The Wellesley corridor is one of thirteen High Performance Transit corridors identified in Connect Spokane, STA’s Comprehensive Plan.
High Performance Transit (HPT) allows for spontaneous travel with relatively higher frequency. High Performance Transit corridors are STA’s highest ridership corridors where investments in speed and reliability, frequency, hours of service, and passenger amenities are made.
The Wellesley Line is an important element of the growing High-Performance Transit (HPT) network and a commitment of the Connect 2035 strategic plan.
What is a Corridor Development Plan (CDP)?
The need for a Corridor Development Plan is identified in Policy HP 1.0 Corridor Development Plan in Connect Spokane.
The corridor development planning process provides a method to determine the appropriate scale of investment, the service design and the implementation steps toward plan realization. It engages stakeholders including existing and future passengers, property owners and agencies in envisioning the future state of a corridor and ways to make progress, even if incremental. It also may identify the locations of stations and stops and infrastructure requirements.
High Performance Transit (HPT)
High Performance Transit is STA’s term for core lines serving local and regional corridors that are all-day, two-way, frequent, and easy to use. Together, the lines represent STA’s High Performance Transit Network, a focus for integrated investment in infrastructure and supporting land use.
Current HPT Lines
Route 1 City Line
Route 4 Monroe/Regal
Route 6 Cheney
Route 7 Valley/Airport
Route 9 Sprague
Route 3 Wellesley (upcoming)
Elements of a HPT Line
As noted earlier, HPT lines are STA’s highest ridership corridors where investments in speed and reliability, frequency, hours of service, and passenger amenities are made. In the case of the 3 Wellesley, the most pressing need is an investment in passenger amenities – the infrastructure at a station that provides shelter and shade for a customer.
A full HPT station would have all of the following, and while there will be a limited number of stations, STA is also identifying additional locations for shelters and benches.
Lighting
Marker
Post & flag
Shelter with bench
Trash can
Leaning pad
Route 33 Quick Facts
Route 33 Wellesley provides a critical west-east connection from Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) to Spokane Community College (SCC) through nine different Spokane neighborhoods.
By the Numbers
606,029 riders
22 boardings/hour
2,016 average weekday ridership
Average Weekday Ridership by Hour
Guiding Objectives
The existing Route 33 Wellesley is a backbone route of the STA system, providing a critical west-east connection from Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) to Spokane Community College (SCC) through nine different Spokane neighborhoods.
Implementing high performance transit in the corridor will:
- Deliver convenient transfers to other routes
- Improve first and last mile connections
- Deliver multimodal accessibility improvements
- Encourage ridership and
- Enhance transit operations
Project Schedule & Phases
Key dates as STA works towards the completion of the Corridor Development Plan:
Phase 1: Planning (2026)
June/July
Community Engagement
September
- Community Engagement
- Draft Corridor Development Plan published
October
Public Hearing at STA Board Meeting
November
STA Board of Directors action
Phase 2: Design and Construction (2027-2029)
This timeline is still being developed, but activities include:
- Design and engineering for station and shelters
- Property and easement acquisition
- Construction management
- Installation of HPT amenities
Contact
Project Manager: Mike Tresidder
Email: [email protected]