Date:
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Contact:
Jamie Holter, WSDOT Communications, (206) 440-4472 (Seattle)
Meghan Soptich, WSDOT Communications (206) 440-4964 (Seattle)
SEATTLE – Today’s "DOT days of summer" highlights WSDOT’s four, full-time graffiti patrols.
August 31, 2006
- On Sept. 1, WSDOT officially adds two permanent full-time workers to the graffiti patrol group, doubling the team’s size. The group covers state highways from Tacoma to the Canadian border.
- T
he newest team is devoted to graffiti clean up between South Everett and Federal Way on the I-5 corridor. This area has the most prolific graffiti problem with the Brewery structure being one of the most popular spots for taggers.
The graffiti patrols operate under the "broken window" theory. Take care of small problems so they don’t become big problems.
The graffiti clean up crew has gone through nearly 700 gallons of paint this year. Together, both crews can clean up to 10,000 square feet of graffiti a day.
Since January, WSDOT has spent nearly $125,000 on graffiti clean up.
The patrols work with law enforcement by taking pictures of the graffiti and passing it to investigators.
The public is encouraged to contact their local cities to report graffiti. WSDOT and cities work together to repaint structures and signs.
What’s next for graffiti patrols?
WSDOT is working on a web-based graffiti reporting system so drivers who spot the tagging can report it directly to our clean-up crews. We hope to have this system up and working in the next several weeks.
What’s next for the "DOT days of summer"?
Through mid-September, WSDOT will count down the "DOT days of summer," highlighting key milestones for important WSDOT projects.
Why this is such a busy time for WSDOT? August and early September have a lot of things going for them. They’re consistently the driest times of the year, days and nights are warmer, and humidity is lower, which makes painting and paving easier as the products adhere better.
Take a look at our construction calendar. Click on a day or a specific project to learn more about road work near you: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Construction/calendar.
WSDOT currently has nearly 400 active construction projects underway around the state thanks to the 2003 and 2005 funding packages approved by the Washington State legislature.
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