Beyond the Bus Stop
A Framework Transit-Oriented Development in Spokane
As Spokane continues to grow, planning for more people and new development requires supporting new options for places to live and ways to get around.
Image credit: City of Spokane
The Spokane Transit Authority's network of high-frequency public transit lines, currently in design and construction, responds to the need for transportation options, while the City of Spokane undertakes planning to support development that aligns with this public transportation investment.
Transit-oriented development, or TOD, provides a way to support transit investments by fostering a mix of housing, destinations and services near public transit stations, supported by improvements for walking and bicycling.
Spokane's Foundation for TOD
The City's Comprehensive Plan , first adopted in 2001 and based on extensive community input, guides long-range growth toward designated Centers and Corridors shown in the map below.
Centers and Corridors: City of Spokane Comprehensive Plan
Transit in Alignment
The Spokane Transit Authority's planned high-frequency transit network aligns with this plan, connecting Centers and Corridors with premium transit service to accommodate future growth.
High-Performance Transit Network / Centers & Corridors
The Role of Transit-Oriented Development
Transit-Oriented Development unites the City of Spokane's Center & Corridor growth strategy with the STA's high-frequency transit investment by guiding development toward vibrant, mixed-use, and accessible formats in the transit station areas.
By encouraging vibrant neighborhoods near high-quality transit stations, this development pattern fosters desirable places to live, work and play.
Assessment of TOD Benefits | AARP
The Fundamentals of TOD
There are four components of Transit-Oriented Development: station location and environment, destination and station access, transit-supportive land use, and transit-supportive policies. These components determine how well land use and transportation combine to increase transit ridership and enhance quality of life.
The Fundamentals of TOD
www.pedbikeimages.org | Adam Coppola Photography
Station Location and Environment
At the immediate station area, the environment is designed to be safe. Characteristics include:
- A mix of activities at the station area provided 'eyes' on the station
- Safe crossings to the transit station
- Safe access for walking and bicycling to the station itself
www.pedbikeimages.org | Adam Coppola Photography
Destination & Station Access
Direct and continuous links for people walking, biking, or using wheelchairs or other mobility devices allow safe travel between stations and nearby destinations. Characteristics includ
- Complete sidewalk networks
- Safe arterial streets
- Connected pathway networks
An example of transit-supportive land use with ground-floor retail. Center-Based Planning + Urban Design | Jason Graf
Transit-Supportive Land Use
A mix of station and neighborhood street-oriented uses support transit use, supporting:
- Opportunities for a range of housing
- Options for mixed-use developments with ground-floor retail and dining
- Orient housing to the street to support an active sidewalk environment.
A Test-Case: The City Line
The City Line is Spokane Transit Authority's six-mile, corridor-based Bus Rapid Transit line running from Browne’s Addition, through Downtown and the University District to Spokane Community College. Currently under construction, this modern electric bus is estimated to host more than 1 million rides per year and projected to increase land and improvement values by $175 million over 20 years
City Line Station | Spokane Transit Authority
The TOD Framework Study evaluated a portion of the City Line in eastern Spokane as a test-case for developing a planning process around TOD. The map below highlights the selected project area.
Project Area: Gonzaga Campus Area, Logan Neighborhood and Chief Garry Park Neighborhood, along Cincinnati Street and Mission Avenue
Use the interactive map below to explore the study area.
Transit Centers and Corridors
The Study Process
The following graphics demonstrate Spokane's process for assessing existing conditions and identifying prime opportunities for Transit-Oriented Development.
Challenges
These assessment criteria combine to identify existing challenges in the project area.
Project Area TOD Challenges
Opportunities
These factors also identify areas ripe for Transit-Oriented Development and accessibility improvements. These opportunities inform the subsequent development of TOD concepts and scenarios.
Project Area TOD Opportunities
Using this information, the TOD Framework Study then identified a series of development concepts, accessibility improvements, and associated regulations.
To view the resulting TOD recommendations, please visit the project website at:
Interested in learning more?
Check out these additional resources:
