Last Updated June 2021

”Roadmap” to a Citywide Sidewalk Network

The 2018 Sidewalk Prioritization Plan (the Sidewalk Plan) adopted by Council is the City’s “roadmap” for prioritizing the construction of a continuous, citywide sidewalk network. The Pedestrian Improvements Prioritization Matrix (the Matrix) compares the missing sidewalk segments throughout the City, listing potential future projects as high, medium, and low priority.

The results of the Matrix were used to generate the Sidewalk Plan that visually color codes the high, medium, and low priority projects on a map of the city. Together, the Sidewalk Plan and the Matrix, provide data-driven tools for making the tough decisions of which projects get constructed first given there will always be limited financial resources. The June 4, 2018 complete staff report contains additional information on adoption of the Sidewalk Plan and process history.

This Sidewalk Plan comes from the Pedestrian System Plan (included in the City’s 2011 Transportation Master Plan) that identifies new sidewalks along key arterials in order to provide pedestrian access from neighborhoods to city activities, schools, and other destinations. Approximately 78 miles of this system have been built (including 54 miles of sidewalk installed before the City incorporated), and about 75 miles remain to be constructed to complete the sidewalk network.

Sidewalk Projects & ADA Compliance

In November 2018, residents approved a ballot measure which implements a Sales and Use Tax in the amount of two-tenths of one percent (0.2%) to help fund sidewalk expansion and accelerate repairs. The measure included 12 priority new sidewalk projects to be initially completed through this funding source; more projects will be added if funding allows. The City will continue to look for other funding sources including grants to complete our sidewalk system over many decades to come. Visit the Projects and Initiatives sidewalk webpage for information on current projects.

Separate from new sidewalk construction are the City’s efforts to make sidewalk repairs so that existing sidewalks are safe and accessible to all users. A survey of existing sidewalk conditions has been completed and staff have created a preliminary ADA Transition Plan to help determine priority repairs. 

Background

In March 2017, the City began a year-long process to create a Sidewalk Prioritization Plan as directed by Council.  In June 2017, through an open solicitation for citizen Sidewalk Advisory Committee (SAC) volunteers, the City Manager appointed 15 citizens to serve on the SAC. The committee consisted of members from a diverse cross section of Shoreline neighborhoods with a broad range of interests such as finance, aesthetics, ecology, youth, elderly, access and mobility for people with physical disabilities, and under-represented communities.  The work of the SAC was an involved and iterative process that included 10 SAC meetings, 4 subcommittee meetings, 2 open houses, 2 Council dinner meetings, a video about Shoreline sidewalks, and Sidewalk Prioritization Plan FAQs.

The project team working with the SAC developed a data-driven system for prioritizing projects. Metrics were created to rate segments of future sidewalk based on safety, equity, proximity, and connectivity criteria.

The resulting Matrix helped produce the 2018 Sidewalk Prioritization Plan. These tools will be used throughout the coming years, assisting the City in identifying which priority projects are to be constructed at any given time with the limited funding available.