Resolution 31157

A RESOLUTION approving the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan.

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan establishes transportation goals and policies for implementation through the Transportation Strategic Plan (TSP) including: making the best use of the streets we have to move people and goods; encouraging walking and bicycling as an easy and healthy way to get around; making the most of new transportation investments; protecting city infrastructure; connecting to the region; planning for and investing in urban villages; enhancing neighborhood livability; and improving the environment; and

WHEREAS, the transportation system of Seattle is an extraordinary public asset and is vital and integral to the City's economic health, environmental quality, and social and community fabric; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle has a tremendous opportunity to improve health and to reduce traffic and transportation problems by providing viable transportation alternatives including walking and transit use; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution 30790, with the Mayor concurring, which approved the 2005 Transportation Strategic Plan Update that provided a set of strategies related to pedestrian travel and facilities, including the establishment of performance measures for pedestrian facilities through the development of a Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, the Seattle City Council passed Ordinance 122386 establishing a Complete Streets policy and stated the Council's intention that the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) implement Complete Streets by designing, operating, and maintaining the transportation network to improve travel conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit, and freight, in a manner consistent with and supportive of the surrounding community; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, the City Council adopted Resolution 30951, with the Mayor concurring, establishing the City's intent to develop a Pedestrian Master Plan and creating an ad hoc Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group to advise SDOT in formulating a proposed Pedestrian Master Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Council appreciates the diligent, thoughtful, and sustained work effort by the Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group members; and

WHEREAS, SDOT staff hosted and attended numerous City-sponsored events, Neighborhood District Council and Community Council meetings, and Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group meetings, including presentations to Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board, Freight Mobility Advisory Committee, Seattle Design Commission, and Seattle Planning Commission, to gather input on successive drafts of the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan establishes the intent to make Seattle the most walkable city in the nation through the following four goals: 1) Safety: reduce the number and severity of crashes involving pedestrians; 2) Equity: make Seattle a more walkable city for all through equity in public engagement, service delivery, accessibility, and capital investments; 3) Vibrancy: develop a pedestrian environment that sustains healthy communities and supports a vibrant economy; and 4) Health: raise awareness of the important role of walking in promoting health and preventing disease; and

WHEREAS, the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan identifies the following six principal objectives: 1) Complete and maintain the pedestrian system identified in the Pedestrian Master Plan; 2) Improve walkability on all streets; 3) Increase pedestrian safety; 4) Plan, design, and build complete streets to move more people and goods; 5) Create vibrant public spaces that encourage walking; and 6) Get more people walking for transportation, recreation, and health; and

WHEREAS, outcomes of implementing this Plan over the next twenty years include achieving a decreasing rate of crashes involving pedestrians; reducing vehicle speeds on identified corridors; increasing participation by schools in pedestrian safety, education, and encouragement programs; achieving greater driver and pedestrian awareness of and adherence to pedestrian laws; prioritizing City investments in projects and maintenance in areas defined by the plan as High Priority Areas; increasing public engagement about pedestrian issues; increasing transit ridership; increasing mode share for walking trips (more people walking); increasing streetscape vibrancy; increasing pedestrian volumes in selected count locations; increasing the number of people getting adequate physical activity; and increasing the number of children walking or biking to or from school; and

WHEREAS, SDOT issued a SEPA Determination of Non-Significance for the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan on July 8, 2009; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. The Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as "Attachment A" and incorporated by reference herein, is hereby approved.

Section 2. As part of the annual budget process, the City will determine the level of funding allocated for implementation of the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan and the level of funding for the different pedestrian-related programs. The City has been allocating a minimum of $10 million per year and intends to continue to do so in 2010, with the City striving to both increase this to a minimum of $15 million per year and identify a dedicated funding source for implementation of the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan.

Section 3. As discussed in the Pedestrian Master Plan, SDOT will use a variety of balancing factors to determine which pedestrian-related projects should be implemented each year, considering factors such as leveraging funding from other projects, serving particular populations likely to use walking as a primary mode of transportation, improving the vitality of an area, and community/neighborhood support as demonstrated, for example, by inclusion in neighborhood plans. SDOT will use these balancing factors to develop an annual work program that defines the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan projects, programs, and policy work to be undertaken each year. SDOT's annual work program will be reviewed and endorsed by the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, who will serve as the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan stewards, and then presented to City Council by January 31st of each year for review.

Section 4. SDOT will work cooperatively with the Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Police Department and other appropriate City departments on annual implementation of relevant projects, programs and policy work contained in the annual work program.

Section 5. In order to track progress on the Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan implementation, SDOT will prepare and submit to the City Council quarterly reports describing the status of the annual work program. SDOT will also prepare a Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan annual progress report covering the prior year's achievements to be reviewed and endorsed by the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board and then to be presented to City Council.

Adopted by the City Council the ____ day of ____________________, 2009, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this________ day of ______________________, 2009. _________________________________ President Richard Conlin of the City Council

THE MAYOR CONCURRING: _________________________________ Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of ________________________, 2009. ____________________________________ City Clerk

Attachment A: Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan

July 24, 2009/September 9, 2009 Version #6b ta