Jon Snyder, Director of Transportation and Sustainability, No Phone Number Available
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 1:41 p.m.
When a fatal traffic crash occurs, the impact on families, neighbors, and our community is immediate and lasting. From 2021 to 2025, Spokane had more than 100 fatal crashes and more than 500 serious injury crashes. In 2025, 22 people lost their lives in traffic crashes, including 12 pedestrians. Traffic fatalities are not random, they are preventable.
This summer, Spokane is launching a pilot program designed to respond just as quickly. The Emergency Streets program brings rapid, temporary traffic calming treatments to the site of a fatal crash within 48–72 hours. The goal is simple: increase awareness, reduce speeds, and make streets safer right away. Emergency Streets focuses on the critical window after fatal crashes, introducing immediate changes to the street that encourage safer driving behavior.
Following a fatal traffic crash, community members may notice temporary traffic calming treatments at Emergency Street (fatal crash) sites such as:
These installations are designed to be quick to implement and highly visible. They will remain in place for 2 weeks while City staff collect data on the crash site and Emergency Street treatment.
A Public Health Approach
The Emergency Streets concept treats traffic violence as a public health issue requiring a shift to a culture of safety and collective responsibility. Speed remains one of the most significant contributing factors. Even small reductions in speed can dramatically reduce the severity of a crash. The program recognizes that some community members, including people who walk, bike, or rely on transit, are more vulnerable to harm from traffic violence.
Community Outreach
Community engagement is a key part of the pilot. Residents near Emergency Street (fatal crash) treatments will receive notification materials that include a link to a survey. The survey will evaluate community views on the pilot program and traffic safety in Spokane. The City will also share program updates and solicit feedback through Community Assembly and the Office of Neighborhood Services, social media, community newsletters, and other outlets.
Learn More
Visit the Emergency Streets webpage to learn more about the program.
Partnerships
This pilot is made possible through collaboration across City departments and external partners including EmergencyStreets.org and the University of Colorado Boulder. The program is funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council, with additional support from the Spokane Regional Health District.
In Spokane
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