Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Use is redesigning the Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) process with the following goals: reducing the cost and permit issuance time frames of Street Improvement Permits; increasing the predictability of the process; and improving customer satisfaction.

Effective Monday, January 26, 2009, SDOT SIP design guidance meetings replaced multiple six-week review cycles for design guidance. SDOT SIP design guidance occurs in a meeting environment where the assigned SDOT SIP project manager, along with subject matter experts from various City departments and external agencies, provide design guidance for specific right-of-way project elements.

SDOT SIP design guidance is strongly recommended for projects that:

• contain non-standard elements in the right-of-way
• contain Green Factor elements in the right-of-way
• include any work in an unimproved alley, unpaved alley, or alley with a closed contour
• are subject to DPD Design Review
• include discretionary mitigation requirements as determined by the DPD Master Use Permit decision
• have complexities identified by the SDOT SIP project manager during coaching, a DPD pre-submittal conference, or preliminary assessment

When Master Use Permits are required, SDOT encourages applicants to start the SIP Design Guidance process prior to the DPD land use intake appointment. For new construction projects, apply for SIP design guidance after the preliminary assessment report (PAR) is issued. Allow enough time to design and submit street improvement plans that are 90 percent complete to SDOT to obtain acceptance for formal review and circulation prior to the DPD construction intake appointment.

The following application materials and Client Assistance Memos (CAMs) have been created and updated to reflect the new SIP design guidance process. Forms and CAMs are available at the SDOT Street Use counter at 700 5th Avenue, 23rd Floor, and online at www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_docs.htm.

• Street Improvement Permit Application - revised
• Project Scope and Details Form - new
• Base Map Checklist - new
• CAM 2200: Street Improvement Permitting Process for Construction in the Public Right-of-Way - revised
• CAM 2209: Permitting Requirements for Street Improvements – revised
• CAM 2211: SDOT Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) Design Guidance – new
• CAM 2212: Base Map and Survey Guidelines for Street Improvement Permitting (SIP) Plans – new

If you have any questions or feedback on the new SIP design guidance process, please contact (206) 684-3679, email SDOTASC@Seattle.gov, or visit the SDOT ASC Coaching Counter at 700 5th Avenue, 20th floor, Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Please visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_sip.htm to stay informed about the redesign effort and changes to Street Improvement Permitting processes and requirements.