PUBLIC NOTICE INFORMATION
Notice Type:
Other - SEPA DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE (DNS) SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (SDOT) FREE-FLOATING BIKE SHARE PROGRAM
Project Description:
CITY OF SEATTLE NOTICE OF SEPA DETERMINATION: The City of Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has issued a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) for the City of Seattle Free-Floating Bike Share Program (BSP). Based on the success of the Free-Floating BSP pilot, SDOT proposes to implement a formal Free-Floating BSP which allows customers to locate and rent a bike or other micro-mobility vehicle and end the rental at an appropriate location near their destination. Under the Free-Floating BSP, SDOT will issue permits for up to four private companies to operate 20,000 bikes and other micro-mobility vehicles during the permit year. Before a vendor deploys a new vehicle, SDOT must review and approve the vehicle’s design and features to ensure compliance with safety standards and program goals. SDOT has developed new annual permit requirements that were approved by the City Council under Ordinance CB 119305 and plans to approve permits between fall 2018 and winter 2019. SDOT is using lessons learned from the pilot evaluation but also proposes to remain flexible to allow for adjustments as the city, private market, and technology evolve. Changes for the new BSP permit includes more robust data requirements, rule consistency with Seattle’s suburbs, fleet re-allocation ability, tighter required response times for obstruction hazards, a more proactive compliance monitoring and enforcement program with clearly defined compliance targets, and tighter permit language and definitions. Annual permits are competitive, and scoring considers the vendor’s parking, rider education, equity and data collection plans. The City can modify or supplement the permit requirements as needed to address unanticipated impacts. The annual permit fee will be used to administer the BSP and its goals. Each vendor will be charged fees of $50 per bike at a minimum of 5,000 bikes per permit with a goal of permitting up to 20,000 bikes in total. There will be additional fees for permit issuance, renewal and review. It is the vendor’s responsibility to inform riders how to rent, ride, and park their devices correctly. The permit will require vendors to prioritize obstruction hazards in responding to reports that devices are improperly parked or need maintenance. Comment Deadline: 5 PM, October 11, 2018. Appeal Deadline: 5 PM, October 18, 2018. The DNS, SEPA Checklist, and supporting information may be examined in the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections Public Resource Center at 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, Seattle or at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/bike-program/bike-share. Documents are also available at the Seattle Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle. Agency Contact: Joel Miller, SDOT, P.O. Box 34996, Seattle, WA 98124; (206) 684-7639; Joel.Miller@seattle.gov.
Publication Date:
09/27/2018
End of Appeal Period:
10/18/2018
End of Comment Period:
10/11/2018