Approach to Race and Social Equity
The City of Seattle is committed to addressing institutional and structural racism through its Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI). To support this goal, City projects utilize the Racial Equity Toolkit (RET), which helps ensure that the voices of those affected by inequities are considered in decisions regarding light rail expansion.
The RET process involves a series of questions that guide the creation, implementation, and assessment of policies and programs to promote racial equity. The RET is used by staff to make sure that people of color are not disproportionately impacted by a project.
The Transportation Equity Framework (TEF)
The TEF is a roadmap for SDOT decision-makers, employees, stakeholders, partners, and the greater community to collaboratively create an equitable transportation system. It addresses the disparities that exist in our transportation systems due to institutional racism.
Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD)
The City’s Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) is working on equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD). OPCD is leveraging a $1.75 million grant from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) to support ETOD along the West Seattle Link Extension and the Ballard Link Extension corridors. The goal is to center community priorities and to repair past harm.
Federal funding for Sound Transit projects requires that we comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which specifies that we conduct full and fair public engagement – something that the City of Seattle prioritizes across projects and programs.
Sound Transit is the City's partner in this work. The Racial Equity Toolkit is being carried out by both agencies for the West Seattle Link Extension and the Ballard Link Extension. Collectively, the agencies have developed these project-wide RET objectives.
- Advance environmental and economic justice to improve economic and health outcomes for communities of color
- Enhance mobility and access for communities of color and low-income populations
- Create opportunities for equitable development that include expanding housing and community assets for communities of color
- Avoid disproportionate impacts on communities of color and low-income populations
- Create a sense of belonging for communities of color at all stations, making spaces where everyone sees themselves as belonging, feeling safe, and welcome
- Meaningfully involve communities of color and low-income populations in the project
- Limit harmful impacts of the project and work with impacted communities to identify opportunities to repair past harm
- Maximize connections for all users
- Community shapes decisions that impact them, through self-determination and with a 100-year vision for future generations
- An excellent transfer experience including bus and rail integration and options for RET community-desired amenities provided at the station
- Equitable transit-oriented development serving the community
Get an in-depth look at the RET work by City of Seattle and Sound Transit
Environmental Review Phase (February 2022)
Alternatives Development Phase (April 2019)
Level 2 Memo (September 2018)