Public Life Study - A Study of Downtown Seattle

Abstract

As Seattle prepares to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, student teams from the University of Washington’s Spring 2025 URBAN 576/CET 586 class worked with the Seattle Department of Transportation to study how people move through and use downtown’s streets and public spaces. By observing activity and gathering data at key locations, we created a snapshot of today’s public life—information that will help the city plan safe, welcoming, and vibrant spaces for residents and visitors during the World Cup and beyond.