Bus service changes coming

Depending which option is selected, Cheney residents and Eastern Washington University students will see some definite changes in bus service in late 2018.

Representatives from Spokane Transit Authority outlined those changes at the Cheney Planning Commission’s monthly meeting Nov. 13. The changes are part of STA’s “Moving Forward Plan” that began in earnest last year with the passage of Proposition 1 by county residents.

The proposition raised the sales tax 2/10ths of 1 percent to pay for more than 25 regional transportation projects. Among those are the West Plains Transit Center currently under construction at Interstate 90’s exit 272.

Also included were route changes on the West Plains. In Cheney, that could mean either creating a new route and terminating an existing one, or changes to current service.

Under “Option A,” existing route 165/Cheney Express would be discontinued and replaced by route 64. Route 64 and current route 66 would enter the city along Betz Road, turn onto North Sixth Street and then onto Elm Street to EWU.

Route 66 would then turn north on Washington, with a layover and turnaround at the university’s Surbeck Building, while route 64 would turn left on Washington and turnaround at the K Street Station on First Street. Only route 64 would stop at the transit center, and would be the main connection with other cities on the West Plains once that service is instituted as part of the center’s second phase of construction.

“This would be the main route that would connect Cheney, the transit center and downtown Spokane at nights and on weekends,” STA principal transit planner Kathleen Weinard told the commission.

Instead of turning from First on to Betz Road, route 68/Cheney Local would turn off First Street on to Simpson Parkway, then up Mike McKeehan Way to Washington, thus avoiding crossing the Eastern Washington Gateway Railway tracks at Betz and First. The route would make a loop by using Washington Street instead of winding along the eastern side of the campus, and Weinard said the frequency of service would increase at the lower end of the route around Salnave Road and Presley Drive.

Under “Option B,” the current service would be retained, but all three routes would use Surbeck as a turnaround and layover point. There would be no route 64 and route 165 would be modified to stop at the transit center.

During commission comments, Commissioner Brian Mangis pointed out issues he saw with routes 64 and 66 using North Sixth Street. The street is already a busy thoroughfare made busier in the morning and afternoon by students coming and going from Cheney High School as well as parental traffic that includes Betz Elementary School next door.

“I would second Brian’s concerns that the (North) Sixth Street corridor can get pretty interesting sometimes,” Commissioner Daniel Hillman said. “The dam bursts, and here they come.”

Public Works Director Todd Ableman said the city is working with STA on route issues, including North Sixth Street and on Washington at the Surbeck Building where a center turn lane is being considered.

The comment period runs through mid-January 2018. Recommendations will be made to the STA board on Feb. 7, a public meeting held March 15 with final recommendations by the board coming April 19.

Route changes would be effective Sept. 16, 2018.

More Information

To view the Spokane Transit Authority’s “Moving Forward Plan” and to provide written input, go to spokanetransit.com. You can also provide input by callling (509) 328-RIDE (7433)

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.