Spokane City Council passes pedestrian safety plan

Pedestrian safety will now be a top Spokane priority after the City Council approved new protective features that will change how city crosswalks work.

Under the new law, the city would install accessible pedestrian signals with auditory instructions at every signalized intersection by 2025. The law also encourages the city to include leading intervals, which will give pedestrians 7 seconds before cars in the right lane see a green light. The leading intervals would appear in downtown Spokane, near schools, childcare centers, hospitals, senior living homes and areas with many pedestrians.

The law will eliminate the “walk” button at crosswalks, by making the feature automatic.

City Council President Ben Stuckart, who sponsored the law, said the city should design a system for modes of transportation that don’t cause pollution, such as walking. He said Spokane should prioritize making its sidewalks accessible.

Mike Fagan was the only council member in opposition.