STA moves ahead with Central City Line plan

The Spokane Transit Authority is moving ahead with development of a Central City Line despite President Trump’s proposal to cut a key funding source.

Voters last fall approved local sales tax money to build the line, which would move a large number of riders through the heart of Spokane from west to northeast.

But $54 million of the $72 million cost is supposed to come from a federal grant program that Trump would cut.

The source of funding being sought by STA has enjoyed decades of support in Congress, so there is good reason to expect it will continue even though the Trump administration is seeking to revise how transportation is funded, STA officials said.

The grant money from the “Small Starts” program is used by cities around the country to make transit improvements.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a member of the STA governing board, said STA is going to submit its application for funding of the Central City Line regardless of Trump administration proposals.

“It’s a program that has bipartisan support,” French said.

Spokane City Councilwoman Amber Waldref, also a member of the STA board, said STA is nearly finished with years of preparation for the Central City Line.

A grant application could be submitted as early as next month, she said.

Officials at the Federal Transit Administration have been working with STA on developing the proposed line for the past several years and are waiting for the grant application.

“Everything is still lined up,” Waldref said.

Grant awards are competitive. STA has been seeking to meet federal standards to win an award, she said.

Last November, voters within the county’s transit benefit area approved a pair of sales tax increases to raise local funding for the Central City Line among a broad range of transit improvements.

A new tenth of a penny sales tax starts next month to be followed by another tenth of a penny in April 2019.

Together, the taxes are expected to raise more than $200 million over the coming decade. That local funding would be used to pay for the operating costs of the Central City Line, in addition to new park-and-ride facilities, improved routes, longer bus hours and greater weekend service.

STA already has lined up $15 million in state grant money and spent some of its own funds to satisfy matching requirements for the federal grant.

Construction is currently expected to last from 2019 to 2021.

“The project is already in the FTA Small Starts pipeline,” wrote Spokane Transit CEO Susan Meyer in an email. “We’ll apply next month for a 2019 FTA grant. We expect to meet or exceed all of the criteria.”

The line would bring sleek and modern electric-powered buses along a fixed route running from Browne’s Addition on the west to Spokane Community College to the northeast.

The buses would have a low threshhold at the boarding area, making it easier to get on or off.

Along the route, the buses would serve higher density areas of the city, including downtown, the University District and Gonzaga University.

The Central City Line would match a trend in urban areas to create people-movers that not only add mobility to the community but also provide an attraction for commercial and residential development.

Battery technology is improving quickly, so it is likely that the buses will not need to be charged en route, officials said.

The rubber-tire option was chosen because it is much less expensive than a rail line like those developed in Portland and Seattle.

STA has been working with a broad spectrum of the community in developing the plan, in some cases using consultants for expertise, but also property owners, neighborhood groups and STA riders

The line could attract as much as $175 million in redevelopment investment over 20 years, officials said.

Portland’s redevelopment of the Pearl District has been aided by a fixed rail line running through the heart of the neigborhood.

Bus stops, or stations, would likely have kiosks for prepayment of fares.

The line buses would not accept cash. The vast majority of existing STA riders board with passes, including the popular monthly pass, so making cash riders prepurchase fares is not seen as an impediment.

STA is offering a menu of station amenities that could be installed, including real-time displays on bus movements along with canopies to protect against the weather and nighttime lighting.

Potential station locations have been identified. Some will have more amenities than others depending on expected rider demand at each stop.

Spokane city planners are working on land-use issues to accommodate both the transit line and its use of street rights-of-way, but also redevelopment, Waldref said.

According to the STA website, “Bus rapid transit systems combine speed and efficiency with the cost effectiveness and flexibility of environmentally friendly buses.”

“The CCL will improve mobility by connecting urban neighborhoods to major destinations and moving more people without more cars,” the website said.