While many of the new President’s cabinet nominees have garnered days of media coverage, a few have flown under the radar. This includes the newly confirmed Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, who could impact SDOT’s work.
The new administration is also proposing a $1 trillion infrastructure package, which if passed, could support needed repairs to roads, bridges, ports, and airports around the country including Seattle. However, no specific legislation has been introduced to date.
Some of the SDOT projects that benefit from federal money include:
- Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, a bridge over I-5 to improve connections within the Northgate community;
- Madison Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will provide fast, reliable, and safe public transportation between First Avenue in downtown Seattle and Martin Luther King Jr Way in south Seattle.
- Westlake Protected Bike Lane which was voted America’s #1 Best New Bike Lane of 2016 by PeopleForBikes
Westlake Protected Bike Lane opened in fall 2016.
Secretary Chao is the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a cabinet position and has been in public service for many years, including Deputy Secretary of Transportation under George H.W. Bush.
We will continue to provide updates on transportation news in the other Washington that may affect our Washington.