Low-Pollution Neighborhoods

Low-Pollution Neighborhoods (LPNs) are a place-based approach where we partner with communities to reduce pollution and climate risks while improving the safety, comfort, and everyday experience of neighborhood streets and public spaces. LPNs prioritize equity alongside mobility, safety, and resilience goals to support cleaner air, safer streets, and stronger quality of life. LPNs are possible thanks to the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy. 

Rather than focusing on a single project, LPNs bring together policies, programs, and physical improvements within a shared geography. This coordinated approach allows benefits to reinforce one another, reflect local needs, and supports a shift toward lower-emission travel and cleaner infrastructure. 

LPNs help us achieve our ambitious climate goals to make Seattle a greener, healthier, more prosperous and equitable place to live. Low Pollution Neighborhoods are funded by the Seattle Transportation Levy, approved by voters in 2024. 

What's Happening Now? 

We are launching the first planning phase for the Low-Pollution Neighborhood program. This phase focuses on detailed analysis, community partnership, and early actions that can improve neighborhood conditions while longer-term projects are developed. We will also develop neighborhood-specific priorities, identify pilot projects, coordinate programs and services, and advance near-term “quick win” improvements. 

Beginning in 2026, we will carry out focused planning and pilot development in three neighborhoods while continuing to refine tools, partnerships, and evaluation methods. Lessons from the pilot phase will help guide future Low-Pollution Neighborhood investments beyond 2028. 

Our work builds on earlier community conversations and interdepartmental coordination to better understand how pollution, climate risks, and transportation challenges show up differently across Seattle neighborhoods, and how local priorities can shape solutions. 

Overview

Low-Pollution Neighborhoods meet Seattle’s commitments in the Climate Change Response Framework by developing strategies for reducing climate pollution, improving street safety, and strengthening neighborhood resilience. 

In 2025, SDOT received a federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) planning grant to support program development, technical analysis, and pilot planning. This phase focuses on working with selected communities, identifying neighborhood priorities, and developing a practical toolbox to guide future Low-Pollution Neighborhood efforts. 

The program advances policy direction established through mayoral executive orders and Seattle’s adopted climate and transportation plans. In 2022 and 2025, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed two Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Orders (2022-07 and 2025–04) directing City departments to expand coordinated actions that equitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Low-Pollution Neighborhoods were identified as a key implementation strategy. 

Funding and Policy Framework

Planning is funded through the federal RAISE grant. Implementation will be supported by $8 million from the Seattle Transportation Levy dedicated to Low-Pollution Neighborhood projects, alongside aligned investments from existing City programs and department-led initiatives. 

Low-Pollution Neighborhoods align with Seattle’s adopted goals and frameworks, including: 

• Climate Change Response Framework
• Seattle Transportation Plan
• One Seattle Plan (Comprehensive Plan)
• Climate Action Plan
• Vision Zero
• Transportation Electrification Blueprint
• Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Orders 

Together, these policies guide Seattle’s work to reduce emissions, improve safety, advance equity, and prepare neighborhoods for climate-related challenges such as extreme heat, air pollution, and flooding. 

Community Partnership and Co-Creation

Community partnership is central to the Low-Pollution Neighborhood approach. We will work with community-based organizations, residents, and local businesses to understand neighborhood priorities, share information, and co-create strategies that reflect daily realities. The outcomes of our conversations will include the following:  

Shared Learning:

Exchange information about neighborhood conditions, including air quality, climate risks, and past or planned investments, while introducing the Low-Pollution Neighborhood approach. 

Local Priorities: 

Understanding communities' most pressing concerns about pollution, discussions about particular kinds of investments, interventions, policies, and programs that could support the creation of low-pollution neighborhoods.

Partnership Readiness: 

Assess potential for community partnership opportunities and readiness. 

Coordination:

Align LPN outreach with related efforts such as the Seattle Transportation Plan, sidewalk and tree equity initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and mobility and resilience hub planning. 

Document and Evaluate: 

Capture themes, priorities, and opportunities to inform the next phase of LPN planning and design. 

Connect to Investment: 

Identify opportunities to align local, state, and federal funding with neighborhood priorities.  

How Low-Pollution Neighborhoods Take Shape

Planning and engagement will help build a shared toolkit for Low-Pollution Neighborhoods; a practical menu of design ideas, programs, services, and policy approaches that can be adapted to different places. 

Not every tool will be used in every neighborhood. The goal is to work with communities to identify what fits local needs, timing, and capacity. 

On-street charging expands access to cleaner vehicles, especially for residents or visitors without off-street parking. Low-emission delivery tools can support local businesses while reducing noise and air pollution. 

Timeline

2023 - 2024 

• Early community conversations and interdepartmental coordination 

2025

• RAISE Planning grant awarded
• Consultant procurement and contracting
• Internal review and selection of focus areas for first Low Pollution Neighborhoods  

2026-2027  

• Focused engagment, planning and pilot development in selected neighborhoods  
• Develop Low-Pollution Neighborhood toolkit
• Finalize Implementation and Funding Plan to guide implementation  

2028 and Beyond

• Implement and evaluate at least 3 Low-Pollution Neighborhoods  
• Learning and potential expansion 

Citywide Climate and Pollution Burden

This map compares Seattle’s Equity Priority Areas with neighborhoods that experience higher levels of air pollution. Equity Priority Areas are identified using the City’s Racial and Social Equity Index, which highlights communities facing greater social and economic barriers. The map shows where these areas overlap with higher air pollution burdens, illustrating how environmental health risks often affect the same communities already facing inequity.