Adam RollinsThis story was originally published in the Government Contracting Pipeline newsletter from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. To have the latest government contracting news stories from across the country delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
The city of Seattle has revealed the first of its eight Levy Delivery Plans, detailing a slate of transportation projects that will be undertaken throughout 2025. The projects are a part of a $1.6 billion levy that was approved in November 2024, making it the largest investment in transportation in Seattle’s history.
A total of $176.8 million will be dedicated to 2025 projects. The Levy Delivery Plan emphasizes safety, infrastructure and community-driven initiatives, categorizing projects by priority. These priorities include:
- Expanding Seattle’s Vision Zero network.
- Building new sidewalks.
- Preparing for, designing and programming bridges and structures.
- Maintaining and modernizing infrastructure.
- Activating the city’s Downtown area.
- Launching new levy programs.
Over the next year, Seattle will invest $43 million to maintain and modernize its road infrastructure. These projects will revolve around arterial roadway maintenance, where the city will initiate the design and planning processes to repave eight major corridors. Additional plans include dozens of paving spot improvement initiatives, including beginning asphalt paving construction, paving concrete, replacing panels, refreshing lane-miles and remarking crosswalks.
Another $28.9 million will be invested in pedestrian safety projects, centering around building and repairing sidewalks, crossings and curb ramps to enhance mobility. The city will start with building and repairing sidewalks and sidewalk alternatives. The plan also calls for building curb ramps, repairing and expanding stairways and making street crossing improvements with upgraded crosswalks, better visibility and new crossing signals.
The city will sink $19 million to upgrade various bridges and structures to keep them in working condition. Seattle will start designing mechanical and electrical upgrades and repairs for four moveable ship canal bridges. Additional initiatives include bridge preventative maintenance, conducting planning studies for advancing structures for future partnerships and inspecting 25 areaways.
Vision Zero projects will play a prominent role in the current and future Levy Delivery Plans, spending $16.1 million to ensure travelers – particularly students on their way to school – can reliably and safely reach their destinations. Seattle will enact several Vision Zero corridor projects along high injury networks, high-collision safety projects, installing leading pedestrian intervals at intersections and initiating traffic calming measures. The city will also invest in safe routes to school improvements, install sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, launch neighborhood-initiated safety programs and improve neighborhood traffic.
Photo courtesy SounderBruce, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
