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AGENCY TESTIMONY

DOT's stance on universal daylighting and alternative safety measures

0:30:18

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Eric Beaton explains DOT's position on the universal daylighting mandate proposed in Intro 1138. Based on their study findings, DOT does not support universal daylighting but is open to expanding hardened daylighting at strategic locations.

DOT does not support mandating universal daylighting due to potential negative effects on safety
Implementing unhardened daylighting citywide could lead to an increase of up to 15,000 injuries per year
Hardened daylighting at all corners would cost approximately $3 billion
DOT emphasizes the need for discretion in determining appropriate safety treatments based on engineering judgment
The department is willing to work with the council on repurposing vehicle parking spaces for maximizing street safety

Eric Beaton

0:30:18

Given these findings, DOT does not support the mandate for daylighting universally as that could have negative effects on safety.

0:30:26

We do not take this position casually.

0:30:29

If this unhardened daylighting were implemented citywide, we think we could expect an increase of up to fifteen thousand injuries in a year.

0:30:37

In theory, we would support hardened daylighting at all corners, but that cost would be in the neighborhood of $3,000,000,000 and would cover large numbers of locations without a history of injuries.

0:30:49

We will continue to expand the number of locations with hardened daylighting, and are happy to report that funds have been added to our budget to do more, But we must retain the discretion to determine where this treatment or others are most appropriate based on our engineering judgment.

0:31:06

At the same time, we very much welcome the council's interest in such a big step.

0:31:10

Hardened daylighting is one of many things in our toolbox along with other things with similar or stronger benefits such as road diets, new medians, traffic signal treatments, and turn calming.

0:31:22

Knowing that the sponsors of this bill are willing to repurpose so much vehicle parking, as many as 300,000 spaces citywide or about 6,500 per council district, we would like to work with you on how we can best use this space to maximize street safety.

0:31:37

We would also want to keep a strong focus on the most dangerous locations, a practice that has been very effective at reducing injuries and fatalities over the past decade.

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Findings from DOT's daylighting safety performance study

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Intro 340: Proposal to waive late fees for parking violations