Effective Transportation Effective Transportation PlanningPlanning

City of Seattle, WACity of Seattle, WA

Broadly Defined GoalsBroadly Defined Goals

Uncoordinated and unplanned growth posed a threat to the:• environment• sustainable economic development• health, safety, and quality of life of residents

As an outcome:• communities• local government• private sector

coordinated with one another in comprehensive land use planning

Growth Management Act Growth Management Act (1990)(1990)

The state of Washington started the GMA because...The state of Washington started the GMA because...

Comprehensive Plan (1994)Comprehensive Plan (1994)

Seattle’s governments' response to GMASeattle’s governments' response to GMA

20 year plan20 year plan

Goals and policies about future growthGoals and policies about future growth

Effects of growth on transportationEffects of growth on transportation

Addresses:Addresses:

neighborhood planningneighborhood planning

human social and economic developmenthuman social and economic development

environment environment

Main GoalsMain Goals

Urban growth

Reduce sprawl

Provide efficient transportation

Encourage sustainable economic

development

Comprehensive PlanComprehensive Plan

Collaboration within Collaboration within GovernmentGovernment

Seattle’s Land Use and Seattle’s Land Use and Transportation PlansTransportation Plans

1.1. Seattle Comprehensive Plan Seattle Comprehensive Plan

2.2. Seattle Transit Plan Seattle Transit Plan

3.3. Transportation Strategic Plan Transportation Strategic Plan

4.4. Center City Access Strategy Center City Access Strategy

5.5. Bicycle Plan Bicycle Plan

6.6. Pedestrian Plan Pedestrian Plan

7.7. Blue Ring Strategy Blue Ring Strategy

Center City Circulation Report Center City Circulation Report (CCCR)(CCCR)

Lack:Lack: Common goalsCommon goals Coordination between departmental planningCoordination between departmental planning

Solution: Solution: Bring all stakeholders togetherBring all stakeholders together Unify goalsUnify goals One master planOne master plan

CCCR OutcomesCCCR Outcomes

One Master PlanOne Master Plan Improve AccessImprove Access

Integrate and improve transit and non-Integrate and improve transit and non-motorized transportationmotorized transportation

Provide Multi-Modal SystemProvide Multi-Modal System Specific Recommendations Specific Recommendations

“The goal of the Center City Circulation Report is to present a clear and coherent conceptual approach for maximizing access to downtown by improving and

integrating downtown's public transit, bicycle and pedestrian networks. “

Past Trends and Past Trends and Future PlanningFuture Planning

Past TrendsPast TrendsAlaskan Viaduct ProjectAlaskan Viaduct Project

Earthquake Earthquake CrossroadsCrossroads Example – San Example – San

FranciscoFrancisco 1948 – TrafficWays Plan 1948 – TrafficWays Plan

– revolt– revolt 1973 Transit First Policy1973 Transit First Policy

Alaskan Viaduct ProjectAlaskan Viaduct Project Replacement optionReplacement option

Past TrendsPast Trends Ugly, IntrusiveUgly, Intrusive No New Concepts – No Positive EffectsNo New Concepts – No Positive Effects

AW Viaduct ScenariosAW Viaduct Scenarios

BEST

Alaskan Viaduct ProjectAlaskan Viaduct Project

Surface optionSurface option Pass-through to neighborhoodPass-through to neighborhood Remove barrier between city center and Remove barrier between city center and

waterfront - accesswaterfront - access Improve network grid – access Improve network grid – access More livable, denseMore livable, dense Improve alternative transportation modesImprove alternative transportation modes

Future Potential

““In the future, we must emphasize In the future, we must emphasize efficient modes of transportation.”efficient modes of transportation.”

“…“…maximize moving people, not maximize moving people, not vehicles…”vehicles…”

Seattle Dept. of Transportation Seattle Dept. of Transportation Center City Access Strategy Center City Access Strategy

Continuing Past Trends…Continuing Past Trends…

Future PlanningFuture Planning

SDOT: Bridging the GapSDOT: Bridging the Gap

2006 2006 9 Year Tax 9 Year Tax Levy Levy Total revenue: Total revenue:

$544 Million$544 Million

The Nine-Year Goals:The Nine-Year Goals:

Reduce maintenance backlogReduce maintenance backlog

Pave and repair streets Pave and repair streets

Seismic upgrades to bridgesSeismic upgrades to bridges

Improve pedestrian and bicycle safetyImprove pedestrian and bicycle safety

Increase transit speed and reliabilityIncrease transit speed and reliability

Bridging the GapBridging the Gap

Maximizing AccessMaximizing Access

Creating a Sense of PlaceCreating a Sense of Place

Department of Neighborhoods Department of Neighborhoods

South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors

(SLUFAN)(SLUFAN) Community council for South Lake UnionCommunity council for South Lake Union Broad based group of stakeholdersBroad based group of stakeholders

2020 2020 20,000 new jobs 20,000 new jobs 10,000 new housing units10,000 new housing units

South Lake Union Transportation Study South Lake Union Transportation Study Support developmentSupport development Multi-modal transportation improvementMulti-modal transportation improvement

The Public Involvement PlanThe Public Involvement Plan SLUFAN SLUFAN

SDOT and SLUFANSDOT and SLUFAN

Access, not MobilityAccess, not MobilityRoom for improvementRoom for improvement

University of Washington studyUniversity of Washington study::

“ “...researchers found [that many ...researchers found [that many Seattle neighborhoods] have no Seattle neighborhoods] have no access to a grocery store within a 30-access to a grocery store within a 30-minute bus ride.” minute bus ride.”

City council response: City council response: Studies on:Studies on:

o land use to prioritize food land use to prioritize food o bicycle routes offer better accessbicycle routes offer better access

Cleaner, Cheaper, More Cleaner, Cheaper, More Efficient TransportationEfficient Transportation

Alternative TransportationAlternative Transportation WalkingWalking BikingBiking TransitTransit

• Bus SystemBus System• Street CarsStreet Cars• Light RailLight Rail• MonorailMonorail

CarpoolingCarpooling Water Water

FerryFerry Water Taxi’sWater Taxi’s

AirAir

Priority to Alternative ModesPriority to Alternative Modes Pedestrian ImprovementsPedestrian Improvements

Repair/Build 261 blocks of sidewalksRepair/Build 261 blocks of sidewalks Rehabilitate 40-50 stairwaysRehabilitate 40-50 stairways Restripe 5,000 crosswalksRestripe 5,000 crosswalks Create “Safe routes to schools" Create “Safe routes to schools" Develop and implement Pedestrian Develop and implement Pedestrian

Master PlanMaster Plan

Biking ImprovementsBiking Improvements Fund and implement Bicycle Master PlanFund and implement Bicycle Master Plan Add 4 miles of new multi-use paths.Add 4 miles of new multi-use paths.

Transit ImprovementsTransit Improvements 45,000 hours of new Metro Transit service45,000 hours of new Metro Transit service Enhance transit and safety improvements on Enhance transit and safety improvements on

3 key transit corridors. 3 key transit corridors.

Environmental ImprovementsEnvironmental Improvements Prune 25,000 street trees to prevent safety Prune 25,000 street trees to prevent safety

and security hazards. and security hazards. Plant 8,000 new street trees. Plant 8,000 new street trees.

Priority to Alternative ModesPriority to Alternative Modes

Incentives for Alternative Incentives for Alternative Transportation UseTransportation UseOOne Less Car Challenge ne Less Car Challenge

Give up car for a month:Give up car for a month: $20 commuter voucher $20 commuter voucher $10 off Cascade Bicycle Club Membership$10 off Cascade Bicycle Club Membership

Give up car for a year:Give up car for a year: $200 commuter voucher$200 commuter voucher Voucher for biking and walking gearVoucher for biking and walking gear $100 off subscription to Tiny’s Organic $100 off subscription to Tiny’s Organic Free Cascade Bicycle Club Membership Free Cascade Bicycle Club Membership Proclamation from MayorProclamation from Mayor

Effective Transportation Planning Effective Transportation Planning City of Seattle, WACity of Seattle, WA

Define goalsDefine goals Improve past problemsImprove past problems Plan for future growthPlan for future growth Maximize access not mobilityMaximize access not mobility Provide options Provide options Give preference to cheaper, more Give preference to cheaper, more

efficient modesefficient modes CollaborationCollaboration

Questions