A Welcome Traffic Alert for East Marginal Way S

IMG_0181IMG_0194Traffic Advisory September 12, 2014 -from SDOT

Lane closures on East Marginal Way next week [N of Hanford]

Crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation will pave [YAY!!!!] from Hanford north to 2200 block on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting.

On Wednesday, bicycles may use the designated bike lane. On Thursday bicyclists may ride on the sidewalk, being cautious of pedestrians and giving pedestrians the right of way.

Contact: Marybeth Turner, Public Relations Supervisor, 206.684.8548

Sad day downtown for all of us

A tragic day in a week filled with mayhem caused by lawless and inattentive driving of motor vehicles. Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Sher Kung, killed on Second Avenue today in a crash with a truck whose driver did not see her and failed to yield the right of way.

So sad that this is a week before physical lane separation and new signals with no-left-on-red for motor vehicles while bikes have green to go through will be in place.

Memorial ride next Thursday or Friday late afternoon is in the works.

Yesterday in Bonney Lake a pickup driver drifted off the roadway while texting and hit a 40 year old man who was riding a bike on the shoulder, the WSP reports. Monday, two drivers hit two boys riding bikes across Airport Way in Georgetown,

Mayor Murray and Scott Kubly, SDOT Director, have already received letters that cruelly take advantage of this tragedy to push anti-bike agendas, claiming bike riding is too dangerous for city streets.

But yesterday, three people were injured in a hair salon in Columbia City and three others were injured in the restaurant next door when the driver of an SUV plowed into the salon. The building was in danger of collapse. Can a bike rider cause this kind of damage?

Eating in a restaurant is not dangerous.

Getting your hair cut is not dangerous.

Riding a bike is not dangerous.

DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS,

and that is where the focus should be for safety, for lower speeds, for law enforcement and for protection of everyone else.

photo from Lars HalstromDSC_4924email

Another Public Meeting for White Center Bike Corral

Good turnout of merchants and customers at White Center public meeting on the bike corral 8/26. Thank you to Sili Savusa, Executive Director of White Center Community Development Association, for leadership and Sokha for moderating the lively discussion. Thanks to Theresa and Jason Beaulieu, Lyanne, Joe, Marlowe, Isabel, Charity and family, Matt, Aaron, Gregg, Alex, Billy, Lynn, Don, and others who showed up to support the owners of Proletariat Pizza and Cafe Delia and let the other merchants know why a bike corral will make it easier to be their customers and will add customer parking to the business district on 16th. 

This was a repeat of the required public meeting held at Luso’s on June 17 for the grant that was awarded in March.

SeveralDSC04290 DSC04287 DSC04286 DSC04295 merchants have concerns about losing two car parking spaces, As Joe pointed out, if 12 customers park bikes instead of parking cars, in the same space as two cars, that actually frees up 5 to 10 car parking spaces for others to use.

Merchant concerns, especially from Smoke Town tobacco store and Stan’s Adult Superstore, were loss of car parking; the number of vagrants in the alley that make it feel unsafe for employees to park there; the lack of County enforcement of the 2-hour time limit that results in non-customer all day car parking in many spaces on the block. Some of the all-day parking is by shop owners and employees who choose not to park away from the businesses. Brian, who owns the record store, went out looking this afternoon and sketched two alternative bike rack locations at curb bulbs,

Sili Savusa described next steps to reach a community solution, including sitting down with Theresa and Brian to look at the design that was submitted for the grant that was approved last March (!) and comparing it to the ideas from Brian and others tonight.

All agreed that there are deeper issues of law enforcement, homelessness, crime, lack of Sherriff Department staffing and county neglect of White Center business district that go way beyond the bike parking issue. Elizabeth Gordon invited participants to attend an upcoming North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting with the Sherriff’s office to give them the message of what White Center wants to see most to address the issues.

Heavy Haul Corridor – Ready or NOT

IMG_0194 IMG_0192 IMG_0190 IMG_0188 IMG_0187 IMG_0185 IMG_0181 IMG_0176 IMG_0174 IMG_0172 IMG_0171 IMG_0169 IMG_0167Freight Advisory Board 8/19 meeting highlight:

The proposed Heavy Haul Corridor on West Marginal, East Marginal, Hanford, and Spokane will allow >25% heavier axle loads on these streets that are substandard construction on crappy fill soils and are way past due for complete roadbed rebuild.

Pavement disintegrates already. We ride the unswept gravel paths that result. The oil dripping onto the roads drains directly into Puget Sound.

What will the new plans do for safety? Nothing.

What will they do to rebuild the road?  Nothing.

What WILL they do? Charge a couple hundred bucks for a permit to be over legal, with the revenue to pay for a cop to check that they’ve paid their fee.

It is important for our port to be competitive with Vancouver, Tacoma and Oakland. But not with a short term “solution” that destroys the roadway and compromises safety. Why should this be allowed before the road is rebuilt for  truck loads and bike safety, including bike lanes with concrete barriers, from Spokane to Atlantic on East Marginal and south of Spokane to the Federal Center? We need investment upfront in roads for freight and bike traffic, equal to the quality of the Atlantic St crossover and Portside Trail, all the way south.

WSBC ride with Councilmember Rasmussen

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen went for a bike ride this morning with seven of us from West Seattle Bike Connections, to get a first-hand look at some of the routes and intersections in the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan that we think are high priority for funding and implementation.

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Just a small group, so we could keep it conversational.  We started at Highland Park Improvement Center.  First stop:  The crosswalk at 11th Ave SW (a planned Greenway route) at SW Holden St, a busy arterial.  We are supporting the Highland Park Action Committee’s application to SDOT for flashing beacons DSC04141to help make this a safe crossing for kids going to schools and playgrounds in Highland Park and Riverview.

Then south on 10th Ave to SW Thistle at Highland Park Playfield. These are mapped as future Greenway routes, and seem ideal low traffic streets for walking and riding bikes. A set of public steps at 14th allows pedestrians to continue though on Thistle, but stops cars and bikes. We’d like to see a “runnel” gutter for bike wheels added to the steps, which are under construction now.

Then north on 17th Ave SW, which is a neighborhood Greenway route currently in the planning and design stage.  The proposed route jogs over to 15th Ave on Kenyon, then back over to 17th at Webster.  These jogs did not seem realistic to our group. Who would want to go 2 blocks east out of their way, and then 2 blocks west back to their route? And the intersections of Kenyon & 16th, 15th & Holden, and Webster & 16th would all need marked crosswalks and signals to be safe Greenway crossings. It looks much easier to just improve Holden for the short block from 17th to 16th, and then 16th to Webster, to get around the block that does not go through on 17th.

We started at Highland Park Improvement Center.  First stop:  The crosswalk at 11th Ave SW (a planned Greenway route) at SW Holden St, a busy arterial.  We are supporting the Highland Park Action Committee’s application to SDOT for flashing beacons to help make this a safe crossing for kids going to schools and playgrounds in Highland Park and Riverview.

Then south on 10th Ave to SW Thistle at Highland Park Playfield. These are mapped as future Greenway routes, and seem ideal low traffic streets for walking and riding bikes. A set of public steps at 14th allows pedestrians to continue though on Thistle, but stops cars and bikes. We’d like to see a “runnel” gutter for bike wheels added to the steps, which are under construction now.

Then north on 17th Ave SW, which is a neighborhood Greenway route currently in the planning and design stage.  The proposed route jogs over to 15th Ave on Kenyon, then back over to 17th at Webster.  These jogs did not seem realistic to our group. Who would want to go 2 blocks east out of their way, and then 2 blocks west back to their route? And the intersections of Kenyon & 16th, 15th & Holden, and Webster & 16th would all need marked crosswalks and signals to be safe Greenway crossings. It looks much easier to just improve Holden for the short block from 17th to 16th, and then 16th to Webster, to get around the block that does not go through on 17th.

Continuing north on 17th from Webster to Myrtle, there’s a spot that does not go through that is planned to have a bike/ped switchback ramp. This will be a ideal safe route to Stanislo Elementary.  If more kids can safely walk and ride to Stanislo, there will be less car congestion and hazards around the school and the beginning and end of the school day.

From there, we continued north on the partially completed 21st Avenue Delridge Greenway. It’s a great route along the ridge for bike riding, very attractive for commuting to SODO downtown, or connecting to the Alki or West Duwamish trails. Several on this ride use it regularly.  However, for pedestrians, and especially for wheelchair users, there is quite a bit of work left to do.

Then we dropped down to the 5-way intersection and Chelan/Spokane/Delridge/West Marginal, and talked about the planning in progress for that major connection point. From here to the Alki Trail. A look at the “Kitty Harbor” corner of Spokane and Harbor Ave, where we have an SDOT funding application in with Alki and Admiral neighborhood associations. Then a potty stop for our 2 year old rider at Luna Park Cafe, and a break before climbing up Avalon. Tom Rasmussen updated the group on the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project, which is now midway in design and public outreach, and promises to be a much friendlier welcome to West Seattle, with wide sidewalks, safer crosswalks, and bike routes to serve the rapidly developing area.

At mile 6.6, we reached the West Seattle Junction, and parked in the new bike corral, installed after a push from Councilmember Rasmussen, and much appreciated.  On to a bakery for food, coffee, conversation.

Thank you, Councilmember Rasmussen, for taking the time to ride with us, listen, and update us on projects. Thanks, too to Gordon Padelford at Seattle Neighborhood Greenways for suggesting the ride, and to Anthony Auriemma and Rose Smith at Councilmember Rasmussen’s office.

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Don Brubeck, with Theresa and Jason Bealieu, Jodi Connolly, David Geoffrion, Joe, Marlowe and Isabel Laubach.

WS Junction Bike Corral – Installed!

YAY! let’s go to the Junction!

Thank you especially to WSBC’s Aili LePard and Jeff Hallman, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his aide Anthony Auriemma,  Junction Association’s Susan Melrose, Husky Deli, Bin 41, Mashiko’s,  Elliott Bay Brewing, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, the Junction Neighborhood Association, the Junction Church, and Kyle Rowe at SDOT.

http://westseattleblog.com/2014/07/west-seattles-first-bike-corral-now-in-place-in-the-junction/

2015 SDOT budget – West Seattle priorities

We have a new bike master plan. Now we need to fund the design and construction. The budget for next year is being developed right now. We have given this input to the City Council’s Transportation Committee, the Mayor’s office, and SDOT’s new director Scott Kubly.  If you have other priorities or agree with these, now is the time to say so.
1) 5-way intersection at Chelan/ Delridge/ West Marginal Way/ Spokane St SW:  Fund the next phase of engineering design.

Continue the outreach to stakeholders. Implement solutions to create a family friendly connection at this junction of the West Duwamish Trail, the Alki Trail, and the West Seattle Bridge Trail. This is more than an intersection. This is our “missing link”. This one and East Marginal (below) are on the Port and the Mayor’s new Seattle Industrial Areas Freight Project routes, which is plus for funding and attention, and is a challenge, too, for design and schedule.
http://westseattlebikeconnections.org/2014/02/26/west-seattle-5-way-intersection-workshop/
http://westseattleblog.com/2014/02/west-seattle-roadtrail-safety-re-envisioning-chelanspokanedelridgew-marginal/

2)  East Marginal Way S :  Fund the start of engineering design for permanent protected bike lanes or cycletrack from S Spokane St to S Atlantic St, and begin study of bike route south of Spokane to the Federal Center.

We are grateful for your assistance and SDOT’s interim improvements on East Marginal Way S and the Portside Trail during 2013-14.  Moving forward with permanent improvements is critical for alleviating congestion on WS Bridge and 99, by making bike commuting from WS to downtown and SODO feel safe and attractive to the many “willing but wary”.  If this and the 5-way intersection above are completed, the Spokane St Bridge bike counter numbers will rival the Fremont Bridge numbers.
http://westseattlebikeconnections.org/2013/05/18/east-marginal-way-with-sdot/

3)  Delridge/ Highland Park Greenway:  Fund the completion of design and begin implementation.

This is a continuation from the North Delridge greenway south to White Center. Especially important is improving the crossing of SW Holden St at 11th Ave SW. This is the least challenging project on this list for implementation, but will have a very high benefit to cost ratio. The route serves some very under-served low income neighborhoods schools and shopping. The project enjoys a high level of neighborhood support.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/delridgehighparkgreenway.htm

4)  Fauntleroy Boulevard SW Project:  Fund the completion of engineering design and outreach.

Protected bike lanes and pedestrian improvements are needed in this busy corridor, either on or near Fauntleroy Way SW  from 35th Ave SW to SW Alaska St. This project is in West Seattle’s most rapidly growing urban village center, and is on a major truck street. Crucial for commuting, shopping access and for absorbing growth gracefully without creating gridlock. Difficult due to limited R.O.W. for all the demands,
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/FauntleroyWySWBlvd.htm

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Intersection of Fauntleroy, Avalon and 36h Ave SW.  Can you imagine a greenway crossing on 36th? Protected bike lanes on Fauntleroy? Crosswalks squared off to Fauntleroy for shorter, more visible pedestrian crossings?  Islands and signal sequence designed for bikes to turn left safely at 36th from Avalon? Street trees and landscaping welcoming people to West Seattle? This is the NE end of the Fauntleroy Blvd Project.

 

5)  35th Ave SW Safety Corridor: Fund design of parallel Greenways fund implementation of safe crossings.

“I-35” is major truck street and a transit street. It is a busy 4-lane arterial with a high rate of speeding, crashes, pedestrian injuries and fatalities. We recommend the implementation of parallel Greenways on 34th Ave SW and on 36th/37th Ave SW, and safe crossings at intersections along 35th with signals or RRB lights, safety islands, marked crosswalks and street lighting.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/35thSW.htm

6)  Intersection improvements along greenway and trail routes.
We have applied for or supported NPSF grants in cooperation with West Seattle neighborhood associations, including at
SW Holden St at 11th Ave SW;
California Ave SW & SW Juneau St and at
SW Spokane St & Harbor Ave SW/ Alki Trail.
Some of these projects may need more funding than can be provided using NPSF grants.

Mon 7/21 Meeting with SDOT – Fauntleroy Boulevard Project

Monday, July 21, 6:30 to 7:45 pm

at West Seattle Branch Library, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W.  (north of Admiral Way and Metropolitan Market)

West Seattle Bike Connections and West Seattle Transportation Coalition are meeting with SDOT representatives to review and provide input to redesign of Fauntleroy Way SW from 35th Ave SW to SW Alaska Street.

Open meeting.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/FauntleroyWySWBlvd.htmFauntleroy-Way-Green-Blvd_Color_Cross-Sections_062714

2014 West Seattle STP Ride!

DSC03412 DSC03420 DSC03435 DSC03455 DSC03461 DSC03463 DSC03521About 30 of us rode the 2014 (second annual) West Seattle STP  today! Beautiful day for it.  We made it from SW Seattle St to SW Portland St in an hour at a very social pace, with a few of us walking and pushing up a couple of the climbs, and were at Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction by lunch time. A highlight was a three-generation family including two grandparents, two parents and child riding together.

Thank you Stu Hennessey / West Seattle Spokespeople for leading!  And to Cascade Bicycle Club for sponsoring a little ride that makes fun of your big one. And Al, Eric, Michael and Don for intersection marshalling and sweeping. Someday, when the Greenway routes and intersection improvements envisioned in the Bike Master Plan are built, people like all those on this ride will feel comfortable going this route on their own without ride leaders. Please join us in working for that and for fun rides!

More pix on our West Seattle Bike Connections Flickr group.

Bike corral for West Seattle!

Thank you to DSC01701City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and SDOT!

The West Seattle Junction is gaining a new amenity for our community. A “bike corral” for on-street bike parking will be coming soon to California Avenue SW at SW Alaska St in the heart of the West Seattle Junction. More customers will have convenient parking without congesting the sidewalks or taking away any car parking or loading zones.

Bikes are good for local business districts.  When we travel by bike, we shop and dine locally, instead of at malls and big boxes.  That is why Junction merchants and West Seattle Bike Connections have been working for this one for the past 18 months.

As Chair of the Transportation Committee, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen helped navigate the many layers of SDOT to avoid another year of delay. According to Rasmussen’s staff member Anthony Auriemma, SDOT shared the following with the Councilmember:

”We will be issuing a work order to install the bike corral at the location agreed upon by the WS Junction Association and WS Bike Connections on the SE corner on California Ave SW at SW Alaska St.

  • This location is currently no parking anytime, so there is no impact to on-street parking.
  • The corral would prevent right turns on red at this all-way walk so it is a safety improvement.
[right on red is already illegal here]
  • This location is in the heart of the business district.

“The adjacent property is currently under construction and the developer had requested that we delay installation until after the building was completed.  We initially agreed, however, in light of the demand for on-street parking and bicycle parking we are moving forward with the installation. We will be working to develop a policy for temp removals due to construction.

I don’t know the specific date of the installation, but my understanding is that the work order is underway.”

This project has the support of the West Seattle Junction Association, the Junction Neighborhood Association (JuNO), West Seattle Bike Connections and West Seattle Transportation Coalition.   Of at least 25 bike corrals installed by SDOT since 2012, this will be the first in West Seattle.