Study recommends many transportation changes on West Plains

By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) held an open house last week to share how future growth of the airport business park and surrounding region could impact the area's transportation needs.

The West Plains-Spokane International Airport Transportation Study was the result of years of analysis by a committee of area stakeholders, headed by SRTC. Their draft recommendations on bike and pedestrian traffic, public transit and safety were rolled out Jan. 18 in Airway Heights.

Bike and pedestrian recommendations include identifying routes that could connect the north and south West Plains safely in a way that encourages non-motorized travel, infilling sidewalks along existing roadways throughout the West Plains and studying the feasibility and alignment of bike/pedestrian linkage to downtown Spokane.

Public transit recommendations include building a new park and ride facility at the Medical Lake/I-90 interchange; studying the feasibility of business access and transit lanes along Highway 2 within Airway Heights and implementing a high performance transit network for better connection among West Plains cities and between regions.

Safety recommendations include reducing visual clutter along Highway 2 in Airway Heights, limiting left turns and improving pedestrian crossings where appropriate and monitoring traffic flow improvements in and around the airport.

SRTC senior transportation planner Eve Nelson said despite some snowy weather, about 35 people turned out to give input on the recommendations last Tuesday. Many commented on the need to incorporate a light rail connection between the West Plains and the city of Spokane into the plan, which Nelson said will be looked at before a final draft is prepared.

In addition to recommendations, the study proposes several “transportation alternatives” around the region. These include widening Highway 2 to seven-lanes; constructing a new two-lane arterial from Nine Mile Dam to Airway Heights; making traffic flow improvements to I-90 interchanges at Geiger and Medical Lake exits and widening various sections of Hayford Road.

The study committee was made up of representatives from the Spokane International Airport, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane County, the city of Spokane, Spokane Transit, Spokane Tribe, Kalispel Tribe, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the city of Airway Heights. Nelson said the open house was the last step before final recommendations are prepared and distributed to these jurisdictions, which can then draw from the report when updating comprehensive plans and capital improvement programs.

To see a complete list of recommendations or to give public comment before Jan. 31 visit http://www.srtc.org.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].