Did you know that our Interstate Highway System is actually called the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways?

So next time you hear people arguing if it’s called “I-5” or “The 5”, be sure to let them you know you prefer calling it “Dwight D. Eisenhower National Interstate and Defense Highway 5”.

 

President Eisenhower championed the idea that America needed a network of interstate highways to move people, freight, and military throughout our country. He signed the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act on June 29, 1956 which originally authorized $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles of highway within 10 years.

 

 

President John F. Kennedy saw the need for mass transportation to be central to urban design.

 

As cities and suburbs grew across the country in the 50s, local mass transit was struggling. Streetcar lines were shutting down, and new infrastructure was expensive for local and state governments.

 

President Kennedy signed the Omnibus Housing Act on June 30 1961 that included $75 million in federal grants and loans to support state and local mass transportation pilot projects and set the stage for a larger mass transportation bill. A year later he asked congress to establish a program to federally fund mass transportation. Unfortunately Kennedy wasn’t around to see his vision enacted into law.

 

 

“To conserve and enhance values in existing urban areas is essential. But at least as important are steps to promote economic efficiency and livability in areas of future development… Our national welfare therefore requires the provision of good urban transportation, with the properly balanced use of private vehicles and modern mass transport to help shape as well as serve urban growth.” President John F Kennedy to congress in 1962

President Lyndon B. Johnson carried out Kennedy’s vision and signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act on July 9, 1964.

 

The initial act provided $375 million for mass transportation grants over 3 years, and established the Urban Mass Transportation Administration known as the Federal Transit Administration today. The Federal Transit Administration continues to fund $12 billion annually to support local and state mass transit.

 

 

“We are a nation of travelers. You cannot write our history without devoting many chapters to the pony express, the stagecoach, the railroad, the automobile, the airplane. . . Yet, until 1964, the Federal Government did little or nothing to help the urban commuter.” – President Lyndon B. Johnson, on Remarks at the Signing of the Urban Mass Transportation Act.

 

 

These presidents, and many others, looked to the future and saw the importance of investing in our country’s transportation systems. Enjoy your President’s Day!

 

 

Do you hear that sound? It’s hallmark knockin’ on your door with another holiday, folks.

 

The day is complicated and mushy, but we’d like to look at it is an opportunity to LOVE our friends, families, and communities a little louder.

 

Whether you’re already dreaming of jumping into PJs with a glass of wine while watching Seattle-area rom coms or you plan to hit the town, we’ve got some suggestions for spending the day in the places you love.

 

 

Catch a ride to the Chinatown-International District and have a picnic at Hing Hay Park, grab some treats at Uwajimaya, or have a nice dinner out. To get there, try taking the bus (routes 255 and 41 get you close), hop on a street car, or ride using our Center City Bike Network.

 

 

Head to Georgetown to hit the breweries and shops using routes 141 and 60. While you’re there, admire the architecture of one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods.

 

Wander around Green Lake, Discovery Park, Kubota Gardens or another favorite urban greenspace. Get there by hopping on a bike share (use code “JUMPCON20” for 20% off your ride until mid-march).

 

Chase a sunset – ride a bike on the Burke Gilman to Gas Works park, catch the 17 or 45  to Golden Gardens, or take Rapid Ride D to Carkeek Park.

 

 

A final shoutout to our crews for making it possible for us to move throughout the city to do what we love with the people we love. If you see crews filling pot holes, building curb ramps, painting street markings, or fixing traffic signals, give them a wave and let them know how appreciated they are!

Whatever you do on this hallmark day, we hope you’ll spread the love as you move around the city.

 

Today, we’ve released our proposed Design Standards for Small Wireless Facilities (SWF) on Poles.

 

Our goal with these standards is to reduce visual impacts to the streets and sidewalks that form the public right-of-way while establishing rules concerning SWF design.

Wireless providers are already installing SWF in Seattle, and the City is implementing design standards because of the growing interest in placing SWF using poles in the public right-of-way. This version of the design standards has been updated based in part on the comments we received during our November 2019 comment period in the initial draft standards.

 

Most often installed on poles in the public right-of-way, SWF are antennas and related equipment that are smaller than traditional cell towers and extend wireless network coverage. With more people using smart phones and relying on mobile connectivity, wireless providers will need to increase the capacity of their networks and will want to install more SWF throughout Seattle.

 

Our proposal sets SWF design expectations for wireless providers, the City, and the public and provides clear direction on City requirements.

These standards are being developed to benefit the people who live, travel, and work in Seattle. The design standards we’re proposing will apply to devices installed on both metal and wood poles in Seattle’s right-of-way, such as telephone poles and streetlights.

 

To help you visualize what SWF look like, we’re including some examples on wood and metal poles with designs similar to the standards that we’re proposing.

 

 

 

Among other things, the design standards establish the maximum dimensions for any SWF device installed on poles and set the maximum height increase for replacement poles. The standards include specific standards for pole height and diameter, canister and antenna size, accessory equipment locations, and cabling and conduit. There are also standards related to location preferences, context and placement, noise, and lighting, and specific design standards for the new Seattle Waterfront project area. The SWF installations will also need to comply with Streets Illustrated and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For more details, including photos and diagrams, you can read the design standards online. You can also find answers to frequently asked questions about SWF here.

 

Below, you’ll find a few diagrams of what the standards allow.

 

 

 

 

We have released a SEPA Threshold Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) in conjunction with the design standards. We are currently accepting comments on the SWF design standards. The public comment period runs for two weeks from February 13, 2020 and closes at 5pm on February 27, 2020. In addition, any interested party may appeal the SEPA DNS by submitting a Notice of Appeal and a filing fee to the Office of the Hearing Examiner no later than 5:00pm on March 5, 2020. Please see the DNS for more information on submitting appeals.

Comments may be submitted online, by e-mail at telecom.wireless@seattle.gov, or by mail to:

Seattle Department of Transportation
Attn: Alyse Nelson
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124

 

 

Our sidewalks are used by people of all ages and abilities.

 

As we design street improvements & prioritize pedestrian safety, it’s important to do our best to understand how people with different abilities use our sidewalks & street crossings.

 

In addition to staying to date on American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and partnering with groups like Rooted in Rights, our engineers participate in blindness and mobility simulation training.

 

Through our ADA program, engineers participated in a voluntary exercise that allowed them to use a wheelchair to test out new curb ramps & sidewalks.

 

While it’s understood that we can’t fully replicate the circumstances of those that rely on mobility devices to get around, there are many good lessons that can be learned using a manual wheelchair.

 

Our engineers that attempted using the wheelchair found quickly that it’s not easy. Even modest cross slopes and bumpy sidewalk or street surfaces can make getting around quite challenging. This firsthand experience helps us think about the designs we work on daily, and hopefully will give us a better perspective when we’re at the drawing board contemplating our projects.

 

Learn more about our ADA program & how individuals with specific needs can request curb ramps & accessible pedestrian signals.

 

View our Seattle Accessible Route Planner to plan routes with Seattle’s sidewalks and curb ramps. Learn how curb ramps are constructed in our previous blog Anatomy of a Curb Ramp.

Here’s a look at large-scale events happening around the city this week that may impact travel times.

🚧 See our Upcoming Construction & Events page for more info on construction that could impact how you get around town.

💡 Also, don’t forget to look at our Citywide Events Calendar for more things to do. Have fun!

 

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NG Live! Matinee for Students: At Benaroya Hall.  Event hours: 9:30AM – 12:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 1,000.  Student buses will stage on streets around the venue.

 

 

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Seattle Dragons vs. Tampa Bay Vipers: XFL Football at CenturyLink Field.  Kickoff: 2PM.  Estimated attendance: 15,000.

 

Seattle Home Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: Saturday 10am – 6pmEstimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

 

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Seattle Home Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: Sundays 10am – 6pm.  Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

Check out these events around Seattle that may impact travel times this week. Plan your travel and consider alternate modes of transportation #FlipYourTrip.

 

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Seattle RV Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: 11am – 8pm.  Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performance at 7:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

 

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Seattle RV Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: 11am – 8pm.  Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performance at 7:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

 

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Seattle RV Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: 10am – 8pm. Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Lunar New Year Celebration: Celebrate The Year of the Rat at Hing Hay Park.  Event will also close S. King St. between 6th Ave. S. and 7th Ave. S, and Maynard Ave. S. between S. Jackson St. and S. Weller St.  Event hours: 11AM – 4PM.  Estimated attendance: 5,000.

 

Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performances at 1:00PM and 7:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

 

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My Better Half Marathon: Half marathon, 10K, and 5K running events at Seward Park.  10K and 5K runs will use the loop trail within Seward Park.  The half marathon will use the loop trail and the trail along Lake Washington Blvd. S.  Event hours: 8AM – 12PM.  Estimated attendance: 975.

 

Seattle RV Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center.  Show hours: 10am – 5pm.  Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performances at 1:00PM AND 7:00PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

Are parking prices near the places you frequent going up or down? Find out!

 

This week we started rolling out paid parking rate changes based on our 2019 Annual Paid Parking Study. 70% of rates will be lowered or remain the same!

We use data to help drivers more reliably find short-term on-street parking.

Every year since 2010, the Performance-Based Parking Pricing Program has assessed parking supply and demand to inform annual rate decreases and increases. The goal is to adjust rates so that one or two parking spaces are available on each block throughout the day so drivers have reliable access to the curbspace and businesses can rely on parking for their customers.

Our process is straightforward.

Every year we gather hourly parking occupancy data on every paid block so that we can adjust rates by neighborhood and by time of day: morning, midday, and evening. We generally lower rates where and when there are fewer cars parked and increase rates where and when street parking is overly full. We make annual rate changes in 50-cent increments.

 

For example, parking occupancy in the Green Lake business district is traditionally low in the mornings and higher in the evenings. The trend continued in 2019, so we will increase the evening rate after 5 PM to $2.50/hour (up from $2.00/hour). The morning rate is already at the lowest allowed at $0.50, which will remain.

 

In downtown and neighborhood business districts with paid parking, the bottom-line measure of curb performance is the average level of use and availability of spaces. Our goal is to make it efficient and accessible for people who need to drive to find a parking space. This reduces how much time drivers spend circling for parking, which provides other important benefits:

 

• Improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists – drivers circling for parking are often distracted
• Reduces congestion – drivers circling for parking contribute to congestion
• Improves transit efficiency – less congestion and fewer cars stopping in the bus lane means our public transit is more reliable
• Decreases greenhouse gas emissions – less circling means fewer emissions

 

About half of the 92 parking areas/time periods we reviewed will have rate changes.

 

• 47 will have no rate change (current curb performance is meeting our goal)
• 27 will have a $0.50/hour rate increase (street parking in 2019 was overly full)
• 18 will have a $0.50/hour rate decrease (street parking in 2019 was under utilized)

 

Find out where rates will decrease or increase and at what time of day.

Visit our Paid Parking Map for more details. Questions? Contact DOT_PayStations@seattle.gov

It’s almost February! Plan your travel and #FlipYourTrip to get to these events around Seattle.

 

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Rally for Patient Safety & Good Jobs: SEIU Healthcare 1199NW will march at 3:30PM from Swedish Medical Center’s First Hill Campus (Broadway & E. Columbia St) to Westlake Park.  A 4:30PM rally at the park will follow the march.  Seattle Police Department will escort the march.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

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Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performance at 7:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

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Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performances at 1:00PM and 7:30PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

 

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Pacific Northwest Ballet presents Cinderella: At McCaw Hall.  Performance at 1:00PM.  Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

O N G O I N G    E V E N T

 

Seattle Boat Show: January 24 – February 1.  At CenturyLink Field Event Center and Chandler’s Cove in South Lake Union. Free shuttle service runs continuously between both locations.  CenturyLink Field Event Center hours: 11AM – 8PM Mon – Thrs; 11AM – 9PM Fri; 10AM – 8PM Sat; 10AM – 6PM Sun.  Chandler’s Cove hours: 11AM – 5PM weekdays; 10AM – 5PM weekends.   Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

If you’ve been out and about in the Pike/Pine area of Capitol Hill recently when the bars are closing, you may have seen our new ride-hail locations in action.

In mid November we introduced a new way to catch your Uber, Lyft or other ridehail service during late-night hours in the Pike/Pine area of Capitol Hill. There are now four designated passenger pickup zones to help alleviate congestion and maintain clear routes for emergency vehicles. This program was developed through partnership with the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Office of Film + Music, Uber, and Lyft.

 

We are happy to report that so far the pilot has been successful in reaching our goals.

 

We’ve seen improved traffic circulation in the area, and the Seattle Police Department has reported that their ability to patrol and respond in the area has been improved and that crowds are disbursing more quickly with fewer disturbances at the end of the night. Additionally, more riders are catching their rides at the curb and not blocking traffic in the street.

 

This pilot will continue to run for the foreseeable future and may expand to other areas and times across the city where ridehail services are in similar and consistent high demand.

 

 

We need your help!

These passenger load zones depend on being open and available during their effective hours. We installed new curbside signs at the passenger load zones on E Pine and E Union Streets (see map below for zone locations) that indicate no parking in these zones from 12am-3am Friday-Sunday mornings.  There will be active parking enforcement in these zones, and parked vehicles may be subject to ticket and tow.

Who does this affect?

Anyone requesting a ridehail service within the geo-fence (see blue area in map) will be directed to the load zone closest to them, with the option of choosing another if it suits their needs better.

How does this work?

Simple! You request your ride and input your destination as normal. An in-app process will then display a map notifying you of the closest pickup point. You may choose that zone or another zone or leave the geo-fence area for a ride.

Once you arrive at the designated zone, you will see the orange Catch Your Ride sign below the regular passenger loading signs to make it clear that you are in the right place. As always, double-check the license plate, car make & model, and driver photo to make sure you are entering the right car.

For questions or comments, please contact us at latenightpickup@seattle.gov.

 

 

Boats might be causing traffic delays this week! Check out what events (including the Seattle Boat Show) are happening around the city that might impact traffic.

 

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Seattle Opera presents Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin: At McCaw Hall. Show hours: 7:30PM – 11PM. Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

F R I   J A N   2 4:

 

Orca K-8 School Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration: Seattle Police Department will escort annual student march from Orca K-8 School (5215 46th Ave. S) to Raconteur/Third Place Books (5041 Wilson Ave. S), and back. Event hours: 9:30AM – 11AM. Estimated attendance: 400.

 

Seattle Boat Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center and Chandler’s Cove in South Lake Union. Free shuttle service runs continuously between both locations. CenturyLink Field Event Center hours:  11AM – 9PM Chandler’s Cove hours: 11AM – 5PM. Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Seattle Opera presents Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin: At McCaw Hall. Show hours: 7:30PM – 11PM. Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

S A T   J A N   2 5:

 

Seattle Boat Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center and Chandler’s Cove in South Lake Union. Free shuttle service runs continuously between both locations. CenturyLink Field Event Center hours: 10AM – 8PM, Chandler’s Cove 10AM – 5PM weekends. Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.

 

Wing Luke Museum Lunar New Year Lion Dance: Event will celebrate the Year of the Rat. S. King St. closed between 7th Ave. S. and 8th Ave. S. from 8AM and 1:30PM. Event hours: 10AM – 11AM. Estimated attendance: 575.

 

Seattle Opera presents Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin: At McCaw Hall. Show hours: 7:30PM – 11PM. Estimated attendance: 3,000.

 

S U N   J A N   2 6:

 

Seattle Boat Show: At CenturyLink Field Event Center and Chandler’s Cove in South Lake Union. Free shuttle service runs continuously between both locations. CenturyLink Field Event Center hours: 10AM – 6PM. Chandler’s Cove hours: 10AM – 5PM. Estimated attendance: 1,000 per day.