Governor Inslee in Spokane to celebrate historic Connecting Washington transportation package - Jan 29

Friday, January 29, 2016

Access to public transportation is essential to a successful mixed-use environment in the University District. Last summer, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Connecting Washington, the largest transportation investment in Washington's history. This $16.1 billion transportation revenue and spending package promises to dramatically improve mobility throughout the state.

Thanks to the exceptional efforts of regional stakeholders and elected officials such as Senator Andy Billig, Senator Michael Baumgartner and Representative Marcus Riccellii, among others, the University District will benefit from an infusion of transportation capital wthat will enable smart urban development and a ped-friendly environment more conducive to street-level commerce.

Connecting Washington allocates $8.8 million dollars to the University District Gateway Bridge which will allow pedestrians and cyclists to cross over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway tracks. The bridge will be an important connection between the Central City Line and Spokane Transit Authority''s medical shuttle service. Set to be completed in 2018, the bridge will activate the corridor between the south-side hospital complex and the six higher education institutions to the north (WSU, Gonzaga University, EWU, UW, Whitworth and CCS).

At left, celebrants at the January 29, 2016 Connecting Washington Celebration in Spokane, from left: Kim Pearman-Gillman, past University District Chair and partner at McKinstry; Rep Marcus Riccelli; WSU Health Sciences Spokane Chancellor Lisa Brown; Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart; Senator Andy Billig and Governor Jay Inslee.