Mayor Harrell wants to set aside $8 million for Vision Zero, and some of that money would go to improve Aurora Avenue. The roadway was deemed the city’s deadliest street according to a recent study. The word is out that the Seattle mayor wants millions to improve traffic safety on the busiest roadways.
The mayor went big in it’s proposed budget which sets aside $8 million for Vision Zero. The mayor announced how he’d like to divvy up the city’s proposed $7.4 billion budget. Millions may go towards the city’s goal of ending traffic deaths on some of its busiest streets. The City Council will review the Mayor’s proposed budget over the next two months. There are public hearings scheduled for October 11th, November 8th, and November 15th.
People living on Aurora said the road needs to be re-designed. They are looking to the mayor to help spur those efforts. Currently, SDOT is conducting a $2 million long-term planning project. It’s also asking for the community’s input in a safety improvement survey through October 7th.
Members of Aurora Reimagine Coalition said from the bridge to the border, every bit of Aurora Avenue is unsafe. Now, Mayor Bruce Harrell is hoping to pour more money into Seattle’s Vision Zero program, a citywide effort to eliminate traffic deaths and injuries.
Improvement efforts along Aurora span back nearly 20 years. According to SDOT, the last comprehensive Route Development Plan for Aurora Avenue was published in 2003. SDOT said while recommendations for near-term improvements were included, few were made.
