Safe Routes to School project: New crossing near Ballard High School. Photo Credit: SDOT We are pleased to share the Levy to Move Seattle Q2 2022 Report with you!
This report is a summary of work that we completed with Levy to Move Seattle funding in the second quarter of 2022 (April through June). Check out our online dashboard for all the details!
We want to take a moment to recognize the important role of the Levy in improving Seattle’s freight network.
Almost every item we buy reaches its destination through this network, which consists of truck routes, airports, rail lines, distribution centers, ports, and more.
Below are just some of the ways that Levy dollars help goods move predictably through this network, supporting our city’s economic health and vibrancy:
- We completed the Lander St Bridge in 2020, which has eliminated 4.5 combined hours of vehicle idling per day. In turn, that saves approximately 1,170 tons of emissions from entering our air annually. Prior to the Lander St Bridge, the road had to be closed over 100 times on a typical day for train crossings. The new bridge has reduced travel delays, revenue losses, idling and carbon dioxide emissions, and safety risks – especially for people walking, rolling, and biking.
- Spot improvements like new signage on S Spokane St were installed this quarter help direct people driving freight vehicles to efficient and predictable routes.
- On East Marginal Way, we will improve safety and reliability for all modes of travel by rebuilding the roadway to accommodate heavier truck traffic, building a protected bike lane, improving crossings, and more. This past quarter, we completed 100% design for the north segment of this project.
Below are just some of work we completed from April – June 2022. This, and much more, is all possible thanks to your investment in the Levy.
Basic Maintenance
We repainted more than 1,100 crosswalks, repaired a total of 5.5 blocks of sidewalks, planted 31 trees and maintained landscaping for safety and visibility. (Photo at left: Crosswalk remarking; Photo Credit: SDOT).
We also completed many spot improvements to benefit people traveling on transit, walking, driving, biking, and transporting freight. For example, we supported freight movement by adding overhead signage on S Spokane St from SW Chelan St to East Marginal Way S. This helps direct people driving freight vehicles to appropriate routes so they can transport goods efficiently.
Vision Zero
We continued our work on 23rd Ave E, Lake City Way, and Sand Point Way NE. These three projects are expected to be complete in the coming months. We also completed our Safety Corridor improvements along 15th Ave S. We made signal and curb ramp upgrades, crossing improvements, and better bike connections to make it easier for people walking and rolling to navigate intersections. This work also included repaving, which is explained below.
Safe Routes to School
Within the school zone near Ballard High School, we installed speed humps and new marked crosswalks to slow drivers down and make students crossing the street more visible. This is one of many traffic calming projects near schools that have received strong community support. This is shown in the photo at the top of this blog post!
Bicycle Safety
We grew Seattle’s bike network by approximately 2.5 miles in Q2. As part of the 15th Ave NE Paving project, we completed one mile of protected bike lanes and one-quarter mile of bike lanes from NE 55th St to Lake City Way. We also completed two neighborhood greenways totaling 1.2 miles: the Northgate to Maple Leaf neighborhood greenway and the Seattle Center to Waterfront Walking and Biking Connection. Our updated 2022 bike guide, Seattle by Bike helps new and experienced cyclists travel safely and confidently through our expanded bike network.
Paving
We repaved over 13 total lane-miles, including on 15th Ave NE, 15th Ave S, S Spokane St, and S Columbian Way.
Bridges
We completed the 8th Ave NW Bridge seismic retrofit to make the bridge safer in the event of an earthquake. We also completed 81 smaller spot repairs on our bridges, keeping them safe and functional. (Photo at left: 8th Ave NW Bridge after retrofit; Photo Credit: SDOT).
New Sidewalks
We constructed 3 blocks of new sidewalk on Lake City Way between NE 91st St and NE 95th St. We currently have over 20 blocks of new sidewalk under construction and planned to be complete by the end of the year.