Funding Fauntleroy Boulevard Project – Thank you!

Thank you, Councilmember Lisa Herbold for your work in funding the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project!

And the S Lander Street Bridge, and stormwater and paving in South Park.  We appreciate your work for a balanced, equitable, forward-thinking transportation system in West Seattle, South Park and SODO.Screen Shot 2016-10-03 at 8.14.44 PM

Are bike lanes breaking the budget?

Screen Shot 2016-10-03 at 7.34.17 PMCommenters in the various media blame “bike lanes” and Pronto bikeshare for high taxes and poor roads.
How much of the City’s budget do we spend on bike transportation, compared to everything else?
About 4% of the transportation budget, which is less than 9% of the total city budget.
Building the bike transportation network is taking one third of one percent of the city’s annual budget.

Kids learn traffic safety skills in White Center

DSC05322Cascade Bicycle Club, the Yes! Foundation, the White Center CDA and King County joined together to convert little used tennis courts into a unique “bike playground”. Opened on Saturday. Lots of kids riding around in the rain, learning about watching for traffic, using lanes, signaling, merging, yielding, stopping, and having fun!  Take your young rider to Dick Thurnau Park (formerly Lnkewood Park) and try it out.

 

S Lander Street Bridge – a Complete Street?

Scenes from the site of the proposed S Lander Street Bridge during 10 minutes on a Monday mid-afternoon. This is West Seattle’s connection to ST Light Rail, Beacon Hill, and major employers like Seattle School District HQ, Starbucks HQ, USPS in SODO. Freight, yes, but also people on buses, on bikes, and on foot.

At $140,000,000, this one bridge will cost more than Seattle is spending on all bike lanes, greenways and trails throughout the entire city over the next 8 years of the Move Seattle Levy, at current rates.  For $140,000,000, thus bridge should work for everyone!

See SDOT’s “30% Design” proposal and comment in the online open house on the one-sided bike/ped sidewalk, and what needs to happen to make this work for bike transportation.

Good discussion in Seattle Bike Blog, with link to our comment letter after the previous open house.

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Sunday 9/25 Bike Rodeo at Summer Parkways

Bring your young rider (~4 to 12 years old) and their bike to have fun and learn some riding skills! We’ll be on Alki Ave at 62nd across from Sunfish, 11 am to 4 pm.

Lots of other activities too, and the street along the beach will be wide open (not “closed”) for walking, riding, skating, skipping, jumping and running!

Could use volunteers for 2 hour shifts, too. Just show up and we’ll put you to work.

FB event page

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Spokane St Bridge Counts

The bridge goes sideways, and so do the bike counts this year.

Up just 1.8% year to date over last year. June and July were lower, after an amazing Viaduct-closure boost in May. August was up.  Pretty much the same pattern at the Fremont Bridge.

If you or someone you know decided ride in May during the Viaduct closure, and then went back to car or bus:  What made you decide not to continue commuting by bike? Screen Shot 2016-09-05 at 6.42.47 PM

Where is the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project?

Designed, with years of community input.

The next step: SDOT, the Mayor and City Council need to get it funded for construction.

Didn’t happen last year. Let’s let them know we want it in the budget this year! It’s a key element of West Seattle’s development in the “Triangle” east of the West Seattle Junction, and in the Bicycle Master Plan’s citywide routes. It is a major corridor for buses, bikes, trucks, and car traffic going out of West Seattle to downtown to Vashon Island. We need it, to help West Seattle absorb growth gracefully, and enable people in all those new buildings to safely walk, ride bikes and ride buses instead of driving everywhere.

Like, share, meet with us tomorrow to help develop support!

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/FauntleroyWySWBlvd.htmDSC03671

Tuesday, September 6 WSBC Meeting

6:30 to 8:00 at HomeStreet Bank, 41st Ave SW & SW Alaska Street.
You are invited!
Come plan for

  • a bike rodeo and the Disaster Relief Trials at West Seattle Summer Parkways,
  • support for Fauntleroy Boulevard Project,
  • choices for greenway routes around High Point and Morgan Junction.
  • and whatever is on your mind related to getting around by bike in West Seattle.

Endolyne Triangle Improvements

Thank you, JIm Curtin and Dongho Change at SDOT and Fauntleroy Community Association, for the “fast and light” project at Endolyne Triangle at the intersections of 45th SW, SW Wildwood Place,and SW Brace Point Drive.
These inexpensive changes make a tricky set of intersection easier to negotiate by foot, bike or car. And, a new bike corral and customer parking spaces for people who ride to Endolyne Joe’s and the Original Bakery!IMG_4696 (1)IMG_4695 (1)IMG_4691 (1)IMG_4693 (1)

West Seattle Bridge Trail Repaving

West Seattle Bridge Trail work included in Spokane St repaving coming up — thank you West Seattle Blog for reporting this under-the-radar project.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pave_spokane.htm

We’ll be looking for more information on design and detours during construction.