1 00:00:01,060 --> 00:00:11,200 Katie Wilson: Good afternoon. 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,100 Thank you all for joining us. 3 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:15,080 I want to start out by thanking 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,700 our partners at the Seattle Department of Transportation, 5 00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:20,700 Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, 6 00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:22,540 my colleagues, Council member Wink, 7 00:00:22,540 --> 00:00:23,940 and Council member Lynn. 8 00:00:23,940 --> 00:00:26,180 Our transportation safety advocates, 9 00:00:26,180 --> 00:00:28,230 thank you all for coming out today. 10 00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:31,460 Coach Erin Roche, for being here today. 11 00:00:31,460 --> 00:00:35,240 As mayor, and as the mom of a young child, 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,440 making Seattle a safe and welcoming place for 13 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,340 families and for every resident 14 00:00:40,340 --> 00:00:42,400 is deeply important to me. 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,460 Families should feel comfortable 16 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:46,080 walking their kids to school, 17 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,940 biking to the park, taking transit, 18 00:00:48,940 --> 00:00:52,300 or simply crossing the street in their neighborhood. 19 00:00:54,390 --> 00:00:58,830 Traffic safety is part of public safety. 20 00:00:58,830 --> 00:01:00,570 Everyone should be able to get 21 00:01:00,570 --> 00:01:02,170 where they need to go safely, 22 00:01:02,170 --> 00:01:04,150 no matter how they travel. 23 00:01:04,150 --> 00:01:06,570 We have made important progress, 24 00:01:06,570 --> 00:01:08,870 but people are still being killed 25 00:01:08,870 --> 00:01:11,650 and seriously injured on Seattle's streets. 26 00:01:11,650 --> 00:01:14,435 The simple truth is that despite having 27 00:01:14,435 --> 00:01:17,670 a Vision Zero commitment on the books for over a decade, 28 00:01:17,670 --> 00:01:21,830 Seattle has not met our goals on transportation safety. 29 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:24,490 We are not on track to eliminate 30 00:01:24,490 --> 00:01:27,880 serious injuries and fatalities by 2030. 31 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,530 We still see too many headlines, 32 00:01:30,530 --> 00:01:32,270 too many ghost bikes, 33 00:01:32,270 --> 00:01:34,810 too many families in mourning. 34 00:01:34,810 --> 00:01:38,190 We know the tools that can make a difference. 35 00:01:38,190 --> 00:01:40,990 Safer street designs, safer speeds, 36 00:01:40,990 --> 00:01:43,850 better crossings, and better visibility. 37 00:01:43,850 --> 00:01:46,390 SDOT's team has done outstanding work, 38 00:01:46,390 --> 00:01:48,450 and we have the data showing its impact 39 00:01:48,450 --> 00:01:51,190 on particular routes or intersections. 40 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:54,170 But we have not achieved our goals yet because 41 00:01:54,170 --> 00:01:55,550 one department can't keep 42 00:01:55,550 --> 00:01:57,030 up with the scale of this challenge, 43 00:01:57,030 --> 00:02:01,310 and we have lacked the political will to do what works. 44 00:02:01,710 --> 00:02:05,150 This is what this executive order does. 45 00:02:05,150 --> 00:02:06,990 It directs the city to take 46 00:02:06,990 --> 00:02:09,370 this issue seriously from how we design 47 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:11,250 our roads to how we manage 48 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:14,470 our fleet of vehicles to how we do enforcement. 49 00:02:14,470 --> 00:02:16,690 A key part of this order is 50 00:02:16,690 --> 00:02:19,330 accelerating existing safety projects, 51 00:02:19,330 --> 00:02:21,230 taking work already underway, 52 00:02:21,230 --> 00:02:23,650 and helping it move forward faster. 53 00:02:23,650 --> 00:02:26,150 That includes Southwest Wildwood 54 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:27,910 Place Protected bike lane 55 00:02:27,910 --> 00:02:31,325 and the 12th Avenue South safety project, Phase 2. 56 00:02:31,325 --> 00:02:34,910 The order also advances safety improvements along some of 57 00:02:34,910 --> 00:02:38,270 Seattle's highest crash streets and expands the tools 58 00:02:38,270 --> 00:02:40,310 we have to address dangerous speeds 59 00:02:40,310 --> 00:02:42,315 and make crossing safer. 60 00:02:42,315 --> 00:02:43,930 Director Brady will talk 61 00:02:43,930 --> 00:02:45,670 more about what these actions mean on 62 00:02:45,670 --> 00:02:47,750 the ground and the specific improvements 63 00:02:47,750 --> 00:02:49,110 that ESdat will be advancing. 64 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:53,120 Safer streets aren't something 65 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,620 that any one department can deliver alone. 66 00:02:55,620 --> 00:02:59,720 This executive order also strengthens coordination across 67 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,280 our city government and brings together the people 68 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:03,860 responsible for different parts 69 00:03:03,860 --> 00:03:05,715 of keeping our community safe. 70 00:03:05,715 --> 00:03:09,120 ESdat designs, builds, and operates our streets. 71 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,040 Seattle Fire and Seattle Police see 72 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,540 firsthand the consequences when serious crashes happen. 73 00:03:15,540 --> 00:03:19,360 Our council members, our schools, community advocates, 74 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,520 and residents also bring 75 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,140 essential perspectives about where 76 00:03:22,140 --> 00:03:23,820 improvements are needed and 77 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:25,940 how people experience our streets. 78 00:03:25,940 --> 00:03:30,560 Keeping people safe requires all of us working together. 79 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,600 It is especially meaningful 80 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,780 to be here near Cleveland High School, 81 00:03:35,780 --> 00:03:37,220 where the safety of young people 82 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:40,220 traveling to and from school is top of mind. 83 00:03:40,220 --> 00:03:42,660 We've heard from people in this community about 84 00:03:42,660 --> 00:03:44,940 the importance of making these streets safer, 85 00:03:44,940 --> 00:03:47,280 and I'm grateful to coach Aaron Roche for 86 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,700 his advocacy and for joining us today. 87 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:57,660 [APPLAUSE] Our young people 88 00:03:57,660 --> 00:03:59,740 should be able to get to school safely, 89 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:02,340 and parents should feel confident as their children 90 00:04:02,340 --> 00:04:05,235 become more independent and navigate their neighborhoods. 91 00:04:05,235 --> 00:04:06,780 When we make our streets 92 00:04:06,780 --> 00:04:08,660 safer for young people and families, 93 00:04:08,660 --> 00:04:11,000 we make them safer for everyone. 94 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,380 As a parent, I want my child and every child growing up 95 00:04:15,380 --> 00:04:17,280 here in Seattle to be able to 96 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:20,200 experience their neighborhood and their city safely. 97 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,580 We have important work underway. 98 00:04:22,580 --> 00:04:25,520 This executive order is about building on that work, 99 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,380 strengthening our collaboration, and 100 00:04:27,380 --> 00:04:29,545 helping to move key improvements forward. 101 00:04:29,545 --> 00:04:31,720 That is part of making Seattle a 102 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,675 safer city and a great place to raise a family. 103 00:04:34,675 --> 00:04:39,280 With that, it's my honor to introduce Coach Aaron Roche. 104 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,350 Aaron Roche: Good afternoon, everyone. Happy Friday. 105 00:04:47,350 --> 00:04:49,900 The sun's coming out. 106 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:52,420 Before I get into my two-minute speech, 107 00:04:52,420 --> 00:04:53,320 let me start watch there. 108 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,800 I want to thank 109 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,160 you and send some thanks to some folks who have been 110 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,020 really strong advocates for the work we 111 00:05:00,020 --> 00:05:01,920 started down the 13th 112 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:03,760 Avenue South and South Louis Hill Street, 113 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,540 just around the corner and at the Cleveland playfield. 114 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:10,160 First and foremost, the ESdat construction crews who 115 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,000 started about three weeks ago and 116 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,280 have already made some amazing progress down there. 117 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:17,140 I talk to my athletes all the time about records and 118 00:05:17,140 --> 00:05:18,560 how you set your personal 119 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,380 best and set your personal records. 120 00:05:20,380 --> 00:05:22,950 You keep doing that. Eventually you get a world record. 121 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:24,680 ESdat, if you keep doing 122 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:25,860 the work you're doing, eventually, 123 00:05:25,860 --> 00:05:28,200 you have the world record and fastest safety projects 124 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,580 in the world. Thank you for them. 125 00:05:31,580 --> 00:05:33,300 You can hold the applause 126 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:34,580 for the end of the thank yous, please. 127 00:05:34,580 --> 00:05:36,490 Next is Sarah, 128 00:05:36,490 --> 00:05:37,935 calling the programs manager for 129 00:05:37,935 --> 00:05:40,160 ESdats Safe Routes to School program. 130 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:44,000 She's been awesome in communicating with our group. 131 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,420 We started a group called the Cleveland 132 00:05:46,420 --> 00:05:48,620 Playfield Traffic Safety Improvement Project. 133 00:05:48,620 --> 00:05:49,420 It's a mouthful. 134 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:51,440 But it's our steering committee, 135 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,880 and she's been a strong advocate for our work there. 136 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,820 Again, with that group, we also have 137 00:05:55,820 --> 00:05:57,615 members from the Beacon Hill Safe Streets, 138 00:05:57,615 --> 00:05:59,480 the Inner Valley Greenways, 139 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:00,640 and the Seattle Street Alliance, 140 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:01,360 who have been part of that. 141 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,040 I thank you to those groups, 142 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:04,960 Georgetown Business Association, 143 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,000 and our rock star CPT Sit 144 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,560 volunteers from the Cleveland High School community, 145 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,280 which includes staff members, 146 00:06:11,280 --> 00:06:14,060 coaches who I see out here in the audience, 147 00:06:14,060 --> 00:06:17,700 students, athletes, and their families, of course. 148 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:21,600 SBU's Adopt a Street Program, and this program manager, 149 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,400 Jenny Frankel, has been really helpful 150 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,730 in providing us supplies for our cleanups down. 151 00:06:25,730 --> 00:06:27,730 Thank you to her and her team. 152 00:06:27,730 --> 00:06:29,730 Of course, Mayor Wilson and 153 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:31,430 your staff in your office have been 154 00:06:31,430 --> 00:06:35,610 really supportive throughout your administration so far, 155 00:06:35,610 --> 00:06:37,800 especially with this Vision Zero signing. 156 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,370 This is amazing. Of course, 157 00:06:40,370 --> 00:06:41,850 to my lovely partner, Anna Smoo, 158 00:06:41,850 --> 00:06:44,150 who she's an Eastside, grew up in Bellevue. 159 00:06:44,150 --> 00:06:47,310 She's a Wolverine, but we claim her as our own, 160 00:06:47,310 --> 00:06:50,120 hair as an eagle at Cleveland High. 161 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,690 We are here at this spot, 162 00:06:52,690 --> 00:06:54,730 specifically because of the work that's 163 00:06:54,730 --> 00:06:57,500 going on at South Lucille Street. 164 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:01,370 Back in 2022, when I started coaching at Cleveland, 165 00:07:01,370 --> 00:07:03,030 we would do our training runs 166 00:07:03,030 --> 00:07:04,475 right across South Lucille Street. 167 00:07:04,475 --> 00:07:06,890 It was crazy busy, and we had a team. 168 00:07:06,890 --> 00:07:08,070 Our first week of Practice, 169 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:11,935 was about 50 athletes running across that intersection. 170 00:07:11,935 --> 00:07:13,510 Right away, I started, I'm 171 00:07:13,510 --> 00:07:15,190 going to be the de facto crossing guard here. 172 00:07:15,190 --> 00:07:17,490 We just posted up and 173 00:07:17,490 --> 00:07:20,375 waited for the long line of kids to cross the street. 174 00:07:20,375 --> 00:07:21,540 But I thought, you know, 175 00:07:21,540 --> 00:07:22,560 there's got to be a better way here. 176 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,885 We've got to make some improvements here. 177 00:07:24,885 --> 00:07:26,980 I don't know, it took me about two years 178 00:07:26,980 --> 00:07:28,140 to figure out how to do that. 179 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:32,060 I took the Sale Parks Foundation Gala, 180 00:07:32,060 --> 00:07:33,640 and listening to what was going on at 181 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,480 Koa Elementary and Queen Anne, 182 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,900 and the work over near 183 00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:42,060 Magnusson Park for another community group 184 00:07:42,060 --> 00:07:45,260 who was doing a park for traffic safety. 185 00:07:45,260 --> 00:07:47,810 Just plugging away, 186 00:07:47,810 --> 00:07:49,300 connecting with the organizations in 187 00:07:49,300 --> 00:07:51,480 Seattle who could help calm traffic. 188 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,460 Fast forward to 2024, 189 00:07:54,460 --> 00:07:56,900 finally submitted a FixIt request for 190 00:07:56,900 --> 00:07:59,520 that neighborhood and got 191 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:01,360 connected with ESdat's Brian Daugherty. 192 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,200 We talked about some low-hanging 193 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:04,420 fruit that we could address, 194 00:08:04,420 --> 00:08:07,540 maybe just installing some crossing flags, 195 00:08:07,540 --> 00:08:10,220 putting up some yard signs. We've done that. 196 00:08:10,220 --> 00:08:12,900 The yard signs have survived a whole year and a half, 197 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:16,055 which is incredible. Just things like that. 198 00:08:16,055 --> 00:08:18,480 This group has been advocating 199 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,140 for traffic calming for over a year and a half now. 200 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:24,100 Some people are saying, Oh, 201 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:25,600 they're finally installing something, and I'm thinking, 202 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,680 Well, two years. 203 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,265 That sounds like rapid speed to me. 204 00:08:30,265 --> 00:08:32,600 Civic projects that I've worked on. 205 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:33,860 I can't imagine something 206 00:08:33,860 --> 00:08:35,540 getting implemented within a year, 207 00:08:35,540 --> 00:08:37,695 and then the promise that it's going to be happening. 208 00:08:37,695 --> 00:08:39,020 Now the work's going to be done, 209 00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:40,810 hopefully by the start, 210 00:08:40,810 --> 00:08:42,840 right after the start of the school year. 211 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,390 Long story short. We're here 2026, work starting. 212 00:08:46,390 --> 00:08:48,590 It's taken many emails, 213 00:08:48,590 --> 00:08:50,980 a letter-writing campaign actually, 214 00:08:50,980 --> 00:08:54,210 to a lot of civil-minded folks 215 00:08:54,210 --> 00:08:57,650 who were advocating for us and with us. 216 00:08:57,650 --> 00:09:03,125 But the number one message here is patience. 217 00:09:03,125 --> 00:09:04,900 As a running coach, as 218 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:07,290 a runner myself, patience is the key. 219 00:09:07,290 --> 00:09:08,700 Nothing happens overnight. 220 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:10,540 You just have to plug away, 221 00:09:10,540 --> 00:09:11,900 grind away sometimes, 222 00:09:11,900 --> 00:09:13,240 and make sure you're being patient, 223 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:14,800 make sure you're connecting with 224 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,645 the folks that can help you along the way. 225 00:09:17,645 --> 00:09:20,660 Takes a village. Thankfully, this village, 226 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:21,380 this community here in 227 00:09:21,380 --> 00:09:23,040 Cleveland has been very supportive, 228 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:29,570 and I think that's pretty much all I need to say today. 229 00:09:29,570 --> 00:09:30,790 I appreciate everyone's help. 230 00:09:30,790 --> 00:09:32,120 Everyone's support, 231 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,065 the focus on the Vision Zero program. 232 00:09:36,065 --> 00:09:39,330 Let's keep up the good work. There's more to be done. 233 00:09:39,330 --> 00:09:41,670 Cleveland Playfields got a lot of English IV that 234 00:09:41,670 --> 00:09:44,690 are wrapping around some trees. 235 00:09:44,690 --> 00:09:46,050 I know my partner's really interested 236 00:09:46,050 --> 00:09:48,655 in taking on leading some of that work. 237 00:09:48,655 --> 00:09:50,570 If something looks like trash, 238 00:09:50,570 --> 00:09:51,590 we're going to treat it like trash. 239 00:09:51,590 --> 00:09:53,010 We want to make sure we beautify 240 00:09:53,010 --> 00:09:55,390 these areas and make sure it's safe, 241 00:09:55,390 --> 00:09:57,730 and the streets can 242 00:09:57,730 --> 00:10:01,085 be navigated pretty well for all ages. 243 00:10:01,085 --> 00:10:05,480 Thanks, everyone. 5 minutes. 244 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,420 3 minutes. This is Angie Bryant. 245 00:10:10,420 --> 00:10:13,460 Angela Brady: Hi, everybody. I'm ESdat director. 246 00:10:13,460 --> 00:10:15,520 Angela Brady. Good to see everybody. 247 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,000 Thanks, Coach. Thanks, Mayor. 248 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,340 At ESdat, our goal is straightforward. 249 00:10:21,340 --> 00:10:23,500 Everyone should be able to get where they 250 00:10:23,500 --> 00:10:25,860 need to go safely. 251 00:10:25,860 --> 00:10:27,540 We know street design can make 252 00:10:27,540 --> 00:10:29,260 a real difference in preventing 253 00:10:29,260 --> 00:10:33,120 crashes and reducing their severity when they do happen. 254 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,760 That's why our teams are working every day across 255 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:39,060 Seattle to redesign streets, improve crossings, 256 00:10:39,060 --> 00:10:41,360 reduce dangerous speeds, and build 257 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,680 safer connections for people walking, 258 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:46,670 biking, rolling, taking transit, and driving. 259 00:10:46,670 --> 00:10:49,920 The mayor's executive order builds on that work, 260 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,140 and it helps us move priority projects 261 00:10:52,140 --> 00:10:53,580 forward and expand 262 00:10:53,580 --> 00:10:56,080 proven safety improvements across the city. 263 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,540 That includes advancing near-term improvements 264 00:10:58,540 --> 00:11:00,160 on our high injury network, 265 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,720 the streets where we see a disproportionate share 266 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,320 of serious and fatal crashes. 267 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:09,000 We'll be making safety upgrades at 268 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,020 19 identified high collision locations, 269 00:11:12,020 --> 00:11:15,280 including locations along Rainier Avenue South, 270 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,310 Aurora Avenue North, and Fifth Avenue. 271 00:11:18,310 --> 00:11:21,020 We'll also be adding pedestrian Head Start 272 00:11:21,020 --> 00:11:23,080 signals at 40 intersections, 273 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:25,980 giving people walking a few extra seconds 274 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:29,080 to enter the crosswalk before vehicles get a green light. 275 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,780 I want to note here, we've already 276 00:11:30,780 --> 00:11:32,220 added pedestrian Head Start 277 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:37,120 signals to nearly 90% of walk signals citywide, 278 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,620 where the improvement can be easily implemented, 279 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:43,100 and we've seen a nearly 50% drop in the number of 280 00:11:43,100 --> 00:11:44,840 people hit by turning cars 281 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,840 at crosswalks with this improvement in place. 282 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:52,565 Thank you. [APPLAUSE] Additionally, 283 00:11:52,565 --> 00:11:55,100 we'll continue using tools such as traffic calming, 284 00:11:55,100 --> 00:11:58,480 improved visibility, automated traffic safety cameras, 285 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,300 and signal operations to 286 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:03,440 address dangerous speeds and making crossings safer. 287 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,420 Vision Zero isn't one project. 288 00:12:05,420 --> 00:12:07,280 It's not one type of improvement. 289 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,740 It's an ongoing commitment to learn to respond, 290 00:12:10,740 --> 00:12:12,920 and to use tools available 291 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,570 to make our transportation system safer. 292 00:12:16,570 --> 00:12:19,970 In May of this year, my team at ESdat adopted 293 00:12:19,970 --> 00:12:22,270 a new fatal crash response policy 294 00:12:22,270 --> 00:12:23,970 so that when a fatal crash occurs, 295 00:12:23,970 --> 00:12:27,510 we have a consistent process for reviewing what happened, 296 00:12:27,510 --> 00:12:29,480 identifying immediate needs, and 297 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:30,925 considering additional safety 298 00:12:30,925 --> 00:12:32,680 improvements at those locations. 299 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:35,245 It's one example of how we continue to learn, 300 00:12:35,245 --> 00:12:38,900 respond, and strengthen our approach to Vision Zero. 301 00:12:38,900 --> 00:12:40,790 You can see our work right 302 00:12:40,790 --> 00:12:42,225 here near Cleveland High School, 303 00:12:42,225 --> 00:12:43,945 as Coach just covered with you. 304 00:12:43,945 --> 00:12:45,790 Our SDOH team is working together 305 00:12:45,790 --> 00:12:48,325 to deliver safety improvements in this area, 306 00:12:48,325 --> 00:12:50,370 including new marked crosswalks, 307 00:12:50,370 --> 00:12:53,570 ADA curb ramps, and flashing beacons. 308 00:12:53,570 --> 00:12:55,190 This work also reflects 309 00:12:55,190 --> 00:12:56,740 our broader safe routes to 310 00:12:56,740 --> 00:12:58,970 school efforts and our partnership with 311 00:12:58,970 --> 00:13:01,610 Seattle Public Schools to make it safer and 312 00:13:01,610 --> 00:13:02,830 easier for students and 313 00:13:02,830 --> 00:13:05,635 families to get to and from school. 314 00:13:05,635 --> 00:13:07,380 With the school year approaching, 315 00:13:07,380 --> 00:13:08,740 this is tangible this is 316 00:13:08,740 --> 00:13:11,550 a tangible example of what our work is ultimately about. 317 00:13:11,550 --> 00:13:14,020 Making everyday trips safer for students, 318 00:13:14,020 --> 00:13:16,810 families, and everyone who uses our streets. 319 00:13:16,810 --> 00:13:18,920 I want to thank Coach Aaron Roche and 320 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:20,740 the Cleveland High School community for 321 00:13:20,740 --> 00:13:23,320 advocating for safety in this area. 322 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,620 Their voices help us understand where 323 00:13:25,620 --> 00:13:28,880 improvements are needed most and why this work matters. 324 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,800 We cannot do this work alone. 325 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,500 It takes partnerships across 326 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:34,760 city departments with elected leaders, 327 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,740 advocates, schools, and communities. 328 00:13:37,740 --> 00:13:40,060 The mayor's executive order strengthens 329 00:13:40,060 --> 00:13:42,040 that collaboration while building 330 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,405 on the work our teams already are delivering. 331 00:13:44,405 --> 00:13:47,290 We're committed to continuing that work and to delivering 332 00:13:47,290 --> 00:13:49,010 safety improvements where they can make 333 00:13:49,010 --> 00:13:52,360 the greatest difference. Thank you so much. [APPLAUSE] 334 00:13:57,940 --> 00:14:01,020 Alexis Mercedes Rinck: Oh, in I'm short. Thank you. 335 00:14:01,020 --> 00:14:05,385 I appreciate that. Hello, everyone. 336 00:14:05,385 --> 00:14:07,675 I am Alexis Mercedes Rinck. 337 00:14:07,675 --> 00:14:09,140 You're Seattle City Council member 338 00:14:09,140 --> 00:14:11,245 representing the Office of position eight, 339 00:14:11,245 --> 00:14:14,060 one of the at-large citywide Council offices, 340 00:14:14,060 --> 00:14:16,740 and I am your vice chair over the Transportation, 341 00:14:16,740 --> 00:14:19,015 Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee. 342 00:14:19,015 --> 00:14:20,845 Every morning in this city, 343 00:14:20,845 --> 00:14:22,980 thousands of us make a choice 344 00:14:22,980 --> 00:14:26,055 of a bet we shouldn't have to make. 345 00:14:26,055 --> 00:14:28,600 We bet that the crosswalk will be enough. 346 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,040 We bet that the driver will see us. 347 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,240 We bet that our children will make it six 348 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,100 blocks to school and back without incident. 349 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:38,800 Most days we win that bet, 350 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,960 and then we stop thinking about it, 351 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,440 because that's what you do when 352 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,200 systems are supposed to protect you. 353 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,420 You stop noticing it's there. 354 00:14:46,420 --> 00:14:50,120 But too many of our neighbors have lost that bet and, 355 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:51,940 in turn, lost their lives. 356 00:14:51,940 --> 00:14:54,520 They didn't lose it because they were careless. 357 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,300 They lost it because cities built streets that 358 00:14:57,300 --> 00:15:00,000 were faster for cars than they were safe for people, 359 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,600 then asked all of us to 360 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,510 be careful enough to make up the difference. 361 00:15:04,510 --> 00:15:06,640 What we're doing here today with 362 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,620 this executive order will save lives, 363 00:15:09,620 --> 00:15:10,820 and it starts the long, 364 00:15:10,820 --> 00:15:13,220 difficult process to recovery. 365 00:15:13,220 --> 00:15:16,260 We're here today because we all believe 366 00:15:16,260 --> 00:15:19,580 that everybody should get home at the end of the day. 367 00:15:19,580 --> 00:15:22,100 Ten years ago, Seattle set a goal of 368 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:25,500 zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. 369 00:15:25,500 --> 00:15:28,920 The goal was right, but a goal is not a plan, 370 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,840 and zero wasn't really the point. 371 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,080 The point is the people behind that number. 372 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:36,600 The point is your neighbor, 373 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:39,195 your co-worker, your kids' school teacher. 374 00:15:39,195 --> 00:15:42,110 Right now, too many of them don't make it home. 375 00:15:42,110 --> 00:15:45,080 want to note that that danger isn't random. 376 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,140 It isn't shared equally. 377 00:15:47,140 --> 00:15:48,660 Deaths in our community 378 00:15:48,660 --> 00:15:51,530 concentrate on a handful of arterials. 379 00:15:51,530 --> 00:15:53,340 Aurora Ave, MLK, 380 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:55,220 Rainier Ave, and many more. 381 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:58,320 You could draw the map of who dies in 382 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,220 this city onto a map of 383 00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:02,640 where we historically underinvested in, 384 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,440 and those lines more than often overlap. 385 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:12,160 Do not. The burden falls hardest on our elders, 386 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:13,880 on people living with disabilities, 387 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:15,060 on black, Indigenous, 388 00:16:15,060 --> 00:16:17,640 and communities of color, our unhoused neighbors, 389 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,095 and people who don't drive cars. 390 00:16:20,095 --> 00:16:22,730 Where you live and how you commute 391 00:16:22,730 --> 00:16:25,650 can be a factor in whether you get home alive. 392 00:16:25,650 --> 00:16:27,270 That is not a traffic problem. 393 00:16:27,270 --> 00:16:28,450 That is an equity problem. 394 00:16:28,450 --> 00:16:30,590 In Seattle in 2026, 395 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:33,160 we are done pretending otherwise. 396 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,205 That's why I'm proud that we're moving with urgency. 397 00:16:36,205 --> 00:16:37,850 Not with another study, 398 00:16:37,850 --> 00:16:40,610 not with another decade-long planning process, 399 00:16:40,610 --> 00:16:44,370 but with action now for people who cannot afford to 400 00:16:44,370 --> 00:16:49,065 wait another ten years for the next arbitrary deadline. 401 00:16:49,065 --> 00:16:54,145 Thank you. [APPLAUSE] This 402 00:16:54,145 --> 00:16:57,390 isn't about paint on pavement for its own sake. 403 00:16:57,390 --> 00:16:59,930 It's about a mother living off of Aurora Avenue, 404 00:16:59,930 --> 00:17:01,835 not squeezing her child's hand a little 405 00:17:01,835 --> 00:17:04,130 tighter every time they cross the street. 406 00:17:04,130 --> 00:17:05,390 It's about an elder in the 407 00:17:05,390 --> 00:17:07,050 Rainier Valley being able to get to 408 00:17:07,050 --> 00:17:08,330 the bus stop without playing 409 00:17:08,330 --> 00:17:10,230 chicken with many lanes of traffic, 410 00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:11,710 and it's about saying, 411 00:17:11,710 --> 00:17:13,290 finally out loud, with 412 00:17:13,290 --> 00:17:15,650 the force of city government behind it, 413 00:17:15,650 --> 00:17:19,845 your life is worth more than someone else's convenience. 414 00:17:19,845 --> 00:17:24,910 [APPLAUSE] I want to thank 415 00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:27,170 our transportation safety advocates who have 416 00:17:27,170 --> 00:17:30,430 been here alongside my office every step of the way, 417 00:17:30,430 --> 00:17:31,370 pushing for years for 418 00:17:31,370 --> 00:17:33,125 these much-needed safety improvements. 419 00:17:33,125 --> 00:17:36,130 I want to thank Mayor Wilson and her team for working 420 00:17:36,130 --> 00:17:37,790 with my office over the past couple of months 421 00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:39,450 to craft this executive order. 422 00:17:39,450 --> 00:17:43,700 Thank you for showing real leadership on traffic safety. 423 00:17:45,690 --> 00:17:47,890 Now, this executive order 424 00:17:47,890 --> 00:17:49,935 initiates tangible actions that 425 00:17:49,935 --> 00:17:53,450 will make real impact for communities across the city, 426 00:17:53,450 --> 00:17:55,290 actions like intersection daylighting 427 00:17:55,290 --> 00:17:57,670 to improve visibility for our pedestrians, 428 00:17:57,670 --> 00:17:59,915 side guards to protect pedestrians, 429 00:17:59,915 --> 00:18:02,310 bikers from large trucks and other state of 430 00:18:02,310 --> 00:18:03,870 the art safety retrofits 431 00:18:03,870 --> 00:18:05,915 for our city contracted vehicles, 432 00:18:05,915 --> 00:18:07,570 and a process to speed up 433 00:18:07,570 --> 00:18:09,750 projects and deliver on safety investments 434 00:18:09,750 --> 00:18:14,760 now on Rainier Aurora Avenue and MK Way. 435 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,050 Now, here's what I know. 436 00:18:17,050 --> 00:18:19,450 No city has ever regulated 437 00:18:19,450 --> 00:18:22,010 its way to safety with a press release. 438 00:18:22,010 --> 00:18:24,110 This only works if we keep showing 439 00:18:24,110 --> 00:18:26,530 up after the media cameras leave. 440 00:18:26,530 --> 00:18:28,610 When it's just budget line items 441 00:18:28,610 --> 00:18:30,070 and construction schedules, 442 00:18:30,070 --> 00:18:31,390 and somebody has to keep 443 00:18:31,390 --> 00:18:33,560 asking why a project is behind schedule. 444 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,795 Now, that somebody is going to be me, 445 00:18:35,795 --> 00:18:38,570 and I'm asking for it to be you too, 446 00:18:38,570 --> 00:18:40,460 because, again, zero in 447 00:18:40,460 --> 00:18:42,680 Vision Zero was never really the point. 448 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,840 The point is the lives we've 449 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,450 saved along the way to keep that number zero, 450 00:18:47,450 --> 00:18:48,950 all of them making it 451 00:18:48,950 --> 00:18:51,185 back through their front door tonight. 452 00:18:51,185 --> 00:18:52,880 Everybody gets home. 453 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,695 Let's now make sure that's true. 454 00:18:54,695 --> 00:19:04,190 Thank you. [APPLAUSE] 455 00:19:04,190 --> 00:19:05,675 Eddie Lin: Good afternoon, everyone. 456 00:19:05,675 --> 00:19:06,920 My name's Eddie Lin, 457 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,050 Seattle City Council member for District 2, 458 00:19:09,050 --> 00:19:11,720 which includes wonderful Cleveland High School, 459 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,340 includes Beacon Hill, goes from 460 00:19:13,340 --> 00:19:15,830 CID down to Rainier Beach. 461 00:19:15,830 --> 00:19:18,650 I appreciate the mayor talking about 462 00:19:18,650 --> 00:19:22,070 public safety includes transportation safety. 463 00:19:22,070 --> 00:19:25,700 Recent surveys have showed that transportation safety 464 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:28,100 is either Number 1 or Number 2 465 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,140 in terms of concerns for our community. 466 00:19:30,140 --> 00:19:32,810 We know that South Seattle, again, 467 00:19:32,810 --> 00:19:34,730 is Number 1 or Number 2 in terms of 468 00:19:34,730 --> 00:19:37,640 serious injuries or deaths. 469 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,075 This is folks of all walks of life. 470 00:19:41,075 --> 00:19:43,295 This is our youth. This is our seniors. 471 00:19:43,295 --> 00:19:45,320 This is families. 472 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,440 This includes drivers, and if you're a driver, 473 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,120 you're not a driver 100% of the time. 474 00:19:50,120 --> 00:19:52,040 You are also sometimes out in the neighborhood, 475 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,595 walking, biking, taking transit. 476 00:19:55,595 --> 00:19:57,845 Safety transit, 477 00:19:57,845 --> 00:20:02,460 transportation safety is good for all of us. 478 00:20:02,980 --> 00:20:05,885 I think too often, 479 00:20:05,885 --> 00:20:08,150 we think about transit safety in 480 00:20:08,150 --> 00:20:09,260 a different way than we think about 481 00:20:09,260 --> 00:20:11,120 other types of public safety. 482 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:13,490 Certainly, it is important for us to 483 00:20:13,490 --> 00:20:15,515 focus on all types of public safety. 484 00:20:15,515 --> 00:20:17,945 Youth gun violence has been devastating, 485 00:20:17,945 --> 00:20:20,315 again, for South Seattle in particular. 486 00:20:20,315 --> 00:20:22,175 But for some reason, we talk about 487 00:20:22,175 --> 00:20:25,130 transit traffic safety differently. 488 00:20:25,130 --> 00:20:29,450 We too often see it as just part of everyday life as 489 00:20:29,450 --> 00:20:31,430 if it's not something that we 490 00:20:31,430 --> 00:20:34,055 have the ability to change or control. 491 00:20:34,055 --> 00:20:37,130 I think that's why for too long it has been normalized. 492 00:20:37,130 --> 00:20:39,860 It has allowed us to 493 00:20:39,860 --> 00:20:43,250 not take the urgent action we need to take. 494 00:20:43,250 --> 00:20:45,800 Change is hard when 495 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,920 your streets and sidewalks 496 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,455 and other ways of getting around are changing. 497 00:20:51,455 --> 00:20:54,245 People will get used to what they know, 498 00:20:54,245 --> 00:20:56,555 but change is necessary. 499 00:20:56,555 --> 00:21:02,810 I appreciate the mayor and the SDOT and 500 00:21:02,810 --> 00:21:05,750 all the city departments that will be critical 501 00:21:05,750 --> 00:21:09,875 to making this a priority for our community. 502 00:21:09,875 --> 00:21:12,080 I think, especially here 503 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:13,280 in front of Cleveland High School, 504 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:14,765 as I think about our families, 505 00:21:14,765 --> 00:21:17,780 it's not just about making 506 00:21:17,780 --> 00:21:20,885 sure everyone gets to where they need to go safely. 507 00:21:20,885 --> 00:21:22,310 I think about all the trips 508 00:21:22,310 --> 00:21:24,635 that people are choosing not to take, 509 00:21:24,635 --> 00:21:26,480 the trips to the grocery store, 510 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:29,150 the trips to the library that people 511 00:21:29,150 --> 00:21:30,680 just are choosing not to take 512 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,720 because they don't feel safe to do so. 513 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,480 I think about how much more freedom and 514 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,970 mobility and accessibility we can 515 00:21:37,970 --> 00:21:40,490 make for our neighbors and 516 00:21:40,490 --> 00:21:44,705 community if we truly prioritize safety for all. 517 00:21:44,705 --> 00:21:47,240 Again, thank you to the mayor, 518 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,370 to everyone, to all the community advocates. 519 00:21:49,370 --> 00:21:51,050 This is your win. 520 00:21:51,050 --> 00:21:53,045 This is going to take all of us. 521 00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:55,130 It's going to take all of us to talk about 522 00:21:55,130 --> 00:21:57,110 transportation traffic safety in 523 00:21:57,110 --> 00:21:58,970 a different way, to prioritize it. 524 00:21:58,970 --> 00:22:03,380 To remember to slow down as we talk about somebody's life 525 00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:07,670 should not be based on my convenience, your convenience. 526 00:22:07,670 --> 00:22:10,700 We all need to remember that this has to be a priority. 527 00:22:10,700 --> 00:22:13,775 This is our neighbors, and their lives are at stake. 528 00:22:13,775 --> 00:22:22,250 Thank you. [APPLAUSE] 529 00:22:22,250 --> 00:22:23,750 Tim Taylor: Hi, I'm Captain Tim Taylor. 530 00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:24,770 I'm the captain of 531 00:22:24,770 --> 00:22:26,795 Fire Station 21 in the Greenwood neighborhood. 532 00:22:26,795 --> 00:22:28,550 I'm also one of the liaisons from 533 00:22:28,550 --> 00:22:31,490 the fire department to SDOT. 534 00:22:31,490 --> 00:22:34,385 The fire chief asked me to come out here today to speak 535 00:22:34,385 --> 00:22:37,820 on what we've been doing to this point already, 536 00:22:37,820 --> 00:22:40,190 working with Vision Zero and our SDOT partners and 537 00:22:40,190 --> 00:22:43,925 our police partners on projects throughout the city. 538 00:22:43,925 --> 00:22:46,370 But he wanted me to emphasize that we 539 00:22:46,370 --> 00:22:48,080 unfortunately have a first hand seat 540 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,565 to these tragedies unfold. 541 00:22:49,565 --> 00:22:50,840 We respond to everything with 542 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,360 our police department, brothers and sisters. 543 00:22:54,490 --> 00:22:56,960 It takes a toll. We see 544 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:58,760 that toll first hand that it takes 545 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,705 emotionally on the people that are involved, 546 00:23:02,705 --> 00:23:05,195 the people that are there, their families. 547 00:23:05,195 --> 00:23:07,250 The mission of the fire department, 548 00:23:07,250 --> 00:23:09,065 first and foremost, is to save lives. 549 00:23:09,065 --> 00:23:14,000 We've been invested in working with SDOT with police, 550 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,490 with our neighborhood community groups. 551 00:23:16,490 --> 00:23:19,310 We have been working already with 552 00:23:19,310 --> 00:23:21,530 the Vision Zero team to have 553 00:23:21,530 --> 00:23:23,525 a holistic and collaborative approach 554 00:23:23,525 --> 00:23:24,830 to building these projects 555 00:23:24,830 --> 00:23:26,735 that keeps in mind 556 00:23:26,735 --> 00:23:29,630 the response needs for the fire and the fire police, 557 00:23:29,630 --> 00:23:30,890 but at the same time, 558 00:23:30,890 --> 00:23:32,570 keeping in mind the heart of what 559 00:23:32,570 --> 00:23:35,630 this initiative is designed to do. 560 00:23:35,630 --> 00:23:37,940 We're still working on that collaboratively, 561 00:23:37,940 --> 00:23:41,000 and we're still very engaged on 562 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,740 that level projects that 563 00:23:42,740 --> 00:23:45,660 have already happened and projects that are undergoing. 564 00:23:50,910 --> 00:23:53,680 Brandon James: Good afternoon. I am Brandon James, 565 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,825 lieutenant with Seattle PD, 566 00:23:55,825 --> 00:23:59,115 and I'm one of the commanders in the traffic section. 567 00:23:59,115 --> 00:24:01,880 The Seattle Police Department is aligned with 568 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,750 safe system approach for Vision Zero. 569 00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:09,095 Death and serious injuries from traffic crashes 570 00:24:09,095 --> 00:24:12,620 are unacceptable, tragic, and preventable. 571 00:24:12,620 --> 00:24:16,070 SPD is dedicated to proactively making the streets of 572 00:24:16,070 --> 00:24:19,745 Seattle safer by dedicated emphasis patrols. 573 00:24:19,745 --> 00:24:21,365 Just some examples here. 574 00:24:21,365 --> 00:24:24,065 Since January of this year, 575 00:24:24,065 --> 00:24:26,510 a small group of dedicated officers working on 576 00:24:26,510 --> 00:24:28,895 a state funded grant 577 00:24:28,895 --> 00:24:32,060 have contacted more than 260 drivers, 578 00:24:32,060 --> 00:24:34,445 issued nearly 300 citations, 579 00:24:34,445 --> 00:24:39,230 and arrested three dozen DUI drivers. 580 00:24:39,230 --> 00:24:41,570 Another emphasis patrol through 581 00:24:41,570 --> 00:24:43,940 the drunk net program launched in 582 00:24:43,940 --> 00:24:48,200 December of 2025 consisted of six officers and 583 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:49,940 two supervisors who are 584 00:24:49,940 --> 00:24:52,865 alone to the traffic section for one month. 585 00:24:52,865 --> 00:24:54,740 During that one month period, 586 00:24:54,740 --> 00:24:57,830 nearly 725 drivers were contacted. 587 00:24:57,830 --> 00:25:00,455 Nearly 500 citations were issued, 588 00:25:00,455 --> 00:25:04,985 and 107 DUI drivers were arrested. 589 00:25:04,985 --> 00:25:07,700 Additionally, more than two dozen other arrests 590 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:09,995 were made for other traffic crimes. 591 00:25:09,995 --> 00:25:12,815 During the FIFA operational period, 592 00:25:12,815 --> 00:25:15,395 the Seattle Police Department dedicated officers to 593 00:25:15,395 --> 00:25:18,110 proactive traffic enforcement to ensure 594 00:25:18,110 --> 00:25:21,815 the safety of citizens and visiting attendees. 595 00:25:21,815 --> 00:25:24,470 A dedicated DUI traffic squad was 596 00:25:24,470 --> 00:25:27,845 launched during and after each FIFA match. 597 00:25:27,845 --> 00:25:31,835 During that time, 350 citations were issued, 598 00:25:31,835 --> 00:25:35,480 30 DUI drivers were arrested with 599 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,490 an additional eight arrests made for 600 00:25:37,490 --> 00:25:40,250 other proactive traffic enforcement. 601 00:25:40,250 --> 00:25:44,570 Now, notably, during the FIFA operational period, 602 00:25:44,570 --> 00:25:48,290 there were zero Seattle traffic fatalities. 603 00:25:48,290 --> 00:25:50,450 Seattle PD currently has 604 00:25:50,450 --> 00:25:53,660 10 drug recognition experts with 605 00:25:53,660 --> 00:25:54,725 more on the way through 606 00:25:54,725 --> 00:25:57,815 collaborative training efforts throughout the state. 607 00:25:57,815 --> 00:25:59,345 We recognize that doing 608 00:25:59,345 --> 00:26:01,610 traffic enforcement reduces the number 609 00:26:01,610 --> 00:26:03,200 of people who are killed or 610 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,210 seriously injured in traffic collisions. 611 00:26:05,210 --> 00:26:07,820 However, a key part of 612 00:26:07,820 --> 00:26:09,650 the safe system approach is knowing that 613 00:26:09,650 --> 00:26:12,035 humans do make mistakes. 614 00:26:12,035 --> 00:26:15,770 When appropriate, officers will educate drivers, 615 00:26:15,770 --> 00:26:19,265 cyclists and pedestrians about how to keep themselves and 616 00:26:19,265 --> 00:26:21,275 others safe on the road 617 00:26:21,275 --> 00:26:23,975 so that everyone can enjoy Seattle. 618 00:26:23,975 --> 00:26:34,610 Thank you. [APPLAUSE] 619 00:26:34,610 --> 00:26:35,330 Gordon Padelford: Good afternoon. 620 00:26:35,330 --> 00:26:36,620 My name is Gordon Padelford. 621 00:26:36,620 --> 00:26:37,760 I'm the executive director of 622 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,320 the Seattle Streets Alliance, 623 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,080 and I want to put the mayor's bold action 624 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:43,910 today in some historic context. 625 00:26:43,910 --> 00:26:46,850 I was there at the press conference in 2015 in 626 00:26:46,850 --> 00:26:48,380 Lake City when Vision Zero was 627 00:26:48,380 --> 00:26:50,780 announced as a bold new direction for the city. 628 00:26:50,780 --> 00:26:53,555 Since then, across the United States, 629 00:26:53,555 --> 00:26:54,950 speeding has been rampant, 630 00:26:54,950 --> 00:26:56,870 distracted driving is increasing, 631 00:26:56,870 --> 00:26:59,420 intoxicated driving remains stubbornly high, 632 00:26:59,420 --> 00:27:00,740 and the proliferation of 633 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:03,230 SUVs and passenger trucks that are too 634 00:27:03,230 --> 00:27:04,820 large for our streets is having 635 00:27:04,820 --> 00:27:07,445 deadly consequences, especially for pedestrians. 636 00:27:07,445 --> 00:27:09,380 But in the face of these headwinds, 637 00:27:09,380 --> 00:27:11,765 Seattle is safer than many of our peer cities, 638 00:27:11,765 --> 00:27:14,885 San Francisco, Minneapolis, Washington DC, 639 00:27:14,885 --> 00:27:16,985 Philadelphia, Portland, and Denver. 640 00:27:16,985 --> 00:27:18,605 That's a laudable achievement 641 00:27:18,605 --> 00:27:20,420 we should take a moment to recognize. 642 00:27:20,420 --> 00:27:23,345 It's thanks to the Vision Zero program's effort 643 00:27:23,345 --> 00:27:25,380 to set safer speed limits, 644 00:27:25,380 --> 00:27:28,795 implement traffic calming, and build safer crosswalks. 645 00:27:28,795 --> 00:27:30,355 But we must do more. 646 00:27:30,355 --> 00:27:33,550 In 2025, more than 200 Seattleites 647 00:27:33,550 --> 00:27:37,785 suffered life altering injuries and 27 lost their lives. 648 00:27:37,785 --> 00:27:40,550 Something we've come to know while we're working 649 00:27:40,550 --> 00:27:42,800 on this issue is that these are not statistics. 650 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:44,825 These are not numbers. These are families. 651 00:27:44,825 --> 00:27:46,235 These are individuals with 652 00:27:46,235 --> 00:27:49,010 communities and friends and colleagues, 653 00:27:49,010 --> 00:27:51,860 and the ripples of devastation that happen from each of 654 00:27:51,860 --> 00:27:56,425 those incidents affects people for a long time. 655 00:27:56,425 --> 00:27:58,735 There are stories behind each of those. 656 00:27:58,735 --> 00:28:00,940 I would implore the media today to 657 00:28:00,940 --> 00:28:03,750 humanize the people behind the statistics, 658 00:28:03,750 --> 00:28:05,270 to think about why they're not 659 00:28:05,270 --> 00:28:06,830 able to get home to their loved ones, 660 00:28:06,830 --> 00:28:08,960 and what we can do to make sure 661 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,030 everyone gets home safely because in the end, 662 00:28:11,030 --> 00:28:13,010 this is a choice that we're making as 663 00:28:13,010 --> 00:28:16,025 a society for how our grand transportation system works. 664 00:28:16,025 --> 00:28:17,810 In Seattle, 80% of 665 00:28:17,810 --> 00:28:20,945 pedestrian fatalities occur on multiple lane arterials. 666 00:28:20,945 --> 00:28:24,380 We've been talking about the same streets since 2015. 667 00:28:24,380 --> 00:28:26,000 Council member Rink mentioned some of them. 668 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,615 The Top 5 most dangerous streets are Aurora, Rainier, 669 00:28:29,615 --> 00:28:31,805 Fourth Avenue South, Lake City Way, 670 00:28:31,805 --> 00:28:34,115 and MLK Jr. Way South. 671 00:28:34,115 --> 00:28:36,740 Now, the good news is that we 672 00:28:36,740 --> 00:28:39,425 have the solutions to keep people safe on our streets. 673 00:28:39,425 --> 00:28:41,570 The Seattle Department of Transportation has 674 00:28:41,570 --> 00:28:44,360 the expertise to fix our dangerous streets, 675 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:45,935 but the political will, 676 00:28:45,935 --> 00:28:48,600 up until this point, has been lacking. 677 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:50,365 Without the political will, 678 00:28:50,365 --> 00:28:53,425 too often safety improvements have been watered down, 679 00:28:53,425 --> 00:28:55,845 delayed or canceled altogether. 680 00:28:55,845 --> 00:28:58,985 Now, with Mayor Wilson's executive order, 681 00:28:58,985 --> 00:29:01,040 they have the clear backing of 682 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,380 the mayor to strengthen and speed up 683 00:29:03,380 --> 00:29:05,150 these improvements that will make sure 684 00:29:05,150 --> 00:29:07,490 everyone gets home safely to their loved ones. 685 00:29:07,490 --> 00:29:15,995 [APPLAUSE] Some of those improvements 686 00:29:15,995 --> 00:29:18,695 can look like major street redesigns, 687 00:29:18,695 --> 00:29:22,265 like redesigning Aurora Avenue or Rainier Avenue South. 688 00:29:22,265 --> 00:29:24,020 Other times those projects may be 689 00:29:24,020 --> 00:29:25,655 small but meaningful improvements, 690 00:29:25,655 --> 00:29:28,175 like improving intersection visibility 691 00:29:28,175 --> 00:29:29,780 through hardened daylighting, 692 00:29:29,780 --> 00:29:31,490 or they can be at the policy level, 693 00:29:31,490 --> 00:29:33,905 like installing side guards on our trucks, 694 00:29:33,905 --> 00:29:35,210 as we know that half of 695 00:29:35,210 --> 00:29:37,310 all people biking and a quarter of all people 696 00:29:37,310 --> 00:29:39,125 walking who are hit by large trucks 697 00:29:39,125 --> 00:29:41,420 are actually hit by the side of a truck first, 698 00:29:41,420 --> 00:29:42,560 which would be preventable if 699 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,880 side guards were ubiquitous. 700 00:29:45,940 --> 00:29:49,190 But in the end, there's no single solution 701 00:29:49,190 --> 00:29:51,440 to keep people safe on our streets. 702 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,705 We need a comprehensive approach 703 00:29:53,705 --> 00:29:56,360 like the one Mayor Wilson outlined today. 704 00:29:56,360 --> 00:29:59,225 But there is one key ingredient, 705 00:29:59,225 --> 00:30:01,595 and that is political will. 706 00:30:01,595 --> 00:30:04,490 Finally, today, in Seattle, 707 00:30:04,490 --> 00:30:07,700 we have it thanks to Mayor Wilson's action today and 708 00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,935 her determination and strong leadership 709 00:30:09,935 --> 00:30:13,230 to see it through through implementation. Thank you. 710 00:30:19,990 --> 00:30:22,535 Speaker 1: With that, we're going to move over here, 711 00:30:22,535 --> 00:30:24,590 and we're going to sign an executive order. 712 00:30:24,590 --> 00:30:26,030 Then we'll take a couple of questions 713 00:30:26,030 --> 00:30:27,725 related to Vision Zero. 714 00:30:27,725 --> 00:30:29,150 Afterwards, we're going to have 715 00:30:29,150 --> 00:30:30,620 some pullovers pits going to be 716 00:30:30,620 --> 00:30:32,525 super quick 'cause we have a lot of talkers. 717 00:30:32,525 --> 00:30:38,165 Thanks. Poll over. Poll asides. 718 00:30:38,165 --> 00:30:40,350 Katie Wilson: Really? There you go. 719 00:30:42,430 --> 00:30:44,930 Speaker 1: They're both the same. We got two of them. 720 00:30:44,930 --> 00:30:54,170 Katie Wilson: [inaudible]. [APPLAUSE] 721 00:30:54,170 --> 00:31:43,655 Speaker 1: If you have a question about Vision Zero, let me know. 722 00:31:43,655 --> 00:31:47,615 Chris. You might [inaudible] come over here. 723 00:31:47,615 --> 00:31:51,900 Or whoever needs to answer should come over to this mic. 724 00:31:58,300 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 2: Council member Rob Saka who leads 725 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:03,230 the transportation proposed something 726 00:32:03,230 --> 00:32:04,685 called the Safer Streets Act. 727 00:32:04,685 --> 00:32:06,500 He's not here today. How is what 728 00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:08,780 you're doing different than what he's proposed? 729 00:32:08,780 --> 00:32:10,520 What do you think about this legislation? 730 00:32:10,520 --> 00:32:12,395 Katie Wilson: I know. I'm excited to have 731 00:32:12,395 --> 00:32:14,000 the partnership of our council 732 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:15,350 and of the transportation chair. 733 00:32:15,350 --> 00:32:17,450 I think anyone who wants to work together to make 734 00:32:17,450 --> 00:32:20,105 our streets safer for all users, 735 00:32:20,105 --> 00:32:21,440 we're going to work together, and I'm 736 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,300 excited about his leadership, too. 737 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:27,200 Speaker 2: Council may have [inaudible] have 738 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:28,580 a public safety plan. 739 00:32:28,580 --> 00:32:32,435 [inaudible] Do you have a plan? 740 00:32:32,435 --> 00:32:34,460 Katie Wilson: Public safety is an extremely 741 00:32:34,460 --> 00:32:36,275 high priority for my office, 742 00:32:36,275 --> 00:32:38,360 and I think the executive order 743 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:39,410 that we're laying out today 744 00:32:39,410 --> 00:32:42,500 is definitely part of a comprehensive public safety plan. 745 00:32:42,500 --> 00:32:46,400 We also are working very hard on updating and improving, 746 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,055 better coordinating our city's approach to gun violence. 747 00:32:49,055 --> 00:32:50,270 I know we'll have more to share about 748 00:32:50,270 --> 00:32:52,130 that in the coming weeks. 749 00:32:52,130 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: Just making sure that we're 750 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:54,770 talking about Vision Zero. 751 00:32:54,770 --> 00:32:57,510 Speaker 2: [inaudible] about that. 752 00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:01,130 Speaker 3: The South Seattle Emerald 753 00:33:01,130 --> 00:33:02,960 had an op ed that talked about 754 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:05,015 how recent traffic calming projects 755 00:33:05,015 --> 00:33:07,685 in South Seattle lack features that are in projects, 756 00:33:07,685 --> 00:33:10,160 other places had trees 757 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,720 and whatnot, shrubbery, and whatnot. 758 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,070 South Seattle has high traffic fatalities and 759 00:33:16,070 --> 00:33:19,040 also losing [inaudible] faster than any other places. 760 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,545 These executive boards you have, 761 00:33:21,545 --> 00:33:22,880 make sure that planning for 762 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:25,520 South Seattle traffic calming projects 763 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:26,705 have beautification, 764 00:33:26,705 --> 00:33:28,955 planning associated like in other places. 765 00:33:28,955 --> 00:33:30,830 Katie Wilson: I think that will be a great thing 766 00:33:30,830 --> 00:33:32,570 for interdepartmental team working on 767 00:33:32,570 --> 00:33:34,280 this to discuss because 768 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,080 I think that tree canopy is very important, 769 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:37,400 and definitely South Seattle 770 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:38,300 and some other neighborhoods of 771 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:42,230 our city are behind when it comes to having tree canopy. 772 00:33:42,230 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 1: You're a go guy in 773 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:44,075 the mobile right over there. 774 00:33:44,075 --> 00:33:45,935 Speaker 4: Related question [inaudible] one, 775 00:33:45,935 --> 00:33:49,175 do you know why Councilmember Saka isn't here with us? 776 00:33:49,175 --> 00:33:52,175 Is it an OPMA thing or is it something else? 777 00:33:52,175 --> 00:33:54,860 Number 2 there's been 778 00:33:54,860 --> 00:33:58,085 a lot of discussion about public safety, 779 00:33:58,085 --> 00:34:04,160 and council member accused 780 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,280 you of not having a plan for public safety. 781 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:10,550 Would you like to respond to that and talk more about 782 00:34:10,550 --> 00:34:14,855 the holistic view of public safety then? 783 00:34:14,855 --> 00:34:17,570 Katie Wilson: Sure. I think I respond to that a little 784 00:34:17,570 --> 00:34:19,670 bit with the earlier gentleman's question. 785 00:34:19,670 --> 00:34:21,950 But absolutely, public safety in 786 00:34:21,950 --> 00:34:25,100 all of its forms is extremely important. 787 00:34:25,100 --> 00:34:27,200 Traffic safety is one piece of that. 788 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:28,580 Gun violence is a piece of that. 789 00:34:28,580 --> 00:34:30,140 Just the experience of walking 790 00:34:30,140 --> 00:34:32,690 outside in your neighborhood and what that feels like, 791 00:34:32,690 --> 00:34:34,190 or getting on the bus and 792 00:34:34,190 --> 00:34:35,915 riding transit, whether that feels safe. 793 00:34:35,915 --> 00:34:38,495 All of this is part of public safety. 794 00:34:38,495 --> 00:34:41,135 To make improvements is 795 00:34:41,135 --> 00:34:43,325 a multi-dimensional effort that 796 00:34:43,325 --> 00:34:44,750 involves lots of different partners, 797 00:34:44,750 --> 00:34:47,630 and we are working on that very hard every day, 798 00:34:47,630 --> 00:34:49,775 and welcome the collaboration of everyone here. 799 00:34:49,775 --> 00:34:50,330 Speaker 1: Right there. 800 00:34:50,330 --> 00:34:53,090 Katie Wilson: [inaudible] 801 00:34:53,090 --> 00:34:54,200 Again, I don't want to 802 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:55,385 speak for Councilmember Saka, 803 00:34:55,385 --> 00:34:57,200 but again, I appreciate his leadership, 804 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,335 and I know that he's also been talking about how we can 805 00:35:00,335 --> 00:35:02,540 move forward on Vision Zero and looking 806 00:35:02,540 --> 00:35:05,015 forward to working with him to make that happen. 807 00:35:05,015 --> 00:35:07,220 Speaker 5: I had a question about engagement, 808 00:35:07,220 --> 00:35:09,215 which obviously, 809 00:35:09,215 --> 00:35:10,670 we love that type of stuff, 810 00:35:10,670 --> 00:35:11,780 but it has been used as 811 00:35:11,780 --> 00:35:13,985 a bludgeon for projects in the past. 812 00:35:13,985 --> 00:35:15,050 I'm thinking even at 813 00:35:15,050 --> 00:35:17,060 Beacon Hill project part on the road that 814 00:35:17,060 --> 00:35:18,620 had three parking [inaudible] 815 00:35:18,620 --> 00:35:20,825 before we could move board with it. 816 00:35:20,825 --> 00:35:22,610 Does your executive orders or 817 00:35:22,610 --> 00:35:24,740 the associated effort have anything to say about that? 818 00:35:24,740 --> 00:35:28,385 How can we make that process not so slow. 819 00:35:28,385 --> 00:35:30,620 Katie Wilson: Angie can come up, I know. 820 00:35:30,620 --> 00:35:32,330 Yes, it does address this. 821 00:35:32,330 --> 00:35:34,715 I think this is always a tension in Seattle. 822 00:35:34,715 --> 00:35:36,800 We talk about the Seattle process and how things 823 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:39,230 take a very long time sometimes. 824 00:35:39,230 --> 00:35:40,820 Also, we really do want 825 00:35:40,820 --> 00:35:42,500 everyone's input and participation. 826 00:35:42,500 --> 00:35:43,580 We want to make sure that everyone's 827 00:35:43,580 --> 00:35:44,660 heard and that we're considering 828 00:35:44,660 --> 00:35:47,825 impacts as we're designing our projects. 829 00:35:47,825 --> 00:35:52,055 Part of this order is to look at the way that we do 830 00:35:52,055 --> 00:35:54,050 community engagement when we do 831 00:35:54,050 --> 00:35:56,360 safety projects and to really figure out, 832 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:59,240 are there areas where we need to make sure that 833 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:01,115 we're doing things fast 834 00:36:01,115 --> 00:36:02,780 because of the safety considerations? 835 00:36:02,780 --> 00:36:04,160 That is definitely part of this. 836 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,760 I don't know if you want to stand it. You can 837 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:08,915 read the text in the order. 838 00:36:08,915 --> 00:36:11,485 Speaker 1: There, one more over here. Erica, please. 839 00:36:11,485 --> 00:36:13,765 Erica: Sorry to keep going back to Rob Saka. 840 00:36:13,765 --> 00:36:17,500 But you support his legislation which you pulled 841 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:19,120 out pretty fast this week 842 00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:21,850 without really announcing details? 843 00:36:21,850 --> 00:36:23,600 Katie Wilson: I think I need to see the details. 844 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,040 This is part of why I think 845 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:26,450 it's going to be a conversation with 846 00:36:26,450 --> 00:36:27,710 his office as we learn more 847 00:36:27,710 --> 00:36:29,675 about in detail what he has in mind there. 848 00:36:29,675 --> 00:36:31,370 Erica: Do you consider this more substantive 849 00:36:31,370 --> 00:36:33,320 than what you're proposing? 850 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:35,690 Katie Wilson: I think people can judge for themselves. 851 00:36:35,690 --> 00:36:37,160 Also, as the executive, 852 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,230 there are a lot of things that we have the ability to do 853 00:36:39,230 --> 00:36:41,675 working in our departments in terms of execution. 854 00:36:41,675 --> 00:36:43,910 It's just a different role. Our council 855 00:36:43,910 --> 00:36:45,080 is the legislative body, 856 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:45,980 and so looking forward to 857 00:36:45,980 --> 00:36:47,570 working with Councilmember Saka. 858 00:36:47,570 --> 00:36:49,550 Speaker 1: Thank you, everyone. We can do 859 00:36:49,550 --> 00:36:51,230 1 or 2 poll sides over here. 860 00:36:51,230 --> 00:36:52,835 I think we talked to Chris and Dan, 861 00:36:52,835 --> 00:36:54,275 and then we got to let the mayor go. 862 00:36:54,275 --> 00:37:10,044 Madeleine. [APPLAUSE]