Over Christmas yet another pedestrian was killed by a driver in Seattle. Because of the holiday, there was minimal news coverage. I felt compelled to write to the city transportation department because I recall trying to cross this highway-like urban road last year and finding that it was impossible (I had to find another way around as the area was designed exclusively for cars). As I was writing, news appeared of a cyclist that a driver killed on the other side of town.

It seems the issue is pervasive and it’s getting worse. I hope the letter does not sound angry or embittered. But I can’t help feel that way since SDOT is truly standing in the way of so many goals of residents of this region: safety, a low-carbon economy, low cost housing (since much of our city is asphalt exclusively for driving and parking), improving air quality, and simply being a better place to live.

Writing alone makes me feel ineffective, so the next step is to sign up for direct action with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Beacon Hill Safe Streets. Anything, anything to combat the all-cars, all-the-time culture here.

Interestingly, SDOT makes it hard to contact them. The five community outreach specialists on the site are profiled without providing contact information. And the contact numbers for the department seem to be only service-related. This is a department that just does not care. When people die on streets they designed, they shrug. Perhaps they need to be defunded (but for real this time) since all they do with their massive budget is highway megaprojects and paving over and repaving of scarce city land.

The futile letter

Dear SDOT,

I am writing to express my deep concern and urgency regarding the recent tragic killing that occurred on Aurora Avenue North and Lynn Avenue, where a driver killed a 73 year-old woman. This incident, which took place in the early evening, points to the unsafe design of this intersection and the surrounding car-centric road infrastructure.

It is disheartening to note that the driver involved in the incident was released without any apparent accountability, creating an atmosphere that seems to diminish the gravity of such violent deaths. In addition, SDOT’s website and Twitter feed seem to have no mention of this woman’s death. In order to address these ongoing killings, SDOT must take proactive steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Basic urban design principles emphasize the creation of safe and accessible spaces for all residents. Unfortunately, the current state of Aurora Avenue North and Lynn Avenue falls short of these principles. The road exhibits several safety hazards, including multiple high-speed lanes, a lack of safe pedestrian crossings, and a highway-like design that is incompatible with the urban environment.

Furthermore, it is alarming to observe the increasing pedestrian death toll in Seattle, with SDOT appearing indifferent to this growing crisis. As a concerned Seattle resident, I urge the Seattle Department of Transportation to prioritize the redesign of Aurora Avenue North and Lynn Avenue to enhance the safety of pedestrians and all road users. If this most recent killing will not motivate a redesign, SDOT should publish specifics about exactly how many people must be killed before they will act.

I plan to contact my representative on the city council as well as the mayor and my state representatives, who together have oversight over SDOT’s funding and priorities, to bring attention to this matter and request their support in ensuring the swift and effective implementation of safety measures at this intersection and elsewhere on Aurora Avenue.

I implore you to take immediate action to address the unsafe design at Aurora Avenue North. It is our collective responsibility to create a city that prioritizes the basic safety of residents, but we cannot do it with SDOT’s car-centric design standing in the way.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to witnessing SDOT taking these killing seriously and taking action to reverse the trend.

Sincerely,
Isaac R. Oadkill

About the photo

SDOT’s vision for the future of Seattle. The department has already transformed large parts of the city into what you see here. Given enough time and money, they could make the whole city look this way.