SPOKANE, Wash. – Rising gas prices have prompted some Spokane residents to travel to Idaho for more affordable fuel. Allan Smith, an Idaho resident, has noticed a significant difference in prices.
“It’s a little bit cheaper over there. But, I mean, just the other day, we got gas, and it was like $3.45 in the morning and then that evening, it was almost $4.00,” he said.
While some residents choose to drive to Idaho, others are considering public transit as an alternative. Ridership on Spokane’s fixed route service has seen a significant increase.
“Our ridership has doubled, essentially since 2021. We’re just over 10 million rides on our fixed route service last year. We’re on projection for 2025 to be slightly above that as well,” said Carly Cortwright from Spokane Transit Authority.
However, Smith isn’t swayed by the rising prices to switch to public transportation. “It’s just a necessary burden… it’s part of life. I know there’s other ways to get transportation, but I don’t like public transportation, it’s confusing,” he said.
Cortwright believes high gas prices might encourage more people to try public transit.
“You can call our customer service agents at 328-RIDE. We’re open seven days a week. They would be happy to help you with trip planning. We also have a lot of videos available on our website that walk you through what to do,” she said.
In Idaho, the average gas price is $3.51, which is higher than the national average of $3.18 but still cheaper than Washington’s $4.66 per gallon. This marks the highest average in North America and an increase of 51 cents from last year.
According to the Spokane Transit Authority, 50% of bus riders do not have a vehicle at home. However, some who own cars still use them for work.
“Sometimes price is down, sometimes price is high,” said Nobi Omonmiya, an Uber driver who prefers using gas stations with cash back options.
Omonmiya also considers getting gas in Idaho to save money.
“Sometimes I drop people over there, so I get it over there,” he said.
The difference in gas prices between Washington and Idaho during the first quarter of 2025 is $1.15, making Idaho an attractive option for those looking to save on fuel costs.
