Seattle's Complete Streets plan

[eridani]

In an effort to make it safer to get around Seattle by foot and to improve access for bikes and transit, Mayor Greg Nickels has proposed "Complete Streets" legislation. It will require the city to consider how best to accommodate more than just a few cars when designing or rebuilding roads.

"We need to change the way we think about streets if we are going to tackle our transportation challenges and improve the environment," Nickels said. "This legislation will ensure that we don't just fix our streets, but we look at how to make them better for all users."

Complete Streets will improve pedestrian safety and access by designing more streets with sidewalks, raised medians, better bus stop placement, traffic-calming measures, curb ramps and other measures. The legislation would require the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to do a comprehensive analysis for all significant street projects. The proposal adds support to the City's Transportation Strategic Plan, which designates key biking, transit, freight and pedestrian routes across the city.

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has been actively advocating for a complete streets policy for the City of Seattle since it sponsored Bike Summer in 2004. The Bicycle Alliance is also working with the State Legislature to include complete streets in the revised transportation goals legislation.


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Bicycle Alliance of Washington
PO Box 2904
Seattle, WA 98111
206.224.9252
www.bicyclealliance.org

[w4rma]

1. This is the kind of policy that makes me want to move there. (nt)

[pscot]

2. There's no hurry

The distance between mayoral pronouncements and actual changes on the ground is measured in light years around here. Development, on the other hand, is virtually instantaneous.

[SeattleGirl]

3. You are so right, pscot, though I do like the idea.

One thing I wish they would do is have all the walk signals at an intersection say "Walk" at the same time. That way, people could cross the streets with less chance of getting plowed into by cars, and cars making turns could actually GO. The way it is now (downtown, primarily) you're lucky if one person can turn during a green light. I think it would be better for pedestrians and drivers, both.

[LisaM]

4. This is the most pedestrian (and biking) unfriendly place I've ever lived

You take your life in your hands crossing the street.

[SeattleGirl]

6. I know. My daughter often bikes to work, and it worries me.

She's had several close calls with vehicles.

[LisaM]

8. I wouldn't dare ride a bike to work

How this city can call itself progressive and yet have no dedicated bike lanes (except maybe a couple on Ravenna) is beyond me. I would GLADLY bike to work if it was safe.

[pscot]

5. Remember synchronized street lights?

That idea has got to be at least ten years old. It was supposed to smooth out the stop and go. I'm sure they'll figure it out some day. Or maybe not. I loved the line in Nichol's statement, "we want to make sure we don't just fix our streets". They don't "just" fix the streets. They don't EVEN fix the streets.

[maxsolomon]

7. but the taxes to do the job sure keep going up

seattle residents never met a property tax increase they couldn't be guilted into voting for.

money to fix the streets? sure! then the streets don't get fixed.

synchronized lights? what a great idea! then the lake city exit sits clogged as usual & unresolved for 2 years. the stewart & denny light doesn't recognize the volume of traffic pouring off i-5 south in the morning & backs up onto the highway.

vote no & no on the viaduct? ok, now we'll have it disappear from public debate while everyone 'cools off'.