The SunBreak » sdot

Seattle’s Smallest Park Arrives Wednesday on Capitol Hill. In a parking spot.

Rachel Breiwick — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 16:00:54 +0000

McGinn said that people want more parks and safer walking places, and it looks like SDOT is listening—at least a little. All puns aside, Seattle welcomes its first parklet on Wednesday. What is a parklet? It’s a mini 24-hour public park that takes up the place of otherwise usable parking spaces. The pilot program is … Continue reading →

Welcome to Your New Central Waterfront, Seattle

Rachel Breiwick — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 17:41:55 +0000

Historic Pier Walk: The big kahuna in the waterfront’s evolution. Expect a sprawling promenade extending from Pioneer Square Beach to Pier 63, filled with all Alaskan Way historic and commercial stalwarts.

Op-Ed: What About a “Broken Windows” Approach to Traffic Safety?

Michael van Baker — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 18:57:11 +0000

You can count on parking being enforced, along with jaywalking (downtown) and speeding in a school zone, but traffic officers have bigger fish to fry than your U-turn across a double-yellow line while juggling your phone for an important text.

Seattle Times: Cyclists need “more than paint” for safety

Michael van Baker — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:53:18 +0000

Writes Martin: "The Downtown Seattle Association has joined with SDOT and King County Metro on Commute Seattle, which promotes better commute options into downtown, including a cycle track. Business support will be critical, because a cycle track will likely come at the cost of on-street parking."

Seattle’s Worst Bridges are Part of $1.8-Billion Maintenance Backlog

Michael van Baker — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:02:41 +0000

The single most salient factor in a low rating, in Seattle, is age. 62 bridges are more than 60 years old, with a replacement cost that SDOT estimates at $1.5 billion. Another 20 middle-aged bridges are running short on time as well. But since 2007, the bridge maintenance budget -- inadequate to begin with -- has plunged by more than $400 million.

Seattle Speeders Give School Zone Cameras Something to Click About

Michael van Baker — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:00:07 +0000

"This is bunk. Where are all of these 'dangerous speeders.' Yes I have kids and am at the school many times during the week. I have been given many tickets by accidentally letting my speedometer drift up to 27 or 28."