A possible “road diet” project through downtown Spokane was approved by City Council last night. According to the Spokesman-Review, the council unanimously voted to move ahead with a study that would look at two lanes of traffic along Main Avenue, the city’s first separated bike lane and expanded sidewalk areas for events. It would also look at changing the street into a two-way street.
Jointly funded by the Spokane City Council and developer Jim Frank, the plan is still several years from being built and will have to be incorporated into Spokane’s downtown planning process. Frank says the change will bring more housing downtown.
Changing Main Avenue’s traffic direction would leave only one eastbound lane heading out of downtown. Spokane Transit Authority’s planned Central City Line will run along the stretch of road, with two stops planned within the improvement area.
It’s not yet known how much the project could cost, or when it would be built.