>>> THE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6,
2024 OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE COMES TO ORDER. IT
IS 9:33 AM AND I AM ROB SAKA,
CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
LAYS CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE .
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR ROB SAKA.
>> HERE.
>> THERE ARE FOUR MEMBERS
PRESENT AND ONE EXCUSE.
>> I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS AN EXCUSED
ABSENCE. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTIONS,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. FIRST
AND FOREMOST, WELCOME
COLLEAGUES, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. WE GET TO PIONEER
OUR FIRST CITY OF SEATTLE
MEETING FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
WE ARE READY TO START
CONVERSATIONS REGARDING
TRANSPORTATION IN OUR CITY. WE
ARE EAGER TO MEET AND CONTINUE
TO MEET THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE
WORK EVERY DAY. PERSONALLY, AS
CHAIR I AM FOCUSED ON
MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH A HEAVY
FOCUS ON BRIDGES AND STREET.
REPRESENTING DISTRICT 1 THAT
INCLUDES WEST SEATTLE, ONE OF
MY GOALS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
KNOW WHETHER COMMUNITY IN
SEATTLE EXPERIENCES WHAT WE
EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROTRACTED
CLOSURE OF A CRITICAL BRIDGE.
THERE ARE OVER 150 PLUS
BRIDGES, AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT
SDOT HAS A ROLE IN INSPECTING
AND MAINTAINING SO WE NEED TO
DO BETTER IN THAT AREA. I ALSO
WANT TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND
COMFORT OF PEDESTRIANS AND
MAKING TANGIBLE PROGRESS ON
OUR GOALS. AND INVESTMENT IN
SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE. I WANT
TO FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE
TRANSIT RIDER EXPERIENCE. ALSO,
LET US FOCUS ON CLIMATE WITH
THE GIRLS TOWARDS
ELECTRIFICATION IN ALL SECTORS
OF TRANSPORTATION FROM A FULLY
ELECTRIC FLEET THROUGH ADDING
EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. LET US
ALSO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER
POLICIES WE DESIGN , IN THIS
CASE, TRANSPORTATION POLICIES
ARE NOT ONLY EQUITABLE BY
DESIGN AND ON PAPER BUT LET US
CHALLENGE OURSELVES TO DO THE
WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE
EQUITABLE IN IMPLEMENTATION AS
WELL. I LOOK FORWARD TO A
SPIRITED DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
SIZE AND DIRECTION OF THE
UPCOMING TRANSPORTATION LEVY
WITH YOU ALL AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. COLLEAGUES, AT THIS
TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE TWO REMOTE
SPEAKERS AND TWO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS.
>> WE WILL START WITH IN
CHAMBERS SPEAKERS FIRST. TODAY
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE 90
SECONDS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. CLERK, WE YOU
PLEASE PROVIDE THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
>> I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER
BY NAME IN THE ORDER THAT THEY
REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE OR
THE SIGN UP SHEET IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS. I WILL ALTERNATE
BETWEEN -- I THINK I WILL JUST
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN PERSON AND
REMOTE. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET
REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD
LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD BY GOING TO THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE OR BY SIGNING UP ON THE
SIGN-UP SHEET NEAR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT MICROPHONE. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT LINK IS LISTED IN
TODAY'S AGENDA. ONCE I COLLIE
REMOTE SPEAKER NAME IS I WILL
UNMUTE MICROPHONE AND YOU
WILL BE GIVEN A PROMPT THAT IT
IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK AND THEN
THE REMOTE SPEAKER MUST PRESS
*6 BEFORE SPEAKING. PLEASE
START BY SPEAKING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO
AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME
WHEN YOU ARE NEAR THE END OF
YOUR ALLOTTED TIME . WE ASK YOU
TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT AND YOUR COMMENTS
BY THE TIME PROVIDED THE
MICROPHONE OF THE SPEAKER WILL
BE PLACED ON MUTE TO ALLOW THE
NEXT SPEAKER TO COME FORWARD.
WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE
DISCONNECT THE LINE. YOU MAY
CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS
MEETING ONLINE. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT IS OPEN AND WE BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. REMOTE SPEAKERS, PLEASE
PRESS *6 AFTER YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED. TODAY I THINK WE WILL
START WITH SPEAKERS IN THE
CHAMBERS, DOUG PALMER.
>> IS THIS THE RIGHT
MICROPHONE?
>> THERE IS A TALLER ONE IF YOU
WOULD LIKE. THERE ARE TWO.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DOUG PALMER AND I
LIVE IN A CONTINUING CARE
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY CALLED
SKYLINE THAT IS LOCATED UP THE
HILL. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT
TERM PERMITS RELATED TO SKY
BRIDGE. OUR COMMUNITY IS
DIVIDED BY EIGHTH AVENUE AND WE
HAVE FILED A PETITION FOR A SKY
BRIDGE BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND
CHERRY TO INTEGRATE THE TWO
SIDES OF OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE
THIS PETITION WILL ULTIMATELY
BE COMING BEFORE THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL WE WANTED
TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE
RECEIVING A BRIEFING THIS
MORNING ON TERM PERMITS
INCLUDING FOR SKY BRIDGES. WE
ARE KEENLY AWARE THAT THESE
ARE NOT ENCOURAGED IN SEATTLE
ESPECIALLY ONCE FOR PRIVATE
USE. NEVERTHELESS THE CITY HAS
APPROVED SKYBRIDGES WHERE
THERE WERE GOOD REASONS WANTING
AN EXCEPTION TO THE ROLE. WE
THINK THAT OUR PROPOSED
SKYBRIDGE IS AN EXCEPTION. WE
HAVE DOCUMENTED SAFETY CONCERNS
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR
RESIDENTS CROSSING EIGHTH
AVENUE BETWEEN THE SKYLINE
BUILDINGS. GIVEN THE AGE AND
FRAILTY OF OUR RESIDENTS THERE
IS NO PRACTICAL WAY TO ADDRESS
THIS. EXCEPT WITH A SKYBRIDGE.
HAVING ONE IS VIEWED AS AN
URGENT MATTER OF NEED BY 95% OF
OUR RESIDENTS. I LOOK FORWARD
TO FURTHER CONVERSATION AT THE
APPROPRIATE TIME. [ INAUDIBLE
]
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GORDON
--.
>> HELLO AND GOOD MORNING
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
GORDON AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE GREENWAYS
AND WE WORK TO MAKE EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD A GREAT PLACE TO
WALK, BIKE, ROLL, AND LIVE. I
AM EXCITED TO BE HERE ON THE
FIRST DAY AND THEY THINK THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS THE
BEST COMMITTEE. THANK YOU CHAIR
FOR YOUR WORDS ON VISION ZERO.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOLD
DEAR TO OUR HEARTS BECAUSE WE
THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GET HOME SAFELY TO THEIR
LOVED ONES. I WOULD OFFER THE
WAY THAT OUR NONPROFIT IS SET
UP WE HAVE DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AROUND THE
CITY AND THAT IS REALLY
EXCITING BECAUSE IT MEANS WE
HAVE OUR EAR TO THE GROUND IN
TERMS OF WHAT IS NEEDED AND
WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE TELLING US
AND WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE. I
WOULD OFFER US AS A RESOURCE AS
YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT
TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND LOCAL
VOLUNTEERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS
ACROSS THE CITY AS YOU ARE
TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT SPECIFIC
ISSUES IN DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU SO
MUCH AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
COLLABORATING WITH YOU ALL.
>> NEXT UP WE HAVE DESIREE
HUNTER COMING TO US THROUGH
ZOOM.
>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME.
I AM DEBORAH -- AND DESIREE
HUNTER. I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO.
I HAVE BEEN A CITY EMPLOYEE
FOR 25 YEARS. SINCE 2008 I
HAVE WORKED IN THE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
MAINTAINING SEATTLE STREET
NETWORK DATA AND OUR ADDRESS
DATA IN A THE GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEM. I REQUEST
AN AUDIENCE WITH MEMBERS OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
REGARDING TOPICS THAT HAVE A
DIRECT BEARING ON THE CITY AND
STATE DATA IN TERMS OF
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PUBLIC
SAFETY. THESE TOPICS ARE
RELATED TO SDOT'S
STEWARDSHIP RELATED TO
RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE GPS DATA IS
PULLED INTO EMERGENCY DISPATCH
SYSTEMS AND IS PARTIALLY
SUPPORTED. MY REQUEST HERE
TODAY IS NOT MADE LIGHTLY. OR
FRIVOLOUSLY. I WILL EMAIL THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
MEMBERS SO YOU HAVE MY CURRENT
INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND ATTENTION. HAVE A
GREAT DAY.
>> NEXT UP IS DAVID HAYNES.
>> THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL.
THERE ARE TWO ISSUES IN PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION. THE FIRST ONE
IS THE POT HOLES THAT THE BUS
DRIVERS DRIVE OVER JOLTING
YOUR BACK AND DAMAGING BUSES.
THE OTHERS HAS BEEN THE
NEFARIOUS A 70s AND THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN
AND AROUND THE BUS STOPS. IT
MAKES IT A LIVING FOR AN
INNOCENT BUS PATRON. WE NEED
TO CONVINCE THE BUS UNION
DRIVERS TO START REPORTING
POTHOLES AND INVIGORATE THE POT
HOLE BRIGADE AND THE SECOND
ISSUE IS CONVINCE AND HELP
COORDINATE BETWEEN METRO POLICE
AND THE SEATTLE POLICE WHO
LIKE TO ARGUE IT IS NOT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU ARE AN
INCH OFF THE BUS STOP. METRO
WILL NOT COORDINATE WITH COPS
AND THE COPS FIND THEY CAN'T DO
ANYTHING INSIDE THE BUS. IF
ALL OF THE NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES
TO CONTINUE TO PERMEATE
SOCIETY WERE REPORTED THEN WE
COULD HAVE A BETTER COORDINATED
EFFORT BETWEEN METRO AND CITY
POLICE. WE COULD SOLVE PROBLEMS
THAT THE REAL ISSUE IS WHEN
THE COPS SHOW UP, THEY DO NOT
TRESPASS THE INDIVIDUALS AND
THEY NEVER QUESTIONED THEM TO
FIND OUT WHERE THEY GOT JOBS --
DRUGS TO GO SHUT IT DOWN. THEY
PUSH PEOPLE OFF THE STOP OR USE
THE EXCUSE THEY ARE INSIDE THE
BUS AND IT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED BY SHUTTING DOWN THE
LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS.
>> ALL RIGHT. CLERK, AS I
UNDERSTAND IT THAT IS THE END
OF OUR SIGNED UP PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. WE NOW MOVE ON TO
THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> INTRODUCTION TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL. FIRST
OFF, WELCOME MR. SPOTTS AND
LEADERSHIP TEAM. WE ARE EXCITED
TO HEAR FROM YOU WELL. I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
BRIEFINGS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
GIVING ME PERSONALLY OFF-LINE
AND HELPING ME GET UP TO SPEED
ON WHAT WE DO AT SDOT AND MANY
MORE TO COME. I AM VERY
IMPRESSED BY YOUR LEVEL OF
PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERTISE
AND LEVEL OF COLLABORATION
YOU ARE DISPLAYING TOWARDS ME
AS THE NEW TRANSPORTATION ROLE.
I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD,
DIRECTOR SPOTTS WITH WORKING
TOGETHER AS WE SHAPE AND
DESIGN THE TRANSPORTATION
POLICY FOR THE CITY FOR THE
NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS PLUS. WILL
OUR PRESENTERS, IT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU HAVE EARLY JOINED US AT THE
TABLE. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS REALLY
EXCITING TO BE ITEM NUMBER ONE
ON MEETING ONE OF THE COMMITTEE
CALENDAR. I AM GREG SPOTTS ,
SDOT DIRECTOR AND I HAVE BEEN
IN THIS ROLE ABOUT 17 MONTHS. I
STARTED LABOR DAY WEEKEND OF
2022. I MOVED APPEAR FROM LOS
ANGELES. LET ME INTRODUCE
EVERYONE HERE. TO MY RIGHT IS
BILL -- HE IS THE COUNCIL
LIAISON. HE WILL BE AN AMAZING
RESOURCE FOR YOU AND YOUR
STAFF. I BELIEVE HE IS ONE OF
THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE
IN THE CITY AND A VERY VALUABLE
COLLEAGUE. NEXT TO HIM IS KRIS
CASTLEMAN AND SHE IS THE
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION. SHE WILL BE A
CHARACTER YOU GET TO KNOW WELL
DURING BUDGET SEASON. SHE IS IN
CHARGE OF A BUDGET THAT EXCEEDS
$700 MILLION PER YEAR WHEN YOU
COMBINE THE OPERATING BUDGET
AND THE CAPITAL BUDGET. NEXT
TO HER IS ELIZABETH SHELDON.
OUR FIRST CHIEF INFRASTRUCTURE
ENGINEER. SHE IS IN A DEPUTY
DIRECTOR ROLE BUT I CREATED A
NEW TITLE OF THE CHIEF
INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER SO
THAT WHEN WE COME TO VENUES
LIKE THIS I CAN BRING A
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL CIVIL
ENGINEER TO SPEAK ABOUT
COMPLEX ISSUES LIKE OUR MOVABLE
BRIDGES. THANK YOU LIZ FOR
TAKING ON THAT ROLE. AT THE END
IS MY SENIOR DEPUTY, FRANCISCA
STEFAN. WHO HAS A WIDE VARIETY
OF RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING
DESIGN , THE EXECUTION OF
CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND OUR
VARIOUS INTERACTION WITH THE
TRANSIT AND MOBILITY SERVICES.
NOT HERE TODAY IS MY OTHER
DEPUTY, RODNEY MAXIE.
UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT
FEELING WELL THIS MORNING BUT
YOU WILL ALL GET A CHANCE TO
GET TO KNOW HIM SOON. OUR
PRESENTATION TODAY, AND WE
WILL KEEP THIS ITEM UNDER ONE
HOUR AND THERE WILL BE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE. WE
WILL GO THROUGH FOUR THINGS. I
AM GOING TO BRIEFLY SHARE WITH
YOU OUR MISSION AND VALUES. I
ALREADY DID NUMBER TWO,
INTRODUCING YOU TO OUR
LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION.
WE WILL SPEND MOST OF THIS TIME
GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT LINES
OF BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE AND
HAVE CLUSTER THEM INTO ABOUT
FOUR THINGS. AT THE END OF EACH
GROUPING WE WILL PAUSE AND TAKE
QUESTIONS. AT THE END THERE IS
A SHORT ITEM ABOUT HOW SDOT IS
FUNDED. WE HAVE A RIGHT A
VARIETY OF FUNDING STREAMS. IT
IS A COMPLEX AGENCY IN TERMS OF
REVENUE. OUR VISION AND
MISSION STATEMENT. SEATTLE IS
A THRIVING EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
POWERED BY DEPENDABLE
TRANSPORTATION. WE ARE ON A
MISSION TO DELIVER A
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
PROVIDES SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
ACCESS TO PLACES AND
OPPORTUNITIES. OUR CORE VALUES
ARE EQUITY, SAFETY, MOBILITY,
SUSTAINABILITY, LIVABILITY,
AND EXCELLENCE. I EMBRACE
THESE CORE VALUES WHEN I
JOINED THE AGENCY BUT I
OFFERED TO STAFF THE DEFINITION
OF EXCELLENCE AND THAT I
BELIEVE AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC
AGENCY IS INNOVATIVE,
RESPONSIVE, TRANSPARENT, AND
ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS OUR
COMMITMENT TO YOU AND WE WILL
INTERACT WITH THIS COMMITTEE IN
THAT SPIRIT. LET'S GO TO OUR
FIRST CATEGORY OF SERVICES.
THE SERVICES THAT MAINTAIN A
SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY. LET'S BEGIN
WITH THE TRANSPORTATION
OPERATIONS CENTER. WE HAVE A
CONTROL ROOM IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL TOWER ACROSS THE
STREET THAT IS STAFFED 24
HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. IF
THERE IS REALLY THIS AMAZING
PROJECTION ON THE WALL THAT CAN
PUT UP DOZENS OF DIFFERENT
IMAGES , LIVE VIDEO IMAGES FROM
OUR 500 CAMERAS ON THE STREET.
YOU CAN CHANGE SIGNAL TIMING
AND CONTACT AGENCIES THAT THAT
MIGHT NEED TO RESPOND TO AN
ISSUE AND THIS IS A HELPFUL
FACILITY WHEN WE HAVE A
SPECIAL EVENT OR A WEATHER
EVENT. WE HAD EXTRA STAFFING
DURING MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR
WEEK. IT IS REALLY A COOL
PLACE TO VISIT AND WE WOULD
LOVE TO HOST ANY OF YOU THAT
ARE INTERESTED IN DROPPING BY.
THE CENTER IS RUN BY -- AT
ITS VERY BASE LEVEL THE SYSTEM
IS RUN AND PART BY A SET OF
1100 TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THERE ARE
ABOUT 500 CAMERAS ASSOCIATED
WITH THOSE INTERSECTIONS AND
THERE ARE MORE THAN 1000
AUXILIARY TRAFFIC CONTROL ITEMS
LIKE FLASHING BEACONS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE FOR PEDESTRIANS TO
PUSH A BUTTON. OUR
TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
DIVISION DESIGNS, OPERATES,
AND MAINTAINS THAT EQUIPMENT.
THERE ARE ABOUT 150 STAFF IN
TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND
SUMMER TRAFFIC ENGINEERS. DATA
ANALYST TO WORK IN THE OFFICE
AND SOME WORK OUT IN THE FIELD.
WE HAVE A SPECIALIZED
WORKFORCE OF SIGNAL
ELECTRICIANS WHO MAINTAIN OUR
TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND THE COMPLEX
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE IN THOSE
SIGNAL CONTROL CABINETS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. OUR TRAFFIC
ENGINEERS UTILIZE A VARIETY OF
NONELECTRIC TRAFFIC CONTROL
DEVICES THAT WE CLUSTER UP
AND CALL SIGNS AND MARKINGS.
THERE IS A LARGE TEAM IN SIGNS
AND MARKINGS UNDER MY DEPUTY,
RODNEY MAXIE, WHO IMPLEMENTS
THE WORK ORDERS THAT THE
TRAFFIC ENGINEERS MAKE FOR
SIGNS AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS.
I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
VISITING OUR SIGNS AND MARKINGS
CREWS ON THE WEEKENDS AND I
THINK I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT
SHOWS UP ON PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION TO VISIT THE
CRUISE. I DO THAT THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK AND SOMETIMES IN A
BAD WEATHER. THEY ARE KIND OF
LIKE THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF
SDOT BECAUSE THEY CAN DO ALMOST
ANYTHING. THEY CAN INSTALL A
BIKE RACK, INSTALL A GUARD
RAIL, PUT DOWN GREEN MARKINGS
FOR PROTECTED I CLEANS. THEY
CAN PUT DOWN RED MARKINGS FOR
BUS LANES. I JUST FIND IT A
LOT OF FUN THAT THEY CAN
TRANSFORM A CORE DOOR AND
CHANGE HOW A STREET FUNCTIONS
THROUGH THESE LOW-COST
INTERVENTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK ABOUT SAFETY. DURING THE
INTERVIEW PROCESS, WHEN THE
MAYOR WAS LOOKING AT CANDIDATES
FOR DIRECTOR OF SDOT, I RACED
UP THE IDEA THAT BIG CITIES
AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE HAVING
AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE KILLED AND SERIOUSLY
INJURED ON STREETS DURING
COVID. THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD
HAVE A HYPOTHESIS AS TO WHY
AND WHAT WE MIGHT DO
DIFFERENTLY TO START TO REDUCE
THOSE NUMBER OF KILLED AND
SERIOUSLY INJURED AND MAKE
STREETS SAFER. IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE MAYOR, ON MY FIRST DAY
ON THE JOB I COMMISSIONED A
TOP TO BOTTOM LOOK AT THE ZERO
SAFETY PROGRAM. THAT
CONTAINED ALMOST 100
RECOMMENDATIONS , FIVE OF WHICH
THE MAYOR AND I ELEVATED AS
EARLY MOMENTUM ACTIONS TO FOCUS
ON IN 2023. I THINK PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IN
MY YEAR AND A HALF ON THE JOB
IS TO ELEVATE THE -- WHO USE
TO BE -- TO CHIEF SAFETY
OFFICER OF SDOT . MANY OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE TOP TO
BOTTOM REVIEW WERE CENTERED
AROUND THE IDEA THAT
DECISION-MAKING ON SAFETY WAS
SOMETIMES DIFFUSED OR EVEN
CONFUSING IN THE ORGANIZATION.
THE INTENT OF APPOINTING A
CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER AND
PLACING THE TEAM UNDER THE
PATROL OF VENU NEMANI IS TO
ALIGN RESPONSIBILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY SO THAT ONE
EXECUTIVE IS IN CHARGE OF ALL
SAFETY EFFORTS AND WE ARE
SEEING A LOT OF GREAT RESULTS
FROM DOING THAT AND VENU NEMANI
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO MY SENIOR
DEPUTY, FRANCISCA STEFAN. WE
WILL BE COMING TO YOU WITH A
VISION ZERO PROGRAM
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR
DISCUSSION IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS THAT BUILDS ON THE
FINDINGS OF THE TOP TO BOTTOM
REVIEW. IT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE
AND MAYBE WE CAN SHARE THAT
LINK WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
THE STAFF AFTER THIS MEETING.
THAT INCLUDES A GOOD
BACKGROUND ON WHERE WE ARE WITH
SAFETY AND THAT DESCRIBES THIS
VERY EXCITING $25 MILLION GRANT
THAT WE GOT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER
LAST YEAR THAT WILL FINANCE
AROUND 100 DIFFERENT SAFETY
INTERVENTIONS ACROSS THE CITY.
THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE
ARE PROUD TO BRING IN THE
FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT IS A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FUNDING
FOR VISION ZERO. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. WE MAINTAIN A SMALL
CALL CENTER THAT TAKES IN
CUSTOMER REQUESTS AND SOME OF
WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO DISPATCH
24/7 AND SOME OF WHICH WAIT
UNTIL THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. WE
RECEIVE REQUESTS FROM
EVERYTHING PERTAINING TO FIXING
A POSSIBLE OR A REQUEST THAT A
TREE LIMB HAS FALLEN AND NEEDS
TO BE PICKED UP BUT ALSO MORE
COMPLEX REQUESTS PERTAINING TO,
LET'S SAY, A REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS WORKING
OUT IN THE STREET AND BLOCKING
ACCESS TO A BUSINESS. WE HAVE
A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF REQUESTS AND
COMPLAINTS THAT WE TAKE IN. WE
REFERRED THEM TO THE
APPROPRIATE FOLKS WITHIN THE
AGENCY TO WORK ON. WE HAVE A
VERY INTERESTING SMALL TEAM.
THE SEATTLE RESPONSE TEAM, WHO
ROLLS OUT TO COMPLEX TRAFFIC
INCIDENTS. THEY WORK
INDIVIDUALLY AND THEY HAVE
THESE TRUCKS FULL OF DIFFERENT
TOOLS AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DO
REALLY DIFFICULT THINGS LIKE
GET A SEMITRUCK GOING WHERE THE
BRAKES HAVE SEIZED UP. THEY
HAVE WIDE VARIETY OF SKILLS
THAT THEY WORK TO GO OUT AND
BE THE FIRST EYES ON A NUMBER
OF INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN ON THE
ROADWAY. THE BULK OF OUR CREWS
WORK MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
SHIFTS. ONE WE ARE FACING AN
UNUSUAL EVENT LIKE EXPECTING
SNOW AND ICE, WE MAY MOVE INTO
A 12 HOUR SHIFT POSTURE WHERE
WE HAVE A 12 HOUR DAY SHIFT AND
A 12 HOUR NIGHT SHIFT. BACK AT
THE END OF THE YEAR WE HAD COLD
AND ICY WEATHER FOR A FEW DAYS
AND FOR ABOUT 72 HOURS WE HAD
AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE WORKING DAY
AND NIGHT. SOMETIMES WE NEED
TO PUT SOME OF OUR FOLKS UP IN
HOTELS BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO GET HERE FROM THE
SUBURBS WHERE THEY LIVE IF
THERE IS ENOUGH SNOW AND ICE.
WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE
SOME REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
THAT WE CAN ROLL OUT
DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF
DIFFERENT INCIDENT. ONE OF THE
PARTICULAR TYPES OF CREWS
THAT I AM ESPECIALLY FOND OF
FROM MY DAYS IN URBAN
FORESTRY, WE HAVE A SMALL BUT
MIGHTY FORESTRY TEAM AT SDOT
THAT INCLUDE LICENSED
ARBORISTS THAT INSPECT TREES
AND LOOK AT PERMITS. THAT WE
HAVE SEVERAL TREE MAINTENANCE
AND TRIMMING CREWS THAT ARE OUT
DOING PROACTIVE AND REACTIVE
WORK. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY
WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS
DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF TREE
EMERGENCY IT IS. DURING A
RECENT RAIN STORM ON A
WEEKEND, I VISITED ONE OF OUR
TREE CREWS. A TREE IN A A
CITY PARK FELLOW CROSSED THE
STREET . BECAUSE IT WAS THE
WEEKEND WE WERE BEST POSITION
TO GET OUT THERE AND CHOP IT UP
AND STACK THAT WOULD TO THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN THE
PARKS COULD COME ON MONDAY AND
FURTHER CLEAN IT UP SO THERE IS
A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT GOES
ON BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE IS WE HAVE A
FULL-TIME EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
COORDINATOR IN PATTY QUIRK.
SHE HAS A NUMBER OF
CERTIFICATIONS IN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AND OFTEN VOLUNTEERS
TO WORK ON STATE FIRE ISSUES
DURING THE SUMMER. IT MEANS
THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND
SOMEONE WITHIN THE
ORGANIZATION TO INTERACT WITH.
CENTRAL EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
IN THE CITY, WE HAVE SOMEBODY
WHO HAS A FULL-TIME JOB TO
REPAIR FOR AND QUARTERBACK IN
RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS. WE FEEL
VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE
LIKE PATTY IN THAT ROLE. WHY
DON'T WE PAUSE AND SEE IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE SAFE OPERATION OF OUR ROAD
SYSTEM.
>> CHAIR?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING DIRECTOR AND
TEAM. I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE
THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
AND HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS FROM
THIS INTRODUCTORY SESSION. I
AM ROBERT KETTLE. I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
THINGS FROM A DISTRICT 7
PERSPECTIVE AND FROM MY
BACKGROUND, GIVEN I CHAIRED
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
WITH MY VICE CHAIR SITTING TO
MY LEFT, FELLOW MEMBERS
SITTING TO MY RIGHT AND AN
HONORARY MEMBER WITH
COUNCILMEMBER WOO
PARTICIPATING. PUBLIC SAFETY,
FOR EXAMPLE, I VIEW TRAFFIC
SAFETY AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TO
BE KEY ELEMENTS OF THAT IS
SOMETHING WHERE THE COMMITTEES
CAN WORK TOGETHER. IT IS
HOPEFUL THAT HE IS MY VICE
CHAIR AND I AM ON HIS
COMMITTEE. THAT WILL BE VERY
IMPORTANT TO ORGANIZATIONS OUT
THERE. WE HAD BEEN WORKING, MY
PREVIOUS LIFE AS A VOLUNTEER
IN THE VISION ZERO PIECES. WE
SUPPORT THOSE GOALS. WE ARE
MINDFUL TO, WE MAY SUPPORT AND
DO SOMETHING WITH FIRST WEST
BUT THERE ARE OTHER STREETS
THAT, LIKE I-5 , THAT WE
SHOULD NOT BE CASH SO WE NEED
TO RIGHT SIZE THAT WE
PRIORITIZE PUSHING TRAFFIC
SAFETY AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
THROUGH THE VISION ZERO
PROGRAM. AND ALSO BE MINDFUL AS
A SPEAKER MENTIONED, HOW TO
BEST RESTORE -- SUPPORT FIRST
RESPONDERS. PREVIOUS LIFE AS A
VOLUNTEER, A NOTE REGARDING
SIGNALS. I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING UP THE ON THE MERCER
MESS AND ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AND HOW THEY ARE BEING IMPROVED
AS WE GO THROUGH THE COURSE OF
THIS TERM AND, AS WE SEE IN
DISTRICT 7, DOWNTOWN,
BELLTOWN, UPTOWN, ACROSS THE
QUEEN AND AND SO ON, THERE ARE
AREAS THAT WE HAVE CONGESTION
AND WE USE TECHNOLOGY AND WE
TRY TO LEVERAGE THOSE
TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE
SERVICE. I DEFAULT TO MY CHAIR
AS KING OF THE POT HOLES THAT
WE DEFINITELY HAVE POTHOLE
ISSUES THAT WE HEAR FROM
CONSTITUENTS ON A REGULAR
BASIS. JOHN FROM BELLTOWN, I
WILL GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT, IN
TERMS OF THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE BECAUSE IT GOES TO THE
FUNCTIONALITY OF THE STREETS.
WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, I WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT FROM A DISTRICT 7
PERSPEX LIVE, SOMETHING THAT
THE CHAIR NOTED, FOR DISTRICT
7, BRIDGES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE SICK INCLUDING THE
FLYOVER AT MAGNOLIA . WE LOOK
AT HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE EVERY
PIECE OF GOVERNMENT TO DO
SOMETHING REGARDING MAGNOLIA.
WE ALSO HAVE RAILROAD BRIDGES.
IT IS NOT JUST 15th BUT THE
RAILROAD BRIDGES AS WELL. AND
EMERSON. ALSO IS THE
CONNECTING BRIDGES. THE
BALLARD, FREMONT, AURORA, AND
EASTLAKE. INTERNALLY, LIKE
WOLF CREEK RAVINE, WE HAVE
BRIDGES OVER THAT AS WELL SO WE
HAVE SOME BRIDGES AND I AM
INTERESTED IN THE STATUS OF
THOSE BRIDGES FROM A PUBLIC
SAFETY PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF
WHERE THEY ARE FROM AN
ENGINEERING AND SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE. JUST LEVERAGING
SOME OF THESE SLIDES TO DO AN
INTRODUCTION IN A WAY AND
WELCOME AND THANK YOU. WILL
WE BE WORKING ON PUBLIC SAFETY
AND TRANSPORTATION AS IT
RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK
FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH
YOU AND I AM ALSO A RESIDENT. I
LIVE IN SOUTH LAKE UNION AND I
DON'T HAVE A CAR. I RELY ON
THE BUS SYSTEM AND WALKING SO I
WOULD LOVE TO LOOK AT THE
LOCATIONS THAT YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN ANY TIME.
>> IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO MEET
ANOTHER DISTRICT CONSTITUENT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE . VICE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER WOO, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME.
>> SAME.
>> GREAT. WE WILL MOVE TO A
SECOND CLUSTER OF SERVICES.
THEY MAINTAIN AND MODERNIZE
TRANSPORTATION ASSETS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN
BE GOOD STEWARDS OF A LOOK
INVESTMENT. YOU WILL HEAR ME
SAY MAINTAIN AND MODERNIZE
FREQUENTLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE
CAN DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE TIME TO
MAKE A STREET SAFER OR GREENER
OR MORE WALKABLE OR TRANSIT
FRIENDLY IS WHEN WE ARE
REPAVING. WE SHOULD NOT JUST
REBUILD OUR STREETS EXACTLY THE
SAME AS THEY WERE DESIGNED IN
THE 50s, 60s, OR 70s BUT WHEN
WE COME TO FIX SOMETHING,
LET'S BUILD IT BACK BETTER .
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT DOING
THAT AND THE STAFF HAS BEEN
RALLYING AROUND THAT IDEA. WE
HAVE A VARIETY OF PLANS THAT
GUIDE OUR INVESTMENTS AND OUR
PROGRAMS. I HAPPENED TO JOIN
OTHER TIME WERE SOME VERY
IMPORTANT PLANS WERE UNDERWAY
AND I AM REALLY ENJOYING
CONTRIBUTING TO THE MATURATION
OF THOSE PLANS. PREVIOUSLY,
THERE WAS A BIKE PLAN, A
PEDESTRIAN PLAN, A FREIGHT PLAN
AND A TRANSIT PLAN AND THEY
WERE ALL SEPARATE AND THEY HAD
ALL BEEN DONE AT DIFFERENT
TIMES, SOMETIMES BY DIFFERENT
STAFF AND WITH DIFFERENT PUBLIC
OUTREACH. WE HAVE PULLED
TOGETHER A REPLACEMENT FOR THAT
AS THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
PLAN. IT IS A HOLISTIC AND
INTEGRATED PLAN BUT ALSO
INCLUDES A PUBLIC SPACE
ACTIVATION COMPONENT THAT I AM
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. WE WILL
BE BRINGING A VERSION OF THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO
YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AND
POSSIBLE ADOPTION IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS. I THINK THAT
WILL BE A REALLY FASCINATING
DISCUSSION. WE ARE WORKING ON
VARIOUS PLANS TO BE GOOD
STEWARDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE
ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF
COMPANY THE BRIDGE ASSET
MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE --.
HEADING INTO 2025 , SDOT WILL
HAVE AN UPDATED AND
COMPREHENSIVE SET OF PLANS TO
GUIDE WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO.
WHEN WE DECIDE TO DO A PROJECT,
THERE IS AN EARLY PHASE CALLED
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT THAT TAKES
A PROJECT FROM 0-30% DESIGN.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE
WORKING CLOSELY TO DEFINE WHAT
IS THE PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT
TECHNIQUES WE CAN SOLVE USED TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A
ROLE AT SDOT CALLED THE PROJECT
DEVELOPER. IS A CREATIVE AND
INTERESTING ROLE THAT GETS YOU
TO THAT 30% DESIGN MILESTONE.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WE GO INTO
DETAIL DESIGN. MORE THAT IS
TAKEN OVER BY ENGINEERS WHO
FIGURE OUT HOW DRAINAGE IS
GOING TO WORK OUT AND WHERE
CONDUIT IS GOING TO GO THEN
WHEN WE COMPLETE DESIGN WE GO
INTO CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE
THE CAPABILITY TO IMPLEMENT
SOME SMALLER PROJECTS WITH CITY
FORCES WHICH IS A GOOD WAY TO
DO THINGS QUICKLY. WE ARE
PLEASED TO DO THAT. THERE ARE
SMALLER CITIES THAT CAN'T
IMPLEMENT THEIR OWN CAPITAL
PROJECTS. WE HAVE SOMETHING
CALLED CRUDE DELIVERY. NEXT
SLIDE. WE ARE DELIVERING 200
OR MORE PROJECTS PER YEAR WITH
THE SAME FOLKS WHO ALSO DO
REGULAR SMALL PAVING JOBS AND
RESTORING A TRAFFIC SIGN
KNOCKDOWN , ETC. WE USE ASPHALT
CREWS, AND OTHER CREWS TO
MANAGE THESE PROJECTS.
SOMETHING THAT WE TRIED
RECENTLY, AND I AM VERY PLEASED
ABOUT HOW IT IS WORKING, WE
HAVE A BEACON HILL BIKE LANE
AND SAFETY PROJECT ON 15th THAT
WILL BE CONTRACTED. WE WORK
WITH THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY
EARLY SAFETY DELIVERABLES
WHICH SDOT STAFF COULD INSTALL
WHILE THE PROJECT WAS IN
DESIGN. WE INSTALLED THOSE
LATE LAST YEAR AND THERE ARE
SPEED CUSHIONS AND TEMPORARY
CURB BUMP OUTS AND I THINK
THAT IS AN INTERESTING WAY TO
GET THE COMMUNITY INTERESTED IN
A PROJECT. BRING FORWARD
DELIVERABLES WHILE WE ARE
WORKING ON A LARGER PROJECT
PLUMMETED BY A CONTRACTOR. WE
HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SIZE
ASPHALT PAVING OPERATION AND
WE PAVE SMALLER RESIDENTIAL
STREETS AND ALSO DO MEDIUM AND
LARGE ASPHALT REPAIRS AND
THAT IS BIGGER THAN A POTHOLE
BUT SMALLER THAN THE WHOLE
STREET. IT IS VERY HELPFUL TO
HAVE THAT HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND
THAT SKILL TO DO THAT. WE ALSO
HAVE SOME EXTENSIVE CONCRETE
CREWS WHO CAN DO EVERYTHING
FROM BUILDING ADA RAMPS ,
REPAIRING UTILITY CUTS. TO
EVEN FIXING WHOLE PANELS OF A
STREET. LAST YEAR I WENT OUT
AND VISITED SANDPOINT WAY AND
THERE IS A PROGRAM THERE WHERE
WE ARE TARGETING THE WORST OF
THE WORST CONCRETE SLABS AND
REPLACING THEM. THAT IS SHORT
OF A CONTRACT DELIVERED ENTIRE
STREET RECONSTRUCTION. BUT IT
BRINGS THE STREET INTO A STATE
OF GOOD REPAIR BY WORKING ON
THE PANELS THAT HAVE BEEN
CRACKED UP AND IT IS GREAT THAT
WE HAVE THOSE CAPABILITIES. NOW
I WILL TRANSITION FROM AN
HOUSEWORK TO THE WORK THAT WE
CONTRACT OUT. THE LARGER
PROJECTS ARE MANAGED BY A
GROUP THAT WE CALL THE CAPITAL
PROJECTS DIVISION UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF FRANCISCA
STEFAN. THEY DO EVERYTHING
FROM DESIGN AND CONTRACT OUT
BRIDGE REPAIR, MAJOR PAVING
PROJECTS, SEAWALLS AND
RETAINING WALLS. IN THE PHOTO,
THIS IS THE PROJECT ON
MEDICINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST
PROJECT IN CONSTRUCTION AND IT
IS A THREE-YEAR CONSTRUCTION
DURATION THAT WILL BE
COMPLETED LATE SUMMER AND WE
ARE EXCITED TO HEAR THAT -- TO
HAVE THAT CORRIDOR. THE
MEDICINE PROJECT HAS SOME
CENTER BUS BOARDING ISLANDS AND
THAT IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
HAD THAT CONFIGURATION. KING
COUNTY METRO NEEDED TO ORDER
SPECIAL BUSES THAT HAVE DOORS
ON BOTH SIDES SO YOU CAN LET
PEOPLE OFF CURBSIDE AT SOME
STOPS AND LET PEOPLE OFF AT
CENTER BOARDING SPOTS. IT WILL
BE GRAY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE
ALL THE WAY UP THE DIAGONAL
STREET OF MEDICINE. HERE ARE A
FEW EXAMPLES OF RECENTLY
DELIVERED CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THE STAFF PICKED SOME OF MY
VERY FAVORITES. THE JOHN LEWIS
MEMORIAL BRIDGE IS A BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE THAT
CONNECTS THE LIGHT RAIL STATION
WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES TO
THE WEST. IT IS REALLY HARD TO
IMAGINE HOW FOLKS WE GET TO
THAT STATION WITHOUT THIS
BRIDGE BECAUSE I-5 IS RIGHT
THERE. THIS BRIDGE FLIES YOU
OVER I-5 AND IT IS
ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT.
IT IS REALLY NEAT THAT IT WAS
NAMED AFTER CIVIL RIGHTS
LEADER JOHN LEWIS. IN A THE
MIDDLE, RAPIDRIDE H +
MULTIMODAL CORRIDOR HEADING
DOWN DELL RIDGE. THIS IS A
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK A
CORRIDOR AND PUT IN -- IT WAS
LIKE A 100 YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE
UPDATE . IT IS A DIRECT AND
SPEEDY CONNECTION BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN AND WEST SEATTLE. ON
THE RIGHT THIS IS A PROJECT,
THE SOUTH HENDERSON STAIRS AND
DISCONNECTS AT HILLTOP
COMMUNITY WITH THE RAINIER
BEACH STATION. IF YOU WERE TO
WALK ALONG THE STREET IT IS
THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE BUT
THIS JUST CUTS YOU RIGHT DOWN
THE HILL. IT IS A PRETTY NEAT
PROJECT TO CHECK OUT AND A FUN
PLACE TO EXERCISE. LET'S MOVE
ON TO OUR BRIDGES AND ROADWAY
STRUCTURES. I MISSED THE LAST
ONE. CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE
WILL BE WORKING ON THIS YEAR
INCLUDE, MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN
BRIDGE SEISMIC RETROFITS THAT
WILL MAKE BRIDGES LESS
VULNERABLE TO EARTHQUAKES AND
THOSE ARE GOING INTO
CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE FOUR
IMPORTANT BIKE AND SAFETY
CORRIDORS IN THE SOUTH AND.
WHEN I GOT HERE I LEARNED FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THERE IS
A FEELING THAT THE BIKE
FACILITIES ON THE NORTHERN HALF
OF SEATTLE ARE MORE ROBUST
THAN THE ONES ON THE SOUTH END
AND I WANTED TO CHANGE THAT. I
CLUSTERED THESE PROJECTS
TOGETHER IS LIKE A DIRECTORS
SPECIAL AND HAD AN EXECUTIVE
BE MY LIAISON TO THOSE PROJECTS
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO GET ALL
OF THEM INTO CONSTRUCTION THIS
YEAR. WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE
YOU OUT THERE WHEN WE ARE IN
CONSTRUCTION AND SHOW YOU HOW
WE WILL MAKE THE SOUTH AND MORE
LIKABLE. WE HAVE ANOTHER NEAT
PROJECT, THE EAST MARGINAL
WAY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT. THIS IS AN
INTERESTING CORRIDOR DOOR
BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY NECESSARY
FOR FREIGHT AND CYCLISTS.
THERE IS A UNIQUE DESIGN THAT
WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT
THEIR. CONCRETE SEPARATION
BETWEEN THOSE TWO MODES SO
BOTH OF THEM CAN GET THROUGH
THAT NARROW PART OF THE CITY
AND CONNECT NORTH AND SOUTH.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE
BREAKING GROUND ON THAT
PROJECT. THIS SUMMER WE WILL
COMPLETE RAPID RIDE G AND WE
WILL START WORKING ON
RAPIDRIDE J. THAT WILL BE ONE
OF OUR BIGGEST PROJECTS THIS
SUMMER. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF
ARTERIAL PAVING PROJECTS . WE
HAVE ADDED SAFETY AND
MULTIMODAL GOODIES. 15th
AVENUE AND BALLARD ARE ONE OF
THEM. IT WILL RESURFACE THE
BALLARD BRIDGE AND REPAVE 15th
ALL THE WAY TO MARKET. ONE OF
THE NICE THINGS WE HAVE ADDED
IS A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON 51st
THAT WILL MAKE A CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE MAIN DOWNTOWN AND
THE BREWERY DISTRICT. 15th ACTS
LIKE A BARRIER BETWEEN THOSE
TWO VIBRANT PLACES AND WE ARE
EXCITED TO MAKE A BETTER
CONNECTION THERE. THAT WAS A
GOOD SLIDE. OKAY, BRIDGES AND
ROADWAY STRUCTURES. THIS IS A
SPECIAL GROUP THAT IS UNDER
THE SUPERVISION OF LIZ
SHELDON. THIS TEAM HAS
ENGINEERS AND SPECIALTY CREWS.
WE HAVE CREWS THAT HAVE
SPECIAL CAPABILITIES TO DO
SMALLER BRIDGE REPAIR WORK.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE,
LARGE QUANTITIES OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SPECIALTY ASSETS THAT
WE MAINTAIN. WE HAVE
CAPABILITIES THAT ARE UNIQUE IN
THE REGION. WE HAVE A
SPECIALTY TRUCK WITH THIS ARM
THAT CAN TAKE YOU UP OR DOWN
AND INSPECT PARTS OF THE BID
BRIDGE THAT WOULD BE HARD TO
VISUALIZE WITHOUT IT OTHER
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES ASK US
TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR
INSPECTIONS SOMETIMES BUT WE
ARE FOCUSING THE EFFORTS OF
THIS TEAM ON SEATTLE ASSET
BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY KEY
ASSETS TO MAINTAIN. AN
INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS
JOB AS DIRECTOR OF SDOT, IF
THE SPOKANE STREET BRIDGE DOES
NOT OPEN THEN ALASKA STARVES.
NO PRESSURE. A LOT OF THE FOOD
CONSUMED IN ALASKA COMES UP
THROUGH -- AND GOES THROUGH OUR
ROTATING BRIDGE AT SPOKANE
STREET. WE HAVE FOUR MOVABLE
BRIDGES. THAT ONE IS
UNIVERSITY, BALLARD, FREMONT.
WE EMPLOY BRIDGE OPERATORS WHO
STAFF THESE BRIDGES AND TAKE
NOTE OF WHEN A BOAT COMES IN
MAKE SURE THE BRIDGE IS CLOSED
AND THEN CLOSED TO
PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND CARS
AND THE WE OPEN UP THE BRIDGE
AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN
THAT BRIDGE WITHIN 15 MINUTES
BY COAST GUARD RULES. IT IS
REALLY INTERESTING HOW THE
MARITIME NATURE OF HOURS
SEATTLE ECONOMY PLAYS THROUGH
INTO SDOT'S WORKPLAN.
MAINTAINING THOSE BRIDGES IS A
CRITICAL TASK. EACH ONE IS
UNIQUE. SORT OF A UNIQUE
COMPLEX MECHANICAL AND
INCREDIBLE PROJECT. ONE OF THE
REASONS I CREATED THAT CHIEF
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER POSITION IS
TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL
PERSON THAT CAN OVERSEE THE
COMPLEX WORK AND KEEP THOSE IN
A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR. WHY
DON'T WE PAUSE THERE AT THE
END OF THAT SEGMENT FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY
OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE?
>> WHEN I INTERVIEWED FOR THIS
JOB I A HOLDS MAYOR HARRELL,
DRAWING LINES ON A MAP AND THEN
TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WERE
GOING TO GET NEEDED TO AND AND
WE NEEDED TO CO-CREATE PROJECTS
WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH A
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON INVESTING
IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED
AREAS. WHEN I GOT HERE I FOUND
A DEPARTMENT THAT HAD A ROBUST
AND MULTILAYERED SET OF TOOLS
FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. A
DEPARTMENT THAT HAD A
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY NETWORK
THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 200
TECHNIQUES WE CAN USE. WE TALK
ABOUT BRINGING THE TABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW
THAT THERE IS A TABLE. AND
BRINGING IT TO THEM IN THEIR
LANGUAGE THAT THEY WANT TO
COMMUNICATE WITH US AND IN A
CULTURALLY RELEVANT WAY. I WAS
REALLY ATTRACTED BY THAT
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
FRAMEWORK. IT WAS ONE OF THE
REASONS I WANTED TO PURSUE
THIS JOB SO WE ARE TRYING TO
LIVE THAT UP AND BRING THAT TO
LIFE. ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING AS WE FRAME
UP A NEW TRANSPORTATION LEVY
IS, COULD WE HAVE MORE PROGRAMS
THAT EXPLICITLY BRING THE
COMMUNITY IN THE EARLY STAGES
TO IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS THAT
THEY NEED. WE HAVE HAD
PROGRAMS LIKE THAT IN THE PAST
AND THE FUNDING FOR THEM HAS
COME AND GONE HERE AND THERE.
THOSE PROGRAMS ARE VERY
POPULAR. WHERE THERE IS STAFF
AND MONEY AVAILABLE TO KIND OF
SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT THE
COMMUNITY LIFTS UP THAT WE
MAYBE DID NOT DETECT IN OUR
MAKING OF LARGE-SCALE PLANS.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH YOU
WAYS TO FURTHER INSTITUTIONALIZ
E THAT AND FUND IT BETTER AS WE
GO FORWARD.
>> QUICK QUESTION. ACTUALLY, A
COUPLE. ON THAT POINT, FIRST I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT SLIDE. I RECOGNIZE THAT
MacGRAW AND SEVEN WEST. WHAT
THAT PICTURE REPRESENTED WAS A
CROSSWALK NEAR -- ELEMENTARY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK RELATED
TO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND
MAKING THEM SAFER. ALONG THE
LINES IN TERMS OF THE
COMMUNITIES, YOU SHOULD KNOW
THAT I WILL BE SETTING UP, IT
IS KIND OF AN INFORMAL OR
FORMAL DISTRICT COUNCIL WERE I
BRING TOGETHER OTHER COUNCILS
AND ORGANIZATIONS TO FILL IN
GAPS. I WANT TO MAKE THEM
SMARTER ON TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES SO THEY PUT A STRONGER
SIGNAL ON SDOT IN TERMS OF
COMMUNITY INPUT. IT IS SO
IMPORTANT. SPEAKING OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE LIKE AND
THE BIGGER PICTURE, I AM
CURIOUS IN GENERAL, ONE OF THE
THINGS I REALLY WANT TO PUSHES
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PORT.
I BELIEVE, AS I HAVE SAID MANY
TIMES, WE NEED TO BE A PORT
CITY 100 YEARS FROM NOW IN THE
FUTURE. HOW CAN WE MAKE A
VIABLE PORT IN THE FUTURE AND
THIS COMES DOWN TO LOGISTICS,
ROAD, RAIL, AND THE LIKE.
SINCE YOU MENTIONED THE
MARGIN WAY PROJECT, ANYTHING
RELATED TO THE PORT TO
FACILITATE THEIR OPERATIONS?
MY BELIEF IS IF WE DO ADDRESS
THIS WE COULD MOVE FORWARD ON
OTHER AREAS OF THE PORT CITY
RELATIONSHIP.
>> I AGREE WITH THAT BEING AN
IMPORTANT PLACE TO FOCUS
EFFORTS AND WE HAVE A VARIETY
OF POINTS OF COLLABORATION
WITH THE POINTS AND FOLKS
WITHIN SDOT WHO FACE THEM ON
VARIOUS ISSUES. WE HAVE A
HISTORY OF IDENTIFYING
PROJECTS OF SHARED INTERESTS
AND EVEN FINDING WAYS TO
JOINTLY FUND THOSE. WE HAVE A
GREAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION
WITH THE PORT AND SIMILAR
ENTITIES AND WE DO WANT TO HELP
BRING A LEADERSHIP ROLE INTO
LAST MILE DELIVERY. ARE THERE
WAYS TO MAKE LAST MILD
DELIVERY LOWER CARBON AND
PERHAPS SMALLER AND LOWER
POLLUTING. IT IS A TIME WHERE
THE WORLD IS RETHINKING HOW WE
MOVE GOODS. WE WANT TO BE
STRONG PARTNERS IN ALL OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE NOT MENTIONED ,
FURTHER FOLLOW-UP ON THE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WE HAVE
SEVERAL DIFFERENT ADVISORY
BOARDS THAT ARE LIKE POINTS OF
CONNECTION FOR THE PUBLIC AND
THEY MEET MONTHLY. WE HAVE A
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD, A
BIKE ADVISORY BOARD, A FREIGHT
ADVISORY BOARD, A TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD . WE HAVE A
SCHOOL TRAFFIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A BOARD
FOR ADA ISSUES. ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAVE BEEN PROMOTING IS
THAT WHEN WE HAVE A PROJECT
THAT HITS A CERTAIN DESIGN
MILESTONE, 30, 60, OR 90%,
LET'S TAKE THAT PLAN TO
APPROPRIATE ADVISORY BOARDS AND
LET ALL STAKEHOLDERS COMMENT
ON IT. THOSE ARE GOOD
IMPORTANT POINTS OF INTAKE FOR
PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED IN. I
BELIEVE IT IS THE COUNCIL THAT
PICKS THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR
THOSE BOARDS. THE NEXT CLASS
OF SERVICES ENHANCE THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND
CREATING ATTRACTIVE PLACES. I
AM PLEASED TO SEE THE DEEP AND
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP THAT
SDOT HAS WITH KING COUNTY METRO
AND WITH SOUND TRANSIT . THE
ONLY TRANSIT SERVICE THAT WE
ACTUALLY OWN AS SDOT ARE THE
STREETCARS. BUT WE CONTRACT
WITH KING COUNTY METRO TO RUN
THOSE STREETCARS EVERY DAY. WE
HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF
MULTIFACETED RELATIONSHIPS WITH
KING COUNTY METRO SO THAT WE
ARE WORKING ON WAYS THE STREET
CAN BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THE
BUS SYSTEM AND I THINK THERE
IS REALLY EXCELLENT ALIGNMENT
BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS
AND IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE A
GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING ON.
SOMETHING LIKE RAPID RIDE
COMES BECAUSE OF PLANNING AND
COLLABORATION AND WHO FUNDS
WHICH PIECES OF IT. SOMETHING
THAT REALLY BENEFITS THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE IS THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION MEASURE
AND THAT IS A SPECIAL TAX THAT
VOTERS APPROVE TO PROVIDE A
REVENUE STREAM TO INVEST IN
TRANSIT. ULTIMATELY, FROM THE
ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS IT IS THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR
THAT PROGRAM THOSE FUNDS. THOSE
ALLOWS TO BUY ADDITIONAL
SERVICE HOURS SO THAT WE CAN
PICK KEY ROUTES THAT WOULD
BENEFIT FROM HIGHER FREQUENCY
AND PAY FOR THAT ADDITIONAL
SERVICE BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US
TO MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
SO THAT YOU HAVE A BETTER BUS
LANDING. SAFER CROSSING. A
SPECIAL SIGNAL THAT GIVES THE
BUS A Q JUMP. ALL KINDS OF
DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN DO WITH
THAT. ALSO, RIGHT AROUND THE
TIME THAT I GOT HERE, THE
SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE WAS
FUNDING CARDS FOR USE WITHIN
THE STATE SAW THAT AND THOUGHT
IT WAS SUCH A GREAT IDEA THAT
THE TOOK THAT ON STATEWIDE AND
THAT FREED UP SOME OF THE
FUNDING AND I WAS VERY PLEASED
TO GREENLIGHT WITH THE MAYOR
THAT INVESTMENT IN GIVING FREE
ORCA CARDS TO MEMBERS OF
PUBLIC HOUSING AND WE HAVE
PROVIDED ALMOST 7000 ORCA
CARDS TO THOSE THAT LIVE IN
BUILDINGS RUN BY SEATTLE
PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY AND
THE USAGE OF THOSE CARDS IS
VERY HIGH. WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT INFLATION AND THE PRICE
OF THE SUPERMARKET, SOMEONE
MIGHT BE ON SOCIAL SECURITY
DISABILITY AND A FREE TRANSIT
CARD MEANS THEY DON'T HAVE TO
CHOOSE BETWEEN MOBILITY AND
FOOD. THAT CAN BE VERY
LIBERATING. THAT IS AN EQUITY
ORIENTED USAGE OF FUNDING THAT
I AM PROUD OF. WE ALSO HELP
BRING FORWARD A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT MOBILITY SOLUTIONS.
WE HAVE A PERMIT PROGRAM FOR
COMMERCIAL OPERATORS OF SHARED
SCOOTERS AND E BIKES. WE HAD
RECORD THE USAGE DURING
ALL-STAR BASEBALL WEEKEND. WE
HAD 1300 TRIPS TO AND FROM THE
STADIUM ON THE ALL-STAR GAME
ON THE SHARED MOBILITY DEVICES
AND THAT IS A LOT OF AVERTED
CARBON EMISSIONS THAT WE DID
NOT HAVE IF THOSE PEOPLE TRY TO
GO TO THE GAME BY CAR. WE ALSO
HAVE A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WHERE WE
WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO
ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE THEIR
EMPLOYEES USE LOWER CARBON
COMMUTE METHODS. WE ARE ALSO
AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF
REGULATING THE TESTING OF
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES ON CITY
STREETS. THE STATE LEGAL
FRAMEWORK PROVIDES A BASELINE
AND LOCALITIES ARE ALLOWED TO
ADD TO THAT IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
I AM VERY PROUD THAT WE STOOD
UP AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF LOCAL
REGULATION ON THE TESTING OF
AV ON SEATTLE STREETS. WE
PARTNER WITH CITY LIGHT AND
OTHER FOLKS ON CURBSIDE
CHARGERS FOR EV CARS. WE
HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF
PEDESTRIAN PROGRAMS. WE BUILD
NEW SIDEWALKS EVERY YEAR,
CONVENTIONAL TYPE AND
ALTERNATIVE TYPE PATHWAYS WHERE
A NEW SIDEWALK MIGHT NOT BE
PRACTICAL OR COST EFFECT. THE
LEVY TO MOVE SEATTLE WILL FUND
ABOUT 250 BLOCKS OF SIDEWALK
OVER ITS NINE-YEAR LIFE. WE
HAVE ROBUST SAFE ROADS SCHOOLS
AND DURING THE LEVY TO MOVE
SEATTLE EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL GOT AT LEAST ONE SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT FOR FOLKS WALKING
AND BIKING TO SCHOOL. SOME OF
OUR SMALLER SCALE PEDESTRIAN
IMPROVEMENTS COME FROM SPECIAL
PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER THE
COMMUNITY TO TELL US WHERE
THOSE PROJECTS ARE NEEDED.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF BEING A
LARGE AGENCY IS WE HAVE A
ROBUST ADA PROGRAM. DID I SKIP
ONE? OKAY. WE HAVE AN ADA
COORDINATOR TOM HEWITT THAT
OVERSEES A SMALL TEAM THAT
MAKES SURE WE ARE LEADERS IN
ADVANCING ACCESS OF OUR
STREET SYSTEM FOR THOSE WITH
DIFFERENT KINDS OF MOBILITY
IMPAIRMENTS. I HAVE LEARNED A
LOT FROM OUR ADA COORDINATOR
ABOUT HOW TO ACCOMMODATE AND
ASSIST VISUALLY IMPAIRED
PEOPLE. SOME OF THAT WORK IS
INFORMED BY OUR ACCESS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF
PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE
VARIOUS MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS
AND CAN SHARE WITH US WHAT
THEIR NEEDS ARE. TWO OF OUR
EXCITING NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED
PROGRAMS ARE GREENWAYS AND
HOME ZONES. GREENWAYS ARE SORT
OF A TRAFFIC CALMING SO THAT
YOU CAN HAVE A STRAIGHT THAT
HAS LESS THROUGH TRAFFIC AND
MORE COMFORTABLE TO WALK A
BIKE THROUGH YOUR STREET AND WE
IMPROVE HOW THE STREET CROSSES
ARTERIALS. I WENT ON A BIKE
RIDE RECENTLY WHERE THEY TOOK
ME THROUGH SIX DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES CONNECTED BY THIS
WEB OF NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS.
HOME ZONE IS A PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE HAD WHERE THERE IS
FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY REQUESTED
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND TRAFFIC
COMMON ELEMENTS. WE HAVE AN
EXTENSIVE BIKE PROGRAM AND WE
HAVE PROJECTS LARGE AND SMALL
TAKING IT SAFER AND MORE
COMFORTABLE TO BIKE IN SEATTLE.
DURING THE LEVY TO MOVE
SEATTLE WE HAVE SEEN A
CITYWIDE PROGRAM COME INTO
FOCUS AND MUCH OF THAT NETWORK
HAS HAD A SECOND ROUND OF
PARDONING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES
OF CONCRETE WHETHER IT IS
ISLANDS, CURBS, OR JERSEY
BARRIERS. WE ARE TESTING A NEW
TYPE OF BARRIER CALLED A
TORONTO STATE -- TORONTO TYPE
BARRIER AND THAT IS A MINI
VERSION OF THE JERSEY BARRIER
AND WE ARE GETTING A GREAT
RESPONSE FROM CYCLISTS ON THAT.
WE ALSO MAINTAIN AND MAKE
INVESTMENTS ON URBAN TRAILS
AND BIKEWAYS OFFSTREET AND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND IS
ALSO A COMMUNITY DRIVEN
PROGRAM. THERE IS ACTUALLY
TWO REALLY NEAT PLACE MAKING
PROJECTS THAT WERE COMPLETED
DURING MY 17 MONTHS HERE. ONE
OF THEM, I PICTURE IT AT THE
TOP WITH THE RED PLANTERS IS
THE PORTAL PORCH THAT WE
WORKED ON TO MAKE A DOWN
PAYMENT ON INVESTING IN THIS
PORTAL THAT USED TO CONNECT YOU
TO THE VIADUCT THAT IS NO
LONGER AT THE WATERFRONT.
THERE ARE COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS
TO HAVE A PARK THERE BUT WE
BUILT THIS OVERLOOK THAT IS AN
EXPANDED SIDEWALK WITH A
RAILWAY . A LITTLE EARLIER
THAN THAT, WE OPENED DETECTIVE
COOKIE CHESS PARK. THAT WAS
ACTUALLY ASPHALT THAT WAS NOT
PROGRAMMED AND NOW IT IS A
PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN MEET AND
PLAY CHESS AND IT IS NAMED
AFTER DETECTIVE COOKIE THAT
STARTED THE CITYWIDE CHESS
PROGRAM FOR YOUTH. WE HAVE
DONE A LOT OF WORK ON BALLARD
AVENUE CREATING A CAFÉ STREET
AND IT IS A VIBRANT PLACE
POST PANDEMIC TO DINE AND SHOP
WITH VERY FEW CARS AROUND AND
A TERRIFIC FARMERS MARKET.
LET'S TALK ABOUT INTERAGENCY
PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A GROUP THAT
FACES PARTNER AGENCIES BECAUSE
THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE
DON'T RUN THAT IMPACT CITY
STREET. ONE OF THE LARGER
PROJECTS WE HAVE BEEN
INTERACTING ON IS THE 520
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT THAT HAS A
NEW LID GOING IN AND THAT WILL
BE A COOL PLACE TO WAIT FOR THE
BUS AND HANG OUT AS YOU GET
CLOSE TO LAKE WASHINGTON AND
THERE IS A TUNNEL UNDER THE
FREEWAY FOR CYCLIST TO CONNECT
TO THE BRIDGE AND OTHER PLACES.
WE ARE JUST GETTING READY TO
START A PROJECT THAT SHORELINE
IS RUNNING ALONG THE BORDER ON
145th STREET. SHORELINE IS
CREATING INTERCONNECTIONS TO
THE LIGHT RAIL STATION THAT
WILL OPEN THEIR AND BECAUSE WE
CONTROL THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
THE STREET , WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH THEM AND THAT WILL GO IN
TO -- SOON. WE ARE WORKING
WITH ABOUT A DOZEN FOLKS TO
FACE SOUND TRANSIT. WE WANT
SOUND TRANSIT 3. THE WEST
SEATTLE EXTENSION AND THE
BALLARD EXTENSION,
COLLECTIVELY, $12 BILLION.
THESE ARE THE LARGEST FOR
STRUCTURE PROJECTS THE REGION
HAS SEEN AND THERE WILL BE
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR
CONNECTIVITY AND URBAN DESIGN
AND WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES
IN CONSTRUCTION AND SDOT
WILL BE IN CHARGE OF WORKING
WITH THEM. AND THEY ALSO
REPORT TO THE CHIEF
INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER . THAN
I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE SHORT
CATEGORY AND A SHORT SUMMARY OF
THE BUDGET.
>> ANY QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES?
GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> SPEAKING OF SOUND TRANSIT 3,
THERE IS A LOT OF CONTENTION
AMONG SOME OF THE SITE
LOCATIONS. WHAT IS YOUR
INTERACTION AND INFLUENCE
REGARDING THAT?
>> WE ARE DEFINITELY INVOLVED.
THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS WHO
ADVISE THE MAYOR DIRECTLY ON
HIS ROLE ON THE SOUND TRANSIT
BOARD. WE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY
OF THOSE MEETING AND WORK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE PROVIDE A
LOT OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
THE DECISION-MAKERS TO HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT
COMPLEX CHOICES AND THERE IS
ANOTHER AREA THAT HAS RECEIVED
A LOT OF ATTENTION AND THAT IS
WHERE THE STATIONS ARE CITED IN
THE SOUTH LAKE UNION AREA AS
WELL.
>> WHO IS THE ULTIMATE
DECISION-MAKER ON THESE
DECISIONS?
>> THE BOARD OF SOUND TRANSIT.
THEY DECIDE ON THE LOCALLY
PROVIDED ALTERNATIVE AND WHAT
WILL BE IN THE FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
>> I DON'T SIT ON THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD AND OUR
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS DOES, BUT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY OFFICE
PERSONALLY, FOR THE LIGHT RAIL
PROJECT, THE $12 BILLION PLUS
INVESTMENT THAT IS COMING
THROUGH WEST SEATTLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT IS DELIVERED ON TIME
AND ON BUDGET WITH MINOR
IMPACTS TO COMMUNITIES. -- YOU
KNOW, INCLUDING FUNDING
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE THAT IS
ACTUALLY IMPACTFUL TO
COMMUNITIES AND SMALL
BUSINESSES. I UNDERSTAND THAT
SDOT AND THE CITY DOES NOT PLAY
A CENTRAL ROLE BUT I WANTED TO
SHARE MY OBSERVATIONS AND
COMMENTS.
>> WE CAN BE A SOURCE OF
INFORMATION AND BRING IN OTHER
PARTNERS TO REVIEW AT KEY
MOMENTS.
>> CONTINUING THE TRADITION OF
BRIEF DISCUSSIONS, DISTRICTS
SEVEN, ST 3 IS HUGE. IT GOES
THROUGH QUEEN AND AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION. WE ARE A UNIQUE
CITY IN TERMS OF TOPOGRAPHY,
CITY SLOPES AND WATERWAYS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLICATING
FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT AND
DISTRICTS SEVEN IS PART OF
THEM. I SAW YOUR MOBILITY
DECISIONS POINT ON THEIR AND
THAT GOES WITH BIKE LANES. ONE
THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN
LEARNING ABOUT EMISSIONS AND SO
FORTH, ONE THING I HAVE
LEARNED IS THEY ARE BECOMING
ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.
IT GOES TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
PRIMARILY. DOWNTOWN BELLTOWN,
THEY GO FAST AND IF YOU HAVE
SOMEBODY MY SIZE THAT FAST, IT
IS PHYSICS. IF YOU HAVE AN
ELDERLY PERSON LIVING IN A
CONDO DOWNTOWN, BELLTOWN
BECOMES A BIG CHALLENGE. AND
THE BIKE LANES. IF YOU ARE A
PEDESTRIAN AND YOU ARE TRYING
TO GET TO THE STARBUCKS AT THE
ATC BUILDING AND YOU HAVE THOSE
PROTECTED LANES, WITH THESE
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS, WITH
SCOOTERS AND THE LIKE, THEY GO
FAST IN THIS PEDESTRIAN ISSUE
OF TRYING TO GET FROM ONE SIDE
OF WESLEY TO THE OTHER SIDE,
WHETHER IT IS --. THAT IS A
GROWING ISSUE FROM A PUBLIC
SAFETY PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AS IT
TIES INTO YOUR SLIDE PIECES. I
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND IT
WILL COME UP DIFFERENT WAYS
WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND
TRANSPORTATION AS WELL AND
NOTICE INTEREST IN THE
EAST-WEST CONNECTORS. THOMAS
STREET AND ALL OF THE LIKE.
THE BAY TO THE LAKE, THEY ALL
HAVE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS. I
LOVE DEVELOPING THOSE OPTIONS
FOR DISTRICTS SEVEN
PARTICULARLY BUT THEY ARE
USEFUL FOR ALL OF SEATTLE. ONE
LAST PIECE IS THE PORTAL PARK
IS NOT ASPIRATIONAL, BUILDING
OFF OF THE PORTAL PORCH. YOU
CAN HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN
BECAUSE WE NEED SDOT AND CITY
LIGHT TO DO A --. WE NEED A
PROPERTY SWAP THAT WOULD
FACILITATE PARKS IN CREATING
THAT PORTAL PARK. MY
CHALLENGES FOR YOU TO WORK WITH
YOUR COUNTER PART TO
FACILITATE THESE CHESS PIECES
TO GET THESE LINED UP TO MAKE
THE PORTAL PARK NOT JUST
ASPIRATIONAL BUT IN EFFECT ON
THE PLAN AND REALITY. IF YOU
WILL TAKE THAT ON I WOULD TRULY
APPRECIATE IT.
>> MESSAGE RECEIVED.
>> AND I HAVE MY PARKS
COMMITTEE CHAIR RIGHT TO MY
SIDE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, FEEDBACK? OKAY.
PLEASE CONTINUE DIRECTOR
SPOTTS.
>> THANK YOU. AS THERE ARE
MORE AND MORE DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT PEOPLE USE OUR STREETS,
SDOT HAS TO FIND A WAY TO HELP
THEM COEXIST. ANOTHER PART OF
THIS IS WE DON'T DECIDE WHAT
MODE SOMEBODY CHOOSES TO USE
BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
EVERYBODY SAFETY NO MATTER
WHICH WAY THEY SHOW UP ON A
GIVEN STREET. AT ITS CORE THE
FIRST THING THAT WE REGULATE IS
PARKING. I LEARNED THE OTHER
DAY THAT THERE IS ABOUT 500,000
CURB PARKING SPACES IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE BUT THEY ARE
NOT ALL MARKED. WE ONLY CHARGE
FOR PARKING FOR 12,000 OF
THOSE HALF 1 MILLION PARKING
SPACES. THAT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF A WHOLE GROUP
THAT WE HAVE CALLED CURB SPACE
MANAGEMENT. YEARS AGO WE TOOK
OUT INDIVIDUAL PARKING METERS
AND MOVED TO THE LITTLE KIOSK,
THE PARKING PAY STATION BUT WE
ARE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE
THREE QUARTERS OF USERS ARE
PAYING WITH A SMART PHONE AND
IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE
ADOPTION OF THAT TECHNOLOGY. WE
ALSO MANAGE LOADING ZONES. TO
MAKE SURE THAT DELIVERIES CAN
BE MADE EFFICIENTLY AND WE
HAVE SOME REALLY INTERESTING
SORT OF DIGITIZATION EFFORTS
GOING ON WHERE ONE DAY IT
MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR LIKE ,
AN AMAZON DRIVER TO LOOK ON THE
SMART PHONE AND FIND OUT THAT
A PARKING SPACE IS AVAILABLE
RIGHT NOW. THERE MIGHT EVEN BE
SENSORS TO TELL US IT IS
AVAILABLE OR NOT. THERE IS A
LOT OF EXCITING INNOVATION
INVOLVING HOW WE MANAGE THAT
SPACE. THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT
OF OTHER FORMS OF REGULATION
UNDER THE STREET USE DIVISION
THAT LIZ WAS RUNNING BEFORE SHE
WAS PROMOTED. ONE OF THEM IT
IS HOW PEOPLE USE THE STREET
DURING CONSTRUCTION AND ALSO,
WHAT STREETSCAPE HAS TO BE
PUT IN WIND THERE IS A MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS A WIDE
VARIETY OF REGULATORY
FUNCTIONS AND WE HAVE
INVESTIGATORS THAT CAN ROLL OUT
ON SAME DAY NOTICE IF WE HEAR
FROM A CONSTITUENT THAT THERE
IS A PROBLEM WITH HOW THE
STREET IS BEING USED BY
SOMEONE. OKAY. SO, HERE ARE
SOME QUICK NUMBERS THAT YOU CAN
REVIEW AT YOUR LEISURE. ISSUED
OVER 12,000 PERMITS. THERE IS
A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON IN
OUR CITY. NOW I WILL HAND IT TO
MY FINANCE DIRECTOR, KRIS
CASTLEMAN, TO GIVE YOU A BROAD
OVERVIEW OF HOW SDOT IS FUNDED
AND THIS IS INFORMATION WE
WILL GET INTO MORE DETAIL AS
WE GET CLOSER TO BUDGET SEASON.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING. I WILL BE
BRIEF. SDOT'S ADOPTED BUDGET
HAS BEEN OVER THE 700 MILLION
MARK SINCE 2020 WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF 2021 DUE TO
REVENUE SHORTFALLS CAUSED BY
THE PANDEMIC. 53% OF THE
ADOPTED BUDGET IN 2024 IS
DEDICATED TO CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT WHICH IS RELATED TO
DELIVERY OF THE LEVY TO
IMPROVE SEATTLE. THERE WILL BE
CARRYFORWARD DOLLARS FOR
PROJECTS. AT 26% OF THE BUDGET
SUPPORTS ONGOING SERVICES
PORTFOLIO THAT GREG REVIEWED.
15% OF THE BUDGET IS
CATEGORIZED AS REIMBURSABLE
AND THIS IS LARGELY SUPPORT TO
ACTIVE THIRD-PARTY PROJECTS IN
A RIGHT-OF-WAY AND INCLUDES
RIGHT-OF-WAY -- AND 6% OF THE
BUDGET THIS YEAR WILL BE DEBT
SERVICE AND SUPPORT OF OUR BOND
FINANCED CAPITAL PROJECTS.
TURNING TO THE NEXT SLIDE OUR
PORTFOLIO RELIES ON MANY MORE
FUNDING SOURCES THAN MOST CITY
DEPARTMENTS. THE CURRENT COUNT
IS 83 INCLUDING STATE AND
FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOCAL
PARTNERSHIPS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS
THE PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCES AND
INDICATES WHAT ARE VOTER
APPROVED, WATER COUNCIL
GENERATED, THE FINANCE GENERAL
FUNDING, AND REVENUES THAT
COME FROM OTHER AVENUES
INCLUDING OUR PORTION OF THE
STATE GAS TAX. THE LARGEST
SINGLE CONTRIBUTOR IS THE LEVY
TO MOVE SEATTLE EXPIRING AT THE
END OF THE YEAR. THE OTHER IS
THE SEATTLE TRANSIT MEASURE
AND THAT WILL EXPIRE IN 2026.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME I WILL
GIVE IT BACK TO GREG FOR FINAL
WORDS.
>> EARLY ON IN MY TIME IN THE
JOB I ELEVATED CHRIS TO THE
EXECUTIVE TEAM AND SHE REPORTS
TO ME AS THE HEAD OF PERSONNEL
AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD HELP
ME IN THIS WINDOW WHERE WE
HAVE TO FINISH STRONG ON THE
EXISTING LEVY AND PREPARED TO
BRING A NEW LEVY TO VOTERS. I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
COLLABORATING WITH ALL OF YOU
AND I HOPE THIS INTRODUCTION
GAVE YOU AN ALL A CART MENU OF
THINGS YOU CAN DECIDE TO
DOUBLE-CLICK ON FOR THIS
COMMITTEE TO FURTHER LOOK INTO
AND ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU
INDIVIDUALLY FOR TOPICS
DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE OF
INTEREST TO YOU. WE ENCOURAGE
YOU TO GO OUT AND EXPLORE YOUR
DISTRICT . WE CAN LOOK UP
PROJECTS THAT ARE MOST HELPFUL
FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SPOTTS
AND SDOT LEADERSHIP TEAM. A
COUPLE OF QUICK NOTES. I AM
VERY CLEARLY PASSIONATE ABOUT
POT HOLES AS COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE MENTIONED EARLIER. WE
ARE ALL POT HOLE ROYALTY. I
WANT TO POINT OUT SOME
IMPORTANT WORK FROM SDOT. LAST
WEEK I BELIEVED SDOT RELEASED A
PRESS RELEASE THAT INDICATED
SDOT FILLED 25,000 POT HOLES
IN 2023, WHICH WAS THE MOST
IT HAS DONE IN FIVE YEARS.
FOLKS, THAT IS WHERE THE
RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD IN TERMS
OF DEMONSTRATING VALUE AND
IMPACT. QUICKLY FILLING POT
HOLES, I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO
SEE THAT PARTICULAR STATISTIC.
IT IS A REFLECTION THAT IT IS
AN INDICATOR OF SUCCESS THAT
REFLECTS WELL UPON YOU
DIRECTOR SPOTTS, YOUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM, THE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS, THE OFFICE
OF THE MAYOR, MY PREDECESSORS
IN THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
IT IS A HUGE WIN THAT I HAD NO
PART IN BUT I AM REALLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT POT HOLES.
WHEN I SAID AT THE OUTSET OF
THIS JOURNEY, IN MY
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ABOUT
BEING SORT OF THE KING OF POT
HOLES I MEAN FILLING POT HOLES
AND POT HOLES IN THE LITERAL
SENSE BUT ALSO POT HOLES AS A
SYNONYM OR CATCHALL FOR BROADER
TRANSPORTATION RELATED
CHALLENGES. I AM LOOKING
FORWARD DIRECTOR TO WORKING
WITH YOU AND OTHER OFFICES ON
HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON THE
25,000 POT HOLE FIGURE OR
MAYBE, BECAUSE WE KNOW POT
HOLES, FOR EXAMPLE , THEY
GENERALLY OCCUR IN ROADS THAT
ARE MORE STRUCTURALLY
DEFICIENT, AB IT MAKES MORE
SENSE TO INVEST IN THE
SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES TO
ULTIMATELY MINIMIZE THE
DOWNSTREAM LIKELIHOOD OF
CREATING POT HOLES TO BEGIN
WITH. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE
A FIRM ANSWER BUT REGARDLESS,
THAT NUMBER IS IMPACT. IT
SHOWS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I
APPRECIATE PERSONALLY. TO I
WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE AT THIS
PART OF THE PRESENTATION BY
SAYING, I MENTIONED AT THE TOP
OF THIS MEETING, I HIGHLIGHTED
SOME OF MY PRIORITIES AS CHAIR.
THOSE, FOR CLARITY, OR
PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
INFORMED, AT LEAST INITIALLY
BY CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD
WITH EVERYONE THAT SITS ON THIS
COMMITTEE. AND ALSO, SOME OF
MY OTHER COLLEAGUES AS WELL. IT
VERY INTRODUCTORY INITIAL
CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING.
BUT, SO, THOSE PRIORITIES AT
A HIGH LEVEL ARE SHARED. I
THINK WE ARE USING DIFFERENT
VERNACULAR AND LANGUAGE. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT LOCALIZED
SEATTLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FIX IT
FIRST APPROACH TO
INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING . AT A
HIGH LEVEL. THAT MEANS, LET US
FIX THE EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE FIRST
BEFORE BUILDING NEW ASSETS OR
PUTTING NEW FEATURES ON TOP OF
EXISTING CRUMBLING ASSETS. WE
HEARD VARIOUS ITERATIONS WHEN
IT COMES TO IMPROVING BRIDGES
IN DISTRICT 7. I TALK ABOUT
EQUITY BY DESIGN AND
IMPLEMENTATION. TRULY
EQUITABLE IMPLEMENTATION AND I
HEARD COUNCILMEMBER WOO TALK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT AND BEING ADAPTIVE
AND RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITIES.
IT IS NOT JUST YOUR VALID
POINT THAT I APPRECIATE EARLIER
AND DIRECTION WHEN YOU FIRST
TOOK OFFICE -- WE ARE NO
LONGER JUST DESIGNING POLICIES
AND DRAWING LINES ON A MAP IN
AN IVORY TOWER SOMEWHERE. WE
ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR
DECISIONS. WE WANT TO HUMBLE
OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PLANS ARE TRULY EQUITABLE AND
FAIR IN IMPLEMENTATION AND I
THINK THAT IS PART OF OUR
ONGOING CHALLENGE IN THE
OVERSIGHT ROLE AT THE COUNCIL
LEVEL TO MAKE SURE OUR SDOT
COLLEAGUES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED
TO BE SUCCESSFUL . AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER IT IS
IMPORTANT TO GET THESE AWESOME
BRIEFINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN
GETTING OFF-LINE WITH YOU ALL,
WITH OUR CENTRAL STAFF ,
COLLEAGUES, AND EXPERTS. I AM
PERSONALLY TRYING TO BALANCE
THAT WITH MY TRANSPORTATION
LEARNING JOURNEY WITH ON-SITE
VISITS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. I
AM EXCITED AND PROUD TO
ANNOUNCE YOU WILL SEE ME DOING
SOME POT HOLE WORK, ROLLING MY
SLEEVES UP WITH THE FRONT-LINE
CREWS THAT DO THE WORK EVERY
DAY. VISITING SOME BRIDGES AND
MEETING THE CREWS THAT DO THE
BASIC MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
WORK THAT WE CAN DO BEFORE IT
REACHES A CERTAIN THRESHOLD. I
WILL VISIT THE SDOT OPERATION
CENTER AND MANY MORE. I
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO FIND
OPPORTUNITIES AS YOUR BUSY
BUSY SCHEDULES PERMIT TO
INCORPORATE SOME OF THE REAL
WORLD PRACTICAL EXAMPLES AND
ON-SITE VISITS WITH SOME OF THE
MORE IMPORTANT KIND OF A HIGH
LEVEL CONSTRUCTS THAT FORM
ASPECTS OF DECISION-MAKING. IN
ANY EVENT, YOU, FOR THE
OVERVIEW. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO OUR SECOND ITEM OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE
RECORD.
>>> INTRODUCTION TO TERM
PERMITS AND STREET VACATIONS.
>> WILL THE PRESENTERS PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE. PLEASE
SHARE YOUR PRESENTATION. WHEN
YOU ARE READY PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
ALYSE NELSON AND I AM THE
INTERIM STRAIGHT DIVISION
DIRECTOR AND I AM FILLING IN
FOR THE POSITION THAT LIZ
SHELDON, YOU JUST MET, VACATED.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE WHAT WE
ARE WORKING ON. WE WANT TO TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF WHAT
YOU WILL SOON SEE IN FRONT OF
YOU ON OTHER AGENDAS ABOUT
STREET VACATIONS AND TERM
PERMITS. THOSE ARE TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES THAT WE PROCESS IN
STREET USE. I AM JOINED TODAY
BY BEVERLY BARNETT WHO IS THE
STRATEGIC ADVISOR IN THE
STREET VACATION PROCESS AND
THEN AMY GRAY WHO IS A TERM
PERMITS SPECIALIST. THEY WILL
BE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS
THAT FOCUS AND GIVE YOU
DETAILS. I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE
THEM AND LEARN ABOUT THESE
COMPLEX PROJECT TYPES. WE WILL
TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY STREET POLICY. WE
WILL GIVE YOU EXAMPLES THAT
SHOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AND THEN WE WILL TURNED TO THE
TERM PERMIT PROCESS.
>> I'M LISH WHITSON, CENTRAL
COUNCIL STAFF. THE STREET
VACATION PROCESS IS A
LEGISLATIVE ACTION. SDOT IS A
WONDERFUL PARTNER IN LOOKING
AT STREET VACATION TERM
LIMITS BUT THIS IS PART OF
POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN
ADOPTED. IT IS BOTH THE
CRITERIA AND THE PROCESS USED
TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS.
>> NEXT SLIDE. ONE WAY TO
GROUND OUR DISCUSSION IS TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT RIGHT-OF-WAY
IS. IT IS INTERESTING HAVING
WORKED FOR STREET USE FOR 10
YEARS THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS
UNDERSTAND WHAT RIGHT-OF-WAY
IS. YOU LOOK OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR
AND YOU SEE THE STREETS AND THE
SIDEWALKS AND YOU THINK THAT IS
WHAT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS. A
LOT OF TIME IT IS WIDER THAN
WHAT YOU SEE. YOU CAN SEE IN
THE IMAGES HERE ARE SOME
EXAMPLES OF RIGHT-OF-WAY AND
WHAT IT CAN LOOK LIKE. IT CAN
BE MORE THAN WHAT YOU TO SEE IN
FRONT OF YOU HERE. IT IS
USUALLY, SDOT'S IS A STEWARD
OF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY SO IT IS
DEDICATED DURING PLANNING
PROCESSES. WE REALLY ARE
HOLDING IT AS A TRUSTEE AND
WHEN WE PROCESS CURRENT AND
VACATIONS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE VACATIONS ARE IN PUBLIC
INTEREST AND IT MAKES SENSE
FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS. ONE
THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
ABOUT VACATIONS, AND THE
SURPRISES SOME PEOPLE, WHEN WE
DO VACATE RIGHT-OF-WAY
PROPERTY IT GOES BACK TO THE
PROPERTY OWNERS ON EITHER SIDE
AND THAT IS HOW IT WAS
DEDICATED. I WANTED TO NOTE
THOSE THINGS TO GUIDE THE
CONVERSATION TODAY. WITH THAT
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO BEVERLY
TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS.
>> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE VERY
EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THE
KICKOFF FIRST MEETING. WE KNOW
TIME IS TIGHT WE HAVE GIVEN
YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION. AMY,
LISH, AND I ARE ALWAYS
AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOUR STAFF,
FOR BRIEFINGS AND QUESTIONS OR
WHATEVER YOU WANT. I WILL
COVER A FEW SLIDES ON THE
VACATION PROCESS AND THEN AMY
WILL TALK ABOUT TERM PERMITS
AND SKYBRIDGES. WE WILL TRY TO
KEEP IT A HIGH LEVEL. AS LISH
NOTED -- AND WE WORK VERY
CLOSELY WITH LISH ON
EVERYTHING. HE IS THE KEY
DRAFTER OF THE MOST RECENT
POLICY REVISIONS. WE TRY TO
STAY REALLY COLLABORATIVE AND
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION THAT HAVE THE
KEY VOICE AS WELL. THE STREET
VACATIONS ARE GUIDED BY CITY
COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICIES. THE
MOST RECENT ONE WAS 2018. THERE
IS ALSO CRITERIA UNDER STATE
LAW AND STATE LAW IS MORE
PROCEDURAL LIKE SIGNATURES, THE
PETITION PROCESS. SO, THE
SUBSTANCE OF HOW THE CITY
DEFINES WHEN THEY WILL GRANT A
VACATION IS IN THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPTED POLICIES. THE
POLICIES THAT GIVE US AS LISH
NOTED, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM
AND IT ESTABLISHES THE
PRINCIPLES FOR THE PROCESS AND
THE STEPS THAT WE ASK
PETITIONERS TO PROVIDE AND WHAT
WE REVIEW. THERE ARE TWO KEY
AREAS THAT WE LOOK AT IN
VACATIONS AND THE POLICIES
DEFINED THOSE FOR US. AS WE
GET FURTHER INTO THE SLIDES WE
WILL TALK FURTHER ABOUT THOSE
THAT WE DO A PUBLIC BENEFIT
ANALYSIS. DEVELOPERS ARE
REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC
AND IF IT. WE ALSO DO A PUBLIC
TRUST ANALYSIS WHERE WE LOOK AT
THE IMPACTS TO EXISTING STREET
FUNCTIONS. AS LISH NOTED THIS
IS A LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION AND
THE STATE HAS DELEGATED IT TO
STATE BODIES IN WASHINGTON SO
EVERY STREET VACATION DECISION,
NO MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL,
IT IS IN FRONT OF YOU AND WE
DO THE RECOMMENDATION AND BRING
THAT FORWARD. THE NEXT SLIDE
COVERS THE STREET VACATION
PROCESS AND WHAT WE WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE IS THE POINTS IN
TIME WHERE THE COUNCIL WILL SEE
A. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE PROCESS
AND, IT WOULD TAKE TOO MUCH
TIME TO GO THROUGH IT. WE CAN
ALWAYS ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS ON
THAT AT A LATER DATE. WHEN WE
HAVE NEW PETITIONS, IT COMES
TO SDOT BUT IT IS INTRODUCED
THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL AND
RECEIVES A FILE NUMBER. A
COMMITTEE BRIEFING IS SCHEDULED
WHERE THEY PROVIDE US ON NEW
GUIDANCE ON PROJECTS. WE DO
ANALYSIS AND THEN WHEN WE COME
BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE
CITY COUNCIL, UNDER STATE LAW,
HOLDS A PUBLIC HEARING AND
THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING YOU
WOULD HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS, OF
COURSE. YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE
RECOMMENDATION FROM SDOT AND
ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE HAVE
THROUGH THE REVIEW AND THE
CITY COUNCIL WOULD THEN ACT TO
APPROVE, DENY, MODIFY AND SET
CONDITIONS. AFTER THAT THE
PROJECT MOVES FORWARD AND THEN
THE FINAL VACATION ORDINANCE IS
DONE AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.
ONLY AFTER ALL OF THE FEES ARE
PAID AND CONDITIONS ARE MET.
SO IT GIVES THE CITY AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MONITOR
DEVELOPMENT AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS DONE AS THE
COUNCIL HAS ANTICIPATED. THE
TWO STEPS THAT WE LOOK AT,
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND PUBLIC
TRUST. PUBLIC TRUST IS ALL OF
THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE
STREETS. THERE ARE MORE REASONS
THAN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT. IT IS
GETTING AROUND THE CITY AND
GETTING TO ADJACENT PROPERTIES
AT A PROVIDES FOR UTILITIES.
THE STREET GRANT ALSO PROVIDES
BENEFIT FOR LIGHT, AIR, AND
OPEN SPACE VIEWS. THE CITY
COUNCIL IS REALLY ACTIVE TO
ELEVATE THE ROLE THAT STREETS
PLAY IN PROVIDING FOR FREE
SPEECH, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE
PUBLIC TO GET TOGETHER AND
SPEAK THEIR MINDS AND JUST BE
THEMSELVES. IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN LAND-USE
AND URBAN FORM. THE STREET GRID
PROVIDES CONSISTENCY IN BLOCKS
AND THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT IS PUBLIC TRUST. THE
SECOND STEP IS VACATION PUBLIC
THAT IF IT'S. THIS IS WHERE
WE SEE THE CITY COUNCIL BEING
MOST INVOLVED AND THE POLICY
PROVIDING THE MOST GUIDANCE FOR
US AS TO WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL
WANTS TO SEE AND UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES THEY WOULD GRANT
A VACATION. IT HAS TO BE
LONG-TERM AND THE GOAL IS THAT
IT IS PROPORTIONAL SO EVERYBODY
IS NOT GOING TO PROVIDE WHAT
THE WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION
CENTER DID WITH THEIR
VACATIONS. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE PUBLIC BENEFITS ARE
BEYOND NORMAL ELEMENT AND CODE
REQUIREMENT. THE COUNCIL LOOKS
AT SOCIAL EQUITY IMPACT , WHERE
IS THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING ?
WHO BENEFITS? WE LOOK AT WHO
BE A PART OF THE PLAN AND IT'S
ABOUT PUBLIC BENEFIT AND
MITIGATION IDENTIFIED WITH THE
COMMUNITY EARLY AND THOSE CAN
BE INCORPORATED INTO THE
DESIGN. CITY COUNCIL POLICIES
DO GUIDE THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS. PHYSICAL AMENITIES LIKE
WIDER SIDEWALKS, WAYFINDING
PLAZAS. THERE MIGHT BE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE WOULD
ACCEPT REAL PROPERTY. MAYBE WE
VACATE AN ALLEY AND HAVE A
POCKET PARK. IN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES WE MIGHT ACCEPT
PAYMENT IN -- IN LIEU OF
AMENITIES BUT WE REALLY WANT
TO GET SOMETHING PHYSICAL FOR
THE PUBLIC. NEXT, WE WANTED TO
SHOW A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. THIS
PROJECT WILL BE COMING TO THE
CITY COUNCIL FOR THE FINAL
ORDINANCE THE PROJECT HAS DONE.
THIS IS AT TOWNHALL AND IT IS
THE LENNAR OVATION PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE THE ALLEY THAT WAS
VACATED. THEY DID A PLEASANT
FRONT OF TOWN HALL SO AS ALL
OF US THAT GO TO TOWNHALL KNOW,
WE MEET PEOPLE THERE AND IT
HAS A PUBLIC FEELS SO WE FEEL
THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
PUBLIC AND IF IT YOU WILL SEE
THAT THIS SPRING. THE NEXT
SLIDE, JEANETTE DUBOIS ON OUR
STAFF DID THIS SLIDE. THIS
SHOWS ALL OF THE VACATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORE. I THINK IT
REALLY EMPHASIZES WHY THE CITY
COUNCIL IS SO CAREFUL IN ITS
REVIEW OF VACATIONS BECAUSE
THEY CHANGE THE FACE OF THE
CITY. SOME OF THESE ARE REALLY
OLD BUT, I THINK IT IS JUST A
POWERFUL MEASURE OF THE IMPACT
OF VACATIONS OVER TIME. I
THINK , THEN, WE WERE GOING TO
LOOK AT TERM PERMITS AND WE
CAN ZIP THROUGH THAT TOO.
>> THANK YOU. TERM PERMITS
ARE FOR SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES
IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT ARE
NEW AND WILL BE THERE FOR A
LONG DURATION THAT WOULD IMPEDE
PUBLIC USE OF THE SPACE AND
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THESE.
SDOT REVIEWS THE APPLICATION
AND CORRELATES SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS UP WITH THE PROGRESS
-- PROJECT WOULD TOUCH UPON
THEN WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION
AND THE COUNCIL DECIDES. YOU
CAN APPROVE, MODIFY, OR DENY.
EXAMPLES ARE UTILITY LINES,
PRIVATE COMMUNICATION CONDUIT ,
KING COUNTY HAS A VARIETY OF
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMBINED
SEWER OVERFLOW PROJECTS.
THOSE ARE COVERED BY TERM
PERMITS. IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION REVIEWS GRADE
STRUCTURES AND THEY MUST
REQUIRE PUBLIC BENEFIT. SO,
SKYBRIDGES ARE A SPECIAL KIND
OF PERMIT. THERE ARE THREE
TYPES OF SKYBRIDGES. PUBLIC
WANTS AND YOU WILL OFTEN SEE
THESE AT UNIVERSITIES AND THEY
ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ALL THE
TIME AND THERE IS NO
RESTRICTIONS. THERE ARE SOME I
PUBLIC USES AND THOSE ARE
ACTUALLY USUALLY FOR HOSPITALS.
LIKE ON FIRST HILL YOU HAVE TO
ENTER PRIVATE PROPERTY TO GET
TO THEM BUT THERE ARE NO
RESTRICTIONS USING THEM. JUST
HAVE TO ENTER THROUGH PRIVATE
PROPERTY. THEN THERE ARE
PRIVATE USE SKYBRIDGES THAT
ARE COMPLETELY RESTRICTED AND
YOU NEED SPECIAL ACCESS TO THE
BUILDING OR BE A BUILDING
RESIDENT TO USE THEM. THE CODE
DISCOURAGES NEW SKYBRIDGES BUT
THE CITY HAS ALLOWED FOR
PUBLIC AND SEMI PUBLIC
SKYBRIDGES FOR HOSPITALS AND
UNIVERSITIES. SDOT LOOKS AT
THIS REVIEW . THEY REVIEW THE
IMPACT TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
SKYBRIDGES ALWAYS REQUIRE
PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT OFFSET THE
IMPACT. THE CITY COUNCIL
RECEIVES RECOMMENDATIONS.
THERE ARE TWO STEPS. THE FIRST
IS A RESOLUTION REMEMBERING A
PROJECT TO YOU THAT IS
BASICALLY AT 60% DESIGN AND
THIS IS THE POINT WHERE YOU
WOULD PROVIDE CONCEPTUAL
APPROVAL FOR A TERM PERMIT
FOR A SKYBRIDGE AND THE NEXT
STEP IS THE ORDINANCE. THIS IS
AFTER THE PROJECT HAS REACHED
100% DESIGN AND THEY HAVE MET
ALL OF THE CONDITION SET IN THE
RESOLUTION. THIS IS THE FINAL
APPROVAL. IT SAYS THE TERMS
AND CONDITIONS, THE INSPECTION
REQUIREMENTS, REMOVAL
REQUIREMENTS, FEES, EVERYTHING
THAT THE COUNCIL IMPOSES ON THE
PROJECT. THERE ARE THREE TIMES
THAT WE BRING TERM PERMITS TO
YOU. WHEN THERE IS A NEW
STRUCTURE, AND WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF SKY BRIDGES THAT ARE
INTERIM PERMITS THAT ARE AT A
RENEWAL STAGE. THEY ARE AT A
POINT IN THE ORDINANCE AND WE
CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE USE IS
CONSISTENT. AND THEN THE FINAL
EXPIRATION. THE FINAL YEAR OF
THE PERMIT. THEY ARE GENERALLY
THREE YEARS. IF THE PROJECT
WANTS TO CONTINUE THE USE WE
REQUIRE A NEW APPLICATION AND
THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEWS THAT.
THAT IS SKYBRIDGES AND TERM
PERMITS IN FIVE MINUTES. THIS
IS MY FAVORITE TERM PERMIT. IT
IS THE CHINA GATE . IT IS
REALLY COOL.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, FEEDBACK? OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REALLY
INSIGHTFUL OVERVIEW OF OUR
REALLY IMPORTANT TERM PERMITS
AND STREET VACATIONS PROCESS.
I LOVE PASS PERSONALLY BEING
ABLE TO GET INTO THE
NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS. THAT IS
SOME OF THE MORE ROUTINE KIND
OF FREQUENT FLYER ITEMS THAT
WILL APPEAR BEFORE US. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. SO PAIRING
THAT WITH WORK ON POTHOLES, WE
HAVE A LOT GOING ON. THANK YOU
ALL FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS
WITH US TODAY. COLLEAGUES, I
DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE KIND OF
ZIPPED THROUGH THIS LAST
PORTION A LITTLE BIT SO I WOULD
ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE TIME
. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE READ AND
REVIEWED THESE ITEMS AND
MATERIALS BEFORE HAND THAT TAKE
THE TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE
A LOOK AT THIS PRESENTATION IN
LIGHT OF THE PRESENTATION. AND
DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO
SDOT FOR FOLLOW-UP AND I WILL
BE ABLE TO -- HAPPY TO BRING
THEM BACK FOR A SLIGHTLY MORE
DEEPER DIVE IF NEEDED. THANK
YOU ALL. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S MEETING. IS
THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
>> KNOW BUT THANK YOU FOR
COMING. I LOVE ALLEYS AND
SKYBRIDGES.
>> VICE CHAIR, ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE NONE AND I APPRECIATE
THIS FIRST MEETING ON THE
CALENDAR AND FOR YOU COMING
HERE AT 9:30 AM ON A TUESDAY
MORNING TO PRESENT THIS
INFORMATION TO US FOR THE FIRST
COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.
SECOND THAT AND WE APPRECIATE
YOU AGAIN. I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO GROW OUR
PARTNERSHIP TOGETHER IN THIS
IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE HAVE IN
THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, WE
ARE ADJOURNED.