As a follow up to our initial comments, which were submitted February 18, 2026, after review of the additional material provided by the City of Spokane and their consultants, WSDOT has the following comments on the PlanSpokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS):
In general, the TAZ information provided matches the model outputs provided for each scenario. A review of the TAZ's in question reveal that the number of trips assigned to the networks does align with each proposed scenario.
Looking at the DEIS summary of employment growth, specifically in the West Plains TAZ's, it does not align with the TAZ information provided. Little employment growth is modeled in Alternative 2 or 3 in comparison to Alternative 1, based on the TAZ data provided. Alternative 2 shows an increase in 14 employment units and Alternative 3 shows an increase in 538 employment units in the West Plains in comparison to Alternative 1.
The trips generated for industrial areas near the Transload Facility along Craig Road and future industrial areas around the Spokane International Airport are not commensurate with proposed land use densities proposed.
Further review of the TAZ centroid connectors was completed, with the following comments:
1. The centroid connectors for TAZ's 1842, 1850, and 1861 are not loading the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. TAZ 1842 and 1850 each have a single centroid connector to Thorpe, close to Assembly.
[PDF page 3 of 4]
i. These TAZs should have multiple centroid connectors to Thorpe reflective of existing and future development connection points.
b. TAZ 1861 has 2 centroid connectors - one to Cheney Spokane and one to Meadow Mist.
i. This TAZ has connectivity to Thorpe and should have a centroid connector to Thorpe.
ii. distributions to meadow mist are high and should be reduced with the connection to thorpe.
2. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5512 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few existing or future businesses have direct access to Electric Avenue, with the majority using Gieger Bouelvard. The TAZ distributions should be adjusted to reflect existing and proposed access - mainly to Geiger Boulevard.
3. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5501 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few trips are loading to 21st Avenue. Adjustments to the TAZ centroid connectors should be made to allocate more TAZ trips to 21st Avenue.
4. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5271 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few trips are loading to Valley Springs. And the TAZ has, and will have, very little development access the roadway network to the south.
b. The 2nd centroid connector should be located to Valley Springs to reflect existing and future development connections.
5. The centroid connectors for TAZ 290 and 340 are not loading the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. There is no centroid connector to State Route 291 (SR-291) for either TAZ, yet there is existing development and future development that will have direct access to SR-291.
b. Centroid connectors should be coded to SR-291 from each TAZ with a portion of the planned households distributed to SR-291.
[PDF page 4 of 4]
WSDOT thanks the City of Spokane for granting an extension of review time and for providing the documents and data necessary to provide a complete review. As always, we welcome collaboration and are glad to discuss our comments in person.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding these comments.
Corey Clarke - Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Mar 5, 2026
Government / Technical
[PDF page 1 of 4]
Hello all,
Please find attached additional WSDOT comments on the PlanSpokane DEIS.
Thank you for the opportunity to review the documentation. We look forward to continued collaboration.
Corey Clarke
Transportation Planning Specialist II
WSDOT - Eastern Region Planning Office
[Professional contact details omitted from the reading text.]
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ATTACHMENT / ADDITIONAL PAGES
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[PDF page 2 of 4]
March 5, 2026
Tirrell Black, Assistant Director
City of Spokane Planning & Economic Development
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99201
RE: Additional WSDOT Comments - PlanSpokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Ms. Black,
As a follow up to our initial comments, which were submitted February 18, 2026, after review of the additional material provided by the City of Spokane and their consultants, WSDOT has the following comments on the PlanSpokane 2046 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS):
In general, the TAZ information provided matches the model outputs provided for each scenario. A review of the TAZ's in question reveal that the number of trips assigned to the networks does align with each proposed scenario.
Looking at the DEIS summary of employment growth, specifically in the West Plains TAZ's, it does not align with the TAZ information provided. Little employment growth is modeled in Alternative 2 or 3 in comparison to Alternative 1, based on the TAZ data provided. Alternative 2 shows an increase in 14 employment units and Alternative 3 shows an increase in 538 employment units in the West Plains in comparison to Alternative 1.
The trips generated for industrial areas near the Transload Facility along Craig Road and future industrial areas around the Spokane International Airport are not commensurate with proposed land use densities proposed.
Further review of the TAZ centroid connectors was completed, with the following comments:
1. The centroid connectors for TAZ's 1842, 1850, and 1861 are not loading the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. TAZ 1842 and 1850 each have a single centroid connector to Thorpe, close to Assembly.
[PDF page 3 of 4]
i. These TAZs should have multiple centroid connectors to Thorpe reflective of existing and future development connection points.
b. TAZ 1861 has 2 centroid connectors - one to Cheney Spokane and one to Meadow Mist.
i. This TAZ has connectivity to Thorpe and should have a centroid connector to Thorpe.
ii. distributions to meadow mist are high and should be reduced with the connection to thorpe.
2. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5512 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few existing or future businesses have direct access to Electric Avenue, with the majority using Gieger Bouelvard. The TAZ distributions should be adjusted to reflect existing and proposed access - mainly to Geiger Boulevard.
3. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5501 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few trips are loading to 21st Avenue. Adjustments to the TAZ centroid connectors should be made to allocate more TAZ trips to 21st Avenue.
4. The centroid connectors for TAZ 5271 do not load the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. Few trips are loading to Valley Springs. And the TAZ has, and will have, very little development access the roadway network to the south.
b. The 2nd centroid connector should be located to Valley Springs to reflect existing and future development connections.
5. The centroid connectors for TAZ 290 and 340 are not loading the roadway network in alignment with either existing or proposed development in all 3 alternatives.
a. There is no centroid connector to State Route 291 (SR-291) for either TAZ, yet there is existing development and future development that will have direct access to SR-291.
b. Centroid connectors should be coded to SR-291 from each TAZ with a portion of the planned households distributed to SR-291.
[PDF page 4 of 4]
WSDOT thanks the City of Spokane for granting an extension of review time and for providing the documents and data necessary to provide a complete review. As always, we welcome collaboration and are glad to discuss our comments in person.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding these comments.