Near-term actions

Seattle’s commitment to Vision Zero starts immediately. The actions in this section represent how we’ll reduce serious and fatal crashes in the near-term, working toward our 2030 goal. They are grouped into three categories:
  1. Street design, policies, and regulation
  2. Education and public engagement
  3. Enforcement
This action list is just the beginning. As we roll out the Vision Zero campaign, we will partner with other city departments and government agencies, community groups, and others to add to and refine it.

STREET DESIGN, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS


20 MPH Zone Program
  • Reduce speed limits on residential streets through a 20 MPH Zone program. Local streets with high collision history will be primary priorities and most 20 MPH Zones will be installed near schools or parks.
  • Install signage and pavement markings to clearly delineate the 20 MPH Zone and ensure intersections are cleared of obstructions to improve visibility of pedestrians in crosswalks
  • Install 5 – 10 zones in 2015
Reduce Arterial Speed Limits
Review arterial speed limits and reduce to 30 mph or lower. Pair speed limit reductions with tools like radar speed signs and street design changes. Review speed limits through our annual programs and Road Safety Corridor projects. Work with State partners to make changes to State Routes like Aurora Avenue North, Lake City Way NE and Sand Point Way NE.

Lower speed limits on the following corridors in 2015:  
 Martin Luther King Jr Way S
 Rainier Avenue S
 35th Avenue SW
 SW Roxbury Street/Olson Place SW
 Delridge Way SW
 Fauntleroy Way SW
 Harbor Avenue SW
 Greenwood Avenue N
 Holman Road NW
 Seaview Ave NW
 5th Avenue NE
 15th Avenue NE
Leading pedestrian intervals give people crossing the street a head start.  The WALK signal begins a few seconds before the green light for cars.  This improves visibility, making it easier for drivers to see pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Downtown Safety

Most pedestrian collisions occur downtown. In fact, more than 600 people have been hit while walking downtown in the last three years. While we’ve seen positive safety gains outside of the city center, we’ve seen an increase in the severity of collisions in the central business district - specifically collisions involving speeding. Prevent collisions through low-cost, quick changes including:
  • Reduce speed limits to 25 mph throughout downtown, starting with Pike, Pine and James streets
  • Data-driven pedestrian safety enhancements may include leading or lagging pedestrian intervals, protected turn phases, elimination of dual turn lanes, signal improvements, and no turns on red. 2015 locations include:
    • 5th Ave at Union, University, Spring, and Seneca Streets
    • 6th Ave at Pike, Spring, Cherry, James, and University Streets
    • 7th Ave and Olive Way

Urban Center Safety

Bring a higher level of safety to Seattle’s Urban Centers, where high volumes of vehicular traffic, transit, pedestrians, and bicyclists merge. Data-driven improvements may include modified signal phasing, traffic calming, protected turn phases and leading or lagging pedestrian intervals at the following locations:
  • Lake City at NE 125th Street and Lake City Way NE
  • White Center/Westwood at SW Roxbury Street and Delridge Way/16th Ave SW
  • Columbia City and Hillman City on Rainier Ave S

Master Plan Development and Implementation

In 2015, implement safety improvements identified in the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans including:
  • 7 miles of protected bike lanes
  • 12 miles of neighborhood greenways
  • More than 40 crossing improvements
  • 14 blocks of new sidewalk
  • Remark 500 crosswalks
In addition, SDOT and our community partners will develop a Freight Master Plan to focus on safe and reliable urban truck movements to support Seattle’s maritime and manufacturing industry and our increasing demand for goods and services.

Transit safety improvements

Improve safety and access for transit, through signal timing and lane allocation improvements. Make transit spot improvements that increase pedestrian safety and access to transit stops and stations.
                                                Road Safety Corridors
                                                Reduce collisions through low cost engineering, enforcement and
                                                education efforts on targeted corridors including:
                                                 Rainier Ave S
                                                 Lake City Way
                                                 SW Roxbury Street
                                                 35th Ave SW
                                                 Banner Way

                                                Complete Corridors
                                                Plan and develop long-term multimodal improvements on corridors
                                                such as:
                                                 Delridge Way SW
                                                 East Marginal Way
                                                 Yesler Way
                                                 Greenwood Ave N
                                                 3rd Ave
                                                 Beacon Ave S
                                                Capital Projects
                                                Transform Seattle streets through major projects designed to
                                                ensure safe travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers
                                                 23rd Ave
                                                 Mercer West
                                                 Waterfront
                                                 Broadway
                                               Safe Routes to Schools
                                               In 2015, SDOT and our community partners will complete our
                                               School Road Safety Action Plan as a comprehensive guide to
                                               school safety. We’ll also provide Safe Routes to Schools services
                                               throughout Seattle including:
                                                Infrastructure improvements at more than 20 schools
                                                40 SRTS mini-grants

Crosswalk Policy

Update SDOT’s crosswalk policies to put greater emphasis on the presence of transit stops, elderly people, and students

High Reflectivity Pavement Markings

Integrate more durable and visible pavement markings as the new standard for all roadway projects in Seattle                          

Right-of-Way Improvement Manual (ROWIM)

Update the ROWIM to provide guidance to private developers on best practices for ensuring safety in the right of way.

To include:
 New street types that prioritize safety and quality for all users
 New pedestrian and bicycle design standards
 A new section on interim design treatments that can offer low-cost, near-term solutions to improve safety in advance of secured capital funding

Construction Coordination

Ensure that construction coordination strategies focus on keeping people safe on our streets during construction. Use creative and low cost solutions like signal timing modifications to ensure safe and predictable movements – especially for people walking and biking. 

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