Spokane BRT grant push
Spokane Transit’s North Division Bus Rapid Transit project received a federal “medium high” rating and is now eligible to apply for an $82 million grant. If awarded, that federal amount would cover roughly half the project’s cost and moves the corridor closer to formal funding decisions. (spokanepublicradio.org)
Spokane Transit has cleared a federal hurdle that lets its North Division bus rapid transit project compete for an $82 million construction grant. (spokanetransit.com) The Federal Transit Administration gave the project a “Medium-High” rating in early April, a score Spokane Transit said is required to move ahead in the Capital Investment Grants process. Congress also directed the $82 million in the fiscal 2026 budget signed on February 3, 2026, according to Spokane Transit. (spokanetransit.com) Bus rapid transit is a faster bus line built with rail-style features, not tracks. On Division Street, Spokane Transit plans dedicated business access and transit lanes in many segments, traffic-signal priority, branded stations, and frequent seven-day service along a roughly 10-mile corridor from downtown Spokane toward Mead. (transit.dot.gov) The corridor is already one of Spokane’s busiest bus markets. Spokane Transit said more than 900,000 riders used buses on Division Street in 2025, and it projects ridership to rise by nearly 50% once the line opens in 2030. (spokanetransit.com) The first phase is scheduled to start service in 2030 between downtown Spokane and the Hastings Park and Ride. Spokane Transit says that segment will bring buses every 15 minutes on weekdays for at least 14 hours a day, using zero-emission 60-foot buses and 39 new stations. (spokanetransit.com) The project has been moving through federal review for years. Spokane Transit’s timeline shows the corridor study began in 2019, the locally preferred alternative was selected in 2021, project development began in 2023, and the Small Starts application and environmental package were submitted in 2025. (spokanetransit.com) Several steps still remain before federal money is locked in. Spokane Transit said it expects a grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration within the next 12 months, while its 2026 schedule still includes environmental clearance, right-of-way acquisition, and third-party agreements. (spokanetransit.com)
