Denver-based CH2M Hill Inc. has won a $367,500 contract from the Spokane Transit Authority to conduct a study of alternative ways to provide public transit in downtown Spokane.

The study is being conducted as a collaboration between the STA and the city of Spokane, and includes a group, led by Mayor Mary Verner, that will work with the consultants to make decisions based on the results of the study, says Molly Myers, an STA spokeswoman.

That core group also includes representatives from the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Washington State University, the Spokane Public Facilities District, the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, and Avista Corp.

Work on the study is expected to begin soon and will be completed by next February, Meyers says.

In the project, CH2M Hill will assess downtown corridors for possible future investment in public transit, Myers says. The result of the study will be a recommended network of streets where enhanced transit service could be provided—including possibly streetcars, electric trolley buses, buses, or a combination of modes—and the costs of providing such services.

The STA says the corridor and mode analyses will help the agency narrow the options for providing transit service in and around downtown to one or two while planning to meet objectives such as providing mobility, being cost-effective, limiting environmental effects, and supporting economic development. An alternatives analysis is a requirement for major capital projects seeking federal funding.

The study is being paid for with federal and state appropriations and will be incorporated into STA's long-range plan for its public transportation network.