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The City of Seattle
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An ordinance relating to traffic management and public safety; clarifying the authority of the City Traffic Engineer; and amending Sections 11.16.240 and 11.16.360 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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Recitals:
The Council is considering CB 121296, CB 121297, and CB 121298, collectively called the SAFER (Safe Accountable Flexible Equitable Responsive) Streets bills, with the goal of increasing the safety, health, and equitable mobility of those who use Seattle roadways for walking, rolling, biking, using a micromobility device, using a wheelchair or other mobility device, riding a motorcycle or moped, or accessing transit. Therefore,
Be it ordained by The City of Seattle as follows:
Section 1. The City finds and declares:
A. A Vision Zero Plan is a strategy for significantly reducing traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility.
B. A Vision Zero Plan is both proactive and responsive, emphasizing infrastructure and policies that minimize the risk of severe injuries or fatalities.
C. The 2023 Vision Zero Top-to-Bottom Review, commissioned by the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, identified as a Momentum Building Action the elevation of the City Traffic Engineer position to a new Chief Safety Officer Role. Since that time, the City Traffic Engineer has served concurrently as the Chief Transportation Safety Officer.
Section 2. Section 11.16.240 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126509, is amended as follows:
11.16.240 Director of Transportation - Authority - Review and Recommend
It shall be the function of the Traffic Engineer under the supervision of the Director of Transportation to:
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H. Review and make recommendations concerning all applications for commercial driveways regarding facilitation of traffic with respect to the size, number, and location of such commercial driveways((.)) ; and
I. Review and provide recommendations to enhance the safety of roadways and transportation infrastructure.
Section 3. Section 11.16.360 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 118409, is amended as follows:
11.16.360 Traffic Engineer - Authority - General
It shall be the function of the Traffic Engineer, under the supervision of the Director of Transportation, to:
A. Oversee any efforts by the Seattle Department of Transportation to assess and improve roadway safety, including the City’s traffic safety programs, which may include a Vision Zero Plan;
((A.)) B. Issue permits in accordance with the provisions of this ((subtitle)) Subtitle I;
((B.)) C. Determine and make recommendations concerning arterial street and business district street lighting needs and in connection therewith determine design criteria necessary for traffic safety;
D. Direct and expedite, as appropriate, safety improvements on streets with a history of high rates of traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities. In carrying out this responsibility, and subject to the supervision of the Director of Transportation, applicable law, appropriations, and applicable engineering standards, the Traffic Engineer may initiate, direct the evaluation of, and approve temporary, pilot, quick-build, low-cost, operational, or other safety treatments within the Department’s authority when the Traffic Engineer determines, in the exercise of professional engineering judgment, that such safety treatments are appropriate to reduce the likelihood or severity of traffic-related serious injuries or fatalities; and
((C.)) E. Perform other such duties as may be appropriate for facilitating traffic and transportation.
This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070.
Passed by the City Council and signed in open session in authentication of its passage on .
President of the City Council
on .
Katie B. Wilson, Mayor
Lenné Dedman, City Clerk