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Spokane announces spring traffic-safety measures, new enforcement unit
Summary
The mayor and City Council announced downtown pedestrian protections, a new traffic enforcement unit, restrictions on right turns on red at busy intersections, a simplified block‑party policy and an update to the Complete Streets ordinance.
The mayor and the City Council of the City of Spokane announced a package of traffic-safety measures at a press conference, saying the steps are a follow-up to last year’s mayor’s executive order on traffic safety and will be implemented this spring.
City officials said the package includes longer pedestrian crossing times downtown, new restrictions on right turns on red at some busy intersections, the creation of a four‑person traffic unit in the Spokane Police Department, two officers dedicated to driving‑under‑the‑influence enforcement and education, an easier process to permit block parties, and an update to the city’s Complete Streets ordinance, which city staff said has not been updated in almost 15 years.
A staff member described one of the pedestrian measures as a leading pedestrian interval, saying, "That's where, people walking get an extra 3 seconds to cross the street before the cars come." The staff member added that the enforcement changes represent "new capabilities we haven't had in a while, and we're glad to see that coming out as a part of this effort."
The announcement said the police department will form a four‑person traffic unit focused on traffic enforcement and education, and will assign two officers specifically to DUI enforcement and education. City officials did not specify which downtown intersections will get the no‑turn‑on‑red restrictions, the timeline for stationing the new officers, or the budget or funding sources for the new unit.
City staff also said the city will make it easier for residents to organize block parties that close streets, but they did not provide details on the permitting changes. Officials said the Complete Streets ordinance will be updated at the council’s request to be more inclusive of different project types and to make the city more competitive for state grant funding; staff did not provide the draft language or a schedule for council action.
For more information, the announcement directed residents to spokanecity.org.
