SPOKANE, Wash. – You might not think of Spokane when you think of double decker buses, but soon the Lilac City will be home to a handful in the not-so-distant future.
The Spokane Transit Authority (STA) says they’ll be adding seven double decker buses to their fleet in 2025–the first double deckers in Eastern Washington.
STA spokesperson Carly Cortright says they’re not just bringing double deckers to Spokane because they look cool, though.
“Double deckers are iconic,” Cortright said. “They’re more efficient, have higher capacity and–anecdotally–handle better in inclement weather conditions.”
That’s why they’ll be used exclusively for one of their busiest routes: the 6 Line between Cheney and Spokane.
“Obviously a lot of students, faculty and staff on their way to Eastern Washington University [use that route],” Cortright said.
The idea for double decker buses was a part of STA’s “Moving Forward” strategic plant that was approved by voters in 2016.
“So double deckers have been in the works now–by the time they’re delivered–for a decade,” Cortright said.
A major goal for STA is continuing to electrify their fleet. In fact, Cortright says 25% of their buses right now are electric, but the double deckers won’t be.
“Our bus manufacturer for the double deckers does make an electric version, but we ended up going with a clean diesel version simply because the range to Cheney couldn’t accommodate the electric [buses],” Cortright said.
The plan as of now, Cortright says, doesn’t call for double deckers on any other routes, largely due to the low clearance of Downtown Spokane viaducts and bridges.
“Never say never,” Cortright said. “But, at this time that’s the only planned application.”
STA hasn’t revealed final renderings of the buses that will be hitting Spokane County roads in 2025 quite yet, with Cortright adding that the design will be a “closely guarded secret” until the buses are delivered.
