Seattle Road Diet: Mayor Gives Go-Ahead

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikeprojects/ne125.htm

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn  has decided to accept his Dept. of Transportation's recommendation to change a dangerous stretch of road from 2 lanes in each direction to one lane plus a center turn lane, plus bike lanes, plus bus pullouts, plus pedestrian crossing improvements. He makes his case clearly, publicly, and with citation to evidence. His conclusion:

I understand the concern that these changes will harm mobility or cause cut-through traffic. But the evidence from prior projects demonstrate that on a street like this, the capacity should be sufficient to handle the projected traffic without significant impacts on mobility or cut-through traffic. It also shows that the safety issues are real and substantial, and the proposed changes will help. For this street, the changes make sense.

Read the Mayor's entire explanation at his blog.

Now that's what I like to see -- a mayor moving ahead with a road-safety project even in the face of organized opposition. But note that there was organized support as well, and they out-performed the opposition. Lessons to be learned...

Via Seattle Bike Blog.