3 more ways to learn and/or talk about newly released draft Seattle Transportation Plan

Last week, we reported on the city’s release of the draft Seattle Transportation Plan – an outline of goals and actions laying out a potential path forward on how people will be getting around for the next 20 years, and what projects/policies/funding it would take to get there. The first big announcement was that the city wants your feedback. Now, three more notes:

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE BRIEFING: Tuesday (September 5th) at 9:30 am, the City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee meeting will include a briefing on the draft plan, which eventually will require a council vote to be finalized. No vote is planned at this meeting, but there is a public-comment period at the beginning. The agenda explains how to comment and/or how to watch/attend, online or in person – and if you just want to graze the toplines, it also includes this slide deck prepared for the briefing.

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: We just got word today that he draft plan will be a major topic of discussion when West Seattle Bike Connections meets Tuesday night, 6:30 pm at High Point Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW). All are welcome.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT: Along with the release of the draft plan itself, the city also has outlined its potential effects in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, for which a formal comment period is open through October 16th. This is an entirely separate voluminous document, which you can find linked here, along with a summary and information on how to comment.

P.S. Reminder that there are two more midday “pop-ups” this week at West Seattle libraries where you can talk with SDOT reps – they’re at the end of our original story.

Rhonda September 4, 2023 (6:32 pm)

From what we’ve seen implemented from SDOT and other alphabet agencies it sounds more like the draft Seattle Transportation Plan is more about RESTRICTING how we’ll get around in the next 20 years.

heartless September 4, 2023 (6:48 pm)

It’s completely true we can’t drive tanks down the middle of California Ave, and it’s equally true–and equally disturbing–that we can’t pogo stick down the middle of 35th. If these draconian RESTRICTIONS would only be lifted, we’d all be living in a (paved) paradise!
- Rhonda September 4, 2023 (7:21 pm)
  
  I’ve been living in West Seattle for over 30 years and I’ve never seen a tank or pogo stick on 35th SW. But I have seen lanes taken away on 35th SW, the engineered speed reduced to a ridiculous 25 mph, and pot holes left unrepaired for weeks at a time. I’ll take tanks and pogo sticks over that stuff, any day.
  - heartless September 4, 2023 (7:55 pm)
    
    So call out what you are really against: anything that makes people safer. You are on the record as against lower speed limits. You are on the record as against speed bumps. You are on the record as against speed cameras. Just admit you love metal cages more than you love people, and be gone with you. This childish ridiculousness of whining about “restrictions” is old and tired.
    - Lol September 5, 2023 (2:36 pm)
      
      same folks that think speed cameras would unfairly punish their brand of “safe” speeding while still bemoaning that nothing is stopping the really fast drivers
  - Lagartija Nick September 5, 2023 (9:35 am)
    
    The speed limit on Mercer Island has been 25 for well over a decade. In most small towns in Eastern Washington the speed limit is 25. Are these car centric cities and towns engaging in a war on cars too and restricting their residents?

Talking September 4, 2023 (7:25 pm)

Keep on talking….I will be under 6 ft before I see the light of the Rail

Scarlett September 5, 2023 (10:22 am)

Ah, the magical, expensive silver bullet – light rail! Yep, that’ll solve everything. You know, just it like it did in those neighborhoods along Central Link, huge largely deserted stations only missing tumbleweeds and a lonely train whistle. Good grief, people.