Seeking to improve the streetscapes of downtown Seattle and South Lake Union, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a Coordinated Street Furniture Program. The program’s goal is to enhance the public right of way through high quality street furniture and a higher level of maintenance while also improving pedestrian circulation and safety.

Qualified companies are invited to offer their proposals for the design, fabrication, supply, installation, operation, maintenance and repair of coordinated street furniture located in the public right of way in downtown Seattle and South Lake Union.

“Street furniture programs provide the opportunity to make streets more inviting while also supporting critical transportation needs,” said SDOT Director Scott Kubly. “We will explore potential street furniture options guided by similar successful efforts in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.”

The key benefits the City expects to achieve through a Coordinated Street Furniture Program include:
· An enhanced public realm experience for pedestrians, transit riders and visitors.
· Improved comfort and usability of public gathering spaces, transit stops and stations, and public information systems, such as wayfinding.
· A new variety of publicly accessible facilities and removal of “clutter” in the public realm.
· Ongoing maintenance and cleanliness of all street furnishings in the program and areas around those furnishings.
· A share of created advertising revenue to support further streetscape enhancements, center city transportation projects, safety upgrades or other needs.

“More people continue to choose to live, work, shop and play in Downtown and desire high quality public spaces. From Third Avenue to the Pike-Pine Corridor, the pedestrian experience along many Downtown streets is inconsistent in quality and appearance, falling short of one’s expectations for a vibrant urban area,” said Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes. “Off-premise advertising is a creative way to fund capital improvements and ongoing maintenance and provide a better designed and functional public space. This is a model that has proven successful across the world from Paris to Boston.”

The Coordinated Street Furniture Program may include, but is not limited to, transit shelters, informational kiosks, consolidated refuse receptacles and seating elements. If approved by the Seattle City Council, limited advertising may be permitted on selected street furniture.

The program would provide new street furnishings and amenities in downtown Seattle and South Lake Union in addition to direct revenue to the City. The program vendor would maintain the furnishings as well as the streetscapes surrounding them, which would generate cost savings for the city and, possibly, for King County Metro as well. A coordinated street furniture program has the potential to generate $4-7 million of new revenue annually.

As part of this program, the City seeks exceptional design quality that complements the urban environment, functionality of the elements, and safe and accessible placement of street furniture. All elements of the Coordinated Street Furniture Program will occupy public space and will be maintained and serviced by the successful vendor. The full request for proposal can be found at: http://thebuyline.seattle.gov/.