Spokane Plans 27 Miles of Bike and Walking Lanes
Residents who walk or bike around town can expect connected routes linking parks, schools, and trails by 2027.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Hiking
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Spokane plans to designate 27 miles of connected bike and walking lanes under its 27 by 2027 plan, with completion targeted for 2027. The lanes will link libraries, parks, and schools and connect existing routes such as the Centennial Trail to parts of the city that have been car-dependent.
Why it matters
The plan aims to expand connectivity within the city in an affordable manner and to promote alternatives to driving. Some projects rely on signage and street treatments rather than large infrastructure investments.
The plan is a city transportation target rather than a study, so its figures are planned goals. The 27-mile total and 2027 completion year are stated targets, and the source gives no measured outcomes yet.
The players
Gonzaga University Office of Sustainability
The campus office supports the 27 by 2027 plan.
Spokane Regional Transportation Council
The council is the planning organization for transportation infrastructure in the Spokane metropolitan area.
The details
The city used adaptive design intervention to plan the lanes, testing different concerns and staying flexible about routes instead of locking in a fixed set. It reviewed priority routes a couple of years before finalizing the lanes. Planned segments include a link from the southern branch of the Centennial Trail to Libby Center via 1st Street, a southbound lane from Riverfront Park past Manito Park along 27th Avenue, and an east/west lane along Longfellow Avenue that connects to the Children of the Sun Trail.
Timeline
2027: Target completion year for the 27 miles of bike and walking lanes.
A couple of years before publication: The city reviewed priority routes that informed lane selection.
Health Landscape
The 27 by 2027 plan sits within Spokane's effort to make walking and cycling practical for everyday trips, which supports more physically active travel across the city. Connecting existing trails such as the Centennial Trail to car-dependent neighborhoods is the kind of network-building that expands who can use active transportation.
If you live near the planned routes, the new lanes could make walking or biking for errands, school, or campus trips a more practical option. Worth discussing with your doctor if you are looking to build more daily activity into your routine.
The takeaway
Safe, connected routes can make everyday walking and biking easier to fit into a week. When planning active trips, check which lanes are finished and which are still in progress.
Further reading
For more on trails and walking routes, see the Hiking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Gonzaga Bulletin.
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