Staff kicks off 2026 transportation impact fee update, outlines projects and advisory committee

Spokane staff presented the 2026 update to the transportation impact fee program at the Plan Commission workshop on April 22, explaining the program’s purpose, likely projects and schedule for public advisory review.

Principal engineer Inga Naut said the program, adopted in 2011 and updated in 2019 and 2023, is intended to fund transportation capacity improvements and reduce ad‑hoc traffic studies. She outlined near‑term uses in each district — signal modifications, intersection redesigns and potential sidewalk infill — and named large projects under consideration, including an Inland Empire Way northbound connection that staff estimated could cost more than $10,000,000 and might seek roughly $4,000,000 in impact‑fee contributions as match.

Engineer Naut said the program currently collects roughly $1,000,000 per year citywide in impact fees (district receipts vary) and that staff will update the district project lists and cost estimates for inflation as part of the 2026 update. She noted a change in state law made some multimodal trail projects clearly eligible for impact‑fee funding and said staff will evaluate whether to add projects such as the Fish Lake Trail Phase 2 to the district lists.

Staff will convene an advisory committee (developers, builders, realtors, housing advocates, community assembly representatives and traffic engineers) with four meetings planned over the summer to advise on project lists, exemptions and boundary adjustments. The schedule calls for a planning commission hearing in the fall and City Council consideration by year end.

Commissioners asked whether moving code sections from chapter 17 to chapter 8 affects the commission’s review; staff said planning commission oversight would continue. Staff also discussed previous council direction on fee exemptions for priority areas and the need to identify dedicated funds if exemptions are to be maintained.

No formal votes were taken on impact‑fee changes during the workshop; staff said the advisory committee’s recommendations and the updated project/cost lists will return to the commission in the fall.