2020 | SDOT’s Best of the Year
 Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found opportunities to celebrate what makes Seattle special and set the stage for recovery. Photo Credit: SDOT.
In a year that challenged all of us in so many ways, SDOT rose to the occasion and delivered projects and programs that supported our communities.
We’re coming to the end of one of the most challenging years in our city’s recent history. Just like everyone in our community, SDOT had to make significant changes to keep our workforce of over 1,000 dedicated people safe and healthy through it all. Time and again, SDOT rose to the occasion and worked together to deliver some of our most innovative work and biggest projects to date. As we look forward to a new and hopeful year, we’re highlighting the excellent work our teams accomplished together, taking stock of just how much we got done, and witnessing all of the momentum, opportunity, and accomplishment we bring into the New Year for Seattle.
This compilation isn’t meant to be a complete list, but rather a chance to pause, look back, and be proud of the work delivered by SDOT’s enduring teams in conjunction with many communities and partners.
And now, in no particular order, are some of the ways SDOT made 2020 a little better for our communities:
 Keep Moving Street on Lake Washington Blvd. Photo Credit: Jeanné Clark.
When the COVID-19 restrictions hit, we stepped into action to support businesses with new free permit types to allow sidewalk cafes and vending in the right-of-way. Through Stay Healthy Streets and Keep Moving Streets, we converted over 25 miles of Neighborhood Greenways and streets near popular parks to make space for people walking, rolling, and biking – and extended the program to allow for temporary Stay Healthy Block closures, too! We also launched a parking permit program for hospital workers to help address their transportation needs.
 West Seattle Bridge at sunset. Photo Credit: Madison Linkenmeyer.
The sudden emergency closure of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge, which carried over 100,000 people a day, has been very challenging for both SDOT and the traveling public. When we closed the bridge to traffic, our team centered the people affected by responding swiftly and mitigating impacts for travelers on the peninsula and in nearby communities. Together with the Department of Neighborhoods (DON), our team led the Reconnect West Seattle ballot and survey effort which generated over 16,000 survey responses and 1,700 project ballots. To date, we have implemented 185 projects, including the 23 highest-priority 2020 projects, including paving work on detour routes by our asphalt crews, and we are now conducting outreach and designing with more to deliver in 2021.
All of this work represents ongoing collaboration between planning, design, outreach and implementation staff, including our crews. A Community Task Force, a Low Bridge Access Committee, and two advisory groups were established for maritime businesses and employers to help shape our efforts, and our Emergency Management team facilitated the issuance of the City’s first Mayoral Emergency Declaration for City Infrastructure.
Our team led the Task Force through an in-depth review of a Cost Benefit Analysis to help evaluate repair and replacement options for the High-Rise Bridge. At the same time, we urgently moved forward to provide the initial stabilization needed to secure the High-Rise Bridge, preserve public safety, and lay the groundwork for future repairs. (Watch this video for an inside look at these stabilization efforts!) We’re now going ahead with repair of the High-Rise Bridge, and will continue to keep transparency and people at the center of our efforts to navigate the closure, minimize its impacts, and restore connectivity to West Seattle as quickly and as safely as possible.
Funded by the Levy to Move Seattle
 Walking along Rainier Ave S. Photo Credit: SDOT.
We implemented bold street design changes to address a long history of serious collisions on Rainier Ave S. Our Vision Zero program collaborated with communities to design these changes to make Rainier easier to cross for people walking, reduce vehicle speeds, and enhance transit service by adding new red bus lanes.
 Installing a speed limit sign. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr.
We lowered speed limits throughout the city on more than 200 miles of streets, and our signs and markings crews, with assistance from our urban forestry crews, added and replaced signs to reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. Now, most of Seattle’s arterials have 25 mph speed limits, and we will complete the speed limit sign changes in 2021.
Funded by the Levy to Move Seattle
 We held a small ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the Lander St Bridge! Photo Credit: SDOT.
After years of planning and partnership, the Lander St Bridge symbolizes the big things we can accomplish when we come together across interests, industries, modes and the region. Prior to the bridge, S Lander St closed over 100 times on a typical day for train crossings, leading to travel delays, lost revenues, increased idling, and safety risks – especially for people walking, rolling, and biking.
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