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A Vibrant Seattle Through Transportation Excellence.

Magnolia Bridge Study Results

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Magnolia Bridge

 

The Magnolia Bridge was built in 1930 & has stood watching over Elliott Bay for nearly 90 years.

 

The Magnolia Bridge has seen a lot over the years. No, we’re not talking about the stunning view you enjoy while driving along the bridge (arguably one of the best viewpoints of downtown in Seattle); we’re talking about the bridge itself. 

 

Ninety years is a long time and the bridge is showing its age. While the bridge is still safe to drive on, it’s not going to last forever. So in 2017, we launched a planning study to look into possible alternative scenarios for when the bridge needs to be replaced.  

 

The Magnolia Bridge opened on December 6, 1930. Photo courtesy of Seattle Engineering Department #458 and Magnolia Historical Society. 

The Magnolia Bridge opened on December 6, 1930. Photo courtesy of Seattle Engineering Department #458 and Magnolia Historical Society.

 

We’ve been working on a planning study of 4 alternative transportation scenarios for when the bridge needs to be replaced.  

 

 

We weighed alternatives based on factors such as:

 

  • environmental impact,
  • ease of mobility and access,
  • cost,
  • construction duration and impact, and
  • how well each alternative would meet the needs of the community.

 

We also created an emergency transportation plan for unexpected closures. Read more about the results of this Magnolia Bridge Planning Study.  

 

The Magnolia Bridge Planning Study was the first of ten studies funded by the Levy to Move Seattle to help us assess and manage roadway structure maintenance needs and maximize future investments. The studies are a part of our effort to better understand the size of Seattle’s maintenance backlog, which requires long-term attention.   

 

With cost estimates spanning from $190M to $420M, bridge replacement and alternative options considered in this study far exceed available Seattle Department of Transportation funds without significant outside investment from our State or Federal partners. 

 

Snapshot of community input: 4 drop-in sessions, 277 drop-in session participants, 94 written comments, 18 day online open house, 186 online alternatives survey participants, 200 online open house comments.

Snapshot of community input.

 

We’ve briefed community organizations, worked with a stakeholder group, hosted drop-in sessions and launched an online survey to inform neighbors of the planning study, to understand their mobility and access needs and to gather input on alternative options to consider along with replacing the existing bridge. Throughout the process, we received a lot of valuable input. 

 

We’ll continue to work with the community and elected officials to be creative in examining funding opportunities for the Magnolia Bridge and will also be launching a study of the Ballard-Interbay Regional Transportation System pending state-funding.

  

 

We’re also hosting a community engagement meeting to share the planning study results and answer questions on Thursday, June 6, at Catharine Blaine K-8 school in the cafeteria, from 6 to 7:30 PM.

 

Safety is a top priority. Our City & regional partners continue to examine potential mobility solutions for Magnolia.

 

And as we do so, we remain committed to maintaining the safety of Magnolia Bridge by conducting regular maintenance and frequent inspections in coordination with the Port of Seattle. We perform 24/hour monitoring to ensure the safe use of the Magnolia Bridge. Ongoing maintenance work includes repairing damaged concrete, as well as performing spot repairs.  

 

Part of our planning study included an emergency bridge closure transportation plan in the event of a major earthquake or other events that make one or more of the bridges unusable. The intention is to consider the safety and resilience of mobility into and out of Magnolia in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. The short-term focus in the event of an unexpected closure would be on W Dravus St and W Emerson Pl, two bridges that have received extensive repairs in the past few years.  

 

Read more about the study by visiting the Magnolia Bridge Planning Study webpage.

 

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UPDATE: Mercer St has been reopened after tragic crane collapse

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This blog has been updated to reflect that SDOT crews have reopened Mercer St earlier than anticipated. 

The tragic collapse of a crane on Saturday, April 27, has significantly impacted the lives of many. Our thoughts & prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.

As Vulcan and GLY contractor crews worked overnight to clear the debris and assess the safety of the buildings struck by the collapsed crane, SDOT crews were working to repair damage to the road. Mercer St has now been made safe to reopen for Monday morning’s commute.

Road closure updates:

  • All city streets (Mercer St, Valley St, Boren Ave N, and Terry Ave N) have been reopened.
  • WSDOT has reopened the Mercer St off-ramp from southbound I-5.
  • The South Lake Union Streetcar will run on normal schedule on Monday morning
SDOT crews repairing Mercer St

SDOT crews worked all night long to repair damage to Mercer St

Follow our SDOT Traffic Twitter for real-time updates.

 

 

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Trailhead Direct’s transit to trails is back!

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Photo of woman hiker.

 

Ok, hikers and outdoor lovers. The #GreatPNW struggle is real.

 

You decide it’s a great day for a hike, so you head out into the wild & find upon your arrival that the rest of Seattle has had the same – exact – idea.

 

Never mind that all the great minds thought like you. How ’bout that parking? Don’t let the day get ruined by the lack of available parking. You won’t need a car. We’re bringing back Trailhead Direct!

 

Trailhead Direct is a seasonal transit service to popular hiking destinations in King County. 

 

 

Trailhead Direct is a pilot project in collaboration with our Seattle Transportation Benefit District (STBD), King County Metro, and King County Parks and REI. Not only does this program provide transit service on weekends and most holidays to popular hiking trails in the area, but it also eases vehicle congestion and reduces safety hazards.

 

There’re 4 great changes happening this Saturday, April 20.

 

  1. The weather. We’ll get a cloud break. THERE. WILL. BE. SUN. Well, at least that’s what the weather forecasters predict.
  2. The start of Trailhead Direct!! The 2019 season begins on April 20.
  3. The launch of a new Trailhead Direct route to the Sky Country Trailhead at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Check out the details here.
  4. The Trailhead Direct for Mailbox Peak returns with a new service location + stop.

 

So go ahead and pick your destination. Select your location for all the dirt 😉 from trailhead maps, transit pickup and drop off locations, and maps.

 

 

We’re proud to work as a funding partner with King County Metro to provide more mobility options to attractions in the Seattle region.

 

Funding Trailhead Direct builds on the City of Seattle’s investments in the Seattle transit network where we’ve been able to improve frequency/reliability on 64 other routes.

 

This program is an opportunity to provide better access for more people to the outdoors. While trail destinations vary in accessibility, Trailhead Direct transit are wheelchair accessible, so all are welcome!

 

“We are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and Trailhead Direct makes it easier for all our residents and visitors to access our incredible outdoors using transit. …We are excited about this innovative public-private partnership that is creating new opportunities for all who call Seattle home to get outside and explore our mountains.” – Mayor Jenny Durkan

 

Photo of an ok sign made with a person's hand circling the sun at a distance.

 

Thanks to Seattle voters, we’re able to directly purchase transit service for Seattle, providing mobility options to explore the Seattle area.

 

For more information about Trailhead Direct, please visit the website.

 

 

 

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We studied how we use public spaces. And the results may surprise you.

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SDOT city planners launched a first-of-a-kind public life study to collect “people-centered data.”

 

Last summer, when our urban planners launched SDOT’s first-ever public life study (pssst: this is the first ever for any municipal transportation agency in the country!), they weren’t exactly sure what they’d find. One thing we were certain of was its value.

 

We wanted to know how ordinary people like you and I used public spaces as part of their daily life in Seattle. So naturally, curiosity led our team to survey and observe the activities at sidewalks on 108 block faces across 38 Seattle neighborhoods at different times on various days of the week to examine how the public uses public spaces.

 

We released the results of the 2018 public life study online as open data and published a cool interactive dashboard and are eager to share it with you and communities around the world that are looking to adopt the new public life protocol to inform their city planning practices.

 

The study set out to measure how people are using public spaces across the city. 

 

We’re incredibly excited about what we found but more thrilled about the super valuable “people-centered” data. This study will help us to design spaces based on observed need & to create spaces that foster more vibrancy while staying unique to a specific neighborhood’s style & flavor. And this is what we found.

 

10%

Nearly one-in-ten people on public sidewalks ended up staying for some time, for a variety of reasons like waiting for public transportation and fiddling with their mobile devices.

 

South Lake Union, Seattle | Photo by Jeanne Clark

 

56%

Fifty-six percent of people lingering on our sidewalks exhibited extroverted behaviors that included one-on-one and group conversations, as well as active engagement with the social environment, including purchasing items from street vendors or watching street musicians.

 

Pike Place Market

 

25%

Twenty-five percent were actively engaged in some type of commercial activity, such as dining at sidewalk cafés, window shopping or waiting in line at a food truck. This really shows the importance of sidewalks and public spaces that facilitate these types of neighboring businesses. #ShopLocal

 

Friends gathered

 

As for people’s posture, surveyors found that only one-in-four people who hung out on public sidewalks actually sat in seating provided either for the public or restaurant patrons.

 

61%

Sixty-one percent of observed public space users stood—whether that’s a preference or requirement given the amount of available seating provided, we aren’t sure. And 11 percent of those who decided to stay and hang out opted to either lean on nearby structures or use random objects as chairs for seating.

 

Downtown Seattle, City Hall | Photo by Jeanne Clark

 

By documenting this type of information, we can identify areas where public seating is woefully needed, and yes, we can rule out placing additional seating in places where people just aren’t down for relaxing on public seats.

 

The largest number of people in public spaces were observed in Seattle’s densest neighborhoods, engaged in a variety of activities depending on the neighborhood, day of the week, and time of day. The top five busiest neighborhoods surveyed were:

 

  1. Commercial core.
  2. Denny Triangle.
  3. Pioneer Square.
  4. Belltown.
  5. South Lake Union.

 

With an honorable mention landing with lower density neighborhood/commercial districts—including Capitol Hill, Ballard, West Seattle Junction, Alki, and Pike/Pine. Each had nearly as many people hanging out at the top five.

 

Phinney Ridge, Seattle

 

This study helps us to design spaces based on observed need & to create spaces that foster more vibrancy while staying unique to a specific neighborhood’s style & flavor.

 

This type of bespoke planning can help the City spend more wisely on neighborhood investments by allocating resources where they’re most needed. One neighborhood’s overlooked art sculpture is another one’s lounge chair. You just never know! Well, now we actually do. . .

 

 

We’ll take action on the public life data by developing action plans in small study areas.

 

We hope to build on the initial dataset each year to help create the Department’s people-centered database, capturing more neighborhoods, block faces, and times of the day. We’ll use the data to develop action plans in small study areas either at the neighborhood scale or by block face. These action plans will help us to optimize public space design, possibly leading to more seating, larger spaces to congregate, or working with an adjacent landowner to engage with the street more. We also developed a new Guide For Data Collectors – a tool that can help community advocates strengthen advocacy efforts with data.

As you can tell from this guide – data collection is a lot of work. Sidewalk Labs recently announced a new mobile app to help automate this process through public engagement. Though the app is currently in beta mode, it could one day be a data collection tool in the palm of the public’s hand.

Questions? Or interested in conducting a study in your neighborhood? For more information about this work, email SDOTpubliclife@seattle.gov.

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Making the most of the Move Seattle Levy resources to implement the Bicycle Master Plan.

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Over the past 3 years, the City of Seattle has built 27 miles of new bike facilities.

 

Mayor Durkan and SDOT Director, Sam Zimbabwe are committed to continuing to build a connected bike network as Seattle grows. We know many people are talking about how we’re implementing Seattle’s 2014 Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) recommendations. We recently submitted to City Council a draft BMP Implementation Plan – a list of projects we’ve currently secured funding for to complete in the next six years. 

 

Let’s talk about what this means.  

 

Last fall, we completed a comprehensive reassessment of the Levy to Move Seattle under the leadership of Mayor Durkan based on more realistic assumptions than we used in 2015. The Bike Master Plan is funded in large part by the Levy so we’ve been working with the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board to prioritize the projects in the Bike Master Plan to make the best investments and maximize safety, connectivity, equity, ridership, and livability.

 

Enter the draft BMP Implementation Plan.

 

This plan reprioritizes projects based on available funding – keeping in mind that we’re also working to secure additional funds that would allow us to construct more projects.

 

  

 

We’re taking public comments on the draft Implementation Plan plan until April 30. We’ll then submit a revised version to City Council. Once the plan is complete, there are still many steps that need to be taken before a project is built because things can change over time. For example, we may need to revise the plan if something unforeseen comes up during engineering, if there are coordination challenges with other public and private projects, or as we learn about other issues through community engagement.  

 

One way we can advance transparency is to identify potential risks or issues that may change over time, and by engaging in an open public process.

 

Our goal is to be upfront about what we’ll need to consider before each project is built.  

 

The draft BMP Implementation Plan anticipates constructing 49 miles of bicycle facilities and designing an additional 13 miles using a combination of Levy to Move Seattle and other project funding. The plan identifies projects and programs which, combined with existing facilities, will make significant progress towards implementing the BMP recommendations over the next six years. It works to achieve an all ages and abilities bike network through a combination of protected bike lanes, trails, neighborhood greenways, and funding for bike parking, encouragement programs, and safety education. Here’s what we’re proposing.

 

. P R O P O S E D .

Bike Master Plan projects/recommendations over the next six years.

 

The following maps show numbered projects in geographic sections: North, Central, and South Seattle. Reference the project number with the Project Funded List below.

NORTH SEATTLE: Proposed Bicycle Master Plan Projects

 

CENTRAL SEATTLE: Proposed Bicycle Master Plan Projects

 

SOUTH SEATTLE: Proposed Bicycle Master Plan Projects

 

. P R O J E C T S  F U N D E D  L I S T .

Projects funded through construction by risk.

 

 

In 2018, bike ridership increased by 12% compared to last year.

 

This data is based on permanent bike counters. In fact, with the extension of the 2nd Ave protected bike lane (aka PBL), ridership on that facility increased by 32%. The connections recommended in the draft BMP Implementation Plan will encourage even more people to bike. Here’s where the proposed bike lanes and trails will take you: 

 

  • 22 connections to existing or proposed transit hubs 
  • 4 connections to existing or soon to be open LINK light rail stations  
  • 16 bicycle connections near schools 

 

And here are connections made with the recommended neighborhood greenways: 

 

  • 10 new Safe Routes to School connections  
  • 27 projects connect to frequent transit network routes  
  • 11 projects connect to existing or soon to be open LINK light rail stations 

 

This week we’ll discuss the proposed draft BMP Implementation Plan with City Council, the Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee, & the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board. 

 

 

Stay tuned, we’re working with the Department of Neighborhoods & planning three four open houses in April. 

 

At the open houses, you’ll learn about the value of a bicycle network, get your questions answered about how the project list was developed, and hear your thoughts on the projects. We’ll also share a summary of what we heard from the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board and other stakeholders and then finalize the plan and update City Council.  

 

As individual projects move forward, we’ll continue to engage with the community as we move through design and construction.  

 

Resources:

2014 Bicycle Master Plan (BMP)

Draft BMP Implementation Plan

The comprehensive reassessment of the Levy to Move Seattle 

 

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Our Street Use permit counter hours are changing.

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Starting Apr. 1, our Street Use permit counter hours are changing to:

Mon, Wed, Fri — 9 AM to 4 PM
Tues, Thurs — 10:30 AM to 4 PM

 

Here’s why. We studied when people visited our permit counter and found that the majority of applicants visited between 10:30 AM and 4 PM.

 

Most people stop by during these times.

 

We’re also better aligning ourselves with our partners. Many of the people we serve also work with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). By making this change, our hours will more closely mirror those of SDCI.

 

Times are changing and another thing we’re doing is responding to how they’re changing. More people are submitting permit applications online, so the change gives our staff more time to review online applications and resolve permit-related issues with internal and external stakeholders.

 

To better serve permit applicants:

 

We’re also increasing our staff support at the counter from 11 AM to 3 PM to keep service levels high & wait times low.

 

The combination of more time to process permits and more staff support means better customer service and fewer trips downtown for you! Need a permit? Visit our website.

 

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Cho chúng tôi biết trải nghiệm của bạn

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Phòng cấp phép sử dụng đường phố thuộc Sở giao thông vận tải Seattle (gọi tắt là SDOT) chịu trách nhiệm quản lý hệ thống đường phố công cộng cũng như cấp giấy phép cho các dự án và hoạt động cần sử dụng đường đi và vỉa hè.

 

Do phải giải quyết khá nhiều đơn xin phép thuộc các hạng mục khác nhau, khâu dịch vụ khách hàng sao cho hiệu quả nhất rất quan trọng đối với chúng tôi. Dù đó là xin phép trồng cây cảnh trên vỉa hè hay là xin phép cải tạo đường phố.

 

Để đạt được điều này, chúng tôi cần sự hỗ trợ của Quý khách!

 

Nếu Quý khách có nộp đơn đến Phòng cấp phép sử dụng đường trong vòng 12 tháng qua, vui lòng thực hiện bài khảo sát ngắn này để chúng tôi hiểu rõ hơn trải nghiệm của Quý khách về quy trình nộp đơn xin giấy phép, từ đó có thể phục vụ Quý khách tốt hơn.

 

Trả lời bảng khảo sát tại đây.

 

Nhấn nút phía trên cùng, bên phải để chọn Tiếng Việt. Hoặc điền vào phiếu khảo sát tại Quầy cấp phép sử dụng đường phố.

 

 

Vui lòng dành vài phút (không quá 5 phút) để hoàn tất bài khảo sát, câu trả lời của Quý khách là hoàn toàn ẩn danh. 

 

Mục tiêu của bài khảo sát này là tìm hiểu cách thức hướng dẫn khách hàng, tiếp cận các nguồn thông tin, tìm hiểu quy định, lên kế hoạch nâng cao kiến thức đội ngũ nhân viên, và định hướng hệ thống thanh kiểm tra, nhằm đáp ứng trải nghiệm trong việc xin phép sử dụng đường phố của Quý khách.

 

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Cuéntanos su experiencia.

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La División de Street Use (Uso de la Calle) de SDOT es responsable por la gestión del derecho de paso público y otorga permisos para proyectos y actividades que impactan las calles y aceras de Seattle.

 

Dado que trabajamos con diversos solicitantes de permisos en muchos proyectos diferentes, es importante para nosotros que los solicitantes reciban consistentemente un excelente servicio al cliente, ya sea que quieran cultivar un huerto en la franja de siembra o que necesiten un permiso para mejorar la calle.

 

¡Para ayudarnos a lograr esto, necesitamos su ayuda!

 

 

Si usted ha solicitado un permiso de la División de Street Use (Uso de la Calle) en los últimos 12 meses, hemos creado una breve encuesta para conocer su experiencia con el proceso de obtención de permisos de Street Use (Uso de la Calle) para poder brindarle un mejor servicio.

 

Completa la encuesta. 

 

Use el botón en la parte superior derecha de la encuesta para seleccionar el idioma de su elección. O llena una copia en papel en el mostrador de permisos de Street Use.

 

 

La encuesta tardará 5 minutos o menos en completarse y sus respuestas son completamente anónimas. 

 

Nuestro objetivo con esta encuesta es comprender cómo nuestras guías y recursos para clientes, pólizas, conocimiento del personal e inspecciones han dado forma a su experiencia con el proceso de obtención de permisos de Street Use (Uso de la Calle).

 

¡Muchas gracias!

 

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It’s important that we deliver excellence when you need a permit for a project or activity. Take our survey.

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We issue permits for projects & activities that impact Seattle’s streets & sidewalks.

 

Our Street Use Division is responsible for managing the private use of our public right of way. We do this by issuing permits for projects and activities that impact Seattle’s streets and sidewalks. To help keep our shared spaces accessible and in good repair, permits are required for any work in, or occupation of, the public right of way.

 

A public space permit is a type of permit that enables individuals, organizations, and businesses to enhance neighborhoods and strengthen communities by enlivening public spaces in ways that encourage social activity, help local businesses thrive, and create safer, more attractive streets.

 

It’s important to us that you consistently receive excellent customer service.

 

Since we work with diverse permit applicants on many different projects, it’s important to us that you consistently receive excellent customer service whether you want to garden in the planting strip or need a street improvement permit.

 

Help us achieve this level of service by taking our survey.

 

To help us achieve this, we need your help! If you’ve applied for a permit from the Street Use Division within the last 12 months, we’ve created a short survey to learn about your experience with the Street Use permitting process so we can better serve you.

 

Take the survey. (Use the button in the top right of the survey to select your language of choice.) or fill out a paper copy at the Street Use permit counter.

 

 

Our goal with this survey is to understand how our customer guides and resources, policies, staff knowledge, and inspections have shaped your experience with the Street Use permitting process. The survey will take 5 minutes or less to complete and your answers are completely anonymous.

 

Take the survey.

 

 

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#ShopTheSqueeze & support downtown small businesses + win a $100 gift card!

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We’re excited to announce Shop the Squeeze to encourage you to visit small downtown businesses during the #SeattleSqueeze.

 

We’ve partnered with the Office of Economic Development to encourage you to visit your favorite small downtown businesses in Pioneer Square, Belltown, Chinatown-International District, and the downtown retail core! Get there using alternative transportation (bus, bike, Link light rail, train, streetcar, ferry, walking) — anything that eases traffic Downtown and share your stories with us.

 

 

Every week, we’ll be giving away prizes like $100 pre-loaded ORCA cards & Visa gift cards to winning posts!

 

Our campaign mascots, Simon the Sasquatch and Pearl the Squirrel, will deliver family-friendly campaign messaging about important transit milestones, ideas for creative commuting, and photo contest details on social media, transit advertising, and our website.

 

 

#ShoptheSqueeze rolled out Friday, March 15 and will continue at least for the remainder of 2019. Check out our partner kit, follow @SeattleEconomy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website.

 

#SeattleSqueeze, Seattle’s new normal.

 

Over the next five years, Seattle’s downtown will be in a state of transition to meet the needs of our growing city and region – #SeattleSqueeze. We’re making changes to our city and to our regional transportation system and help people get where they need to go safely and efficiently. New mobility projects are being developed and constructed to connect communities to downtown with fast, regular service and to create the public spaces our growing region needs. For more information, tools, and resources on  #SeattleSqueeze, please visit our website!

 

 

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