Many of us, especially the cranky old-timers (like me), have gotten pretty good at lamenting the pace of changes in the city and our neighborhood. It’s a kind of standard Wallingford small talk, perfect for sitting in the rocking chair, chewing tobacco, and spitting into coffee cans…oops, sorry, wrong century…perfect for getting caught up, drinking sauvignon blanc during happy hour on the deck at Ivar’s Salmon House: “Have you seen all the condos and apartments going up on Stone Way…?” or, “They sure messed up the 44 route, didn’t they?”
Well, the city—SDOT (Seattle Department of Transportation), specifically—is offering you the opportunity to weigh in on what happens from this point forward. Of course, their perspective is transportation-centric. But this is the city, and most/all things revolve around transportation planning and implementation. In addition, a link is provided to view and comment on the larger blueprint for the city called the One Seattle Plan. The press release follows:
Seattle (May 31, 2022) – From now through summer 2022, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is asking communities to share their transportation needs and priorities in order to help develop the Seattle Transportation Plan (STP). This is the first round of community outreach and SDOT will be working with the community and community-based organization partners to help shape how everyone moves around the city and enjoy streets and public spaces.
To provide insight, the public can check out the newly-launched Seattle Transportation Plan Online Engagement Hub, where they can take a new survey to share their transportation priorities, come to an upcoming event and tell the department what they see places for change.
The input people provide will help build the foundation of the STP. In fall 2022, SDOT will come back to the community with what they heard and follow-up questions. In spring 2023, SDOT will share the draft plan publicly.
The STP is SDOT’s commitment to building a safe, efficient, and affordable transportation system. The STP is an opportunity for everyone to imagine how they want to move around the city in the future. The STP will guide local transportation investments for the next 20 years.
In addition, the Office of Community Planning and Development (OPCD) is asking for input on the Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update. This is called the One Seattle Plan, and will guide important decisions such as where housing and jobs are, and where and how the City invests in transportation, utilities, parks, and more. The goal is to make Seattle more equitable, livable, sustainable, and resilient.
People can visit OPCD’s One Seattle Plan Engagement Hub to learn more and share input to guide Seattle’s big-picture future.
To learn more about the STP and share ideas:
- Sign up for Seattle Transportation Plan email updates
- Visit the multi-language website
- Call the multi-language phone line: (206) 257-2114
- Send an email in preferred language at [email protected]
This information is available in the following languages on the SDOT Blog:
አማርኛ • اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ • 繁体字 • 日本語 • ភាសាខ្មែរ • 한국어 • ລາວ • Oromiffa • русский язык • af-Soomaali • Español • Tagalog • ภาษาไทย • ትግርኛ • Tiếng việt • English
Please consider this chance for you to offer your opinions and ideas for the path forward, in Wallingford and in the city at large. This will preclude me from sneering at you thirty years from now on the deck at Ivar’s when you complain about the ways things are trending around here, “Well, did you comment on those plans back in ’22 when you had the opportunity?” and spitting my sauvignon blanc into the cup holder of my wheelchair before dozing off again.