Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board seeks new members

Do you a lot of opinions about the city’s pedestrian infrastructure—and are you willing to give them away for free? The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has at least two openings on the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board (SPAB), which advises the city on issues related to pedestrian safety and accessibility. The all-volunteer board meets once a month.

Board members must live in Seattle, and are usually frequent walkers. The city is looking for a variety of ages and mobility levels.

Pedestrian safety is a life-or-death issue in Seattle. Announcing their Day of Remembrance last month, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways reported that ​19 people have died in traffic collisions over the past year. The organization cites a 25 percent increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured while walking between 2015 and 2016.

The SPAB advises the city in both the big and small picture: They help implement the Pedestrian Master Plan and make recommendations on specific policies and projects. They also deliver an annual report to the city council transportation committee.

In addition to advising the mayor’s office and city council, they advise multiple city departments—including, of course, SDOT.

Applications close January 26, 2018. Those who wish to apply should email a resume and cover letter to Howard Wu at howard.wu@seattle.gov.

• Let’s Get Seattle Walking [SDOT]
• Open seats on Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board [CHT]
• Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board [SDOT]