SDOT’s goal is a vibrant Seattle. As Seattle continues to welcome more residents and jobs, we need to continue moving people and goods. We simply do not have space to build new roads, so we need to move people and goods more efficiently in the same space. This means we need more people to walk, bike, carpool and use transit. At the same time, this means that most people will drive alone less often.

Everyone benefits when Seattle and its partners create more and better transportations options and encourage people to use these options:

• Individuals: save money, reduce stress, and increase exercise.
• The community: cars are removed from the road, streets are safer, interaction among citizens increases, neighborhood livability increases, and pollution decreases.
• The nation: reliance on imported oil decreases and obesity and medical costs decrease.
• The environment: global warming and air pollution are reduced.

A sustainable transportation system is built on a three-legged stool:

• Build livable communities where you can walk, bike or use transit to get to homes, shopping, jobs and recreation.
• Provide transportation options: sidewalks, bike facilities, buses, light rail, etc.
• Encourage the use of transportation options Educating and motivating citizens to use the transportation options that already exist makes the transportation system more efficient.

All three legs work together to build a healthy, functioning transportation system. Seattle works on all three levels by encouraging walkable, vibrant neighborhoods, building more transportation choices, and educating the public about their choices.

The City has adopted policies and goals to move more people and goods, reduce vehicle miles traveled and create a more vibrant Seattle. The City’s adopted Transportation Strategic Plan directs SDOT to:

• Meet the current and future mobility needs of residents, businesses, and visitors with a balanced transportation system and

• Provide, support, and promote programs and strategies aimed at reducing the number of car trips and miles driven (for work and non-work purposes) to increase the efficiency of the transportation system, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) sets goals to increase the percentage of trips citizen take by means other than driving alone and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example:

• Increase the percentage of trips taken in Seattle which used a mode other than driving alone from 53% in 2000 to 60% in 2020.(TG11)
• To control the impact of climate change globally and locally, reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-changing greenhouse gases in Seattle by 30 percent from 1990 levels by 2024, and by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. (EG7)