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Division Street Bus Rapid Transit

Enhancing Connectivity in the Region's Busiest Corridor

Division Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a transit improvement project that will expand existing bus service between downtown Spokane and north Spokane and Spokane County.

One of the busiest streets in the city, BRT on Division Street will improve overall mobility in Spokane County via high-quality, fast, and frequent transit service that is expected to serve as an attractive option for residents and visitors, facilitating economic development through increased residential and commercial development, mobility, and overall economic growth in the region.

Phase 1 of the project will launch in 2030, delivering core features and service improvements between downtown Spokane and the Hastings Park & Ride. Future phases will begin with the opening of the NSC and expand BRT features along the full Division corridor to the future Mead Transit Center.

Major Transit Improvements Coming to the Division/Ruby Street Corridor

Division Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will be the second BRT line in the Spokane region, extending from downtown Spokane along the Division Street Corridor for approximately ten miles to the Mead area.

The project will deliver high-quality, fast, and frequent bus service to support a revitalized and vibrant Division Street corridor.

Phase 1 key features will include:

  • A true BRT experience on the Division Street corridor
  • Smoother and more reliable service, with buses coming every 15 minutes on weekdays for at least 14 hours daily
  • Zero-emission, five-door 60-foot buses
  • 39 new stations at major intersections with enhanced amenities
  • Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes along the Division and Ruby couplet

Visit the Division Street BRT project interactive map (opens in new tab) for more information about the route and new station locations.

Latest News

October 2025 Update:

In August, STA submitted an Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Small Starts ratings package to the Federal Transit Administration.  This is another important step in obtaining a Small Starts Grant, in which FTA will rate the project.  The project must receive a successful rating to qualify for a grant.   

In September, STA submitted a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) package as required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).  Environmental clearance is required by FTA in order to receive a Small Starts Grant and procure right-of-way needed to construct the project. 

Project design is moving forward.  The project team is wrapping up preliminary design (30% design level) and has transitioned to intermediate design efforts (60% design).  STA continues to work with agency partners in reviewing design plans. 

Events

Public outreach is crucial to the Division Street BRT project because it plays a vital role in shaping the route and station locations. 

Two key areas requiring public input are the routing north of the Y and through downtown Spokane, as well as the finalization of preliminary station locations. This outreach ensures that the project meets the diverse needs of the community and garners support for its successful implementation.

Upcoming Events

No future events

Less Congestion​

Buses make travel faster by reducing the number of cars on the road. A single bus can hold over one hundred riders. Less cars means less congestion for everyone.

Increased Access

Division Street BRT will expand and improve streets, crosswalks, and access for walking and cycling. Increased accessibility and safety helps residents and businesses.

Faster Travel

The Division BRT project will feature dedicated transit lanes. Cars can turn in these lanes, and buses also use them. Traffic can keep moving while buses stop for riders.

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Benefits of BRT

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a public transportation system that provides faster and more reliable transit service than traditional buses. BRT includes distinct stations with enhanced passenger amenities including pay-before-you-board-technology, real-time bus arrival information, and raised platforms to make getting on and off the bus faster and easier. BRT buses arrive more frequently, so riders can just show up and go without needing to check a schedule. Zero-emission buses would help improve air quality and provide a smoother ride.

A silver bus with a "University Circle" sign on its front is stopped at a bus shelter on a sunny day. Colorful flowers adorn the landscaped area next to the shelter, and a tall building is visible in the background. Another bus is approaching in the distance.

Source: Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

A modern city bus labeled "University Circle" is stopped at a bus stop in an urban area. The bus stop has a curved glass shelter, and there are flowers planted nearby. Another bus is visible in the background, and tall buildings surround the scene.

Faster traffic flow

Buses make travel faster by reducing the number of cars on the road. High passenger capacity means fewer buses are needed compared to cars to transport the same number of people.

Developing fast and reliable bus routes makes riding the bus more appealing, drawing more riders and improving road efficiency. Fewer cars mean less congestion.

A modern, clean bus stop with a shaded seating area, trash cans, and an information board. The bus stop is situated on a sunny street lined with trees. Traffic lights and buildings are visible in the background. A bike lane runs parallel to the street.

Greater accessibility

Division Street BRT will improve streets, crosswalks, and access for walking and cycling. More options for mobility can reduce the stress associated with driving and parking hassles. They also make traveling accessible for those who cannot rely on cars to get to their destinations.

Increased accessibility and safety will improve quality of life along Division Street by fostering vibrant, walkable and bike-friendly communities.

Source: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

A modern bus stop with a glass shelter, metal bench seating, and tactile paving for accessibility. The stop is located on a sunny street with a few trees and a traffic light in the background. A red building with a tower is visible to the left.
Division Line Rendering with BAT lanes
A busy urban street with multiple lanes of traffic, including buses, cars, and a light rail. There are trees and buildings on both sides, and the sky is overcast. A bus stop with people waiting is visible on the right, alongside a billboard and streetlights.

No waiting behind buses

Division Street BRT will use dedicated transit lanes called BAT (Business Access & Transit) lanes. These are special lanes designated for buses and turning vehicles. Traffic can keep moving while buses stop for passengers. Turning in and out of businesses is also safer because you have better visibility and opportunity to turn.

No more stop and go!

A busy urban street with multiple cars driving in both directions. The background features commercial buildings, including shops and a billboard, with some trees visible. The sky is clear, indicating a sunny day.

How do buses reduce traffic congestion?

View a brief video that explains how an increased number of buses on the road can alleviate traffic congestion and maintain smoother traffic flow

Watch here

Background

Division Street was first identified in 2010 as a priority corridor for future transit investments

Timeline

Construction is expected to begin in 2028, and the BRT line will launch in 2030.

Documents

Read analyses, reports, and other documents that inform the project’s design and strategy

Project Partners

A logo featuring the City of Spokane. The design includes an arch bridge above the words "City of Spokane" in blue and white, with cascading water depicted below the bridge.
The City of Spokane is a key partner for the coordination of infrastructure elements in the City of Spokane public right of way. All project work outside the WSDOT right of way will require approval from the City of Spokane.
A graphic illustration of a large, historic courthouse with a tall central tower and smaller surrounding spires. The building is depicted in blue outline. Below the illustration, the text reads "Spokane County" in large font and "Washington" in smaller font.
The north portion of the alignment is within unincorporated Spokane County. Spokane County is a key project partner for the coordination of design, construction, operations, and community outreach for infrastructure elements.
Logo of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council with the acronym "SRTC" in large teal letters above the words "Spokane Regional Transportation Council" in smaller text.
The SRTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region and a key project partner. The project is included in the Horizon 2045 Spokane Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
The image displays the logo of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), featuring a green circular emblem on the left with lines resembling a road or path, and the letters "WSDOT" to the right in green text.
WSDOT will assist with decision-making, coordination, and approvals for most of the Division Street BRT alignment on US Highways 2 and 395, including traffic analysis, design standards, and environmental review.
A logo featuring the City of Spokane. The design includes an arch bridge above the words "City of Spokane" in blue and white, with cascading water depicted below the bridge.
The City of Spokane is a key partner for the coordination of infrastructure elements in the City of Spokane public right of way. All project work outside the WSDOT right of way will require approval from the City of Spokane.
A graphic illustration of a large, historic courthouse with a tall central tower and smaller surrounding spires. The building is depicted in blue outline. Below the illustration, the text reads "Spokane County" in large font and "Washington" in smaller font.
The north portion of the alignment is within unincorporated Spokane County. Spokane County is a key project partner for the coordination of design, construction, operations, and community outreach for infrastructure elements.
Logo of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council with the acronym "SRTC" in large teal letters above the words "Spokane Regional Transportation Council" in smaller text.
The SRTC is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region and a key project partner. The project is included in the Horizon 2045 Spokane Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
The image displays the logo of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), featuring a green circular emblem on the left with lines resembling a road or path, and the letters "WSDOT" to the right in green text.
WSDOT will assist with decision-making, coordination, and approvals for most of the Division Street BRT alignment on US Highways 2 and 395, including traffic analysis, design standards, and environmental review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Division Street is one of the busiest streets in Spokane serving as the main north-south street connecting communities between downtown up to the Y and further north.

Every day, more than 50,000 cars travel on Division Street with close to 2,500 people riding STA transit buses.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a public transportation system that creates more reliable and efficient service than traditional buses. BRT provides all-day, two-way, reliable and frequent service at distinct station locations. Buses arrive more frequently so riders can just “show up and go” without needing to check a schedule.

Phase 1 of Division Street BRT will operate between downtown Spokane and the Hastings Park & Ride. Future phases will begin with the opening of the NSC and expand BRT features and service along the full Division corridor to Mead Transit Center in the north.

In Phase 1, BAT lanes along the Division and Ruby streets through the couplet to reduce congestion and introduce drivers and riders to their benefits. In a future phase, BAT lanes will be implemented north of the couplet to the “Y” to further reduce congestion by restricting buses to turning lanes, taking them out of the main traffic flow.

BRT stations will be located at major intersections with improved waiting areas and access to surrounding medical, educational, shopping, employment, and residential destinations.

Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes are shared-use lanes for right-turning vehicles and bus-through travel that help buses to move more efficiently through traffic and provide safer access to businesses.

BAT lanes allow vehicles, including deliveries, to turn into and out of driveways.

Current plans for Phase 1 propose a target of 15 minutes on weekdays for at least 14 hours daily. Future phases will increase service frequency.

BAT lanes enhance the capacity of traffic lanes by removing buses from the public travel lanes. Vehicles don’t get stuck behind the bus as it travels down Division. Turning into businesses is safer because you have better visibility and opportunity to turn.

Lanes are not being removed on the majority of the corridor, but converted into BAT lanes. One lane of Ruby Street through the couplet will be converted into two-way protected bicycle lanes and improved pedestrian facilities.

These conversions will promote active transportation and improve the efficiency of transit

Phase 1 will implement BAT lanes along the Division-Ruby couplet where there is existing vehicular capacity based on past traffic modeling and analysis efforts. When the NSC opens and BAT lanes are extended along mainline Division, traffic flow is not expected to be impacted due to decreased traffic volumes that are expected to be diverted to the NSC corridor. In fact, travel times may improve as traffic is not held up by stopping buses or cars making right hand turns on Division and left hand turns along Ruby Street.

The Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) was developed through a cooperative multi-agency process during the DivisionConnects study, which included the Washington State Department of Transportation, Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Spokane County, City of Spokane, and Spokane Transit Authority.

This process resulted in an LPA approved by the STA Board of Directors in 2021. Further refinements of the LPA have occurred since that time. 

Provided that preliminary engineering work is completed, construction work is expected to begin in 2028.

After the opening of the NSC, the following will also be installed or constructed: 

  • BAT lanes on Division between the couplet and the “Y”
  • Mead Transit Center
  • Pedestrian and bicycle facilities along Ruby Street
  • Stations north of Hawthorne Road
  • Additional active transportation improvements

Contact

Project Manager: Don Skillingstad
Email: divisionbrt@spokanetransit.com

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