Neighbors, elected officials, and SDOT staff join together to get a first-hand look at areas that could see new sidewalks or walkways in the future, thanks to Seattle Transportation Levy funding. Photos: SDOT Blog stats: 700 words | 4-minute read
This year, we’ve been walking the walk by hosting neighborhood “walkshops” with residents to co-create sidewalk and walkway plans across Seattle. Together with community members, we’ve been listening, learning, and planning where new sidewalks and walkways can make the greatest positive impact in neighborhoods across the city. These neighborhoods include Pinehurst, Northgate, Delridge, Highland Park, Hillman City, Cedar Park, Little Brook, and Arbor Heights.
On each walk, neighbors shared what it’s like to get around their community today and where new sidewalks and walkways could make the biggest difference. This valuable input is helping shape where SDOT will build sidewalk projects throughout the city as part of an ambitious push to add 250 blocks of new sidewalks and walkways over the next four years. This accelerated goal is made possible by the locally-funded and voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy. In total, the Levy will fund 350 new blocks of sidewalks.
Seeking Community Perspectives
These walks are about more than plans and projects – they’re about partnering directly with community. Community members pointed out missing connections, shared stories about how they travel, and offered ideas for safer, more accessible streets. Many neighbors even stepped out of their homes to join the conversation on the spot.
Together, we’re working to make it safer and easier for everyone to walk, roll, and move through Seattle while maintaining and modernizing the city’s transportation infrastructure for the future. We appreciate everyone who’s shared their priorities with us to date, and there’s more to come.
We couldn’t do this work alone. We partnered with a variety of local community-based organizations to develop walking routes and conduct door-to-door outreach to neighbors. For example, we worked with the Lake City Collective in northeast Seattle, Al Joya retirement community near Northgate, several Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSAs) around local schools, and other groups. Thank you to our community partners for helping us host these events!
Bringing our Long-Range Vision to Life
The Seattle Transportation Levy includes a commitment to build 350 blocks of new sidewalks and walkways, with 250 of those to be completed within the first four years. Even with this funding, building out the sidewalk network to all blocks of missing sidewalks will be a gradual, ongoing process.
We use the ‘Priority Investment Network,’ described in the Seattle Transportation Plan and its Pedestrian Element section, to help make choices about where to focus our new sidewalk investments. The 20-year Seattle Transportation Plan was developed with robust community outreach and engagement with thousands of Seattleites over multiple years.
In addition to the framework laid out in the Seattle Transportation Plan, the sidewalk investments are focused on improving access to public schools, parks, light rail, streetcar and other frequent transit, as well as prioritizing travel safety, equity, and addressing areas where there is less existing pedestrian infrastructure. These factors helped us to identify the initial focus neighborhoods for these walks.
The Path Forward
We’re continuing to work with local communities to better understand where improved pedestrian connections are needed most. Every step of the way, from selection of the blocks to the development of designs, we’ll be working alongside the folks who live, work, and play in these neighborhoods.
In the new year, we plan to share more details about where new sidewalks and walkways will be added, as well as next steps for planning, design, and construction.
While the plans are being finalized for sidewalks in our targeted neighborhoods with the new levy funding, you are always welcome to reach out to the team with questions about other locations around the city. Our contact information is listed below.
Thank you for your interest as we step up our efforts to support safer travel throughout the city. Stay tuned for additional updates as we make progress on this work.
To Learn More
- Visit our website
- Email us: levysidewalks@seattle.gov
- Call us: (206) 684-7583
- Follow us on social media