City And County Seek Federal Grant

City And County Seek Federal Grant to Plan for Road Network Wildfire Resilience

Erin Hut, City of Spokane Communications Director, [email protected] & Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter, Spokane County Communications Manager, [email protected]

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 10:12 a.m.

The City of Spokane and Spokane County partnered to submit a grant for funding to improve transportation ingress and egress in the Indian Trail and Five Mile neighborhoods, following the Spokane Complex Fire.

The PROTECT grant, under the U.S. Department of Transportation, provides federal funding to "plan for and make surface transportation more resilient to current and future weather events, natural disasters, and changing conditions."

The City and County are working collaboratively to plan for improvements to key areas of Indian Trail and Five Mile neighborhoods shared by both jurisdictions with limited transportation connectivity. A number of factors, including the Spokane River, steep topography, a large landfill, and scattered development patterns, have resulted in a system that relies on a few arterial streets and poses particular challenges in large scale emergency evacuations. The 2026 Spokane Complex Fire exposed the need for further planning for more severe weather events.

If awarded in full, the grant would provide $1.4M to the City and County to conduct a vulnerability assessment, identify emergency transportation routes, develop an evacuation transportation communication plan, and begin design for selected projects. The grant would also allow the City and the County to study areas beyond Indian Trail and Five Mile. The award is expected to be announced by the end of the year.

"It is essential that we work with our County partners to improve transportation in and out of neighborhoods we've identified as challenge points during emergencies. Federal funding opportunities like the PROTECT grant can help us achieve those necessary measures," said City of Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown.

"During the Spokane Complex Fires, we saw firsthand how critical clear and timely information is for people evacuating. The PROTECT grant will allow the City and County to collaborate, analyze the challenges, and develop solutions," said Mary Brooks, Chair, Board of County Commissioners.

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