday’s expected rain showers and gusty winds should blow out of the area by the time the competition starts Saturday morning.

It will be a big change from 2015 when a heat wave drove temperatures to 105 on the opening day and 102 on the second day of the annual 3-on-3 basketball event.

The high Saturday should reach the mid-70s under mostly sunny skies. Sunday should be mostly sunny with a high of 85.