SDOT Street Use right-of-way permit rates are changing—rewarding well-prepared applicants and moving to project/service-based permitting. In the midst of Seattle’s development surge, right-of-way permit rates have remained the same for 5 years. This has led to deferred service enhancements and backlogs as Street Use Permit Services now reviews and inspects… [ Keep reading ]
When construction projects impact city streets and sidewalks, it can make it difficult for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to get around. This is especially true for pedestrians with disabilities. As a recent KUOW story highlighted, pedestrian reroutes and detours can be confusing for visually impaired residents. In the past, this confusion has… [ Keep reading ]
In February of last year, Seattle announced the launch of our Vision Zero program, a partnership between SDOT and the Seattle Police Department to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. Vision Zero is a worldwide effort that aims to improve traffic infrastructure and planning to increase safety for all travelers. Since… [ Keep reading ]
The new SDOT Director’s Rule (DR) highlighting construction-related sidewalk closures as a last resort is now official. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive for ‘SDOT DR 10-2015,’ as it’s lovingly known. The rule introduces new standards and best practices for pedestrian mobility around work zones. The requirements kick in next month, for… [ Keep reading ]
Seattle’s construction boom continues along with a surge in permit applications for projects in or near the right of way (ROW). SDOT’s Street Use Division manages the ROW—space dedicated to public use—in the public interest. That includes coordinating construction that impacts this shared public space. Construction and utility use permit applications account for the… [ Keep reading ]
The construction cranes dotting Seattle’s landscape have become an iconic part of our city skyline in recent years. And perhaps no part of the skyline hosts densely clustered cranes more than the area above South Lake Union – a clear sign of the rapid development happening in the area. With… [ Keep reading ]
Since 2013, parklets have been transforming the streets of Seattle, by creating vibrant community amenities and neighborhood gathering spaces for all people to enjoy. In early 2015, SDOT expanded the idea of parklets by developing the Streatery Pilot Program, allowing restaurants and bars to build parklets that provide extra café… [ Keep reading ]
The City of Seattle got to highlight its Play Streets Pilot Program at a national conference recently. The program lead, Public Space Specialist Seth Geiser, traveled to Washington, D.C. following an invitation to come talk about Seattle’s public space innovation. Geiser’s session focused on how the Play Streets Program enables temporary… [ Keep reading ]
A revised SDOT Director’s Rule on Pedestrian Mobility in and Around Work Zones now takes its next steps (pun intended) with our team reviewing all comments that came in, and refining the final policy. The 2-week public comment period ended October 29, with more than 30 comments–a common running theme was, “Thank… [ Keep reading ]
We’re working to make it safer and easier for people to walk in Seattle. More specifically, we’re developing new policy to support best practice standards in and around work zones. With such significant growth (we expect 60,000 new people and 50,000 new jobs in Seattle in the next 10 years—and a continued construction boom),… [ Keep reading ]
