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Rasmussen: "I Don't Oppose the Nickerson Road Diet."
City Council transportation chair Tom Rasmussen made a brief appearance at Wednesday's Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board meeting to discuss the Nickerson road diet and request SBAB's formal recommendation.
Council member Rasmussen said his views on the road diet have been misrepresented over the past weeks (prompting some creative protests from the biking community.) "I don't oppose the road diet, I just have concerns."
Much of that concern—it'll reduce road capacity— stems from the outpouring of opposition he says he's received from area businesses and residents. "I know that road diets are controversial, but I've never seen anything like the opposition to Nickerson."
Rasmussen pointed out that ultimately the council doesn't need to take action on this issue in order for the Seattle Department of Transportation to do the road diet. He was clear that they could freeze the project or formally request SDOT to stop, but he expects SDOT will move forward on the project without council intervention.
SBAB chair Blake Trask says the board plans to provide the council with a favorable recommendation for the Nickerson re-channelization, particularly in light of the recent Stone Way analysis showing that a road diet on that street improved safety and did not impact car traffic.
"While we see this as primarily a pedestrian safety project, national and local studies indicate that a re-channelization can retain vehicle capacity while reducing vehicle and non-vehicle collisions on the roadway," said Trask. "The board sees this as an important move toward making Nickerson accessible and safe for all users."
Several proponents of the Nickerson project were in attendance as well. Michael Snyder of Seattle Likes Bikes and Charles Redell of the newly formed group Support The Nickerson Road Diet voiced their support for the re-channelization. Redell said his group has 140-150 members and continues to grow.
Council member Rasmussen said his views on the road diet have been misrepresented over the past weeks (prompting some creative protests from the biking community.) "I don't oppose the road diet, I just have concerns."
Much of that concern—it'll reduce road capacity— stems from the outpouring of opposition he says he's received from area businesses and residents. "I know that road diets are controversial, but I've never seen anything like the opposition to Nickerson."
Rasmussen pointed out that ultimately the council doesn't need to take action on this issue in order for the Seattle Department of Transportation to do the road diet. He was clear that they could freeze the project or formally request SDOT to stop, but he expects SDOT will move forward on the project without council intervention.
SBAB chair Blake Trask says the board plans to provide the council with a favorable recommendation for the Nickerson re-channelization, particularly in light of the recent Stone Way analysis showing that a road diet on that street improved safety and did not impact car traffic.
"While we see this as primarily a pedestrian safety project, national and local studies indicate that a re-channelization can retain vehicle capacity while reducing vehicle and non-vehicle collisions on the roadway," said Trask. "The board sees this as an important move toward making Nickerson accessible and safe for all users."
Several proponents of the Nickerson project were in attendance as well. Michael Snyder of Seattle Likes Bikes and Charles Redell of the newly formed group Support The Nickerson Road Diet voiced their support for the re-channelization. Redell said his group has 140-150 members and continues to grow.
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