SPOKANE, Wash. — You have until Friday to submit comments on a major redesign of Spokane Falls Boulevard that could reshape how drivers, cyclists and pedestrians use the popular one-way street.
The City of Spokane is considering two redesign options. The intersection of Washington and Spokane Falls Boulevard serves as the dividing point between the two redesign areas.
From Washington Street east to Division Street, the city is considering changing the street from three lanes to two lanes and adding a dedicated bike lane. Or — they could change this stretch from one-way traffic into a two-way street.
From Washington Street west to Post Street, they are considering changing three lanes to two, and adding a bike lane.
The redesign initiative stems from the city’s broader infrastructure project to replace aging water pipes that have been in place since the late 1800s. Since updating the pipes already requires them to open up the street, the city says they saw an opportunity to rebuild the street itself, incorporating modern traffic patterns and safety features.
Not everyone supports the changes. Isabella Treece, a local, questioned one of the redesigning options.
“People are walking and biking already. Why does the street need to be two way when it’s been working fine the way it is?” Treece asked.
Downtown businesses and hotels have also raised concerns about how the redesign could affect them. Several hotels and businesses located directly on Spokane Falls Boulevard signed a letter of concern in December, that was sent to the Transportation Commission. The Mayor and the City were also cc’d.
“They’d like the opportunity to contribute, to give feedback, provide both their concerns with any change in traffic that could create more congestion or impact how customers access our businesses,” said Emilie Cameron, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership.
The city has made the feedback process accessible through its website, you can find a video explaining the project and access a survey. The online platform also includes specific comment boxes for each section of the street being considered for redesign, allowing residents to provide targeted feedback on different areas.
The survey will close on Friday. The city says once it closes, they will use those findings to finalize the study and then get started on the design process. Construction is expected to begin in 2028.
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