Making its way through the House chamber, SB 5595 was amended to expand the “shared street” designation. The engrossed version authorizes local authorities to designate nonarterial state highways that are the primary roads through a central business district as shared streets.
SB 5595 went back to the Senate, which concurred with the House amendments and adopted the final bill by a vote of 31 to 18. Having passed the Legislature, the bill now awaits final signatures.
“Shared streets” designation amended to include required traffic safety reporting
February 28, 2025
SB 5595 moved quickly through the Senate, picking up amendments that address safety concerns before passing to the House chamber.
Cities that designate a nonarterial highway as a shared street must post an annual report on its website that includes information on traffic accidents, the number of speeding violations, and the number of driving under the influence violations that occurred on the shared street.
State highways may not be designated as a shared street.
AWC supports the bill.
SB 5595 now awaits a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.
Proposed “shared streets” designation allows pedestrians, cyclists and cars to share roadways
February 10, 2025
SB 5595, from Sen. Emily Alvarado (D–West Seattle), expands city authority to designate any nonarterial highway as a “shared street,” defined as a city street where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic share a portion or all of the same street.
Cities may establish a 10-mph speed limit on a shared street.
If a city or town designates part of a roadway as a shared street, certain traffic provisions no longer apply on those portions of the street, specifically those governing when pedestrians can walk along and cross roadways, when vehicles pass pedestrians and bicyclists, and operating requirements for bicycles.
Please contact AWC staff with your city’s or town’s feedback on the bill.
Date to remember
SB 5581 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, February 10 at 4 pm.