Seattle Struggles To Fund Sidewalks

More than 650 miles of Seattle streets have no sidewalks, and residents are demanding them. But with limited transportation funding, the city is struggling to find ways to pay for sidewalk construction.

1 minute read

August 22, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"Forty percent of Seattle streets lack full sidewalks on both sides of the road - totaling 650 miles, the city estimates - but installing them is a staggering expense of about $2 million per mile. It's not just the cost of the pavement: When a curb is built, it changes the flow of surface water, triggering legal requirements for drainage systems, which in turn can involve buying adjacent property. Many cities can build them only as part of a major street-paving project."

"But residents are demanding sidewalks, and cities and counties are looking for ways to pay for them."

"The City Council, which has adopted pedestrian safety as its highest priority this year, is looking for ways to speed up sidewalk construction."

FULL STORY: Giving everyone a sidewalk is no walk in the park

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 in The Seattle Times

Infrastructure Washington

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