Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson recently announced her first two executive orders aimed at addressing homelessness and improving public transportation. Speaking at El Centro de la Raza, she emphasized the need to accelerate shelter and housing options for those without homes and enhance bus reliability on a critical transit route.
The first order focuses on expanding emergency shelter and housing by identifying and addressing regulatory and logistical barriers that delay projects. An interdepartmental team will explore incentives and policy adjustments to facilitate quicker openings of new shelters. Additionally, the city will prioritize using city-owned land for temporary or permanent housing and collaborate with community partners to expand existing shelter capacity, as well as improve mental health and substance use treatment within these programs. This initiative follows a recent visit to the Ballard encampment, which is under consideration for removal.
The second executive order targets public transportation by instructing the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to create bus lanes and improve transit infrastructure along Denny Way, a key east-west corridor. Wilson argued that improving bus service is essential for efficient public transit and the city’s climate goals. SDOT is required to present a timeline and budget for these improvements by April 17 and will also identify other corridors for similar enhancements.
Both orders are designed to initiate immediate actions, with more policy developments anticipated in the coming months in collaboration with community groups.
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