Spokane Transit Authority's City Line construction underway
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
See https://www.spokaneudistrict.org/news/1529/spokane-paves-way-for-electric-bus-transit-line
Station Artwork
Several years in the making, we are pleased to invite the general public, to the City Line Artist Reception, to be held this Tuesday, July 12, at 5:30pm and continue to about 7:30pm. The reception will be held on the second floor of the STA Plaza, 701 W Riverside Avenue. We hope you can make it! Learn more about the art that has been incorporated into each and every City Line station here.
Installation of Station Shelters and Amenities
Beginning last month, Wesslen Construction, STA’s contract for amenities installation, began installing vertical elements at stations, beginning in the Chief Garry Park neighborhood. Work is progressing in a staged approach due to the availability of the fabricated shelter components. The work for the first stage begins at each station with the installation of fencing and temporary traffic control elements and the removal of temporary concrete panels to expose the shelter, marker and light pole footings. Once the concrete has been removed, the Contractor performs a site survey to verify everything is in the correct locations and to layout the Station amenity elements. Upon verification of the station layout, they then begin installing the bases and column frames for the shelter and HPT markers using a forklift. After erecting the shelter and marker, the light poles are set into place. Once everything is set in its proper place, the column frames are pinned to the bases and the structure is anchored to the concrete footings. Then, the electrical sub-contractor installs and provides power to the lights on the light poles so that they are fully functioning. The final step in this first stage of the work is to grout underneath the bases and place concrete back into the platform openings to cover the anchorages and base plates. After all work on the platform is completed, the Contractor moves the fence against the existing structure to open the sidewalk, securing the site until the second stage of the work begins approximately a month later.
Project Description
The City Line is a six-mile, corridor-based Bus Rapid Transit route connecting Browne’s Addition to Spokane Community College by way of Downtown Spokane and the University District. It will be a modern-style electric bus estimated to provide over 1 million rides per year. It will feature more frequent trips and convenient elements like pre-board ticketing, level boarding and improved stations with real-time signage, wayfinding and other amenities.
The concept of the City Line has been discussed, evaluated and planned for by community partners for over 15 years. It has been customized for the needs of Spokane, reflecting cost-effectiveness and flexibility. It will provide earlier and later service seven days a week – making it a viable transit option in the busiest commercial corridors, especially for commuters.
High-performance transit systems create positive economic impacts for communities. As a first installment for the region, the City Line is projected to increase land and improvement values by $175 million over 20 years. Some examples of the project’s positive economic impact include increased foot traffic from higher density development, reduced travel times, and parking and traffic congestion mitigation. Additionally, the City Line will streamline transit in the Downtown corridor and allow for other system-wide improvements, like more transfer stations outside of the city core.
Benefits
In addition to the growth in ridership and a positive economic impact, the City Line will include other benefits like significant streetscape and road improvements, distinctly branded and permanent stations, and innovative electric charging infrastructure. Combined, these elements provide a sense of permanence that indicates a long-term commitment to mobility and economic development along the corridor. Additionally, the City Line’s zero-emissions propulsion system will provide an ongoing environmental benefit through cleaner air and quieter buses. An economic study completed in 2014 estimates, over a 20-year period the projected increase to surrounding land and improvement values will increase by $175 million.
Project Cost and Funding
The estimated project cost is $92.231 million, including vehicles, design, construction management and other support services. STA has received $3.575 million in State and Federal funding to complete planning and engineering services for the project. In June of 2015, the Washington State Legislature and Governor approved $15 million for construction. In April 2019, the FTA awarded $53.425 million for the project subject to an approved a Small Starts Grant Agreement. In July 2019, the STA Board approved an additional $20.231 million, which represents the total local share of the construction costs for the project.
