Transportation Transportation
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Overview of Facilities and Programs
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is responsible for maintaining, upgrading, and monitoring the use
of the Citys system of streets, bridges, retaining walls, seawalls, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic
control devices. Seattle's transportation system includes 1,534 lane-miles of arterial streets and 2,412 lane-miles
of non-arterial streets. The system also includes 150 bridges, 561 retaining walls, 479 stairways, and 1,000
signalized intersections in the public right-of-way that SDOT is responsible for inspecting and maintaining. In
2008, the Department will pave about 47 asphalt arterial lanes; repair more than 6,600 feet of bridge and stair
railings and more than 2,800 lane-feet of bridge decking; maintain or replace more than 13,000 traffic signs;
service 975 traffic signals; and raise and lower the Citys movable bridges more than 16,770 times.
SDOTs Capital Improvement Program (CIP) outlines the Departments plan for repairing, improving, and adding
to this extensive infrastructure. SDOTs CIP is financed from a variety of revenue sources including the Citys
General and Cumulative Reserve Subfunds, state gas tax revenues, commercial parking tax revenues, employee
tax revenues, federal and state grants, and partnerships with private organizations and other public agencies.
SDOTs $109 million 2008 capital budget is appropriated as part of its $206 million operating budget.
Highlights
Transportation Funding Package: In August 2006, the Seattle City Council approved Bridging the Gap
(BTG), a funding initiative proposed by the Mayor to repair and improve Seattle's streets, bike trails,
sidewalks and bridges. The package includes a commercial parking tax and a business transportation tax to
be phased in gradually starting in July 2007. In addition, the City Council approved a property tax levy that
was voted on and approved by Seattle citizens in November 2006. The property tax measure is a nine-year
levy, with the annual growth rate in levy revenue capped at one percent, plus the value of new construction.
SDOT's 2008-2013 Adopted CIP includes over $300 million in funding from Bridging the Gap revenues and
additional funding from Limited Tax General Obligation bonds that will be serviced with a portion of the
revenues. Bridging the Gap funded work will take place throughout the City during 2008. Highlights of the
Bridging the Gap program for 2008 include: a plan to repave more that 47 lane miles of arterials; early
implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan; construction of more than 13 blocks of new sidewalks; further
development of a pedestrian master plan; continued work and construction on the rehabilitation of two
bridges and the seismic retrofit of two additional bridges; and construction of multiple neighborhood
transportation improvements identified through the Neighborhood Street Fund process in 2007.
Pedestrian Improvements and Safety: In addition to work supported by the Bridging the Gap
Transportation Funding Package, the 2008-2013 Adopted CIP includes substantial investments in pedestrian
and safety improvements. The Adopted CIP contains an increase in funding for the Neighborhood Street
Fund, adding $500,000 for small projects and $1.5 million for large projects. This additional funding allows
larger and more numerous pedestrian oriented projects to be constructed in 2008. The CIP also includes:
funding for installation and operation of 24 new red light cameras, funding for design and initial construction
of pedestrian enhancements that will complete the Interurban Trail on Linden Avenue N, and rehabilitation of
Post Avenue between Marion and Columbia Streets.
Other pedestrian safety and traffic calming additions include: $235,000 for projects on 31st Avenue South,
$500,000 for a Pedestrian Safety Infrastructure Improvements and Technologies Pilot Program project, $1
million for development of new sidewalks, $500,000 for repair of additional sidewalks, and $150,000 for
pedestrian-scale lighting on stairways.
Ordinance 122386 established Seattle's Complete Streets policy, stating guiding principles and practices so
that transportation improvements are planned, designed and constructed to encourage walking, bicycling and
transit use while promoting safe operations for all users. The Complete Streets policy call for SDOT to
incorporate these principles into all new City transportation improvement projects, strategic plans, and other Transportation
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SDOT plans, manuals, rules, regulations and programs. In 2008, the transportation funding sources, with
appropriate financial flexibility, will be drawn upon to implement Complete Streets principles.
Aurora Transit and Pedestrian Improvements: SDOT has assembled state and federal grant funds to begin
a project to construct pedestrian safety, roadway and transit speed and reliability improvements along Aurora
Avenue North from N 110
th
St. to N 145
th
St. The design and construction work will be completed in phases
as funding allows. The first segment, between N 137th Street and N 145th Street, will be designed in 2008.
Spokane Street Viaduct: This project builds a new structure that will be parallel and connected to the
existing one, which will widen the existing viaduct by about 41 feet. The project also includes design and
construction of an eastbound Fourth Ave. off-ramp. Due to the failure of Proposition 1 on the November
2007 ballot, this project does not include Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) revenue or
RTID-backed bonds. Additionally, BTG-backed bonds and revenue are removed pending reprogramming that
will occur in early 2008.
South Lander Street Grade Separation: This project develops a grade separation of the Lander St.
roadway and the Burlington Northern mainline railroad tracks between First Avenue South and Fourth
Avenue South. Due to the failure of Proposition 1 on the November 2007 ballot, this project does not include
RTID revenue or RTID-backed bonds. Additionally, BTG-backed bonds and revenue are removed pending
reprogramming that will occur in early 2008.
King Street Station Multimodal Terminal: SDOT anticipates taking ownership of the King Street Station
from Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) in 2008. Once the transfer is complete, SDOT will begin
structural and seismic-upgrade design. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will
proceed with replacement of the roof.
Greenwood Avenue North: SDOT received a $2.2 million state Transportation Improvement Board grant
and $1.4 million federal TEA-21 grant to reconstruct and widen Greenwood Avenue North from N. 105th to
N. 112th Streets. The project will provide pedestrian safety, transit speed and reliability, signal, lighting and
drainage improvements. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008.
Mercer Corridor: This project implements a comprehensive package of transportation improvements in the
Mercer Corridor in South Lake Union. Improvements include, but are not limited to a widened two-way
Mercer St., improved pedestrian safety and access to Lake Union Park, and enhanced neighborhood
circulation for all modes. The project aims to use existing street capacity more efficiently and enhance all
modes of travel, including pedestrian mobility. It is a centerpiece for the revitalization of the South Lake
Union neighborhood, which is expected to accommodate as many as 20,000 new jobs and 8,000 to 10,000
new households in the next 20 years, in addition to the new Lake Union Park. Due to the failure of
Proposition 1 on the November 2007 ballot, this project does not include RTID revenue or RTID-backed
bonds. Additionally, BTG-backed bonds and revenue are removed pending reprogramming that will occur in
early 2008.
Alaskan Way Tunnel and Seawall Study: Investment in pre-development planning and design activities for
the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement project continues through 2008. Following the March
13, 2007 public vote, the Governor, City of Seattle Mayor, and King County Executive agreed to implement
six early safety and mobility projects. In addition, they committed to work together to identify a solution for
the Central Waterfront by December 2008. The Adopted CIP includes funding for these efforts, as well as
development of an "Urban Mobility Plan" that will analyze and recommend transit service and road
improvements, to provide better mobility within and access to, and through Seattle's Center City.
Arterial Major Maintenance and Other Paving Projects: SDOTs 2008 Adopted CIP provides a total of
$21.9 million for the Arterial Major Maintenance and Arterial Asphalt and Concrete Programs, including Transportation
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$20.1 million from the Bridging the Gap funding package. These ongoing programs rehabilitate and
resurface asphalt and concrete arterial streets to preserve and extend the life of street surfaces.

Project Selection Process
The City tries to balance three goals in making infrastructure capital investments:
Rehabilitation of existing facilities to avoid the higher costs of deferred maintenance;
Increase in the capacity of existing facilities to meet growing demand; and
Development of