City of Spokane to complete six street safety projects by 2031

SPOKANE, Wash. — The city of Spokane has approved several new construction projects designed to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers as part of its comprehensive six-year street program.

The program outlines projects the city aims to complete over the next six years, including sidewalk construction, crosswalk installations, bridge repairs, road repaving and water and sewer line installations.

One major project involves constructing sidewalks on Driscoll Boulevard between Garland and Wellesley. As of now, the busy road features bus stops on both sides of the street, forcing pedestrians to walk in traffic to reach transit stops.

Another planned project will add crosswalks on Whistalks Way near Spokane Falls Community College. The crosswalks will include red lights that force cars to stop for pedestrians.

“We make sure we get community input. And then we take it through all the review process with our plan commission and city council and public hearings. And then, they get prioritized that way and matched up with funding sources. Then they’re kind of out the door,” said Kirstin Davis of Spokane Public Works.

The City also plans to add bike lanes to Grand Boulevard near Sacajawea Middle School and enhance crosswalks to make it easier for students to get to school.

With numerous projects requiring attention and limited funding available, some residents are concerned that not enough pedestrian safety enhancements are being prioritized.

Street safety advocate Erik Lowe said the community has been asking for the improvements at Whistalks Way for a while, but unfortunately, they are coming too late. A woman was struck by a car and killed there in February.

“Whitstalks Way and Randolph Road was identified as needing improved pedestrian safety infrastructure in 2016, yet it took nearly a decade to secure the funding for those improvements. Unfortunately, that came too late for 72-year-old Zhilan Chen, who was struck and killed at that location in February,” said Lowe.

Each project listed in the six-year plan has a different timeline for completion within that period. The Driscoll Boulevard sidewalk project has secured full funding, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2026.