Spokane advisors favor 3-lane Grand Boulevard design ahead of commission vote

Spokane transportation advisors spent most of their Feb. 17 meeting reviewing near-final designs for Grand Boulevard and debating two competing cross-section options: a 3-lane design intended to calm speeds and shorten pedestrian crossings, and a 4-lane design that preserves additional uphill passing capacity for trucks.

Colin, the project presenter, said Phase 1 is “about 95%” designed and Phase 2 is roughly 30% complete. He said Phase 1 is funded through a legislative Move Ahead Washington appropriation and could begin in late summer or early 2027 depending on bids. “If we bid it out at the right time… we usually get better bids,” Colin said, describing options to stretch Phase 1 funding into Phase 2 if prices allow.

The 3-lane alternative narrows the roadway, adds curb extensions and park strips for trees and vegetation, and includes full signalized intersections at key crossings. Supporters said the design reduces vehicle speeds and produces more predictable travel times. “Three-lane configurations are shown scientifically to save lives,” one commissioner said, arguing the layout would slow traffic around the park and shorten crossing distances for pedestrians.

Opponents raised concerns about vehicle delay and freight operations on the hill. Staff and consultants acknowledged a modeled time penalty of roughly 40 seconds for some through trips under the 3-lane layout but argued the tradeoff is a net safety gain: “Think of it as slowing cars to reasonable speeds,” the liaison said during the discussion.

Design details discussed included new signals with bike detection, bump-outs for transit boarding, reconfigured curb radii to discourage certain turning movements, and edge-line/advisory bike-lane concepts where right-of-way is constrained. Consultant Brian warned that some edge-line treatments may require an FHWA “request to experiment” and multi-year evaluation before widespread adoption.

Commissioners also discussed how the design accommodates truck turning templates and business access; staff said they had walked the corridor with property owners and adjusted curb islands and turning geometry after observing truck movements on site.

The meeting concluded with multiple commissioners expressing support for recommending the 3-lane option to the Transportation Commission at its hearing the next day. Staff said their role at the local meeting was to collect feedback, not to take a formal vote; the formal recommendation will be recorded at the Transportation Commission hearing.