Spokane Downtown Plan Update: Pedestrian Strategy

Copyright

2012

Published By

Health Impact Project

The Lands Council, City of Spokane, and Spokane Regional Health District conducted a rapid HIA of the pedestrian portion of the multi-modal transportation strategy included in the downtown plan update for Spokane, Washington. The HIA focused on the potential health effects of air quality, noise, safety, mental health, parks and natural space, private goods and services, transportation, social equity, and physical activity of five elements of the pedestrian strategy: one-way conversions, sidewalks and crosswalks, new pedestrian connections, pedestrian zone conversion, and expected changes to the Centennial Trail (a 37-mile paved trail between the Idaho state line and Nine Mile Falls, located northwest of downtown Spokane on the Spokane River).

This rapid HIA examined the pedestrian portion of the multimodal transportation strategy included in the downtown plan update for Spokane, Washington. The HIA recommended increasing pedestrian and bike connectivity in the city and suggested that the Spokane City Council become more involved in the HIA process. 

Outcome

The city adopted the HIA recommendations, which also included planting more trees and plants, ensuring that sidewalks are complete and have an appropriate width, and improving handicap accessibility.

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This Health Impact Assessment Report first appeared in The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health. The Cross-Sector Toolkit for Health was originally developed by the Health Impact Project, formerly a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. The creation of this resource was supported by a grant from the Health Impact Project. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew Charitable Trusts, or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.