City Line (Spokane, Washington)

Rail-based urban transportation had historically been a part of Spokane's development in the early 20th century, with numerous streetcars and trolleys running through the city's core. However, as the automobile gained in popularity throughout the century, the streetcars and their tracks were eventually phased out in favor of buses.[5] In 1999, a revival of rail transit in Spokane was discussed, with vision documents calling for the development of a modern streetcar line in Downtown Spokane. Spokane Transit Authority officially adopted the vision as a project in 2005,[6] commissioning a streetcar feasibility study in partnership with other local transportation and planning agencies which was released in 2006.[7]

Public workshops and a series of meetings with stakeholders were held from 2010 through early 2011 to identify preferred mode and route alternatives for the new line.[8] The Spokane City Council voted in July 2011 to identify a locally preferred alternative of implementing a tire-based electric trolleybus system, in lieu of a more expensive track-based streetcar system, and a route from the Browne's Addition neighborhood toward Spokane Community College through Downtown Spokane and the nearby University District.[9]

By 2014, plans to use a modern electric trolley as the mode of transportation shifted to using battery electric buses instead due to the lower costs—no overhead wires would need to be constructed—and the rapidly developing capability and reliability of electric vehicles.[10]

The City Line's final estimated development costs of $92.2 million are funded through a variety of local, state, and federal sources.[11]

Costs during the project's earlier stages were initially estimated to be around $72 million. $3.575 million of that amount went toward the project's planning and design and were funded by state and federal sources.[12] In 2015, the Washington State Legislature allocated $15 million toward the project.[13] At the time, the intent was that the remainder of that $72 million would be covered through a federal grant, which Spokane Transit applied for in September 2017.[14] STA was awarded its $53.4 million request from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Small Starts Grant in April 2019,[15] which would have fully funded the project when combined with the earlier allocation by the Washington State Legislature in 2015.[16]

However, due to cost escalation since the initial planning and grant applications began, the cost estimate had increased to between $85.7 and $92.2 million. To address the shortfall, the Spokane Transit Authority board authorized in July 2019 a $20.2 million local match as part of the transit agency's agreement with the FTA to accept the federal grant.[17]

The line's operating costs will be covered by fare revenue and sales-tax revenue approved in 2016 as part of STA's Proposition 1 to improve transit service throughout the Spokane area.

As of March 17, 2023 the project was projected cost $78.9 million, $13.3 million dollars under the $92.2 million budget.[18]

The project was conceived under the working title "Central City Line" and was officially named the City Line at the FTA grant signing ceremony on January 21, 2020.[19]

Major construction of the line's components, including roadway improvements along the route, supporting infrastructure, and boarding stations, began on May 1, 2020[20][21] and will continue through 2021.[22] Prior to start of this phase, Spokane Transit completed upgrades at some of its existing facilities that will ultimately enable and support City Line operations, including alterations to boarding zones at the STA Plaza,[23] reconstruction of the Spokane Community College Transit Center, and constructing a new garage[24] at STA's main campus that will house, service, and recharge the City Line's electric battery electric fleet when not in use.

Spokane Falls Boulevard at WSU Spokane Station, which will be an island station featuring a bike lane bypass

Main & Pine Station, on the WSU Spokane campus, which will be a center island station

Main & Howard Station, in Downtown Spokane, which will be an island station featuring a bike lane bypass

Construction progress on City Line stations in July 2021. Spokane Transit will construct all platforms along the route first before returning with passenger shelter and amenity installation.

Structural frame and art panels of the Mission & Howard station

Each City Line station features shelter windscreens with unique art by local Spokane artists that reflects the local neighborhood.

Westbound station at Mission & Regal begins to show signs of City Line branding.

Construction progresses on City Line stations in September 2022. Construction varies by stages across the line.

While originally scheduled to open in 2022,[25] the opening was revised in October 2021, during construction, to July 2023 due to supply chain shortages in the materials, specifically rolled steel tubes, needed to construct the station shelters.[26] The route is schedueld to begin service on July 15, 2023.[27] In April 2023, the STA board authorized a fare free service from July 15, 2023 to Labor Day on September 4, 2023 to encourage use of the new route and for the community to see the new electric busses and Eastern Washington's first bus rapid transit line.[28] Prior to the official launch of the City Line, STA invited members of the public to participate in simulated trial run of the route on May 10-11, 2023 to obtain feedback from users. STA has planned simultaneous launch day celebration events in the Browne’s Addition, Downtown/Riverside, University District, Logan, and Chief Garry Park neighborhoods with food and music. Three days later, the officail ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for July 18, 2023 on the campus of Gonzaga University with attendance from local, state, and federal leaders.[29]

Although the City Line was planned iwth 7.5 minute headways during peak hours, due to coach operator staffing shrotages, the route will open with 15 minute headways during peak hours with planned improvement to 7.5 minute headways at peak during 2024.[30]