Tag Archive for 'politics'

Transportation Advocacy Day

Join Feet First and other advocacy groups on Transportation Advocacy Day to meet with your elected official and support pro-pedestrian legislation.

Over the past months, staff and dedicated volunteers from organizations representing walking, biking, transit, rail, and public health have met to plan events and the policy developed the Transportation Advocacy Day platform to include:

  • The Neighborhood Safe Speeds Bill (SHB 1217) – this provides cities and towns broader authority to establish 20 mile per hour limits on non-arterial streets to lower accident rate and help protect vulnerable users.
  • The Safe and Flexible Street Design Bill (HB 1700) would encourage higher-quality bike and pedestrian facilities by allowing greater flexibility in design standards.
  • Support for the Transportation for Washington principles to Fix it First and Save Lives, More Transit, and Build Health and Great Communities.
  • Legislation to integrate health in transportation policy, planning and investments for public safety, health, and better transportation choices for all.

Here are more details:

  • Where:United Churches in Olympia
  • When: January 31, 2001 8am to 4pm
  • Cost: FREE,breakfast & lunch provided!
  • Transportation: Carpooling from Seattle and pick up from the Olympia Amtrak station is available

Sign up through the Transportation Choices Coalition.

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Vote Yes on Proposition 1 for Transportation Improvements

Map of potential sidealk projects

Potential Sidewalk Projects

Ballots have been mailed for this year’s most important transportation measure. The proposition has something for everyone, as it would double funding for sidewalks, improve transit, expand bicycle infrastructure, and fix potholes.

Streets for All Seattle has a wealth of information on what the proposition funds. As related to pedestrian infrastructure, the proposition would fund a variety of improvements around the city, shown on the map at right, and explained by Streets for All Seattle:

A $44 million investment in our neighborhoods will double our city’s annual investment in new sidewalks, add hundreds of crossing improvements and new pedestrian countdown signals, expand family-friendly bicycle infrastructure, fund the completion of a freight master plan, and expand the Neighborhood Street Fund by nearly 50% to provide more sidewalks, safe crossings, and other safety needs identified by neighborhood councils.

This funding will come from a $60 car tab fee that will be levied for the next ten years. While opponents charge that the fee is regressive and impacts poorer drivers more than richer ones, it will make it easier to get around without a car. Sightline does a good job of putting this $60 fee in perspective of the overall costs of car ownership.

If you already support this, Streets for All Seattle is making a big push to voters:

Ballots have dropped. Now it’s time to vote yes on Prop 1.

There’s 380,000 registered voters in Seattle — and the best way to convince them to vote yes is with face-to-face conversations. That’s why we’re holding a huge canvass on October 23rd to talk to thousands of people.

Let us know that you’re coming to The Big Neighborhood Canvass this Sunday >>

Proposition 1 is a down payment on becoming a 21st Century great American city. Designed by a citizen panel, Prop 1 will connect our neighborhoods with fast, reliable transit service, double our annual investment in sidewalks, nearly double the number of neighborhood repaving projects we do every year, and expand family-friendly bicycle infrastructure. Prop 1 is thousands of smart, simple improvements that will make our transportation system work better for everyone.

But our opponents are working to defeat us with a deceptive campaign that has mis-stated facts and mis-represented who their supporters are. In fact, our opponents are supported by the president of the Seattle Republican Party and their main funder is an anti-transit land barron.

With ballots in everyone’s mailboxes, we’ve got to double-down and talk face-to-face with thousands of Seattle voters this weekend.

Join us on Sunday for The Big Neighborhood Canvass >>

Details:
Day: Sunday, October 23rd
Meet: 11 a.m. at the Sierra Club Office, 180 Nickerson St.
End: 3-4 p.m.

If you have time for just one volunteer activity this election season, this is the one you should do. After you RSVP, we’ll send you additional details.

Vote yes on Proposition 1 to make Seattle a better, more walkable city, and get out and encourage others to do so as well.

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Vulernable Users Bill passes House

The Vulnerable Users Bill, which would stiffen penalties against negligent drivers that hit pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable roadway users, has passed the state house. PubliCola has a longer write-up:

Kline’s legislation creates a new infraction where drivers who strike vulnerable users are subject to a $5,000 fine and restricted from driving for 90 days. Currently, drivers who strike vulnerable users in the second degree are subject only to a $250 fine. Opponents of the legislation such as Rep. Jay Rodne (R-5, North Bend) have argued in the past that vulnerable users shouldn’t be treated any differently than other car drivers.

This version differs from the version passed by the Senate, so this version will be sent to the Senate for final passage before being sent to be signed by the governor.

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Bill would allow cities to lower speed limit more easily

Seattle Bike Blog discusses a bill in Washington State’s legislature that would make it easier for cities to set non-arterial speed limits at 20 miles-per-hour.  Currently, cities are required to perform an engineering study in order to lower speed limits.  As Seattle Bike Blog reports, pedestrians hit at 20 mph have a 5% of dying, whereas the likelihood of dying after being hit at 30 mph is 40%.

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Bill introduced to fund pedestrian improvements

A bill to fund a network of paths for pedestrians and bicyclists has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. H.R. 4722 would provide $2 billion in grants to improve walking routes across the country.

If you’re so inclined, Transportation for America is making it easy to contact your representatives to ask them to support this measure.

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