• JoshHolland
• Jan. 16, 2025

As we enter the new year, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways is excited to share our 2025 priorities for the year ahead. Building on 2024’s progress, we’re expanding our focus to include housing and equitable neighborhood design, all while continuing our mission to make every neighborhood a great place to walk, bike, and roll.

Here’s what we’re focusing on in 2025, why it matters, and how you can get involved.

Key Priorities for 2025

Vision Zero: Ending Traffic Deaths and Serious Injuries

Safety remains at the heart of our work, as we strive for a Seattle where everyone can get home safely. The City of Seattle has committed to Vision Zero — the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030 — yet we continue to face a pedestrian safety crisis. Victims are disproportionately elders, people of color, and those with disabilities, low incomes, or who are currently unhoused.

Building on last year’s wins in securing long-term safety funding through the transportation levy and prioritizing safety in Seattle’s transportation plan, we’re doubling down in 2025 to address the city’s most dangerous corridors. Our efforts include campaigns to fix three of Seattle’s most dangerous streets:

• Aurora Ave N: Partnering with the Aurora Reimagined Coalition to push for transformative safety upgrades.
• MLK Jr. Way S: Supporting Black-led advocacy through the MLK Transportation Justice Workgroup to advance safety improvements.
• Rainier Ave S: Expanding safety efforts along one of Seattle’s most collision-prone streets.

Through these initiatives, we aim to make Seattle’s streets safer for all, with a particular focus on equity and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.

Ungap The Map: Connecting Every Neighborhood

We envision a connected network of safe bike routes that make biking comfortable and accessible for everyone in Seattle. While the city has made progress, too many bike lanes still start and stop abruptly, leaving riders stranded at dangerous intersections or abandoning entire neighborhoods.

After securing a historic investment for bike projects through last year’s transportation levy, This year, we’re doubling down on our efforts to create a seamless, citywide bike network by focusing on neighborhood organizing and advocacy around key projects, including:

• Beacon Ave S (southern sections): Led by Beacon Hill Safe Streets.
• Sylvan Way SW & Fauntleroy Way SW: Led by West Seattle Bike Connections.
• Ballard Bridge connections: Led by Ballard-Fremont Greenways.

We’re also celebrating progress as long-awaited projects come to life, including

• Alaskan Way Waterfront Trail gap to Elliott Bay Trail
• Critical Duwamish Valley connections including the Georgetown to South Park Trail
• Georgetown to Downtown connection and E Marginal Way.
• Eastlake Ave to South Lake Union and Downtown

These routes represent years of community advocacy and once completed will bring us closer to a truly connected network where every neighborhood is accessible by bike.

Together, we’re working to ensure safe and comfortable biking is an option for everyone in Seattle.

Mobility Justice: Centering Equity in Advocacy

We’re dedicating resources to support historically underinvested communities and elevate the voices of those most impacted by unsafe streets.

BIPOC communities often bear the brunt of harm from our transportation system while being excluded from decision-making processes. To address these inequities, we’re focusing on expanding the MLK and Rainier Ave Transportation Justice Workgroups, which are Black-led, intergenerational teams organizing for safety and accessibility in their communities. We’re also providing ongoing support to Whose Streets? Our Streets!, is an independent BIPOC-led group advancing mobility justice and ensuring transportation conversations and policies reflect the needs of historically marginalized communities.

By amplifying BIPOC leadership and prioritizing equity in Seattle’s transportation system, we’re working to build a city where everyone feels safe and welcome traveling on our streets.

Places for People: Streets as Community Spaces

Our work goes beyond transportation — streets should be vibrant places where people can gather, play, build community, and support local businesses. Seattle’s streets make up a quarter of the city’s total land, and they should reflect our collective needs and priorities for enhancing the quality of life.

Last year, we codified the the People Streets and Public Spaces program into Seattle’s long-term transportation plan, and secured funding for it through the transportation levy.

We’re building on that momentum to support streets as places projects at the heart of neighborhoods around the city like Pike Place Market for People and Ballard Avenue.

A 15-Minute City: Walkable and Affordable Neighborhoods

The best transportation plan is a good land use plan. Everyone deserves to live in a walkable, affordable neighborhood where daily necessities are just a short walk or roll away.

In 2025, we’re working to improve the walkability of Seattle’s land use plan — the Comprehensive Plan, and support efforts to build more affordable housing by passing the Social Housing Ballot Measure (Seattle Prop 1A).

Why These Priorities Matter

The passage of the Seattle transportation levy in 2024 was a significant victory, securing historic funding for pedestrian and bike safety. Now, we’re building on that momentum to address other critical issues like mobility justice, housing, and ensuring that Seattle’s infrastructure reflects the needs of all its residents.

Our 2025 priorities align with our mission to create a safer, more connected, and equitable city. By focusing on systemic change and fostering local advocacy, we’re empowering communities to shape the future of their neighborhoods.

How You Can Get Involved

There are many ways to support our work in 2025:

• Volunteer: Join a neighborhood group or work on citywide campaigns like Vision Zero or Ungap The Map.
• Attend Events: Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities, including public workshops and advocacy actions.
• Donate: Your contributions fuel our advocacy and help us push for safer streets, affordable housing, and vibrant public spaces.

Let’s make 2025 a year of transformative progress together!