Last week SDOT delivered the Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) Implementation Plan to the Seattle City Council. The plan sets vigorous project and program goals which aim to enhance cycling citywide.
The BMP is a five year plan which comprises of work that is set to be completed from 2015 to 2019. The plan includes building nearly 33 miles of protected bike lanes and more than 52 miles of neighborhood greenways across Seattle.
“This five-year implementation plan emphasizes aggressive action to make cycling easier and safer throughout Seattle,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “As the new protected bike lane on Second Avenue shows, these types of bike projects can have a transformative effect on our growing city.”
The BMP was adopted in April this year and maintains the notion that, “riding a bicycle is a comfortable and integral part of daily life in Seattle for people of all ages and abilities.”
SDOT’s implementation plan includes an ambitious set of projects and programs that will help create a connected network, improving safety for all roadway users and encouraging more people to enjoy the city on two wheels.
The projects included in the implementation plan were identified using the recommendations and priorities in the BMP.
Projects planned for 2015, at a cost of $18.2 million, include:
- Creating approximately seven miles of protected bike lanes, to include a facility on Roosevelt Way NE (NE 45th Street to the University Bridge) to improve safety;
- Building more than 12 miles of neighborhood greenways in Ballard, West Seattle, the Central Area and Southeast Seattle;
- Beginning construction on the Westlake Cycle Track to create a safer, more comfortable and more predictable corridor for drivers, walkers and bicyclists;
- Installing 225 bike racks and 15 on-street bike corrals; and
- Creating 25 miles of bike route wayfinding signs throughout the city.
“I encourage the public to share their thoughts on the plan with the City Council by emailing us at council@seattle.gov,” said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, chair of the Transportation Committee.
Funding for the project will come from several sources including Bridging the Gap supported BMP implementation and corridor projects, and state and federal grants.
The Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board also provided important feedback during the development of the implementation plan and SDOT will be providing regular progress reports to the board and to the Seattle City Council.
“The Bike Master Plan provides us the blueprint and now it’s time to implement,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “
Additional information about the projects, to include maps of project locations, can be found here: http://tiny.cc/lffwnx.
