We’ve reached our expanded goal to build 250 new sidewalk blocks

New sidewalks built with Levy to Move Seattle dollars to date (cumulative). We reached our original goal of 150 blocks in 2019, and have now surpassed the revised goal of 250 blocks.

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At a Glance:

We just met a major milestone of building 250 blocks of new sidewalks and walkways thanks to the Levy to Move Seattle passed by Seattle voters in 2015.
This Levy originally committed to building 150 blocks. This target was increased to 250 blocks in 2018 when it became clear that we could do more.
The 250th block is located on S Leo St near Rainier View Elementary School.
We aren’t stopping there and expect to build another 10-20 blocks by the end of the year.
We have several other sidewalk projects taking place this year. For example, this week we will finish work on the Pinehurst Way NE and NE 117th St project which includes another two new sidewalk blocks and a traffic signal near Hazel Wolf K-8 School.
In addition to building new sidewalks, we have also made about 80,000 repairs to damaged sidewalks (equivalent to around 235 blocks), making them smoother and more accessible.

We have surpassed our expanded goal and built over 250 new blocks of sidewalks and walkways since the start of the Levy to Move Seattle in 2016. The 250th block is located on S Leo St in South Seattle. We aren’t stopping there and expect to build another 10-20 blocks by the end of the year.

The Levy to Move Seattle originally committed to building 150 blocks (about 10 miles) of new sidewalks and walkways in 9 years. In 2018 this goal was increased to 250 blocks (about 16 miles).

We’ve also completed about 80,000 repairs to damaged sidewalks, which adds up to about 235 blocks. We surpassed the Levy to Move Seattle commitment to repair 225 blocks (about 14 miles) of damaged sidewalks earlier this year.

We’ve completed the 250th block on S Leo St near Rainier View Elementary School in South Seattle.

This project includes a new asphalt walkway on the south side of S Leo St between Beacon Ave S and 56th Ave S. This project provides dedicated space for people to walk, ADA-accessible crossings at intersections, speed cushions to calm vehicle traffic, and planting strips between the new walkway and the street.

This sidewalk was built as part of the Rainier View Home Zone project. This project is also building a walkway and other pedestrian improvements on several nearby streets including S Avon St, S Hazel St, 53rd Ave S, and 56th Ave S.

The project adds a variety of other neighborhood safety, traffic calming, and accessibility enhancements. There is a detailed map on this flyer.

A paved asphalt sidewalk along a street in Seattle. An orange cone, fence, grass, and trees, as well as parked cars and power lines are in the background. — *The sidewalk under construction on S Leo St in late-spring 2024.*

The goal of a Home Zone is to make it easier to walk and to improve the overall quality of life in a neighborhood. Home Zones prioritize projects co-created with the community. Our staff walked around the neighborhood with residents to help design the project and create a shared vision with community members based on what safety enhancements they wanted built in their neighborhood.

Asphalt walkways are a more cost-effective alternative to traditional concrete sidewalks. These walkways often use planting strips or small concrete barriers to separate the walking path from cars. These types of designs are a big part of the reason we’ve been able to increase our goal and build more walkways across the city faster.

More projects making progress

Beyond the 250th block of new sidewalk reached at S Leo St, below are some additional examples our projects that include new sidewalks and walkways, which are complete or soon to be complete.

Pinehurst Way NE and NE 117th St Intersection and Sidewalk Project

Later this week, we are also set to complete construction on the pedestrian improvements at Pinehurst Way NE and NE 117th St near Hazel Wolf K-8 School.

This project includes a new crosswalk and traffic signal, as well as new sidewalks on the south side of NE 117th St between Roosevelt Way NE and 12th Ave NE.

Several construction workers install new sidewalks near a street with a large building in the background on a sunny day. No parking signs and a school area sign are also in the background. — *Crew members working to build concrete sidewalks near 15th Ave NE and NE 117th St in northeast Seattle’s Pinehurst neighborhood.*

Upgrades to Pinehurst Way NE and NE 117th St were first proposed by Hazel Wolf K-8 School and neighborhood residents. Following a successful Your Voice, Your Choice application to design improvements at this intersection, we studied traffic data at this location, which showed a pattern of collisions that could be resolved through a redesign of the intersection.

The new intersection design will make it easier for everyone to travel through this neighborhood, whether people are walking, biking, rolling, or driving. It creates a more convenient walking and biking connection to Hazel Wolf K-8 and a connection along the future Pinehurst Neighborhood Greenway.

We are also currently building another two blocks of concrete sidewalks on a different part of N 117th St between Meridian Ave N and 1st Ave NE near James Baldwin Elementary School as part of a separate Safe Routes to School project.

Dallas Ave S Sidewalk Repair and Tree Preservation

We recently completed work building several blocks of new sidewalks on Dallas Ave S from 10th Ave S to 12th Ave S in South Park. This project is the latest example of our ongoing investments to build sidewalks, pave damaged streets, protect trees, and prevent flooding in South Park.

This project began as solely a sidewalk repair project but after conversations with people who live in the neighborhood, it was expanded to include new sidewalks, ADA accessibility improvements, and tree preservation.

Early in the design process, we learned that our initial sidewalk repair plans would have required removing up to five trees. However, we adjusted our plans and designs based on community priorities and found innovative ways to build the sidewalks without harming the trees. In fact, the updated design includes two more blocks of new sidewalks than we had originally planned for.

Construction of new sidewalks along a street, with heavy equipment, orange cones, barriers, and large trees in the background. — *New sidewalks being built around the healthy trees on Dallas Ave S in an area that was previously used for parking. Photos: SDOT*

This month, we are also planning to start work on a separate project to build a new walk and bike crossing signal at Dallas Ave S and 14th Ave S.

Why prioritize sidewalks

There are currently more than 2,000 miles of sidewalks in Seattle, yet about a quarter of Seattle’s streets (roughly 11,000 blocks) do not have sidewalks.

The recently approved Seattle Transportation Plan is our 20-year vision for the future of transportation in Seattle which helps guide our investments in sidewalks.

The Seattle Transportation Plan uses a data-driven approach to identify potential projects and was informed by two years of public engagement. It includes a Pedestrian Priority Investment Network map which focuses resources on access to public schools, parks, and transit in areas where travel conditions are difficult and where people most need to be able to walk.

Whether you’re walking on foot or rolling in a wheelchair or other mobility-assistive device, properly paved sidewalks provide numerous benefits. These include safe travel for pedestrians, opportunities for people to flip their short trips, and ways to prioritize vibrant public spaces that make walking a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

You can keep up to date with projects near you by checking out our Current Projects web page or signing up for our project email updates.

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We’ve reached our expanded goal to build 250 new sidewalk blocks | LEVY DOLLARS AT WORK