Walking is the oldest and most efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly form of transportation there is—it’s how transit riders eventually reach their destinations, and it’s the primary way that neighbors get to know one another and begin to build strong communities.

Nearly everyone, for at least some portion of every day, is a pedestrian. That is why the City of Seattle is embarking on a Pedestrian Master Plan to make Seattle the most walkable city in the nation.

The Pedestrian Master Plan will use the principles of the 5 E's (Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Encouragement, and Evaluation) to accomplish the following:

• Get more people walking.
  
• Reduce the number and severity of crashes involving pedestrians.
  
• Engage all of Seattle in a meaningful dialogue about what’s needed to create and connect walkable urban villages and important destinations.

Along with other transportation agencies and City departments, SDOT is involving people of all ages and abilities, public health experts, law enforcement representatives, issue advocates, community advisors, environmental leaders and the general public to incorporate the best practices, most current research and design strategies into the Pedestrian Master Plan.

The Pedestrian Master Plan Advisory Group was convened in early 2007 to provide input on the plan.  This group includes a number of seniors who are not only enriching the discussions about needs specific to senior mobility, but are also getting out to senior groups citywide to talk about the plan and encourage seniors to walk and participate in the project.

Since 2003, a number of city initiatives put the foundation in place to make the Pedestrian Master Plan a success, including:

• Updates to the Comprehensive Plan policies on walking, bicycling and transit to make Seattle a more walkable city
  
  
• The launch of the Mayor’s 10 Point Plan for Pedestrian Safety in 2005
  
  
• Updates to the Transportation Strategic Plan and citywide Transit Plan to define actions that will make Seattle more pedestrian-friendly and transit-supportive
  
  
• Adoption of a Climate Action Plan that describes strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing Seattle’s dependence on automobiles
  
  
• Development of new street design guidelines in the Right-of-Way Improvements Manual
  
  
• Creation of a SDOT Art Plan that defines how use of public art can enrich Seattle’s streets and sidewalks
  
  
• A Bicycle Master Plan that defines the projects and programs needed to create a citywide bicycle network over the next decade
  
  
• Voter approval of the Bridging the Gap transportation funding package that will significantly increase the resources for pedestrian and bicycle improvements
  
  
• Adoption of a “Complete Streets” ordinance that directs the City to build transportation projects that support and encourage walking, bicycling, and transit use while promoting safe operations for all users
  
  
• Development of the Mayor’s Race and Social Justice Initiative to make the distribution of transportation investments as equitable as possible to best serve all of Seattle’s citizens
  
  
• Kickoff of a Pedestrian Safety Education and Enforcement Campaign led by Seattle Department of Transportation in partnership with the Seattle Police Department.

The Pedestrian Master Plan will be complete in early 2009. Current activities include the release of a walking preferences survey that is available in hard copy or online at the Pedestrian Master Plan project website. SDOT will accept the surveys until September 15, 2008.

For more information about the Pedestrian Master Plan, you may contact Barbara Gray, SDOT Project Manager at Barbara.gray@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 615-0872 or Katherine Bush, Communications Lead at katherine.bush@seattle.gov or by phone at (206) 233-1084.