People who are interested in the future of active transportation in Washington are invited to comment on a draft of the new State Active Transportation Plan, 2020 and Beyond. The plan serves as the needs assessment for accessible pedestrian and bicyclist facilities. Deadline for comments is Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, 5 p.m.
WSDOT has established an online open house to provide plan information for review with an accessible PDF of the draft document and a SurveyMonkey form for feedback.
WSDOT will host virtual events during which staff will provide an orientation to the draft plan document and share information on the safety, mobility, and accessibility issues the plan is intended to address. Register at the links below.
Webinar 2: Noon 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021
Webinar 3: 4 to 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, 2021
Free, temporary internet access is available to those who do not have broadband service in locations throughout the state. To find the nearest Wi-Fi hot spot visit the list maintained by the state Department of Commerce. During the overview sessions slides will be presented with captioning and descriptions of visual content. Participants will be able to submit questions and comments using the chat function in the presentation software. A PDF of the slides will be linked in the online open house in advance; webinars will be recorded and available online after they’re completed.
The plan’s materials can be made available in an alternate format by emailing the Office of Equal Opportunity at [email protected] or by calling toll free, 855-362-4ADA(4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711. (More on Title VI and ADA)
The new plan comes during a time when more people than ever are walking and bicycling, both as alternatives to transit use and to maintain physical and mental health during the pandemic. WSDOT’s multimodal transportation dashboard shows dramatic increases in usage at locations around the state where permanent counters provide a comparison from 2019 to 2020.
At the same time, a preliminary assessment reported in the annual active transportation safety report found that fatal crashes involving those vulnerable road users appear to be occurring in 2020 in higher numbers than the averages for 2010-2019. The draft plan’s emphasis on safety and complete, comfortable connections addresses the types of issues these numbers serve to highlight.
Thank you for your interest in safer and more accessible connections for walking and rolling. Your comments are critical to the final plan and future implementation steps.
Barb Chamberlain
Director – Active Transportation Division
WA State Dept. of Transportation
