Seattle's New Updated Pedestrian Master Plan Includes $22 Million for Sidewalks

The city of Seattle recently announced a series of pedestrian safety investments, as guided by the city's updated Pedestrian Master Plan (PMP) and Vision Zero initiative.

The big ticket item of the updated PMP: $22 million in sidewalk improvements, paid for by the Move Seattle levy. According to a press release released by Mayor Ed Murray, the PMP "focuses these investments by prioritizing sidewalks that provide safer access to schools and transit options. The PMP is guided by an equity consideration, ensuring under-served communities are prioritized for pedestrian improvements."

In addition to the $22 million targeted by the city's updated Pedestrian Master Plan, the city also announced the acceleration of the second phase of the Rainier Avenue corridor safety improvements project. "Vision Zero improvements may include marked crosswalks, dedicated left turn arrows, channelization upgrades, and new signal timing to prioritize pedestrians," according to the press release from the Mayor's Office. The announcement solidifies rumblings about the future of the project from February.

For more on the update process that produced this $22 million priority on curbs around the city, see Ryan Packer calling for concrete improvements in a post from December 2016.