People try out riding bike share equipment at a public demonstration and training event. Photo credit: SDOT. In case you missed it, we’re sharing highlights from the SDOT Blog each month. Here are some of our top posts from November.
- Bike or scoot your way to transit and earn rewards along the way, with new pilot program!
- We applied for a $2 million federal grant for data-driven curb space management
- We’re back to traveling more in the dark. Reminders to be safe on the streets as daylight saving time ends
- New, safer street designs proposed for Beacon Hill
- LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK | New crosswalks and bike lanes, new and repaired stairways, nearly 10 miles of repaved streets, and more thanks to your Levy dollars
Please note: you can click on the headlines to go directly to any specific blog post (#1-5) – or just read on for a shorter recap of each post and a photo.
1) Bike or scoot your way to transit and earn rewards along the way, with new pilot program!
We started off November by launching a new pilot program to encourage people to bike and scoot their way to transit.
By riding any bike or scooter share service to select transit hubs, you can save up to $8 on your trip. You can also earn discounted trips, free mobile transit tickets, and Transit GO Rewards points to use on future trips.
Saving is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Sign up for Transit GO Rewards and earn rewards points that can be redeemed for transit tickets or credits from participating bike share and scooter share services.
- Download the Bird, Lime, LINK by Superpedestrian, or Veo app and take a qualifying trip** to select Sound Transit light rail stations, transit hubs, or park and rides
- Automatically get up to $8 off your qualifying trip.
**To take a qualifying trip, rent a Bird, Lime, LINK by Superpedestrian, or Veo bike or scooter, and end your trip within the boundaries of the areas in the map (see link below). Please see each participating company’s webpage (see links above) for additional details, terms, and conditions.
2) We applied for a $2 million federal grant for data-driven curb space management
To continue past success in managing public curb space and extend our data-driven approach to commercial vehicle load zones and permits, we have applied for a $2 million dollar grant with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
With online shopping and home delivery becoming more popular, e-commerce has more than tripled in the U.S. over the last decade. This leads to limited curb space and has consequences such as circling vehicles, idling trucks, unsuccessful deliveries, and safety challenges from loading/unloading in travel lanes.
Our proposal is for a federal SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) grant project that will use a combination of digital technologies and targeted outreach including the following strategies
- Engage with local businesses and urban freight companies to understand delivery challenges and build a foundation of trust
- Pilot a prototype digital commercial vehicle permit and use findings to modernize and scale the system
- Collaborate with a national cohort of cities implementing the Curb Data Specification
We expect to hear if we’ve received the grant in early 2023 with work on the project to extend through summer 2024.
3) We’re back to traveling more in the dark. Reminders to be safe on the street as daylight saving time ends.
November marked the end of daylight saving time leading to shorter days and increased commuting in limited visibility. Here are some safety tips for everyone traveling in the darker winter months ahead.
These are some things people can do to help protect themselves:
- See and be seen
- Drivers should pay extra attention to their surroundings
- People walking and biking should make sure they are visible by wearing bright-colored clothing or wearing reflectors
- Pay attention
- Keep an eye out when you reach an intersection
- People walking, biking, or rolling should always cross at an intersection
- Put down your phone when crossing the street
- Slow down
- Follow posted speed limits
- Increase the recommended safe distances between your vehicle and bicyclists
- Give yourself space and time to get to where you’re going, don’t rush
It’s up to all of us to do our part to stay alert and be careful when we travel. Thank you for keeping yourself and others safe!
4) New, safer street designs proposed for Beacon Hill
Last month, we shared plans for the 15th Ave S and Beacon Ave S bike route for a safer, sustainable street design based on feedback about what is important from the community.
This project will provide a north-south bike connection that will create a new corridor between Beacon Hill and other neighborhoods
This includes additional infrastructure items such as installing protected bike lanes, redesigning intersections, and narrowing traffic lanes to create a space that is easier and safer for people walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit.
5) LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK | New crosswalks and bike lanes, new and repaired stairways, nearly 10 miles of repaved streets, and more thanks to your Levy dollars.
Lastly, the Q3 2022 Levy to Move Seattle Report was published, highlighting work funded by the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle.
We invested $67 million in Levy projects in the third quarter of 2022 alone!
Addressing safe routes, we repaired 6 blocks of sidewalks and upgraded over 330 curb ramps throughout the city. We also did work to add protected bike lanes, rebuild traffic signals, and create new sidewalks and street crossings.
Under maintenance and repair, we repaved nearly 10 miles of roadways, repaired stairways, and pruned 835 trees to increase visibility and safety.
For congestion relief, we completed seven new crossing improvements, continued construction on major transit corridor projects, and completed transit stop improvements to help people waiting for and riding the bus.
We want to thank you, Seattle for making these and many more transportation investments possible!