Seattle City Wire

Seattle to receive federal funds to plan for three low-pollution neighborhoods by 2028 in alignment with Mayor Harrell’s Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order

Seattle — On the week of June 19, the City of Seattle was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to receive a $1.2 million grant under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to plan for low-pollution neighborhoods that will reduce transportation emissions in our communities. This federal funding advances one of the actions called for in Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order in December 2022. It will bring together departments across the City to systematically plan for equitable and innovative low pollution transportation solutions while investing in community resiliency, equity, and economic opportunity, fulfilling our vision for One Seattle.

“Transportation emissions are Seattle’s number one source of climate pollution, and reducing the impact in our neighborhoods will improve the overall health of our residents as we fight climate change. As called for in our Seattle Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order, Low-Emissions Neighborhoods recognize the connection between transportation, climate, and community and work to address these aspects collectively,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said. “We want to thank our local officials, transportation advocates, and our congressional delegation — U.S. Senator Patty Murray, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, U.S. Representative Adam Smith, and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal — for supporting this work and helping us to take a decisive step towards a greener, healthier, and more equitable future.”

This grant will support Mayor Harrell’s efforts to lead the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD), Office of Economic Development (OED), and Seattle City Light (SCL) to employ a community-oriented and holistic approach to drive climate action by:

• Making walking, biking, and transit the preferred option for more trips  
• Accelerating transportation electrification  
• Advancing community climate readiness and resiliency  
• Achieving a measurable decrease in transportation-related air pollution and health disparities

See our grant application for more details.

“By partnering together to plan for low-pollution neighborhoods, the City will be able to deploy a variety of policy, program, and built environment interventions that improve air quality, mobility, and community health, while helping the City achieve its ambitious climate goals,” said the City of Seattle department directors in a joint statement.

The City has set a timeline to complete planning work for this low-pollution neighborhood project in 2025, with implementation positioned to be complete by 2028. Community conversations around low-pollution neighborhoods will occur over the summer and fall of 2023, to align with the goals of the Seattle Transportation Plan and inform future transportation funding decisions.

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What People Are Saying

Senator Patty Murray

“It is so important that we take a whole-of-government approach to lowering carbon emissions and tackling the climate crisis. This project will put us on the path to make sure kids and families across Seattle can literally breathe easier—making our communities safer and healthier places to live, work, and play.”

Senator Maria Cantwell

 “Neighborhoods across Seattle are planning for how to measure and address carbon emissions, so that residents can live and work in healthier environments. This funding will allow for communities to address the climate crisis at the local level, complementing the work of state and federal partners.”

Congressman Adam Smith

“The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and as we work to modernize our infrastructure, we must put forward solutions that reduce emissions to meaningfully fight the climate crisis. This funding will help create several low-emission neighborhoods throughout Seattle, a positive step forward for the health of our communities and the environment. This grant for the City of Seattle reflects President Biden’s commitment to upgrading America’s infrastructure to be more sustainable and resilient. I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars come to our region to create cleaner, greener communities.”

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

“This federal funding will help Seattle become a greener city by planning low-pollution neighborhoods with reduced transportation emissions, leading to cleaner air, a safer environment, and better health outcomes for our community. I look forward to seeing our city continue to be a leader in the fight against the climate crisis as we prioritize clean transportation and economic opportunity for all.”

Original source can be found here.