Bloomsday participants encouraged to use bus service

Spokane Transit Authority is encouraging Bloomsday participants to ride buses downtown during the trade show and registration pickup periods on Friday and Saturday.

Parking and access to the Convention Center is limited this year as a result of construction of a hotel at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Bernard Street.

Traffic jams have developed in that area in past years, so officials are anticipating a potential for longer backups this year.

No special shuttle is being offered for the trade show, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

On race day, STA officials are recommending that riders catch buses to the downtown area two hours in advance of starting times.

Special $1.50 bus fare stickers are available at the STA booth at the trade show.

The fares are good for both directions and can be used on any expresses and regular buses.

Extra shuttles will beef up regular Sunday service for getting to and from the race course. Inbound shuttles will run from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Return shuttles will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bloomsday expresses will depart from the Spokane Valley Mall, Ferris High School, NorthTown Mall and the Red Barn on the Eastern Washington University campus. Return trips will go back to those locations.

Regular buses will start an hour earlier than normal on the No. 24 Monroe, No. 25 Division, No. 27 Hillyard, No. 44 on 29th Avenue, No. 60 Airport, No. 61 Highway 2 and No. 90 Sprague.

If paying with cash, have an exact fare in your hand when you board and fold up any strollers ahead of boarding.

Last year, 20,500 people boarded STA buses for Bloomsday.