SDOT amendments cover pothole repairs, freight design charrettes, micro‑mobility corrals and temporary safety barriers ahead of major events

Committee members considered a broad SDOT package of one‑time investments and reporting requests aimed at improving street conditions, freight access and event readiness.

Potholes and pavement: Councilmember Saka sponsored a $200,000 proviso (SDOT 2) to accelerate pothole and pavement repairs, saying safer pavement is a ‘‘transportation basics’’ priority and noting upcoming demand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Corridor design and safety: SDOT 3 and SDOT 8 proposed conceptual or 30% design funds (SDOT 3 — Roxbury; SDOT 8 — Fourteenth Avenue NW) to produce cost estimates and designs that would allow rapid repairs or more extensive rehabilitation later. Sponsors asked for 30% design rather than lower‑fidelity concepts in some cases to ensure accurate cost estimates for future work.

Freight and industrial access: Two charrettes were proposed to study freight access and last‑mile connections: one for the Ballard/Leary/Interbay industrial area (SDOT 4) and one for the Greater Duwamish/SoDo manufacturing and industrial center (SDOT 5). Sponsors argued that both industrial areas need coordinated freight planning and better links to I‑5, SR‑99 and port terminals.

Micro‑mobility and public space: SDOT 26 would add $250,000 to accelerate installation of designated e‑scooter and e‑bike corrals (with a goal of expanding beyond SDOT’s planned 200 corrals in 2026); sponsors framed corrals as a way to reduce sidewalk clutter and provide clear user parking. SDOT 9 proposed $1,000,000 to plan and pilot removable safety barriers at farmers markets and other pedestrianized events to address vehicle‑as‑weapon concerns and to provide alternatives to permanent bollards.

Local connections and pilots: Sponsors requested funding for a seasonal transit link from Downtown Ballard to Golden Gardens (SDOT 11), concept design funds for the Leary Triangle public space (SDOT 28), neighborhood greenway and safety improvements (SDOT 6/7) and a small‑scale SoDo transit reliability study (SDOT 10) to prepare for FIFA and regional construction impacts. Councilmember Strauss described the Leary Triangle as a long‑standing local concept that could be advanced now using improving REET balances.

Security and reporting: SDOT 21 and 22 requested reporting on targeted pedestrian safety improvements and bus transit reliability on corridors including Denny, Aurora and Rainier; SDOT 23 requested an SPD/SDOT briefing on automated traffic‑camera deployments and reporting responsibilities. SDOT 41 would create a chief transit security/safety officer funded from transit measure funds (with offsets from transit service purchases) and would require ordinance to permit that use of Seattle transit measure funds.

Committee members asked SDOT for cost estimates, timelines and coordination plans with King County Metro, Sound Transit and Port of Seattle, and cosponsored many of the study and pilot actions.

Sources: SDOT staff/central staff slides and sponsor remarks across SDOT items (SDOT 1–12, 14, 21–28, 41, 42).