SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Department of Transportation released its “Vision Zero” report this week, addressing traffic fatalities, future projects, and areas of improvement for city streets.
According to the report, the city continues to see a rise in traffic-related deaths since 2019. The report also said that compared to cities of similar size across the U.S. like Denver, Seattle does have a significantly smaller amount of fatalities — but SDOT Director Greg Spotts said the agency is still focusing on its goal of zero traffic deaths by 2030.
A spokesperson with SDOT said the city received $25 million in federal funds as they plan to spend over $30 million in improving streets and traffic in the city.
“It’s tough when you don’t have the infrastructure to make a city really bicycle friendly, that is more designed for people with cars and people who drive around,” Neils Hoyle, who walks to work in town every day, said.
KIRO 7 spoke to several people walking around the city about their thoughts on things like pedestrian and cyclist safety. Some people believe it can be flat-out hazardous to walk around town, especially at intersections like Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street. That intersection is where an Seattle Police Department officer ran over a 23-year-old woman back in January.
“There really is no direction for pedestrian traffic here minus just you looking on both sides and hoping that cars aren’t flying by. So, that is definitely nerve-wracking for someone who literally walks everywhere,” Ramona Surs, who lives in town, said.
In the SDOT report, Dexter Avenue saw a decrease in traffic collisions. The intersection of Dexter and Thomas has been slated for years to receive upgrades in safety, but KIRO 7 learned that reductions in the city’s budget last year put that project on pause. And given the recent report, people are hoping the city acts quickly.
“I hope they build more safe bike infrastructure. Like dividers,” Hoyle said.
“I mean, we want people who are in motor vehicles to be safe and also pedestrians to be safe, too,” Surs said.
To view the full report, click here.
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