Challenge
With growing population, aging infrastructure, an expanding transportation network, and anticipated increases in the severity and frequency of climate-related events, the Spokane region’s communities are increasingly vulnerable to disruptive events. In recent years, the region has experienced several significant events—flooding, COVID-19’s impact on transit operations, heat domes, and yearly wildfires—that have significantly impacted operations, finances, and functionality of the transportation system. Future risks could place additional strain on the region’s infrastructure and its function as a critical emergency hub. These events highlight the importance of a transportation system that can withstand, respond to, adapt to, and recover from hazards.
Additionally, new State requirements under the 2023 amendment to the Washington State Growth Management Act (HB 1181) mandate planning for climate resilience and equitable infrastructure improvements. Recognizing both the growing need for a more resilient transportation system and these new State requirements, the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) initiated a resiliency plan to proactively address resilience in long-range transportation planning and make more informed, strategic investments in the region’s transportation system.
Solution
Kittelson led the development of a risk-focused regional transportation resiliency plan for the Spokane region that integrates climate and hazard resilience into long-range transportation planning and investment decisions. The plan integrates hazard identification, critical infrastructure identification, and a two-phase vulnerability assessment using GIS and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Resilience and Disaster Recovery Tool to understand how disruptions affect mobility, safety, and access. These analyses help identify high-risk, high-criticality corridors and facilities; strengthen key routes to reduce congestion and travel delays during hazards; and improve coordination across jurisdictions through shared data, strategies, and performance measures.
The plan also included equity considerations to prioritize the needs of transportation-disadvantaged and underserved communities. SRTC established actionable policies and performance measures to guide plan implementation and position the region for State and federal resilience funding.
The Outcome
Proactive Resiliency Planning = Stronger Spokane Communities
The resiliency plan enables SRTC and its partner agencies to proactively prioritize resilience investments where they have the greatest benefit. It will help keep critical transportation connections functioning by improving access, reduce the consequences of transportation disruptions, and prioritize vulnerable communities.
It also aligns the region with federal and State resiliency requirements, which improves readiness for grant funding and long-term implementation. Over time, these proactive resilience measures could contribute to safer and faster recovery after disasters and stronger resilience of communities and economies across the Spokane region.
