The verdict is still out on proposed Spokane Transit Authority bus route cuts

By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

Due to a low member turnout at their March 16 meeting, the Spokane Transit Authority board of directors deferred a final decision on service changes scheduled to take effect in September.

“They felt that this is an important issue and they wanted all the members present before making a decision,” STA communications manager Molly Meyers said.

Meyers said four of the board's nine members were absent last Wednesday, all excused, including Medical Lake City Councilwoman Brenda Redell, Spokane Valley Councilman Gary Schimmels and Spokane City Council members Amber Waldref and Nancy McLaughlin.

The action will now be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting, April 20.

The STA needs to cut 7 percent out of services this year to make up for falling sales tax revenues. A plan recommended by the agency's Operations and Customer Service Committee is estimated to save nearly $3 million a year through route efficiencies and eliminations throughout the service area.

On the West Plains, Cheney routes would remain relatively unscathed under the plan, with route 65 revised to operate as a commuter/peak service shuttle with six trips during both the morning and evening peak period. The 66 bus would become the primary daily connection to Spokane and a new route, 68, would operate in a two-way pattern along First Street, Betz Road and Washington Street seven days a week.

The 67 to Medical Lake and Geiger Boulevard would be discontinued. Bus 62 would provide weekday service to Medical Lake with service to the hospitals during non-peak times only and limited late night and weekend service to the city would be provided by route 61 via Brooks Road.

The 61 would no longer service the West Spokane Industrial Park and would serve the Fairchild Air Force Base Exchange on weekdays only.

For a complete list of changes visit http://www.spokanetransit.com.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].