Seattle Transportation Plan

The STP is a vision for the future of transportation in Seattle. Community involvement is a crucial part of the development of the plan. The STP will establish goals, strategies, and recommendations for a transportation system that works for our city now and in the future. The plan will shape everything from future transportation funding to projects and programs that enhance the way we enjoy public space and move through the city. 

We look forward to working with you and your neighbors to create a transportation system that meets your needs.  

Too often, when government plans are developed, they exclude people - particularly those who are Black, Indigenous, or members of a community of color; people who are LGBTQIA+; people living in poverty; immigrant communities and people who do not speak English at home; young people; older adults; and people with disabilities. We believe everyone's voice should be heard so their needs can be met. We are partnering with community-based organizations, who have existing relationships with the communities they serve, to listen and ensure that the plan reflects the values and needs of everyone.  

The bottom line? The Seattle Transportation Plan is our commitment to building a transportation system that: 

• Meets everyone's needs,
• Connects us all safely, efficiently, and affordably to places and opportunities, and 
• Treats everyone - regardless of race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, age, or ability - with dignity and equity. 

We expect to have a draft plan for public review in mid-2023.

Urgent and emerging challenges: Together, we are facing transportation challenges that affect our transportation system. This includes:  

• The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities' livelihoods and the way we travel,  
• The climate emergency causing extreme weather conditions that affect our roads,  
• and much more.  

These demand urgent action. We must envision and create a new transportation system that responds to these challenges and helps everyone get around Seattle safely, efficiently, and affordably. 

The development of a new transportation funding package: Our current funding package, the Levy to Move Seattle, expires in 2024. The Levy to Move Seattle provides $930 million over nine years (2016-2024) and provides about 30% of our transportation budget. We need to develop a new funding package that is grounded in your feedback. With your help to create the STP, we can develop the next funding package that will meet your needs. 

Alignment with the Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update: The Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update (Comprehensive Plan) is a tool that City departments use when making big-picture decisions on how Seattle grows and evolves over the next twenty years. Among many other things, the Comprehensive Plan includes a transportation element. The Comprehensive Plan is being updated at the same time we are developing the Seattle Transportation Plan. This is important because the Seattle Transportation Plan will provide greater clarity to the community with more detail about how the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies will come to life in our transportation system. 

The STP will reflect our values. The plan will also focus on our climate, equity, stewardship, and safety needs to help address our toughest challenges. 

SDOT Values & Goals: 

Equity: We believe transportation must meet the needs of communities of color and those of all incomes, abilities, and ages. Our goal is to partner with communities to build a racially equitable and socially just transportation system. 

Safety: We believe everyone should be able to move safely throughout the city. Our goal is to create safe transportation environments and eliminate serious and fatal crashes in Seattle. 

Mobility: We believe transportation choices are critical to accessing opportunities. Our goal is to build, operate, and maintain an accessible transportation system that reliably connects people, places, and goods. 

Sustainability: We believe environmental health should be improved for future generations through sustainable transportation. Our goal is to address the climate crisis through a sustainable, resilient transportation system. 

Livability: We believe transportation is essential to supporting daily life. Our goal is to manage our streets and sidewalks in a way that enriches public life and improves community health. 

Excellence: We believe in exceeding the expectations of the communities we serve. Our goal is to build a team committed to excellence and equipped with the skills to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. 

Holistic planning: The STP will address mobility, access, and public space needs in a single document as a unified system. The plan will update our existing pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and freight modal plans to meet our current and future needs. The STP will incorporate several city initiatives like Seattle's Vision Zero, the Race and Social Justice Initiative, our Climate Action Plan, Transportation Electrification Blueprint, and others. Additionally, it will reference plans created by other regional transportation agencies so we can see which strategies will best serve Seattle. 

Modal integration and efficiency: The STP will help mobility options (like biking, walking, taking transit, and more) work together to support you in accessing opportunities, people, and places.   

Community engagement: We are making transparent, inclusive engagement our priority for the STP. We will use new approaches to make it easier for you and your neighbors to participate.  

Guided by you: The STP will be guided by you - our communities. Your voices will help shape the plan. We will listen and respond to your ideas as we work to address our greatest transportation challenges with a renewed vision for our city.  

Focus on people traditionally left out of the planning process:  We will connect with people across Seattle to shape our future transportation system, with a focus on people who are too often left out of the planning process  This includes those who are Black, Indigenous, or part of a community of color; people who are LGBTQIA+; people living in poverty; immigrant communities and people who do not speak English at home; young people; older adults; and people with disabilities. 

Building capacity of those closest to the community: We are collaborating with community-based organizations and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Community Liaisons to develop an engagement process that builds partnerships with our communities, makes it easier for everyone to participate, and builds on a foundation of racial equity.  

New engagement strategies: With the STP engagement process, we are striving to make it easier for people to participate in a racially just and equitable way. We'll hear from more voices, ensure that communities often excluded are involved, and help people feel like their participation matters. We'll do so by using culturally-relevant, accessible, and inclusive strategies that prioritize public health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Your voices will be the most important part of this process, and we look forward to working with you and your neighbors to develop a plan that works for all of Seattle. 

The Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update - the One Seattle Plan - is a tool that City departments use when making important decisions on how Seattle grows and develops over the next twenty years.  It includes a transportation element to support our growth. 

The One Seattle Plan's transportation section outlines goals and policies for Seattle's future transportation system. The STP will provide more details about strategies and actions we will take to fulfill our collective transportation vision. 

We will work closely with the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) to develop both plans at the same time. Each plan builds on the other to ensure the STP addresses future housing, jobs, and community investments. OPCD is also developing the One Seattle Plan through public engagement opportunities, shared advisory boards, and other events. Together, the STP and One Seattle Plan will provide an integrated transportation, land use, and growth strategy for Seattle's future. 

Visit OPCD’s One Seattle Plan website to learn more and share your input to guide Seattle’s big-picture future. 

DEIS public comment session

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Click here to join the meeting 

The STP will go through the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review process. SEPA ensures environmental values are thoroughly considered during the planning and decision-making processes. Under SEPA, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a required study that provides the City, public, and other agencies with anticipated environmental outcomes of the Seattle Transportation Plan. You can review our SEPA Fact Sheet, as well as other materials listed below, to learn more! 

The findings of the EIS will reinforce our commitment to transparency and contribute to informed decision-making. Your comments on the EIS are being incorporated in tandem with input shared through the larger community engagement for the STP.   

Scoping Comment Period: June 16 – July 29, 2022
Thank you to everyone who shared comments with us during the comment period. Your input informed the Environmental Impact Statement.  

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Release and 45-day Comment Period — August 31, 2023 through October 16, 2023: The Draft EIS is available for review as of August 31, 2023. You are invited to share your comments. These comments are incorporated into the final EIS, along with responses.

• Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Appendices 

Late 2023 or early 2024: The final EIS will be published and used to inform the decision-making process. 

Previous Materials

• Seattle Transportation Plan SEPA Scoping Report (November 2022)
• Seattle Transportation Plan EIS DS Scoping Notice
• Seattle Transportation Plan EIS Checklist
• Seattle Transportation Plan Notice of SEPA Determination