We at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) are beginning to engage communities in developing the Seattle Transportation Plan (STP).
“One Seattle means ensuring every community has a voice in shaping the future of our City — and how we get around it. We are partnering with community-based organizations, who have existing relationships with the communities they serve, to listen and ensure that our Seattle Transportation Plan reflects the values and needs of everyone. Together, this is our chance to redefine our transportation network and center safety, equity, accessibility, and opportunity. The City of Seattle invites you to join us in reimagining how you get to work, travel to see loved ones, or attend school; how we move transit and goods efficiently; how we spend time in public spaces; and much more.” – Mayor Bruce Harrell
The plan establishes a renewed vision for the future of our streets and public spaces. Together, we’ll reimagine how we move through and enjoy Seattle’s streets.
The plan is also our collective commitment – as a City – to a racially-equitable and socially-just transportation system that meets the needs of everyone, connecting us all safely and efficiently to the places that matter most.
We are partnering with community-based organizations, who have relationships with the communities they serve, to listen and ensure that the plan reflects the values and needs of everyone. We are very pleased to announce our partnership with these incredible organizations.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
“The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, Seattle Chapter is excited to partner with the City of Seattle’s Department of Transportation. We envision a planning process that is inclusive of not only city of Seattle residents but also the working class. Many who work in the city do not live close to where they work and rely on public transportation. Increasingly, workers are being pushed outside the city because of the increased cost of living. We will work with our community and labor partners to lift up the voices of workers of color and marginalized communities who have been forced to relocate as the city of Seattle grows. The need for reliable and affordable public transportation is crucial in ensuring our community can access the means to get to their livelihoods at any given hour.” – Eunice How, APALA Seattle Chapter President.
“The Central Area Collaborative’s strategic vision incorporates an EcoDistrict framework such that communities of color are not bypassed or taken for granted. Under the broad imperative of Climate Protection, we chose to work with this project to advance our collective voices and community needs within the transportation realm. As a community, advocate and EcoDistrict imperatives practitioner, we look forward to helping steward policies, practices and conversations our BIPOC communities are left out of more times than not. This is a wonderful opportunity to have a seat at the table in an equitable fashion and be respectfully heard.” – Dennis Comer, Executive Director, Central Area Collaborative
Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association (DVSA):
“By training our young people in community engagement methodologies, the Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association (DVSA) will build capacity and elevate the voices of the Duwamish Valley community in shaping the Seattle Transportation Plan. Alongside our community, we will envision solutions to the issues we face and provide recommendations to this important plan which will contribute to the sustainable development of our community.” – Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association
“Estelita’s Library is a social justice community library and bookstore that brings books, art, culture, and community together for the purpose of uplifting, healing, and serving the most marginalized among us. We are both thankful and humbled to be a vehicle in which our community has a say in our collective futures. We are excited to provide a space for learning and action while leveraging community knowledge. Our goal is to engage with the community in a way by developing and using a framework that allows for learning and education to be the mechanism for lasting change. With this being the focus, community voices and inputs won’t stop at this point of engagement, and can center community education as a sustainable pathway for development and planning in the future.” – Estelita’s Library
Khmer Community of Seattle King County in partnership with Noio Pathways & Kim Yu Consulting:
“Khmer Community of Seattle King County in partnership with Noio Pathways & Kim Yu Consulting (KCSKC) is grateful for the opportunity to bring our Khmer/Cambodian community’s perspective to SDOT’s Seattle Transportation Plan in a way that is respectful, reciprocal, and enriching for our community members. We are looking forward to piloting innovative community engagement approaches that center Khmer culture, prioritize relationship-building, and invests in the well-being of our Khmer elders and youth. Folding aspects of civic engagement into our existing programming allows us to maximize our capacity and impact in the broader Khmer community.” – Khmer Community of Seattle King County (KCSKC) in partnership with Noio Pathways & Kim Yu Consulting
Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing (LELO):
“We look forward to participating in this project and contributing to the city’s efforts to include the voices of communities that have historically been left out of city decisions and processes. Transportation is such a vital issue to our working class peoples, especially low income, women, immigrants and refugees. Their concerns and opinions count, and they can contribute to the development of continued improvements in our city’s transportation system. Thank you for this opportunity.” – Cindy Domingo, LELO
Smash the Box is a multidisciplinary community–driven Urban Planning & Design Firm based out of Seattle, WA. Our focus is around equity and health.
“We Become and Sea Potential are co-creating a space for South Seattle youth to envision the future of the region and creatively express their visions on their terms through art and virtual reality. Mobility and movement in the city is fundamental for accessing jobs and green spaces, connecting with community, and overall wellbeing. Youth are inheriting a future built with today’s policies, so it’s only fair for their voices to be amplified in the planning process. I’m excited to see what ideas and possibilities emerge with potential to generate a more equitable and just transportation system amidst a changing climate and urban landscape.” – Emily Wright, Founder, We Become; Partnering with Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith, Co-Founders, Sea Potential
As we develop the STP together, we will:
Listen to you to collectively reimagine our transportation vision.
Seattle’s transportation system includes streets, sidewalks, bridges, stairways, buses, paths and trails, streetcars, trains, ferries, bike lanes, crosswalks, public spaces like street cafes and benches, and much more. Together, let’s answer the question: How can this system best meet your needs?
The STP will be a vision for the future of our transportation system in Seattle, reflecting what we have seen and heard from you. We will build relationships with and listen closely to people who have not historically had a seat at the transportation planning table to shape our future transportation system. This includes people who continue to experience the most significant transportation inequities – such as Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities; people living in poverty; immigrant communities and people who do not speak English at home; young people; older adults; and people with disabilities.
Plan for people first, to connect you to the places in Seattle that matter most to you. This includes your work or school, your local grocery store or community center, or the homes and gathering spaces of your loved ones.
The STP will recognize the importance our transportation system has on our how we live, move, connect, and thrive. The STP will guide us in creating an efficient, safe, and human-centered transportation system – a system that brings you joy, peace of mind, and choices about how you will get to the places that matter most to you.
Remain grounded in our steadfast values, while meeting the moment with inclusive engagement to establish a collective vision.
The STP will be grounded in SDOT’s vision, mission, values, and goals – the foundation for the planning process – and build on Seattle’s existing plans and the Comprehensive Plan Update. At the same time, the plan will address our urgent climate, equity, and safety needs, bring bold solutions to our toughest challenges, and reflect community aspirations to establish an inclusive vision. Read more about the Comprehensive Plan Update.