Reclaiming Seattle's Streets: A Call for Equitable and Sustainable Transportation

In a troubling turn of events, six lives were lost in Seattle's traffic within a single week in May, prompting a critical examination of the city's transportation priorities. As Mayor Bruce Harrell and the City Council deliberate the future of the transportation levy, the need for a comprehensive and visionary approach to urban mobility has never been more pressing.

Transforming Seattle's Transportation Landscape: A Crucial Opportunity

Prioritizing Public Transit, Pedestrians, and Cyclists

A robustly funded transportation levy could be the catalyst for a dramatic reduction in preventable deaths and injuries on Seattle's streets. By supporting public transportation, expanding access for pedestrians and cyclists, and prioritizing the needs of those who rely on alternative modes of transportation, the city can take a significant step towards creating a more equitable and sustainable transportation system.However, the outsized influence of motorists, property owners, and the editorial board of The Seattle Times continues to push for car-centric expansions that exacerbate the climate crisis and disregard the majority of voters' desire for increased funding, as evidenced by a poll conducted by the Northwest Progressive Institute.

Reclaiming Space for Sustainable Mobility

To accommodate the city's growing communities, leaders must approve bold and necessary projects that protect and expand bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, calm heavy traffic corridors, and encourage drivers to transition to a connected, equitable, and reliable public transit system. This will require reclaiming some of the vast storage and thoroughfare space currently dominated by personal cars, rapidly multiplying projects like Seattle's Healthy Streets program, dedicating transit-only lanes on congested arterials, and addressing the lack of 11,000 blocks of sidewalk.

Addressing the Deadly Consequences of Car-Centric Design

Anyone who navigates Seattle without a car knows that crossing the street can be a perilous gamble. Automobiles are becoming taller and heavier, while distracted driving and a severe lack of people-focused infrastructure, such as sidewalks, marked crosswalks, and protected bike lanes, have contributed to a 150% increase in pedestrian fatalities since the launch of the Vision Zero initiative in 2015.Compounding this issue is the rising cost of living, which is pushing more people farther from jobs and transportation hubs, leading to increased car dependency and sprawl. The transportation levy and the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan must address these underlying factors to truly tackle the root causes of car-centric urban growth.

Integrating Density, Affordability, and Accessibility

As the city grapples with the need for increased housing density, it must also ensure that affordability and availability go hand-in-hand. The mayor's current housing proposal falls short of King County's 20-year expansion estimate by approximately 12,000 new homes. Zoning restrictions in affluent neighborhoods continue to limit the construction of the types of buildings that could accommodate more people, further exacerbating the housing crisis and the dangerous interactions between cars and pedestrians.Concentrating major upzoning efforts along busy arterials, as proposed, may only serve to perpetuate inequity and the hazardous coexistence of vehicles and people. A more holistic and equitable approach is necessary to address the complex interplay between transportation, housing, and community development.

Amplifying the Voices of Pedestrian and Disability Advocates

Those who have been struck by automobiles while walking, biking, or rolling know firsthand the inherent dangers of car-centric urban growth. Crossing streets bloated with vehicle lanes and lacking in traffic-calming infrastructure is becoming increasingly perilous. As the mayor and the City Council grapple with the future of transportation funding, it is crucial that they listen to the voices of pedestrian and disability advocates who have been calling for safe passage for people outside of cars.This must be a priority, not an afterthought. By adding your voice and contacting your local representatives through the city's website, you can help shape a future where Seattle's streets are designed with the safety and well-being of all residents in mind.