we have some 1.5 million people that are expected to move to the puget sound region by 2050
where are they going to go?
how can they be absorbed without adding 100ks of cars?
going to need a sh*t ton of car-free spaces
and streets where *mobility* is prioritized, over cars
where are they going to go?
how can they be absorbed without adding 100ks of cars?
going to need a sh*t ton of car-free spaces
and streets where *mobility* is prioritized, over cars
https://twitter.com/holz_bau/status/1414106287529283586
and yes, that will mean we need to rethink what our streets look like in a *massive* way
there are a number of reasons why @pushtheneedle pushed vision for a car-free aurora
theurbanist.org/2021/09/16/env…
there are a number of reasons why @pushtheneedle pushed vision for a car-free aurora
theurbanist.org/2021/09/16/env…
a number of those reasons are already in this thread:
but i'll add a few more
https://twitter.com/holz_bau/status/1417332939566718977?s=20
but i'll add a few more
currently, there are thousands of kiddos and students who live on either side of 99 - and many have to cross or walk near it to go to any one of the 30 daycares, dozen public schools or handful of private ones. 
and yet - 99 doesn't have sidewalks for half of it, speeding at double the limit is not unheard of
it is also the deadliest street in the city - with yet another fatality just a few days ago
it is also the deadliest street in the city - with yet another fatality just a few days ago
it's the second loudest street in north seattle - after i-5 - due to the incredible speeding that occurs on the road.
studies are increasingly clear - there are *massive* health issues associated with noise
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/demen…
studies are increasingly clear - there are *massive* health issues associated with noise
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/demen…
cars are also responsible for an insane amount of air pollution - again a significant health risk for all the families that live alongside 99, the students in schools near it - and the tens of thousands of people that will soon live on 99
you might think electric vehicles are 'zero emissions' but...
1. they're not!
2. by 2030 - we're still going to be looking at 5/6 cars in the US being internal combustion engines at best case scenario
3. your cars are killing salmon: theguardian.com/environment/20…
1. they're not!
2. by 2030 - we're still going to be looking at 5/6 cars in the US being internal combustion engines at best case scenario
3. your cars are killing salmon: theguardian.com/environment/20…
wait, did i say tens of thousands of people on aurora?
yup.
99 will see more housing on it than the northgate light rail station
almost the entire stretch is zoned for 5- to 7-story buildings.
and there are 4 urban villages that touch or straddle 99.
yup.
99 will see more housing on it than the northgate light rail station
almost the entire stretch is zoned for 5- to 7-story buildings.
and there are 4 urban villages that touch or straddle 99.
'wait, why *did* OPCD put a loud, dangerous, polluting arterial down the middle of an urban village?' is a question worth asking
historically, the people who planned this city didn't GAF about health outcomes. they didn't GAF about people who couldn't afford buying houses either
historically, the people who planned this city didn't GAF about health outcomes. they didn't GAF about people who couldn't afford buying houses either
look back at that zoning map.
multifamily housing in this city is largely limited to arterials
we force the people who are the least wealthy to live in the most polluted locations.
this is horrible for health.
it's horrible for equity.
it's unsustainable.
multifamily housing in this city is largely limited to arterials
we force the people who are the least wealthy to live in the most polluted locations.
this is horrible for health.
it's horrible for equity.
it's unsustainable.
on top of all of this - is our continued inability to get anywhere close to city's climate goals.
and the largest reason is due to cars.
it is precisely because of all of these reasons, that we will need to look at re-designing streets to prioritize *mobility* and not cars
and the largest reason is due to cars.
it is precisely because of all of these reasons, that we will need to look at re-designing streets to prioritize *mobility* and not cars
so... i am unsure where 99 will ultimately end up.
in a world that prioritized sustainability, it will look similar to the diagram that we proposed.
but we intentionally pushed that overton window to foster discussion about these issues. the status quo is just not sustainable
in a world that prioritized sustainability, it will look similar to the diagram that we proposed.
but we intentionally pushed that overton window to foster discussion about these issues. the status quo is just not sustainable
there are a multitude of permutations that would result in better outcomes for the people who will have to live on, and near - this road.
i'm also partial to schemes that remove all but one lane for cars'trucks as well. sort of like these... (minus the far outside sections)
i'm also partial to schemes that remove all but one lane for cars'trucks as well. sort of like these... (minus the far outside sections)
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