Over a quarter of city blocks lack sidewalk infrastructure. An advocacy project to reduce traffic speeds and increase pedestrian safety on these streets has evolved into a city-funded program.
In Seattle, 45,000 blocks lack sidewalks, and last year the Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, a neighborhood-based, volunteer coalition, launched a DIY program to make streets safer for pedestrians. "The concept is called Home Zones and is meant to create 'living streets' that can be shared between cars and people," writes Emily Nonko.
After a Home Zones pilot program in a north Seattle neighborhood, the Seattle City Council allocated $350,000 for an expanded program. "The greater vision of Home Zones, according to [Gordon] Padelford, is installing a combination of speed humps, traffic diverters, wayfinding signage and public artwork — lower-cost options in lieu of sidewalks," notes Nonko.
The Seattle Department of Transportation is overseeing the official pilot program, which will be implemented in two neighborhoods. But advocates say progress has been slow and the program still has not been fully funded. They also want to see more funding in next year’s city budget for implementable low-cost alternatives to sidewalks.
FULL STORY: DIY Initiative Addressing Lack of Seattle Sidewalks Becomes a City Pilot
Seattle Recalculates Walk Signal Timing to Make Crossings Safer for Pedestrians
The new formulas for calculating the length of walk signals are designed to give people more time to safely cross the street.
Denver to Shift Sidewalk Repair Work to City, Funded by Property Owners
The city is shifting from a piecemeal approach to sidewalk repairs that charged property owners with doing the work to a more streamlined, city-led process.
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San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research