Aerial view of the city of Seattle. Photo credit: Ethan Bancroft & WSDOT. Summary:
- The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has several volunteer opportunities for members of the public to get involved and help shape how transportation works in the city.
- While each board has a specific focus, they all serve as advisors to the Mayor, Seattle City Council, and City departments.
- These six (6) boards and committees rely on volunteer members. These members bring valuable community perspectives as part of promoting a robust, inclusive public dialogue on projects of a variety of sizes.
- We are currently recruiting members for the following:
- Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
- Seattle Freight Advisory Board
- Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
- Transit Advisory Board
- Apply via the City Clerk’s website by Monday, June 30, 2025.
- Applications received for boards with no current vacancies will be saved for a year and will be reviewed for any mid-term openings or at the next open recruitment period.
- You can apply to multiple boards at the same time.
- Open House – Have questions about joining a board? Join us at one of our virtual drop-in sessions to meet with staff liaisons and board members, pending availability.
- Session 1: Wednesday, June 18 at noon – 1 pm
- Session 2: Monday, June 23 at 5 – 6 pm
- Join via Microsoft Teams, or call 206-686-8357, meeting ID 317 003 422 #
See more information about a specific board or committee using one of the ‘drop down’ links below:
- Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Committee (LOC)
- School Traffic Safety Committee (STSC)
- Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (SBAB)
- Seattle Freight Advisory Board (SFAB)
- Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board (SPAB)
- Transit Advisory Board (TAB)
Promoting Diversity
The City of Seattle is committed to promoting diversity in the city’s boards and commissions. We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) community members, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, young people, seniors (over 65), immigrants, and multicultural and/or multilingual community members to apply.
Time Commitment
The length of position terms varies depending on the board or committee, but generally, volunteers are expected to attend 2-hour meetings on a monthly basis. Most meetings will have an in-person and remote option to attend.
Volunteers should also expect to spend an additional approximately 1-4 hours per month to:
- Work with communities to understand transportation priorities
- Advise the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on transportation policies
- Review documents and plans from the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and other City departments as needed (depending on the topic at hand)
- Draft letters to provide input, recommendations, and feedback on projects related to the board/committee
- Occasionally coordinate outside regular meetings on special topics
Leadership roles on the boards/committees, such as co-chairs and secretary positions, do require a greater time commitment.
Each board/committee has a unique focus detailed further below. As noted above, the City of Seattle is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and strongly encourages people to consider applying who are both interested in serving and are in groups who have been historically underserved or underrepresented in government.
Stay in Touch
Sign up for email updates to stay informed about upcoming meetings and recruitment opportunities. (Please note: you can search for specific transportation advisory boards, committees, and other SDOT topics you might be interested in when you sign up for email updates).
Application Process
Interested members of the public may apply via the City Clerk’s website. You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
Question: what if the board/committee is not actively recruiting new members?
- Answer: Applications are accepted year-round and will be reviewed on a rolling basis for any mid-term vacancies or during the next open recruitment period.
Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Committee
The Seattle Transportation Levy Oversight Committee (LOC) was established through the voter-approved 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy. To ensure transparency and accountability, the LOC was created to monitor revenues, expenditures, and program and project implementation, and to advise the City Council, the Mayor and the Seattle Department of Transportation on the spending of Levy Proceeds and the performance of Levy programs.
Committee Details:
- 19 members
- City Councilmember, City Budget Director, and 4 modal board representatives
- 1 Get Engaged member
- 12 positions appointed by either City Council or Mayor
- 4-year terms
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently closed.
- Recruitment for the Levy Oversight Committee positions generally occurs during the fall/winter.
- If you are interested in applying, please do so via the City Clerk’s website.
- Applications received for committees with no current vacancies will be reviewed for any mid-term openings or at the next open recruitment period.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
Questions:
School Traffic Safety Committee
The School Traffic Safety Committee (STSC) was created in 1975 to bring together Seattle Public Schools, the City, and parents to improve safe routes to school. The committee recommends new school crosswalk locations, crossing guard assignments, criteria for placement of crossing guards, and traffic circulation plans for schools.
Committee Details:
- 11 members represent Seattle Public Schools (SPS), Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Seattle Police Department (SPD), King County Metro, pedestrian advocates, bicycle advocates, and parents.
- Includes 6 positions appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council
- One representative of parents
- One member representing pedestrian safety or serving on the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board (SPAB)
- One member representing bicycle safety or serving on the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (SBAB)
- Three at-large members
- 3-year terms
- Typically meets both remotely and in person on the third Friday of the month from 8:30-10:30 am. In-person meetings are held at Seattle City Hall.
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently closed.
- Recruitment for School Traffic Safety Committee positions generally occurs during the winter/spring.
- If you are interested in applying, please do so via the City Clerk’s website.
- Applications received for committees with no current vacancies will be reviewed for any mid-term openings or at the next open recruitment period.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
Questions?
- Email: STSC@seattle.gov
Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (SBAB) was created in 1977 and advises the Mayor, City Council, and City Departments and Divisions on projects, policies, and programs that improve and/or affect bicycling conditions in Seattle.
Board member responsibilities include:
- Stewarding the Bicycle Master Plan
- Monitoring implementation activities by City Departments and Divisions
- Serving as a resource for the City Council on Bicycle Master Plan activities
- Serving on transportation-related committees and planning groups
- Making recommendations on City projects related to mobility, specifically bicycling
- Conducting annual reviews of SDOT on-street bicycle facility plans
- Ad hoc reviews of bicycle projects, trail construction, and capital improvement projects
- Sending letters to the Mayor, Seattle City County, and/or SDOT project teams on bicycling-related projects and topics
- Conducting site tours
- Bikeablility Tours – Periodically, SBAB members may conduct tours of new bikeways, inspect cycling conditions across critical corridors, and evaluate City of Seattle implementation activities
- Facility Tours – SBAB members organize tours of facilities to examine best practices for bicycle commuting and parking in new and existing buildings
Board Details:
- 12 public members, including 1 Get Engaged member
- 2-year terms
- Typically meets both remotely and in person on the third Tuesday of the month from 5:45-7:45 pm. In-person meetings are held at Seattle City Hall.
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently open.
- Apply by Monday, June 30, 2025 through the City Clerk’s website.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
- Recruitment for Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board positions generally occurs during the spring/summer.
Questions?
- Email: DOT_bikeboard@seattle.gov
Seattle Freight Advisory Board
The vision of the Seattle Freight Advisory Board (SFAB) is to advise the City Council, Mayor, and all departments and offices in the City in the development of a functional and efficient freight system and on all matters related to freight and the impact that actions by the City may have upon the freight environment. Board members will have the opportunity to provide input on City policies, plans, and projects as they may relate to freight capacity, safety, access, and mobility throughout the City with a particular focus on the City’s industrial lands and the businesses they support.
Board Details
- 12 members, including one appointed by the Port of Seattle
- 2-year terms
- Typically meets both remotely and in person on the third Tuesday of the month from 3:30-5:30 pm. In-person meetings are held at Seattle City Hall.
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently open.
- Apply by Monday, June 30, 2025 through the City Clerk’s website.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
- Recruitment for Seattle Freight Advisory Board positions generally occurs during the winter/spring.
Questions?
- Email: dot_sfab@seattle.gov
Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
The Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board (SPAB) was founded in 1993 to:
- Advise the Mayor, City Council and all departments and offices of the City on matters related to pedestrians: including the impact which actions by the City may have upon the pedestrian environment.
- Contribute to all aspects of the City’s planning and project development processes insofar as they may relate to pedestrian safety and access.
- Promote improved pedestrian safety and access by evaluating and recommending changes in City design guidelines and policies.
- Prepare an annual report on the status of its work program and achievement of its goals to the Mayor and City Council.
Board member responsibilities include:
- Work with communities to understand pedestrian and transportation priorities
- Advise the Mayor and the City Council on transportation policies
- Provide input to SDOT and other departments on pedestrian projects
- Occasionally coordinate outside regular meetings on special topics
Board Details:
- 12 public members, including 1 Get Engaged member
- 2-year terms
- Typically meets remotely and in person on the second Wednesday of the month from 6:00-8:00 pm. In-person meetings are held at Seattle City Hall.
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently open.
- Apply by Monday, June 30, 2025 through the City Clerk’s website.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
- Recruitment for Pedestrian Advisory Board positions generally occurs during the winter/spring.
Questions?
- Email: DOT_PedBoard@seattle.gov
Seattle Transit Advisory Board
The Seattle Transit Advisory Board (TAB) was founded in 2015 and advises the Mayor, the City Council, and all departments and offices of the city on matters related to transit and the possible and actual impact of actions by the City upon all forms of public transportation.
Board member responsibilities include:
- Comments and makes recommendations on City policies, plans, and projects as they may relate to transit capital improvements, transit mobility, and transit operations throughout Seattle.
- Helps facilitate City policies, plans, and projects that support local and region-wide transit mobility efforts, to ensure a functioning and coordinated transit system throughout the City and region.
- Functions as the public oversight committee of revenues collected under Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD) Proposition 1, which was absorbed into the City of Seattle in June 2016 and renewed by Seattle voters in November 2020.
Board Details:
- 12 public members, including 1 Get Engaged member
- 2-year terms
- Typically meets both remotely and in person on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:00-8:00 pm. In-person meetings are held at Seattle City Hall.
Current Status:
- Recruitment for community volunteer position(s) is currently open.
- Apply by Monday, June 30, 2025 through the City Clerk’s website.
- Please note: You can apply to multiple boards/committees at the same time.
- Recruitment for Seattle Transit Advisory Board positions generally occurs during the spring/summer.
Questions?
- Email: TransitBoard@seattle.gov
Thank you very much for your interest in the City of Seattle’s transportation advisory boards and committees, and for your commitment to Seattle’s transportation system, both for today and for the future.
We hope you found this blog post useful and informative. If you have any additional questions, please contact the email addresses listed for each individual board or committee. Thank you once again.
Editor’s Note (June 4, 2025): We originally published this blog post in 2022, and have continued to update it since then with the latest information.