$53.4 million federal grant awarded to STA for Central City Line project

Erin Robinson by Erin Robinson

Washington Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced a new multi-million dollar investment for Spokane’s Central City Line.

The $53 million grant was awarded to the Spokane Transit Authority through the Federal Tranist Administration’s Small Starts grant program. It will fund the completion of Spokane’s Central City Line Bus Rapid Transit service.

The Central City Line will provide service from Browne’s Addition to Spokane Community College. The route, which also connects downtown Spokane and Gonzaga University, will operate 7 days a week.

Crews will begin construction on some 30 bus stations later this year. The grant will also fund the purchase of ten new low-emission electric buses.

Today, $53.4M dollars has been allocated to fund the Central City Line by the @FTA_DOT‘s Small Starts Grant Program.

Spokane Transit is one of five agencies across the country to receive a portion of the $1.36B allocation. #Spokane @SpokaneCity @VisitSpokane @SpokaneArts pic.twitter.com/acC2ads4R4

— Spokane Transit (@spokanetransit) April 9, 2019

“This is great news for everyone in Spokane,” said Rep. McMorris Rogers. “Not only will the full grant funding of the Central City Line help further connect Spokane with the surrounding areas and provide reliable further transportation services to the entire community, but it will also bring an estimated $175 million in economic impact here in Eastern Washington. This is a win for Spokane, and I was proud to work with Senators Murray and Cantwell to make it happen.”

RELATED: Construction of STA’s Central City Line will start this year

“The Central City Line will connect residents, students and commuters with some of the city’s most important neighborhoods – providing clean, efficient and reliable transit service to families through Spokane and the surrounding area – and I’m glad to see these federal investments flow to Eastern Washington,” said Sen. Murray. “These are exactly the types of forward-thinking proposals the CIG program is meant to support, and I will continue working to ensure transportation and infrastructure priorities for families east of the Cascades remain top of mind in the other Washington.”

“With buses set to run at least every 15 minutes, the new Spokane City Central Line will put the pedal to the metal for connecting commuters and students to downtown, the University District and Gonzaga,” said Sen. Cantwell.

The Spokane City Line corridor encompasses 17 percent of regional employment, six high education institutions and major recreational and cultural attractions.

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