Spokane commission recommends three‑lane ‘road diet’ for Grand Boulevard to boost pedestrian safety

The Spokane Transportation Commission voted unanimously to recommend a three‑lane restriping for Grand Boulevard, a change staff and safety analysts said would reduce certain crash types and shorten pedestrian crossing distances.

Commissioners forwarded Option 1 — one 11‑foot travel lane in each direction, a 12‑foot center two‑way left‑turn lane and strategic curb bump‑outs/refuge islands — to the mayor and administration as the commission’s recommendation. The roll‑call vote recorded every commissioner present as in favor.

City transportation staff presented the choice as part of a repaving project scheduled for 2027. Staff said recent traffic counts show roughly 14,000–15,000 vehicles per day on the corridor and that Option 1 would shorten pedestrian crossings and enable refuge islands and rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons at several locations. The staff presentation said 10 of 42 reported crashes between 2020 and 2024 are correctable with the three‑lane option, a figure staff equated to about a 24% reduction for the types of crashes cited.

“Option 1 in particular has a lot of benefits for safety,” said Brian, a city transportation presenter, summarizing the staff recommendation. Safety analyst Colin Quinnhurst told commissioners that layered treatments — road diets, refuge islands and improved crossing visibility — are proven to reduce pedestrian and bicycle crash risk and to make travel speeds more predictable.

Public comment was strongly divided. Supporters said the modest increase in peak travel time (staff estimated 30–60 seconds in one direction) is a reasonable trade‑off for fewer crashes. Jake Madewell, a Manito neighborhood resident, urged commissioners to “value public safety over a mild inconvenience,” and called Manito Park “a gem of the region.”

Opponents, including business representatives and some residents, said lane reductions would divert traffic onto adjacent residential streets and harm downtown access and deliveries. Gavin Cooley, representing the Spokane Business Association, urged targeted enforcement and pedestrian hybrid beacons instead of lane reductions, warning of unintended spillover effects to nearby corridors.

Staff noted operational impacts to transit and solid‑waste collection: one STA stop would likely need to be relocated, and under some configurations buses would load in the travel lane. Staff said they have discussed station relocations with STA and would refine locations if the project proceeds. The commission also discussed signal upgrade costs, which staff estimated could range from about $200,000 to $400,000 per intersection where protected lefts or new equipment are needed.

The commission did not finalize design details at the meeting. The recommendation will move forward to the mayor/administration for consideration alongside engineering and STA coordination. The commission chair closed the hearing and adjourned the meeting.