As Co-Chairs of the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board (SPAB) we submit this letter with a firm request for your vote against Resolution 32097. The resolution is fundamentally flawed and there is no possibility of amending the current language to adequately safeguard the safety and accessibility of our city's most vulnerable transportation users. The resolution alters the nature and powers of the modal boards (Pedestrian, Bicycle, Transit, Freight, School Traffic Safety Committee) without soliciting their input or allowing sufficient time for comprehensive discussion and consensus-building.

Of utmost concern, the resolution would add restrictions to projects on Major Truck Routes that conflict with the goals of our Transportation Plans. The prevailing data reveals that major Truck Routes are already responsible for more than half of all pedestrian fatalities.1 We firmly believe that this resolution has the potential to exacerbate safety concerns within our pedestrian environment for the residents of Seattle. It is well-documented that roadways with more lanes and with lanes of greater width more frequently result in pedestrian fatalities.

As it stands, the resolution:

* Will result in the continued increase of pedestrian fatalities on truck routes throughout the City by limiting the City's ability to quickly deploy safety improvements on major truck routes.

* Prioritizes the movement of goods by compelling SDOT to demonstrate that through traffic is not compromised by any project that would reduce the number of widths of lanes on Major Truck Route without consideration for safety of other modes;

* Proposes goals that are in direct conflict with the Transportation Plan, Draft Transportation Plan Update Goals, and Vision Zero Action Plan.

* Does not provide analysis on the potential impacts to racial disparities in and around maritime centers and along existing truck routes, which have traditionally bisected BIPOC and low income populations

[Map of pedestrian fatalities in Seattle from 2015-2021 overlaid on a map of major truck routes]

This resolution requires more input from the community and other modal boards which typically meet once a month. As co-chairs of the SPAB, we request additional time to hear from SDOT on how this or a similar resolution would be implemented, how it would impact potential projects and planning efforts, hear the results of an evaluation on impacts to BIPOC and low income communities, consult with our board members and fellow modal board chairs.

We invite Council Member Strauss, the author of this resolution, to join us at our next meeting on October 11th, present the proposed resolution to the full board and hear our comments directly.

Thank you,
[Signatures of co-chairs]
Christopher A Grgich, PE PTOE, Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Co-Chair
Maria Sumner, Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board Co-Chair