Recent conversations about the advancement of a four-year medical school have helped to inform the public of the importance of our Downtown Spokane University District as a cornerstone to the region’s economic future.   

A 2014 study conducted by research consultants Tripp-Umbach concluded the magnitude of impact of the four-year program to be $2.1 billion to the community. 

Tens of millions of public and private dollars already have been invested in the area bordered by Boone Avenue to the north, Sprague Avenue to the south, Division Street to the west, and Hamilton Street to the east. Beyond the undeniable attributes to the delivery of medical services, this means a full spectrum of jobs, from service to research and everything in between.  

An integral key to unlocking the full potential of this growth in the urban University District is the construction of the University District Gateway Bridge that will connect the vast majority of available private developable land with the universities.

If the private sector is to provide office space, mixed-use retail, and housing to serve students and medical-related research space, it must be located within close and convenient proximity to the universities. After more than a dozen years of study, the area between Sprague and Interstate 90 has been identified as the area where most of this can occur.  

To make this connection in a manner that is practical for the student, researcher and faculty, however, a connecter bridge is needed to span three rights of way that divide it. Because of the distance, grade, need to acquire real estate, and the community’s desire for a modest but impactful visual element, this project is more expensive than your typical pedestrian bridge. However, when we compare the total cost of $15.4 million to unlocking the potential for a $2.1 billion dollar economic return, this is not only a sound, but a wise, investment for the future of Spokane and the region.

Property owners in the neighborhood surrounding the future bridge landing have articulated plans to redevelop in response to these needs.  Some of that is already occurring in anticipation. Bipartisan support has aligned among local and state elected officials not only for its linkage to job creation and the success of the University District vision, but also for its importance as a strong multimodal connecter from the Ben Burr Trail to the Centennial trail serving the entire South Hill.  

This project is on the regional Greater Spokane Incorporated transportation priority project list. It has the support of every college and university represented on the U District campus, along with our mayor, the city council, and many of our state legislators.

The bridge design has been completed. Right of way is nearly complete.  What is left is a request before the state Legislature to include $8.8 million in a transportation package for voters, so we can begin construction.  

As negotiations wind down on a potential transportation package, your legislators are tasked with balancing competing interests, they need to hear from you about the importance of this bridge and its ability to unlock the economic potential that 15 years’ worth of work has prepared us for; to advance education opportunities and unlock the door to phenomenal job creation. Please contact your state legislators to encourage them to include the University Gateway Bridge project in any transportation package offered to voters. 

Mark Richard is president and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership.