The transportation package includes several large investments for Eastern Washington.
The Spokane Transit Authority will receive $50 million for a new bus rapid transit project connecting North and Central Spokane. The project, called Division Connects, will connect downtown and the University District, to the Whitworth University area. According to S-T-A documents, the project should be completed between 2027 and 2029.
Representative Marcus Riccelli, a Democrat who represents Spokane, says he is also working with budget leaders to speed up the North Spokane Corridor project. If approved, the new completion date could move up to 2026 or 2027.
The package also includes $4 million for a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 90 reconnecting the East Central Neighborhood with the Sprague Business District. They were divided by the construction of Interstate 90 in the 1950s and 1960s.
The total package is estimated to cost $16 billion over 16 years. No gas tax increases will be imposed on Washington residents, but gas exports will be taxed, likely impacting neighboring states.
