Seattle Protected Bike Lane Construction At 3-Year Low: SDOT

SEATTLE, WA — The Seattle Department of Transportation fell far short of a goal to build nearly 10-1/2 miles of protected bike lanes in 2018. The city completed just 2.34 miles, the least since 2016.

That's according to the 2018 Move Seattle levy annual report, released Monday by SDOT. The department said it fell short of its protected bike lane goal "due to ongoing challenges with cost estimate increases, packaged-contracting approach, and contractor delays." The city built 2.4 and 4.17 protected bike lane miles in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Last year, the Seattle Times reported that SDOT was spending about $12 million per mile on protected bike lanes downtown — but that's because the city bundles other upgrades like storm drains and new curbs into protected bike lane projects. SDOT expects to complete another 4.61 of the planned 2018 miles by the end of the second quarter of 2019.

SDOT also fell short of goal turning streets into neighborhood greenways, which provide less congested routes for walkers and bicyclists adjacent to major arterial roads. The city created 7.92 greenway miles in 2018 against the goal of 12.47 miles.

And, a goal of building 34.75 new blocks of sidewalks fell short of the 54.75 blocks planned.

Voters approved the nine-year, $930 million Move Seattle in 2015. But last April, Mayor Jenny Durkan ordered a review of the Move Seattle spending plan due to funding shortfalls. The levy funds approved for use in 2018 dropped by $23 million to $92.8 million.

In 2018, the city spent $166 million on Move Seattle projects, the highest amount since the levy was approved. The city did finish ahead of plan in 25 categories. For example, SDOT rehabbed six staircases across the city, one more than planned. SDOT also built 155 new curbs and finished 41 new Safe Routes to School.

SDOT says it expects to spend and do more with Move Seattle projects in 2019.

"While last year was our biggest yet, 2019 is projected to be even bigger with some of our large projects like Lander Bridge, the Northgate pedestrian bridge, and the Fairview Ave Bridge replacement all hitting significant milestones. And with several Vision Zero, bicycle, and paving projects missing the weather window last fall and now scheduled for completion this spring, SDOT and the residents that will benefit from these transportation investments have a lot to look forward to in the years ahead," the 2018 report summary concludes.

You can read the entire 2018 Move Seattle report here. SDOT will present the 2018 report to the City Council Sustainability and Transportation Committee on Tuesday.