Spokane Regional Transportation Council holds open house to review local improvement projects

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) is hosting an open house in two weeks for the public to review and comment on the draft 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP identifies $791 million in regional transportation system spending in the next four years. 

SRTC, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Spokane Transit (STA) staff will be on hand Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Spokane Community College Lair, located at 1810 N Greene St, to answer questions on the draft 2020-2023 (TIP).

The TIP serves as a short-range programming document for transportation projects and programs that jurisdictions within Spokane County plan to build or implement during the upcoming four years. The goal of the TIP is to provide for the efficient use of federal, state and local funds for regionally significant projects that advance the long-term transportation goals of the Spokane region. All projects receiving federal funds are required to be included in the TIP. 

The TIP is updated with new projects annually and made available to members of the public for review and comment. It includes project name and description, the jurisdiction sponsoring them, funding attached to each project, and where the funding came from (local, state or federal). The 2020-2023 TIP contains 99 projects, 12 of them new to the TIP this year. 

Projects in the TIP vary widely, from those that maintain and preserve existing roads to construction of new facilities like the North Spokane Corridor, and projects that encourage economic development. There are also bridge replacement projects, public transit improvements and new bicycle and pedestrian facilities included in the proposed program. 

For those who can’t attend the open house, the draft 2020-2023 TIP can be viewed at http://www.srtc.org/transportation-improvement-program. SRTC is accepting comments about the program through Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 and can be emailed to [email protected], mailed to SRTC at 421 W. Riverside, Suite 500, Spokane, WA 99201 or phoned in to (509) 343-6370.