Council News Release

Councilmember Nick Licata

LICATA LAUNCHES “CRITICAL CROSSINGS” WEBSITE
Interactive website encourages citizen participation in pedestrian safety

SEATTLE—Councilmember Nick Licata today launched “Critical Crossings,” a new, interactive website dedicated to pedestrian safety. Councilmember Licata said, “This site is dedicated to improving pedestrian safety in Seattle by posting images of traffic intersections and crosswalks submitted by citizens who believe intersections are critical to their safety.”

Councilmember Licata will be accepting digital photos beginning today, Wednesday, April 30, 2008, to post on the site. The first pictures will be posted by the middle of May. The site will add new photos monthly. The information provided by citizens will be used, together with other sources of information and engineering judgments, to develop priorities in improving pedestrian safety. Suggesting changes or improvements to an intersection or a crosswalk does not mean that the City will make the suggested changes or improvement because the changes may not be warranted under existing standards or because the City’s professional engineering staff may not agree that changes are needed.

To submit your entries:

• Email your digital photos to Councilmember Licata’s legislative aide, Frank Video . In the subject line type: “Critical Crossings.”
• Include any comments you wish to make about each intersection you submit.
• In your message indicate if you want to post your email address next to your photo so others can contact you.
• Submit images in JPG or GIF format. The image should be 640 x 480 pixels or larger. To insure quality, images smaller then 640 x 480 pixels will not be posted on this site.
• The intersections will be catalogued and kept posted on the site. New photos will be added each month along with comments on photos received from website visitors.

If you are interested in information about legislation, projects and general issues impacting pedestrian safety, you can sign up to receive Councilmember Licata’s pedestrian safety bulletins by emailing Councilmember Licata’s legislative aide, Robin Matisse . In the subject line type: "Add to pedestrian safety list."

Councilmember Licata said, “Keep in mind that the City of Seattle is obligated to provide streets, including intersections, which are reasonably safe for ordinary travel. This does not mean free from any and all potential hazards. No intersection or crosswalk is reasonably safe if drivers and pedestrians do not exercise necessary care.”

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City Council