Did you know that the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is working to make it easier and safer to cross the road? Thanks to the Bridging the Gap (BTG) transportation initiative passed by Seattle voters in 2006, funding is available to remark crosswalks, make needed crossing improvements, install new signage in school zones, deploy the speed watch trailer and install pedestrian countdown signals across the city.
Since BTG began in 2007, more than 4,100 crosswalks have been remarked, 93 crossing have been improved and 184 intersections have received the new pedestrian countdown signals. In addition, more than 185 improvement and signage upgrades have been made to school zones across the city and the speed watch trailer has been deployed more than 370 times.
While SDOT has made good progress on these valuable pedestrian improvements, work continues in 2013. This year the department expects to remark 500 crosswalks; make 42 crossing improvements; install pedestrian countdown signals at 25 intersections; deploy the speed watch trailer to 50 locations; and make 10 improvements to schools zones across the city.
Each of these improvements work together to help make Seattle easier and safer to navigate. They bring awareness to all roadway users to be on the lookout for each other by creating more visibility to crossings; making drivers more aware they are entering a school zone; and providing immediate feedback to drivers about their speed through the use of the speed watch trailers.
For more information about BTG, its goals and accomplishments, please visit the web site.