SPOKANE, WA — Spokane is installing its first Emergency Streets project after a fatal motorcycle crash on Sunday, using temporary traffic calming measures near the site where the collision happened. The city says the rapid-response approach is meant to address safety concerns quickly after deadly crashes.

The crash occurred at North Ash Street and West Courtland Avenue on Sept. 20. The motorcyclist died from his injuries, and the Spokane County Medical Examiner later identified him as 18-year-old Kiril Herlazhyi.

Fatal crash at Ash and Courtland led to the first response

The Medical Examiner’s Office said Herlazhyi died of multiple blunt force injuries and ruled the death an accident. City officials said the location of the crash helped prompt the first use of the Emergency Streets program, which was created to put temporary measures in place within 72 hours after a fatal crash.

The city has said the program is intended to respond quickly while also drawing attention to dangerous driving patterns. Officials described the effort as a new way to raise awareness about how often deadly collisions occur in Spokane.

One southbound lane on Ash Street will close for two weeks

Beginning Tuesday afternoon, one lane of southbound Ash Street between Kiernan and Euclid will be closed for the next two weeks. The city says the closure is part of the Emergency Streets installation and will remain in place while officials study traffic behavior in the area.

Drivers will see highly visible traffic cones, pink Emergency Streets signs and a speed feedback sign. City officials said the goal is not only to slow traffic, but also to measure how drivers respond before, during and after the treatment.

City transportation leaders say Spokane is testing several tools at once

Jon Snyder, Spokane’s director of transportation, said the city is trying several approaches at the same time because traffic safety remains a difficult problem. He said the mayor and council brought back the traffic unit in the police department, which had been disbanded under a previous mayor.

Snyder also said the city has added 70 traffic cameras this year and increased its traffic calming budget. He said the Emergency Streets program is part of a broader effort to change driver behavior and increase awareness of roadway danger.

Officials will measure how drivers react before and after the treatment

During the two-week installation, the city plans to collect data on driving patterns to see whether the temporary measures change behavior. Snyder said officials will compare what happens on the roadway before, after and during the treatment to better understand what works.

He also said the city is testing its equipment as part of the rollout, including the kinds of signs and the type of paint used on the ground. The data is expected to help Spokane evaluate whether the program can reduce crashes in other locations as well.

Spokane links the effort to a troubling run of motorcycle deaths

Since the beginning of 2023, Spokane has had 18 fatal motorcycle crashes, according to the city. Officials said speed is a common factor in those deaths, making the issue a continuing safety concern for drivers and residents alike.

The Emergency Streets program is meant to give the city a fast way to respond after deadly crashes while also gathering information that could shape future traffic safety steps. Officials said the first installation will help them learn how well temporary calming measures work in real-world conditions.