OLYMPIA [CASSIE DIAMOND]—Hospitals, parks and schools: These key locations are the focus of a bill that would require accessible pedestrian passage to be maintained during construction there.
The prime sponsor of Senate Bill 6311, Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said the measure was born out of a story he heard from Monroe about a hospital that had a street construction project without adequate pedestrian access.
“As we think about how folks access our hospitals, our schools, our parks, a lot of them access them by foot, and a lot of them have mobility issues,” he said. “So crossing the street or going way out of their way can interrupt their ability to get to some place they need to go.”
The bill would require builders to maintain pedestrian passage during construction within 300 feet of hospitals, parks or school zones.
It would also prohibit sidewalk closures in these zones unless a temporary same-side route is not possible or safe passage cannot be maintained.
Liias pointed to policies adopted by Seattle and Tacoma that require traffic control plans that address pedestrian access be submitted for certain construction projects as evidence that a measure like this is workable.
Katy Ricchiuto of the Transportation Choices Coalition voiced support for the policy, emphasizing the impact inaccessible walkways have on seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.
“We know that many cities and contractors are already trying to address safe passage through construction,” she said, “but there are still many, many times where people are left wondering, literally, where they are supposed to go.”
Steven Ellis of the Association of Washington Cities explained that members of the organization are “100% in alignment with the policy goal” behind SB 6311.
However, he said some aspects of the bill should be changed.
For instance, Ellis suggested that local agencies should have the authority to decide whether a same-side passage is feasible or not when determining if a sidewalk closure is permitted.
He also expressed concern over the potential operational costs and increased liability associated with the proposed measure.
SB 6311 received a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee Feb. 2. It is scheduled for an executive session Feb. 5.
Ricchiuto asserted that the bill is a “common sense requirement” that would ensure safe access for everybody.
“Every transit trip begins and ends with a walk,” she said.
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Author: Washington State Journal
