Today, Seattle's Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group sent the below letter to the City Council and Mayor Nickels. Commenting on the draft Pedestrian Master Plan, the letter requests a modest increase in spending pedestrian infrastructure and asks that implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan be tracked.

August 13th, 2009

Dear Councilmembers and Mayor Nickels:

While the city has many honorable goals, we think it can be said that there are not many goals that are as far-reaching and affecting as making Seattle the "most walkable city in the nation".

If the draft Pedestrian Master Plan were to be implemented in full, we would expect the following to be true:

-Seattleites would be healthier, leading more fulfilling lives and costing businesses and taxpayers less in healthcare

-Seattleites would take responsible modes of transportation, lessening our impact on the climate

-Seattleites would be walking in their communities more, making neighbor-to-neighbor connections and providing "eyes on the street"

-Seattleites would visit their business districts more and contribute to the local economy

-Seattleites of all ethnicities and income levels would enjoy a safe and equitable environment

-Seattleites of all ages and abilities would enjoy a safe and equitable environment

A healthy public, a better environment, public safety, a thriving business economy, social justice, and an equitable environment for all: these things, unfortunately, are not free. But we now have a blueprint for this future in the draft Pedestrian Master Plan.

What Bridging the Gap Gets Us
The $60 million dollars allocated from Bridging the Gap over six years ($10 million a year) will only buy us a small fraction of the projects and efforts that would be put forth to fully implement the plan. In fact, $60 million pays for only 5% of the highest priority projects. This does not include Encouragement, Education, Enforcement, or Evaluation; this only includes Engineering (and only 20% of projects at that).

A Modest Increase in Funding (above Bridging the Gap)
We also recognize that there are many other funding priorities within the city, and that we are currently in the most difficult funding climate in recent (or even not-so-recent) memory. However, we would also argue that increasing the amount of money spent each year on pedestrian infrastructure, which is a small percentage of the overall SDOT budget, would not be that difficult even in this funding climate. We think that even a modest increase (on top of the funding allocated from Bridging the Gap and what is commonly included in the SDOT budget) would be welcomed and celebrated among organizations and community members.

Keeping Track of Implementation
In order for us and the public to better understand the funding scenario for implementation of the Pedestrian Master Plan, we support 1) establishing a fund dedicated to implementation that would help make clear the level of support the Pedestrian Master Plan receives, 2) reporting that allows the public to grasp what is being done for implementation and where it is being done, and 3) providing more specific measurements and timelines for implementation. As implementation continues we pass the baton to the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, who will be a competent resource for you in coming years.

We would like to thank SDOT staff --Barbara Gray and Jennifer Wieland in particular -- for their innovation and hard work. The consultants that we worked with most frequently (SvR) were a bountiful resource and we appreciate their dedication to this project. We also thank you, the recipients of this letter. Without smart and progressive leadership Seattle would not be the Seattle we know and love and strive to make better day after day.

Sincerely,

The Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group

cc: 
Mr. Jorge Carrasco, Director, Seattle City Light
Mr. Timothy A. Gallagher, Director, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Ms. Diane M. Sugimura, Director, Seattle Department of Planning and Development
Ms. Grace Crunican, Director, Seattle Department of Transportation
Mr. John Diaz, Acting Chief, Seattle Police Department
Mr. Ray Hoffman, Director, Seattle Public Utilities
Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
Safe Walks
Friends of Seattle
Transportation Choices Coalition
Great City
Feet First