Existing Conditions

The 2017 Cheney Comprehensive Plan and associated 2016 Transportation Plan confirmed LOS D as the (now past) current condition at N. 6th Street / Betz Road with an average 1-collision per year. Plans forecasted the intersection would reach a failing, LOS F conditions by year 2022 with increasing delay through year 2040 (worsening failed LOS). Predicted land use growth was achieved; thus, poor LOS is confirmed as the outcome (see included study), a community mobility concern. Updated 2019 to 2021 WSDOT collision histories indicate 4-collisions, now an average of 1.3-collisions per year. Frequency are increasing and are high for a community the size of Cheney. The intersection is in-route to Betz Elementary and Cheney High School, located south, and Cheney Middle School, located west; also providing two approaches to/from Eastern Washington University. As such, there is high student-related vehicle, pedestrian, bike, and bus activity occurring at the junction. A point of emphasis is high pedestrian/bike activity at the intersection with crossing of both roads. The intersection is pivotal to the operation of Spokane Transit Authority as routes 66 (EWU), 67 (Swoop Loop), and 68 (Cheney Loop) operate through the junction; 1, 2, and 7 in terms of boarding densities per the 2020 STA Performance Report. Route performance is already a point of STA emphasis given high ridership, but especially as STA also plans a high capacity route through the intersection in the near future.