New double decker buses to transform Spokane Transit Authority services

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Two of the new double decker buses are sitting in the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) garage with five more on the way.

It’s a new look for STA, but one that has been in the works for a while.

“It was built in mind of these double deckers to have the garage doors tall enough to accommodate these,” said STA chief of communications Carly Cortright. “The garage was finished in 2019. So these have been in the works since prior to that.”

These new buses are 13.6 feet tall, meaning they won’t fit just anywhere. STA had to measure all of the clearances along Routes 6 and 66 to make sure they wouldn’t get stuck.

Routes 6 and 66 run from Spokane to Cheney, which are frequented by Eastern Washington students. STA says sometimes these trips are standing room only.

“Standing all the way out to Cheney is uncomfortable. It’s a long ride. Why not use that time to do some homework, get some time in? And so this is a little bit of a more convenient way for people to do that,” Cortright said.

These buses offer 82 seats and a capacity for 120 if passengers choose to stand.

You could catch a glimpse of these double deckers as soon as February, but they won’t be taking passengers right away.

“We have to get them licensed so that takes some time and then we have to equip them internally,” said Cortright. “We’ll be ready to roll out in September.”