Spokane Transit Authority (STA) provides over 10 million rides annually to residents and visitors throughout the entire Spokane region.

Funded primarily by local sales tax collected in the Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA), the agency will be looking to voters to reauthorize a portion of that sales tax before expiration in 2028. 

Without reauthorization, STA stands to lose $30 million annually. This is money that has increased service hours 35% since the last sales tax increase was approved by voters in 2016. 

Expiration of this portion of sales tax authorization is a self-imposed fiscal cliff, as no other transit agency in Washington State has sunset clauses for sales tax collections.

In fact, Spokane Transit has one of the lowest sales tax rates of any transit similar sized agency in Washington.

Without reauthorization of the current sales tax, STA would be forced to unwind the service expansions seen over the last decade, STA would no longer qualify for substantial state and federal grants, and the Division Street BRT would no longer be viable in its current scope. 

STA is currently considering sending a proposition to voters in Fall of 2026 or 2027.

We, members of the transit riding public, believe that now is the perfect time to think bigger than maintaining the status quo. 

While preserving the .2% (2 cents for every $10 spent) voter-approved sales tax is critical, we feel like Spokane Transit has the responsibility to present voters with an option bolder than mere maintenance.

State law allows for an additional .1% sales tax to be levied for regular transit operations and we believe that STA should give voters the opportunity to show their support for expanding transit service, particularly along STA’s most popular corridors.

Our proposal is that STA present voters with a .3% (.2% existing, .1% new) sales tax proposition in November of 2026. This would raise an additional $15 million annually, which would be entirely devoted to increased frequency and later hours on STA’s busiest routes. 

We also propose making the City Line and Route 7 (Airport to Liberty Lake) 24 hours, while extending service on the 4 (Monroe/Regal), 9 (Sprague), 25 (Division, soon to be BRT), and 61 (Airway Heights/Fairchild) to at least 2:30 AM, 7 days a week.

Transit investment means safer streets, faster commutes, and cleaner air. It reduces wear on our roads, positions Spokane for a future that will see significant migration to our region, and makes for a quieter, more pleasant daily life for everyone.

More information on the proposal can be found here.