New ADA accessible curb ramps and sidewalk at NE 70th St and on Sand Point Way NE. Photo credit: SDOT. Summary:
- One part of our Vision Zero effort is transforming major arterial streets like Sand Point Way by slowing speeds, making them safer and more accessible for people walking and rolling, and partnering with other City departments and neighbors to connect people to community hubs.
- We completed our work on Sand Point Way this fall. This marks the 22nd major stretch of Seattle streets made safer with Levy to Move Seattle dollars. You’ll now see new sidewalks, signals, crossings with new push-buttons for people walking and rolling, curb ramps for greater accessibility, reduced speed limits, and more on Sand Point Way from NE 77th to NE 65th streets.
- Diana Kincaid, a neighborhood resident and the current Chair of the Magnuson Park Advisory Committee, led a grassroots effort to make Sand Point Way NE safer. We had the pleasure of speaking to Diana last year. Read her story here!
- We also made several safety improvements in 2019, including new curb bulbs and sidewalks, speed limit reductions, an improved bike connection at NE 77th St, and Leading Pedestrian Intervals—signals that give people walking and rolling a 3-7 second head start to cross the street before people driving.
- This project is one of hundreds of others we’ve completed with Levy dollars to improve safety for people across travel modes, including those biking (like protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways), taking transit (like spot improvements to make people more visible), and walking and rolling (like curb ramps, sidewalk repairs, new sidewalks and crossings, and more).
- We’re designing a safer transportation system, and we all need to work together to keep our most vulnerable travelers safe, especially during the darker fall and winter months.
Sunday, November 20 was World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This day is an opportunity to recognize our loved ones who have lost their lives while traveling on the street. With this grief also comes a shared affirmation of our support for safe streets and to our Vision Zero efforts – efforts that we know are long-term and require a collective, systems approach to change.
As part of our efforts to reach Vision Zero, we’re designing a safer transportation system. We’re doing this in many ways, including by transforming major arterial streets to slow speeds, making them safer and more accessible for people walking and rolling, and partnering with other departments and neighbors to connect people to community hubs.
Let’s take a virtual stroll along Sand Point Way NE to see what we’ve done over the past year.
Sand Point Way NE Vision Zero Project: By the Numbers
“The Vision Zero Project on Sand Point Way was a major improvement for walkability in the neighborhood.” – Rudi, neighbor
- 8.25 blocks of new sidewalks
- 1 rebuilt signal
- 2 updated intersections where we added new left turn signals. This helps ensure people driving and people walking and rolling don’t get signals to go through the intersection at the same time.
- 3 new striped crossings
- 21 new accessible curb ramps
- 6 new pedestrian push buttons
We’re designing a safer transportation system, and we all need to work together to keep our most vulnerable travelers safe, especially during the darker fall and winter months.
Speed is a critical factor in crashes. Follow posted speed limits. Slow down around bicyclists and pedestrians and always give them extra space when passing. Increase the recommended safe distances to allow three or more seconds between your vehicle and bicyclists. The more space you have, the more time you have to react.
When visibility is lower (think darkness and rain), it’s especially important to give yourself space and time to get where you’re going. Don’t rush. These daily actions can really add up and help Seattle reach our Vision Zero goal of ending traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
Thank you for making this project possible with your Levy to Move Seattle dollars.