Take Action

Here's Feet First's primer on the 2009/2010 budget and how to advocate for pedestrian issues.

Contact the City of Seattle the following ways:

Fill out a web form on the Seattle.gov website

OR

Email Councilmembers individually:

richard.conlin@seattle.gov
tim.burgess@seattle.gov
sally.clark@seattle.gov
jan.drago@seattle.gov
jean.godden@seattle.gov
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
nick.licata@seattle.gov
richard.mciver@seattle.gov
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov

OR

Call Monica Ghosh in Councilmember Jean Godden's office at (206) 684-8807.

USE THE FOLLOWING TALKING POINTS:

Sidewalks:
Feet First supports the Mayor's proposed budget increase of $1.5 M in 2009 and $2 M in 2010 for sidewalk funding, from Commercial Parking Tax revenues. Currently, there are 12,262 block faces lacking sidewalks. It is estimated to cost $1 Billion dollars to build these sidewalks. In total, the Seattle Department of Transportation expects to build about 26 blocks of new sidewalks in 2009. At this current rate, it is estimated that all missing sidewalks would be built by the year 2456*.

Linden Ave North:
We support the important Linden Avenue North funding, which is $740,000 for pedestrian, drainage and roadway improvements and complete the final link in the Interurban Trail North.

Pedestrian Safety and Education Campaign:
The mayor’s spending freeze announced in September 2008 to cut the pedestrian safety campaign from $250,000 to $100,000. The social marketing campaign, which is anticipated to change pedestrian driver behavior, should be reinstated at the full $250,000 in order to have more impact and reach across Seattle.

Completing the Burke-Gilman Trail "Missing Link."
Feet First supports the 2009-2010 Proposed Budget proposal to build the "missing link" in the Burke-Gilman Trail. This money is generated by using City-issued bonds to fund design and construction in the next two years, with the bonds to be repaid by money already committed from Bridging the Gap and King County's Proposition 2 levy.

Crossing Guards
Feet First manages the statewide Safe Routes to School program. We advocate for safe walking to school as a matter of public health, readiness to learn, and environmental sustainability.  We urge the City of Seattle to provide ample funding for a robust adult crossing guard program, to prevent tragedy and ensure the safety of children as they walk to school.

FUTURE FUNDING SOURCES:
We must work together to continue the momentum to support the Pedestrian Master Plan anticipated for adoption in the spring of 2009.  Feet First suggests increases funding sources three ways:

Taxes
Raising the commercial parking tax

Reallocation of current funding towards pedestrian safety and infrastructure
•    Red Light Camera Revenue
•    Increased fines for traffic violations
•    Support Councilmember Licata’s proposal to redirect $43 million bond allocated to the Mercer Project to building new sidewalks in Seattle and funding the recommendations Pedestrian Master Plan (anticipated draft to be released in Spring 2009).

Creation of new sources
•    Sidewalk requirements by developers
•    Tax benefit districts
•    Transportation benefit districts
•    Local improvement districts
•    Zero interest loans for homeowners to build sidewalks
•    Using funds from new parking to fund pedestrian infrastructure

*This calculation assumes 12,200 block faces at a rate of 25 block faces per year. At a cost of $20 Million per 200 block faces (or, $100,000 per block face, which is low), this actually takes 1.2 Billion dollars (higher than the City’s estimate of $995 Million).