Spokane, WA – After a nearly three-year process, the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) Board of Directors adopted the agency’s next 10-year strategic plan, Connect 2035, at its final board meeting of the year on Thursday, December 19. This new plan aims to provide enhanced mobility, implement sustainable public transportation options, and address the evolving needs of the region to achieve the vision of connecting everyone to opportunity.
Through extensive community engagement, which resulted in over 13,500 touchpoints with riders, residents, and community leaders, the Connect 2035 plan aims to deliver initiatives that are centered around three goals: elevate the customer experience; lead and collaborate with community partners to enhance the quality of life in the region; and strengthen the capacity to anticipate and respond to the demands of the region.
Key initiatives of Connect 2035 include investments in the Division Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, the region’s second BRT, and a clean energy campus to enable the full transition to a zero-emission bus fleet. Additional rider-oriented investments include expansion of high-performance transit lines, which provide frequent service and rider amenities with real-time bus arrival information and enhanced shelters, a multi-year pilot initiative that include a reduced fare program for low-income individuals and innovative mobility-on-demand options in currently underserved areas to increase access to the existing transit system.
“Our vision for Connect 2035 builds on the success delivered under our previous strategic plan, STA Moving Forward,” said E. Susan Meyer, STA CEO. “We are committed to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and efficient transit system that will meet the needs of the Spokane region. By focusing on clean energy, zero-emission technologies, and more affordable access, Connect 2035 ensures that we continue to move the region forward in a way that benefits our entire community.”
“Expanding access to reliable and affordable public transportation has always been at the heart of STA’s mission,” said Spokane County Commissioner and STA Board Chair Al French. “Connect 2035 not only reaffirms that commitment but takes it to the next level by addressing the evolving needs of our region. Investments in projects like zero-emission technologies, enhanced transit lines, and mobility options for underserved areas will transform how our community moves and thrives. This plan ensures that Spokane Transit continues to be a driving force in improving quality of life, supporting economic growth, and creating a more connected and sustainable future for everyone.”
The next steps for STA include a Board Workshop in March 2025, where members will discuss the sequencing of projects and how to prioritize funding and implementation over the coming years. Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley, the incoming STA Board Chair for next year said, “I look forward to the workshop this spring so we can start to implement key components of this plan within its first year. There are many initiatives to deliver, so sequencing will be important to balance available resources with the needs of the region.”
As the Connect 2035 plan is implemented, Spokane Transit will provide regular updates and public engagement to ensure the long-term success of the region’s transit system. For more information about Connect 2035 and to read the full plan, visit staconnect2035.com.
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Spokane Transit provides public transportation services through fixed route (bus) service, Paratransit service, and Rideshare to the cities of Airway Heights, Cheney, Liberty Lake, Medical Lake, Millwood, Spokane and Spokane Valley, and parts of the unincorporated County.
The organization employs nearly 775 people and is overseen by a 14-member regional board: nine voting elected officials from jurisdictions within the Public Transportation Benefit Area, four non-voting elected officials from area small cities, and a non-voting labor representative.
