Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee Summary - May 7, 2026

The Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee of the Seattle City Council convened on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 11:07 AM in Council Chamber, City Hall. Chair Rob Saka presided with all five members present (Saka, Rinck, Foster, Kettle, Lin). The meeting addressed three main agenda items: a vote on a shared streets ordinance, a briefing on District Project Fund implementation, and a public hearing on an alley vacation petition. Chair Saka opened the meeting with remarks on a fatal collision on the West Seattle Bridge on May 5, 2026 (the third traffic fatality in the city in 2026) and announced a performance audit of the Vision Zero program. He also expressed strong support for the Ballard Link Extension project.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the Agenda: The meeting agenda was adopted unanimously without objection at the start of the meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

Shared Streets (CB 121176):

• Mark Ostro expressed strong support for the shared streets legislation, urging the committee to adopt it and take a bold approach to implementation. He encouraged applying the tool broadly, including in residential "home zones."
• Dr. Anne Marie Dooley (Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility) spoke in favor of shared streets as a critical public health intervention. She expressed concern that a SEPA review could unnecessarily delay implementation, stating that motor vehicles are a leading cause of death for young people.
• Maggie Haynes spoke in support, citing Pike Place Market as a successful multi-decade example of a functioning shared street.
• Heather Peel (President, Friends of the Market) voiced support and provided historical context for Pike Place Market. She requested that the Pike Place Market PDA be given permanent authority to manage the street.
• Irene Wall (remote, District 6) expressed support but requested that designation criteria focus on safety and mobility for all users without exclusivity. She asked that speed limits apply to all wheels.
• Carlo Alcantero (Aurora Reimagine Coalition, remote) voiced strong support, particularly for areas north of N 85th Street that lack sidewalks. He cautioned that past programs like greenways and healthy streets made compromises allowing car cut-throughs and urged a strict focus on safety.

Alley Vacation (CF 314530):

• No members of the public registered to speak at the public hearing for this item.

Discussion Items

1. Shared Streets Ordinance (CB 121176)

• Calvin Chow (Council Central Staff) presented the bill, which implements state-authorized shared streets policy (SB 5595). The legislation prioritizes pedestrians over bicycles and micromobility, and those modes over motor vehicles, allowing a 10 mph speed limit. It does not designate specific streets but empowers the city traffic engineer to develop designation procedures, expected in June 2026.
• Councilmember Strauss (bill sponsor, appearing remotely) spoke on the origin of the legislation, stemming from efforts to activate Ballard Avenue with cafe streets. He noted that Redmond was the first city in the state to pass similar enabling legislation.
• Councilmember Rinck expressed excitement and readiness to vote yes, asking questions about the next steps regarding designation procedures.
• Councilmember Kettle asked clarifying questions about future legislation for specific locations, how communities can request a shared street designation, and the process for council office requests. He discussed potential applications in District 7, such as the Queen Anne Boulevard Park.
• Councilmember Lynn raised concerns about potential delays from the SEPA review process, suggesting SEPA procedures might need updating. He emphasized the importance of physical engineering changes to ensure safety.
• Councilmember Foster (remote) voiced strong support and echoed concerns about ensuring the physical environment signals safety alongside the legal designation.
• Chair Saka moved to waive the customary second hearing, citing the bill's direct alignment with the committee's safety priority. A friendly amendment (Amendment 1) with minor technical clarifications was introduced, passed (5-0), and then the main bill was voted on.

2. District Project Fund Implementation (Inf 2888)

• Jim Curtin and Bill LaBorde (SDOT) provided a briefing. The program provides $2 million per council district ($1 million in 2025 and $1 million in 2026) for neighborhood-scale transportation projects. No funding is currently secured beyond 2027.
• SDOT received 60 project requests across all seven districts. Of these, 55 were recommended for implementation. The majority focused on enhanced crossings, traffic calming, and safe connections to schools and parks. Five projects were not recommended, either because they are already funded elsewhere or are better suited for a third party.
• Council members have until June 1, 2026, to finalize their project selections. Most selected projects are expected to be constructed in 2027.
• Councilmember Lynn thanked SDOT and noted the strong neighborhood response regarding safety concerns.
• Councilmember Kettle thanked SDOT for their work and highlighted the connection between land use and transportation planning.
• Chair Saka strongly endorsed the program, describing it as a success for addressing hyper-local needs. He cited a specific project in his district (the Bearmont Park/Fauntleroy crossing) as a long-standing community priority that was previously unfunded and strongly encouraged the executive to include funding to renew the program in future budgets.

3. Alley Vacation Petition – Greenwood (CF 314530)

• Lish Whitson (Council Central Staff) outlined the vacation process, noting the committee previously received a briefing on this proposal in February 2024. This meeting is the formal public hearing where the substantive recommendation is considered.
• Amy Gray (SDOT) stated the department recommends approval. The public trust elements regarding access and utilities have been addressed, and the proposed public benefits are significant.
• Michael Jenkins (Seattle Design Commission) supported the recommendation, characterizing the alley as an anomaly (a remnant) whose vacation would enable a cohesive development and significant public realm improvements.
• Molly Lawrence and Kevin Cleary (applicant team, representing The YEW, LLC and Greenwood Shopping Center) presented the proposal for a new apartment development. Key public benefits include completing a missing sidewalk section (turning a "goat trail" into a proper 6-foot sidewalk with a 6-foot planting strip), enhancing a conservation drainage easement with native plantings and public art, providing corner seating, and committing to quarterly maintenance.
• Councilmember Lynn inquired about the potential for a dense native forest (Miyawaki forest) in the green space. The applicant noted the stormwater function of the parcel places some limitations on planting.
• Councilmember Foster expressed interest in the native forest concept.
• Chair Saka reminded members that the formal vote on the recommendation will occur at a future meeting, but the team is free to consider suggestions made during discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Shared Streets Ordinance (CB 121176): Approved unanimously (5-0) as amended. The committee recommends the full City Council pass the bill at its meeting on May 12, 2026.
• District Project Fund (Inf 2888): The briefing was received. Council offices must submit their final project selections to SDOT by June 1, 2026.
• Alley Vacation (CF 314530): The public hearing was officially closed. A formal committee vote on the vacation petition and its conditions is expected at a subsequent meeting.