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Council adopts 'shared streets' code change after rejecting late transparency amendment
Summary
The council passed a council‑generated code change to add a 'shared streets' chapter to the Seattle Municipal Code that prioritizes walking and biking and allows lower speeds; a late amendment requiring SDOT to present plans to council failed on a rules suspension vote, and members debated transparency versus expedited project delivery.
The Seattle City Council unanimously passed council bill 121176 on May 12 to add a shared‑streets chapter to the Seattle Municipal Code, implementing state enabling legislation that gives pedestrians and cyclists priority, allows a 10 mph nominal speed for designated shared streets, and removes jaywalking restrictions in those areas.
Council member Saka, chair of the Transportation, Waterfront and Seattle Center Committee, framed the legislation as a city‑generated response to a 2025 state law and cited the policy’s role in advancing traffic safety and Vision Zero goals. Council member Strauss, sponsor of the council legislation, said shared streets grew from pandemic‑era street experiments and emphasized practical steps like lowering vehicle speeds and designating limited streets where the public realm is shared.
A late amendment from Council member Rivera would have required SDOT to present designation plans to the full council for transparency. Council voted on suspending rules to hear that amendment; the motion to suspend the rules failed (5 in favor, 4 opposed) because two‑thirds support was required. Rivera and others said the amendment sought transparency and early notice to council and constituents; supporters of the main bill said an up‑front requirement for SDOT could slow project delivery for traffic safety measures and preferred backward‑looking reporting.
The council then debated implementation details and oversight. Multiple members urged SDOT to engage with council committees and promised follow‑up through committee briefings; council members also highlighted the bill as a multi‑year effort tied to Vision Zero and local pilot projects. The final roll call recorded nine votes in favor and none opposed.
Nut graf: Council adopted a code change to enable city shared‑streets designations that prioritize people walking and biking and reduce vehicle speeds, after rejecting a late transparency amendment and debating whether reporting requirements should be forward‑looking or retrospective to avoid slowing implementation.
