Achievements
In 2016, voters approved Proposition and STA launched STA Moving Forward, an ambitious 10-year strategic plan to transform public transit in the region.
Goals
We developed three main goals to measure the success of STA Moving Forward:
- Connect People to Services
- Connect Workers to Jobs
- Help Advance Regional Economic Development
Initiatives
STA has met the three initiatives it identified when STA Moving Forward was launched.
- Improved Service
- Expanded Access
- Maintained Core Services
Improvement Highlights by Region
Use the map and slides below to explore the improvements we have made to each region of Spokane.
Downtown Spokane
Route 1 City Line BRT
Eastern Washington’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, connecting Browne’s Addition, Downtown, the University District, Gonzaga, and Spokane Community College, while linking with many other STA routes for seamless regional travel.
Enhanced stops with shelters, benches, leaning rails, security cameras, lighting, off-board ticketing, real-time information, City Line-branded multimedia markers, and unique station artwork by local artists.
STA Plaza Improvements and Real-Time Information
Distinctly branded, multimedia markers with real-time information have been installed at each bus bay.
Route 11 Downtown/North Bank Shuttle
20-minute night and weekend service has been added.
HPT Stops for Routes 4, 6, 7, and 9
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
North Spokane
Division Corridor Improvements
Route 25 Division is consistently one of the highest-ridership routes in STA’s system. STA has added sidewalks and shelters, improved reliability, and deployed larger buses to more trips, strengthening service today as well as preparing for the future Division Street Bus Rapid Transit, the region’s second BRT route.
Route 4 Monroe/Regal
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route connecting north and south Spokane with 15-minute weekday service and 30-minute evening, weekend, and holiday trips.
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
Spokane Falls Station
New bus station opened in 2019 for improved access and transfers for customers as well as enhanced amenities and lighting. By bringing bus service to an off-street facility, customers have safer, easier boarding as well as a direct connection to the college, improving the rider environment and experience.
Boone Northwest Garage
Built in 2019, this 68,640-square-foot facility houses STA’s battery-electric fleet and charging infrastructure for City Line and other electric buses.
Improved Frequency and Extended Service
Transit service in north Spokane has grown substantially, with more frequent trips, and later evening hours with expanded Saturday night service that operates throughout the system and runs past 10 pm.
Route 23 Maple/Ash: This route has been extended so that all trips run to the end of the line at North Indian Trail.
Route 28 Nevada: Service has been increased to 15-minute service on weekdays.
Route 33 Wellesley: Already featuring 15-minute service on weekdays, the route also now runs every 30 minutes at night and on weekends, improving access for families and youth.
South Spokane
Moran Station Park & Ride
New bus station with attached park and ride opened in 2019 for improved access to transit for customers on the South Hill. This facility is served by multiple routes, including High Performance Transit Route 4 Monroe-Regal, and includes charging infrastructure for STA’s battery-electric buses, electric bicycles, and electric vehicles.
SCC Transit Center
Opened in 2019 to provide a multimodal hub for City Line and routes serving Spokane Valley, Millwood, and north and south Spokane. It allows riders traveling between Spokane Valley and north Spokane to transfer without going downtown and includes overhead charging for City Line and other battery-electric buses.
Route 4 Monroe/Regal
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route connecting north and south Spokane with 15-minute weekday service and 30-minute evening, weekend, and holiday trips.
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
South Hill Park & Ride Improvements
Upgraded in 2023 to provide better customer service and separate bays serving each direction of High Performance Transit (HPT) Route 4 Monroe-Regal. The park and ride includes additional bus capacity, enhanced HPT stations, new amenities, and lighting.
New Routes and Improved Service
Transit service has improved significantly with more frequent trips, later evening hours, and expanded Saturday night service that operates throughout the system and runs past 10 pm.
Route 14 South Adams/Napa
This route serves the STA Plaza, Deaconess Medical Center, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities on the lower South Hill, ending near Cedar Street and 14th Avenue. It also serves the Union Gospel Mission and the neighborhood around Napa Street and Mission Avenue.
Route 144 South Express
Route 144 offers express service between the Moran Station Park & Ride and Downtown Spokane, while still serving a portion of Bernard Street. It features 15- and 30-minute frequency during peak morning and evening hours.
Route 247 Lincoln Park/Ferris
This route augments service between Downtown Spokane and the South Hill Park & Ride via the Perry District, 17th Avenue, Freya Street, and Ferris High School during morning and afternoon peak hours.
Spokane Valley
Mirabeau Transit Center
Opened in 2025 to provide state-of-the-art rider amenities, increased capacity for transit vehicles, easy connections between Spokane, Spokane Valley, and Liberty Lake, and additional parking for customers. The transit center is a key facility serving High Performance Transit Route 7 Valley/Airport through the I-90/Valley corridor. The new transit center sets the stage for future transit service and infrastructure expansion.
Route 9 Sprague
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route linking Downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley with frequent service. Additional stops have been installed with improved amenities for rider comfort.
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
Route 7 Valley/Airport
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route combining former Routes 60 and 74 to connect Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley, Downtown Spokane, and Spokane International Airport, with frequent weekday service and hourly service on nights and weekends.
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
New Commuter Routes
New peak-only routes have been introduced to improve regional connections.
Route 190 Valley Express: This express route runs between the Valley Transit Center and Downtown Spokane with service during morning and evening peak hours.
Route 722 Liberty Lake Express: This express route connects Liberty Lake Park & Ride with Downtown Spokane and the North Bank with service during morning and evening peak hours.
Route 724 Liberty Lake Tech Express: This express route brings service to the Meadowwood Technology Campus in Liberty Lake, Liberty Lake Park & Ride, Downtown Spokane, and the North Bank with service during morning and evening peak hours.
Route 771 Mirabeau Express: This express route runs between the Mirabeau Transit Center and Downtown Spokane with service during morning and evening peak hours.
New Routes 93 and 95
Route 93 Molter Loop: Introduced alongside Route 7, this loop provides service east of the Liberty Lake Park & Ride, covering the neighborhoods of Mission Avenue, Molter Road, and Appleway Avenue before returning to the park and ride.
Route 95 Mid-Valley: The route provides service along the East Broadway corridor to Mission Avenue north of the freeway in Greenacres. With more business opportunities opening east of the Spokane Business and Industrial Park, the route was then extended to serve north of the Spokane River to Garland Avenue on Barker Road.
Improved Route 94 Service and Extended Night Hours
Routes throughout Spokane Valley now offer Saturday night service and end later in the night past 10 pm, including on:
Route 94 East Central/Millwood: Increased to 30-minute frequency on weeknights and Saturdays.
West Plains
West Plains Transit Center
Opened in 2018 to create a vital connection between Cheney and Airway Heights without requiring travel through Spokane, the transit center supports High Performance Transit (HPT) Route 6 Cheney. Since then, the facility has continued to grow: a transit-only access road and roundabout were added in 2020, a fourth passenger loading bay was added in 2023, and HPT station amenities were installed in 2024. A fifth bay was completed in 2025.
Route 6 Cheney
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route providing enhanced service between Cheney and Downtown Spokane with improved frequency, hours, and amenities, plus connections to Airway Heights and Medical Lake at the West Plains Transit Center. Double-decker buses were implemented on this and Route 66 to support our growing region.
More than 20 locations along Route 6 were upgraded to improve accessibility, safety, and reliability, with HPT-level amenities added at high-ridership stops.
Eagle Station
Opened in 2023 to create a gateway to the EWU campus through High Performance Transit Route 6 Cheney and Route 66 EWU, with increased accessibility, a covered and heated waiting area, and digital monitors with real-time bus information to accommodate hundreds of daily riders.
Four Lakes Station
Opened in 2021, the Four Lakes Station is an integral component of High Performance Transit (HPT) Route 6 Cheney. The facility improves access and safety across SR-904 with features like shelters, lighting, sidewalks, accessible platforms, and a median crosswalk, and supports connections between Cheney and Spokane.
Route 7 Valley/Airport
New High-Performance Transit (HPT) route combining former Routes 60 and 74 to connect Liberty Lake, Spokane Valley, Downtown Spokane, and Spokane International Airport, with frequent weekday service and hourly service on nights and weekends.
New HPT stops feature shelters, benches, leaning rails, lighting, real-time information, and distinctly branded, multimedia markers.
New Routes and Improved Frequency
Direct service was created between Cheney, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, and major destinations like Spokane International Airport, Walmart, and the Amazon Fulfillment Center without the need to travel through Spokane. Trips that once took more than an hour or weren’t possible are now quick and convenient.
Route 63 Geiger/Airport: This route features 30-minute frequency, connecting West Plains Transit Center and Spokane International Airport with service to the Geiger Corrections Facility and Amazon Fulfillment Center.
Route 65 Airway Heights: This route runs between West Plains Transit Center and the Spokane Tribe Casino and serves Airway Heights. Frequency has been increased to every 30 minutes.
Route 633 Geiger Shuttle: This weekend shuttle runs between STA Plaza, West Plains Transit Center, and the Amazon Fulfillment Center.
Improved Service and Frequency
All West Plains routes now run more frequently, with 30-minute or better service from Spokane, Cheney, and Airway Heights to the Spokane airport. Wait times have been reduced, and travel has been made more efficient throughout West Plains.
Route 61 Highway 2/Fairchild: Weekend service was added
Route 62 Medical Lake: Service has been improved from every 90 minutes to every 60 minutes
By the Numbers
In the nine years since voters approved funding for STA Moving Forward, STA buses carried 77.5 million passengers. Like transit systems worldwide, STA bus ridership dropped dramatically in 2020. However, STA was one of the first mid-sized transit systems in the US to surpass pre-COVID ridership.
