SDOT has installed safety improvements at more than 260 public schools since 2015.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced it has met its goal to make safety improvements to intersections around all public schools in the city.
The goal was established by the 2015 Move Seattle Levy. According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, “Since the Levy’s approval in 2015, SDOT has built over 260 school-focused projects citywide. Safe Routes to School projects often include upgrades to sidewalks, crosswalks, speed cushions, and other kinds of traffic calming.” The city’s 2023-2024 Safe Routes to School Annual Report notes that 28 percent of Seattle students walk or bike to school, and that adding speed cushions has led to a 21 percent reduction in speeds on arterial streets.
SDOT also offers community initiatives that include giving out essential safety items for community and school groups. “Additionally, schools, PTAs, and community groups can apply for grants of up to $1,000 to organize walking and biking activities, such as walking/biking school buses.” Another program, School Streets, has closed off 16 street segments to traffic during school hours to make walking and biking to school safer for children and families.
Southeast LA Road Safety Advocates Call for Improved Infrastructure
Streets in southeastern Los Angeles County have a severe lack of protected bike lanes and traffic safety measures, leading to high numbers of fatalities in a community where many residents depend on walking and biking for daily needs.
California Governor Signs Complete Streets Bill Into Law
The state’s transportation agency will be required to prioritize multimodal transportation infrastructure and improve transparency.
Pedestrian-Friendly Cities: The Impact of Walkability Grants
Explore how walkability grants are transforming cities into pedestrian-friendly environments, enhancing urban livability, boosting local economies, and improving public health.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
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
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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