Comments on: Is Spokane the Next in Line for Streetcars? http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/ Transit in the Greater Seattle Area Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:33:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nick http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88237 Nick Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:43:29 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88237 You can add Boise to the list as well! Mayor Beiter is working hard to get it done!
You can add Boise to the list as well! Mayor Beiter is working hard to get it done!

]]> By: Bobby Bebar http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88176 Bobby Bebar Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:56:39 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88176 Sherwin - please note that the "15%" figure appears to be based on electric trolley bus, an option that is cited in the STA press release and is typically about $4M/mile v. $40M for rail. This is great news - any permanent, zero-emission electric line in Spokane or anywhere else would be a vast improvement over diesel buses.
Sherwin – please note that the “15%” figure appears to be based on electric trolley bus, an option that is cited in the STA press release and is typically about $4M/mile v. $40M for rail. This is great news – any permanent, zero-emission electric line in Spokane or anywhere else would be a vast improvement over diesel buses.

]]> By: lazarus http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88159 lazarus Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:33:42 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88159 Actually, going from downtown Spokane to the airport doesn’t require crossing the Spokane River – it requires crossing Hangman Creek. It would be a high bridge, but it would certainly be doable (the railroads have been doing it for about 100 years). And once you get to the airport side of Hangman Creek you have lots of options. You could go up the grade alongside the freeway, or you could loop around to the northeast of the Finch Arboretum and potentially pick up additional ridership from the Indian Canyon area. I don’t understand your comment about “nobody lives over there.” If you mean that “nobody lives in Spokane” than you are just plain wrong. Spokane has supported rail transit in the past and it is large enough to do it in the future. If you mean that “nobody lives on the west side of Hangman Creek”, then you must be ignoring the Indian Canyon neighborhoods and/or completely discounting the TOD potential.
Actually, going from downtown Spokane to the airport doesn’t require crossing the Spokane River – it requires crossing Hangman Creek. It would be a high bridge, but it would certainly be doable (the railroads have been doing it for about 100 years).

And once you get to the airport side of Hangman Creek you have lots of options. You could go up the grade alongside the freeway, or you could loop around to the northeast of the Finch Arboretum and potentially pick up additional ridership from the Indian Canyon area.

I don’t understand your comment about “nobody lives over there.” If you mean that “nobody lives in Spokane” than you are just plain wrong. Spokane has supported rail transit in the past and it is large enough to do it in the future.

If you mean that “nobody lives on the west side of Hangman Creek”, then you must be ignoring the Indian Canyon neighborhoods and/or completely discounting the TOD potential.

]]> By: Zach Shaner http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88081 Zach Shaner Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:47:01 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88081 Agreed! Their maps are great. STA is a pleasant riding experience. They are reliable, they give clear information, they hire professional and courteous drivers, contract things such as maps very well, and their downtown terminal (The Plaza) is really a gem for a city the size of Spokane.
Agreed! Their maps are great. STA is a pleasant riding experience. They are reliable, they give clear information, they hire professional and courteous drivers, contract things such as maps very well, and their downtown terminal (The Plaza) is really a gem for a city the size of Spokane.

]]> By: Zach Shaner http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88079 Zach Shaner Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:43:19 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88079 An aside... The trackage to Coeur d'Alene still exists...for the next few months anyway. The sections east of Riverstone are about to be donated by UP to the city of Coeur d'Alene for the development of their new education corridor. It's too bad...though rail may never happen there, the ROW was perfectly placed along Northwest Boulevard, and the current tracks terminate at City Park near Memorial Field, 100 yds. from the lake and 1/4 of a mile from downtown. As for Spokane, the corridor probably most in need of high-capacity transit is probably either I-90 from downtown to Sullivan Rd. or the Division/Ruby corridor from downtown to the Y. Both are currently planning disasters, with Division/Ruby in particular being quite unsightly. I agree with you, downtown Spokane is quite a fine oasis.
An aside…

The trackage to Coeur d’Alene still exists…for the next few months anyway. The sections east of Riverstone are about to be donated by UP to the city of Coeur d’Alene for the development of their new education corridor. It’s too bad…though rail may never happen there, the ROW was perfectly placed along Northwest Boulevard, and the current tracks terminate at City Park near Memorial Field, 100 yds. from the lake and 1/4 of a mile from downtown.

As for Spokane, the corridor probably most in need of high-capacity transit is probably either I-90 from downtown to Sullivan Rd. or the Division/Ruby corridor from downtown to the Y. Both are currently planning disasters, with Division/Ruby in particular being quite unsightly. I agree with you, downtown Spokane is quite a fine oasis.

]]> By: Anandakos http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88073 Anandakos Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:11:09 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88073 Keo, If you go to the airport you're spending an additional $300 million. You have to bridge the Spokane River and then climb the bluff. Nobody lives over there and it isn't that hard to get to the airport.
Keo,

If you go to the airport you’re spending an additional $300 million. You have to bridge the Spokane River and then climb the bluff. Nobody lives over there and it isn’t that hard to get to the airport.

]]> By: barman http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88066 barman Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:20:17 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88066 Is there a single US city that isn't studying streetcars at this point? Even WTA in Bellingham did a study.
Is there a single US city that isn’t studying streetcars at this point? Even WTA in Bellingham did a study.

]]> By: Oran Viriyincy http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88062 Oran Viriyincy Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:50:46 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88062 I got curious about the map so I clicked to see more of it. What a nice map! And no surprise, I found out that STA contracted CHK America to redesign their system map. CHK are the same folks who did the maps and transit information for Transport for London (those famed spider maps and more), LA Metro, Washington DC Metro, Austin, and San Antonio, to name a few. If there's any professional design firm that a transit agency should hire for maps, it should be CHK!
I got curious about the map so I clicked to see more of it.

What a nice map! And no surprise, I found out that STA contracted CHK America to redesign their system map. CHK are the same folks who did the maps and transit information for Transport for London (those famed spider maps and more), LA Metro, Washington DC Metro, Austin, and San Antonio, to name a few.

If there’s any professional design firm that a transit agency should hire for maps, it should be CHK!

]]> By: EvergreenRailfan http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88053 EvergreenRailfan Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:03:13 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88053 Will this replace the replica streetcar look a like buses they use on some shuttle routes? Anyway, Spokane could use something to get rail transit a foot in the door.
Will this replace the replica streetcar look a like buses they use on some shuttle routes?

Anyway, Spokane could use something to get rail transit a foot in the door.

]]> By: Keo http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88036 Keo Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:02:36 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88036 I grew up in Spokane, and a downtown streetcar loop that served the hospitals, downtown, the university district, and perhaps the new Kendal Yards development would be a huge boon to in-city development. Spokane is a lovely little city and the area around Riverfront Park could be such a great place to live. A streetcar would do wonders to improve desirability of the central area. Live in Kendal Yards, shop downtown, play in Riverfront Park, work at Sacred Heart, give a lecture at Gonzaga... all without a car? Nice. I grew up dreaming about a light rail line that went from the airport to Coeur d'Alene. I can't tell you how cool that would be during the summer time :-D Not to mention linking the major employment centers (downtown, liberty lake) with large swaths of residential areas with no choice right now but to use I-90 (Spokane Valley). Oh Spokane, you could be so beautiful.
I grew up in Spokane, and a downtown streetcar loop that served the hospitals, downtown, the university district, and perhaps the new Kendal Yards development would be a huge boon to in-city development. Spokane is a lovely little city and the area around Riverfront Park could be such a great place to live. A streetcar would do wonders to improve desirability of the central area. Live in Kendal Yards, shop downtown, play in Riverfront Park, work at Sacred Heart, give a lecture at Gonzaga… all without a car? Nice.

I grew up dreaming about a light rail line that went from the airport to Coeur d’Alene. I can’t tell you how cool that would be during the summer time :-D Not to mention linking the major employment centers (downtown, liberty lake) with large swaths of residential areas with no choice right now but to use I-90 (Spokane Valley).

Oh Spokane, you could be so beautiful.

]]> By: Mike B http://seattletransitblog.com/2009/12/07/is-spokane-the-next-in-line-for-streetcars/#comment-88032 Mike B Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:38:03 +0000 http://seattletransitblog.com/?p=10467#comment-88032 Spokane really needs more than streetcars. There infrastructure is so spread out. It needs something that really goes out. Think of Spokane like Portland. A river next to downtown cuts the city in half and geological features blocking development on the other side. Spokane could really develop some good TOD considering they have so much cheap, readily available land. They should really stick to developing light rail with (yes) park and rides along many of the old rail ROW's in the city. Or commuter rail on existing rails using the tracks that bisect most of the area (not located on a coast, river, but right down thick residential, commercial, and industrial areas). Though, BNSF Railway might not allow it. Spokane said no to light rail in 2006. They need to reconstruct it and try light rail again. http://www.inlandrail.org/sta-modified/uploads/documents/pdf/proposed%20alignment,%20081606.pdf
Spokane really needs more than streetcars. There infrastructure is so spread out. It needs something that really goes out. Think of Spokane like Portland. A river next to downtown cuts the city in half and geological features blocking development on the other side. Spokane could really develop some good TOD considering they have so much cheap, readily available land.

They should really stick to developing light rail with (yes) park and rides along many of the old rail ROW’s in the city. Or commuter rail on existing rails using the tracks that bisect most of the area (not located on a coast, river, but right down thick residential, commercial, and industrial areas). Though, BNSF Railway might not allow it.

Spokane said no to light rail in 2006. They need to reconstruct it and try light rail again.

http://www.inlandrail.org/sta-modified/uploads/documents/pdf/proposed%20alignment,%20081606.pdf

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