Navigating Seattle's closed-off "Healthy Streets" post-COVID
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Part of the Central District Healthy Street. Photo: Melissa Santos/Axios
Seattle's "Healthy Streets" program is a legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic that comes with its own set of rules.
Why it matters: For drivers, knowing how to respond to these closed-off streets is crucial for the safety of everyone using them.
Catch up quick: Seattle closed about 25 miles of neighborhood streets in 2020 to provide more open space to use during the pandemic, when gyms were closed and in-person gatherings were restricted.
- In 2022, Mayor Bruce Harrell signed an executive order that committed to making 20 miles permanent.
- The city has about 20 locations right now, per the city transportation department, though some are still considered temporary installations.
How it works: Bicyclists and pedestrians are free to use the entirety of these streets, just as they did in the height of the social distancing era.
- Drivers shouldn't use the streets as a throughway to get somewhere else, and should turn onto them only if they're headed home or to a destination on the street itself.
- Drivers who use the streets are expected to yield to bikes and pedestrians — and should expect to encounter people riding or walking in the middle of the road.
- You might see activities like hopscotch, basketball or block parties, which don't require permits when they're held on these designated streets.
Look for signs that say "street closed," "local access only" and "go slow and share the road."
What's next: The city is installing upgrades like concrete planters, murals and new curb markings on several street segments it has decided to make permanent, including in Rainier Beach, Wallingford and the Central District.
- City officials are reviewing other locations to decide whether they should become permanent, too.
What they're saying: "We've heard from the people of Seattle that Healthy Streets are a valued part of many neighborhoods and there is a strong desire to add more locations," the Seattle Department of Transportation wrote on its website.