Sidewalk Development Program
Building Sidewalk and Walkway Connections
Sidewalks and walkways are the building blocks of a walkable neighborhood. There are currently more than 2,000 miles of sidewalks in Seattle, yet nearly a quarter of Seattle streets are missing sidewalks.
SDOT is committed to increasing the number of sidewalks in the city. The Seattle Transportation Levy and school zone safety cameras are the primary funding sources for new sidewalks and walkways. In addition to local funds, we also look for state or federal grants to build sidewalks.
The Seattle Transportation Plan (STP) includes a Pedestrian Element that prioritizes each segment of missing sidewalk throughout the city based on factors such as proximity to frequent transit and schools, safety, and equity. We use this prioritization to make the difficult choice about where to focus our new sidewalk investments.
More than 50 Northgate Neighbors Join Community Walk on February 1st
SDOT hosted its second neighborhood walk to help inform its Building Sidewalks and Walkways Project with about 50 community members in the Northgate area. The group gathered at Aljoya Thornton Place, then divided into two groups, walking along routes that could be areas for new walkway investments. Community members joined SDOT staff, providing real-time input. It was a productive morning with great community engagement among the neighborhood residents. We even had some furry friends join us on the walk!
Check out our Seattle Sidewalk Accessibility Guide, the go-to page for understanding our sidewalks and how to help make Seattle a safer, more accessible city.
Will SDOT build new sidewalks and walkways in my neighborhood?
The 2024 Transportation Levy includes a commitment to build 350 blocks of new sidewalk and walkways by the end of the levy, with 250 of those within the first four years. Even with this funding, building out the sidewalk network to all blocks of missing sidewalks will be a gradual process. We use the Priority Investment Network in the Seattle Transportation Plan to help make the difficult choice about where to focus our new sidewalk investments. The plan focuses on access to public schools, parks, and light rail, streetcar, and frequent transit, safety, and equity.
Neighborhood Walkways
Walkways are a quick-build alternative to traditional “curb-and-gutter sidewalks.” Some walkways can consist of paint, asphalt, or concrete, while others are just designated routes on neighborhood streets. Which walkway treatment is selected for which project depends on several factors, including the space available on the street, drainage needs, impacts to parking, slope, and the location and number of driveways.
We typically install walkways on non-arterial (local access) streets, as they have the lowest traffic volumes, allowing us to install walkways that are safe, comfortable, and inviting spaces. On some arterial (through traffic) streets with an immediate need for a pedestrian route, we might install a walkway as an interim improvement until a full sidewalk, curb, and gutter can be installed.
You can find more information about neighborhood walkways in our neighborhood walkways factsheet!
Left to right: examples of painted walkways, at-grade concrete walkways with wheel stop delineators, and at-grade asphalt walkways.
Contact Us
Project specific inquiries: If you have a question or comment regarding a specific sidewalks project, please click on the project location in the map above to find the email address for that project.
General inquiries: If you have a question or comment regarding a completed project, or have a general inquiry for the bicycle and pedestrian program, please email us at walkandbike@seattle.gov or call (206) 684-7583.