Downtown for People

Bellevue deserves safe streets for all, but a new interchange for I-405 is the wrong choice for our safety + climate.

But we still have time to stop it.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Downtown for People is excited to announce our first community event!

We're hosting a Walk & Talk around South Downtown on September 26th. Come out and show your support for safe streets and bold climate action in Bellevue! https://t.co/0kUKAF2dob

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

Complete Streets Bellevue's next general meeting will be this Wednesdsay, January 20th from 6:00-8:00 pm! In addition to discussing our 2021 priorities, we'll be treated to a special presentation by @FuturewiseWA's Jamie Ptacek on the org's #WACantWait campaign!

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

Want to get more involved in Bellevue transportation advocacy? Attend CSB's first virtual meeting this evening from 6:00-7:30 pm!

Meet fellow advocates, learn about what CSB has accomplished this year, and find out about opportunities in 2021. https://t.co/5tojHTahae

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

One of Council's budget amendments would fast-track funding for tactical Vision Zero improvements on the city's most dangerous roads, including NE 8th St.

If you live, work, or study in Bellevue, sign here: https://t.co/VKDWQsq5f7

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

Today is your LAST chance to sign on to our org's letter to Bellevue City Council in support of strong budgetary action on Vision Zero.

If you live, work, or study in Bellevue, please join us in thanking Council for recognizing that we can't wait. https://t.co/A2QheQ0VLM

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

Good morning! Check out CSB's newest newsletter, with updates on Council's budget amendments, another fatality in Bellevue, and our organization's first meeting.

Read more here: https://t.co/SkAZqoG7h7

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

BELLEVUE ACTION ALERT

Live, work, or study in Bellevue?

Add your name to our letter to Bellevue City Council & express your support for budget amendments that will add crucial funding for Vision Zero, environmental stewardship, and racial equity!

https://t.co/JfK2g1qSyU

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

CM Zahn introduces budget amendment to fast-track Vision Zero funding https://t.co/lkhZoyokhQ

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

ACTION ALERT - we *need* people to speak at Monday's Public Hearing in support of Vision Zero.

City staff have announced that capital funding for VZ projects won't start until 2023!

For a city "committed" to #VisionZero, that's years too late - and we need to remind them why.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

https://t.co/x9BX5JMPGF

[Joe Caruso @_jcaruso]

@schmangee Not mentioned explicitly here, but when listening was thinking on how there should be more rigorous public engagement/approval for highway projects. Transit takes decades and multiple roadblocks, highways mostly get rubber stamped. Engagement = which freeway ramp do you like?

[Complete Streets Bellevue @csbellevue]

For those who hope for a more walkable, bikeable, and equitable transportation system in Bellevue - we welcome you with open arms.

Let's work together to build the safe and sustainable community that our leaders have promised us - and the one that we and our neighbors deserve.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Downtown for People has a meeting with Bellevue transportation staff tomorrow regarding the planned I-405 Interchange for South Downtown. We hope to share our concerns and learn more specifics about each proposed alternative.

What questions would you like answered?

[Claudia Balducci @KccClaudia]

50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets, includes the fact that walking makes people healthier as much happier: “If someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” https://t.co/0PT7QDWqO1

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Even more frustrating is how there are still unfunded parts of Eastrail that aren't expected to open until *after 2026*!

The cost to fill in the gaps? Just $18 million.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Bellevue's priorities for the 2021 State legislative session.

It's frustrating how a freeway interchange costing >$300M is seen as "essential" in the era of climate change, when it would only take $36M to complete a vital missing link of trail that'd be open to all people.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Instead, let's build the infrastructure for the world we want - one of shorter, walkable, bikeable trips. One where everybody can get around safely because we made the right calls *now* to build protected bike lanes and walkable communities. https://t.co/wFJReyFcLG

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

Not only is this *great* news for the climate, it raises an important question:

Even if we assume (wrongly) that we can solve traffic by building more roads, do we actually need them?

We need to acknowledge that COVID has changed *everything* re: mobility needs and growth.

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

The "growth", the "trips" these models predict weren't even accurate in a pre-COVID world, but Bellevue still wants to use them to plan our post-COVID world of work from home and shorter trips.

Why would we want waste millions building new infrastructure for that world?

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

We need to stop designing our urban roads with the goal of moving as many cars as quickly as possible, and start designing them in ways that encourage safe, sustainable mobility.

[grist @grist]

Speed limits are set by drivers “voting with their feet.” That’s a problem for everyone else on the street. https://t.co/DAYh9MG5np

[Downtown for People @DT4People]

We're excited to launch a new DFP Facebook page! We'll be keeping it updated with links, events, and other important info about the interchange project.

Check it out, and please share with your friends! https://t.co/4kYPk5QXFs