Video: 1st phase of West Seattle RapidRide stops/stations work

Along Fauntleroy Way just across from the central Lincoln Park parking lot, a contractor working for SDOT is tearing up the sidewalk concrete as the first phase of work to put in RapidRide-ready stops and stations begins. We just talked with SDOT’s Mike Ward at the site for more details beyond the traffic-alert advisory issued last week.

The first phase of work will move from Fauntleroy/Rose (map) moving north to California/Findlay (map) over the next two weeks or so – but NOT simultaneously; this crew will do concrete-demolition work one zone at a time in all six zones along that stretch, and once the demolition work is done over the next few days, another crew will follow to put in the foundation for the RapidRide stops/stations. (So if you see a torn-up spot, with no one there working to fix it, don’t despair, that’s a separate crew and they’ll be following up in a matter of days, Ward says.)

Along the Lincoln Park-vicinity stretch – Fauntleroy/Rose, Fauntleroy/Webster, Fauntleroy/Myrtle – on the outbound (northbound) side, the work will result in new shelters, benches, and signage; it’s all being done in the sidewalk/planting-strip zone, not in the road. On the inbound (southbound) side, they’re generally paving over a section of planting strip for placement of a bench and signage. There’s no real-time bus-status info planned on this stretch (that requires a separate type of signage as well as wiring).

Effects in the work zones, which again, are generally about a block at a time (Fauntleroy/Rose demolition work may be done as soon as noon today, and the crew will move north): Traffic is reduced to one lane each way. The sidewalk is closed where the demolition work is being/has been done, so if you’re walking in the area, you may have to cross to the other side, and then cross back again outside the work zone. There may be short-term temporary bus-stop and no-parking signage. No night work, no weekend work in this phase, Ward says. He also says the work schedule is not yet set for the next phases further north, which will go beyond stations/stops and bulbs when it gets to SW Alaska, where rechannelization (to create a transit lane) and signal-timing work also are part of the plan. He also says King County is handling the station/stop work on the southernmost part of the lane, south of where SDOT’s contractor started today; we’ll be checking on their timetable. RapidRide, replacing Route 54, is scheduled to launch in September.

11 Replies to "Video: 1st phase of West Seattle RapidRide stops/stations work"

  • Jiggers February 13, 2012 (11:32 am)

    RapidRide. Is it going to be faster and more efficient in geting us around than the crap we got now? I’m finding that hard to believe.

  • metrognome February 13, 2012 (11:54 am)

    unfortunately, SDOT and Metro neglected to ensure that there were wheelchair ramps at all the corners of this stretch of Fauntleroy, so I’m not sure if I can get to the alternate stop or if the existing ramps are available or have been torn up or blocked by construction (nimbly hopping across Fauntleroy and back isn’t an option.) Once I come down the hill to get to the stop at Myrtle, my options are pretty limited. Do you have a contact at SDOT I can e-mail for specifics on how the stop I use is affected day-by-day?

  • Chuck & Sally's Van Man February 13, 2012 (1:19 pm)

    @Jiggers: No kidding! Intra-penninsula traffic is one thing. Once a bus tries to head over/under the bridge I have my doubts. One one of the dreadful days recently, a bus was every bit as stuck heading down Avalon as any car; they couldn’t even make the turn to get in the bus lane to head up and over the bridge. IMHO, what is needed are MORE COPS to move traffic along. Or better yet, tow trucks stationed at the top of the bridge or ALONG the bridge ready to pull wrecks aside at a moment’s notice. Better yet, a combination of cops, tow trucks and ER vehicles ready to keep the bridge open. Oh, and it would help if our SDOT would get with it and create better signage on the days the viaduct is closed. It just shouldn’t be this hard, people! Thank you for playing.

  • JimmyG February 13, 2012 (2:28 pm)

    Looks like there’s some potential bad news for Metro on the horizon as there’s currently a bill in Congress looking to change the way KC Metro and other transit agencies would get their federal funding.
    Rapid Ride is most in danger from this bill.
    It would be nice if Metro actually had to compete for it’s federal $$ or merit as opposed to merely expecting it.
    Rapid Ride is not rapid. Try the “A” line running from Federal Way to TUkwila if you don’t believe me. Plus its full of the usual thugs that used to frequent the now-defunct route 174.

  • Peter on Fauntleroy February 13, 2012 (6:15 pm)

    JimmyG, just to clarify: the legislation you’re referring to doesn’t make transit agancies compete for frederal transit funds, that’s the current system. This legislation eliminates all federal transit fund.
    http://publicola.com/2012/02/09/nyt-house-transportation-bill-so-bad-it-defies-belief/
    Fortunately this republican assault on anyone who is not in a car has no chance of passing the Senate.

  • JN February 13, 2012 (7:59 pm)

    Peter, I sincerely hope you are right, and that terrible bill does not pass. Easily the worst bill they’ve come up with in my entire life.

  • KN February 13, 2012 (11:35 pm)

    I ride the RapidRide B in Bellevue at the tail end of my commute from W.Seattle.

    It’s not rapid at all in the evenings towards Bellevue Transit Center. Have complained a couple of times about 20-30 minute waits avg. on a system advertising 10-15. Haven’t seen < 10 yet except on one odd occasion with 2 of these buses back to back.

    Recommend if you currently use the 54 or 55 or 21 for commuting to get to the upcoming meetings to hold them to their commitments. Because RapidRide B is just simply not living up to expectations. And that's not just one person's opinion…. Trust me.

  • Megan February 15, 2012 (12:05 am)

    For a project that appears to just be a bus in a new set of clothes I am really confused why they are spending so much money to build shelters when not many of the current stops have shelters…. Is this so you can wait in comfort and not complain about the lack of rapid in your ride?

  • JTS February 15, 2012 (1:55 pm)

    Metrognome,

    Shoot me an email with your concerns about any specific locations regarding this project. I’m working on communications and outreach for this project and would love to help answer any questions or concerns you might have.

    phone – 206-257-2292
    email – james@stephersonassociates.com

  • denise February 16, 2012 (6:58 am)

    And this will take how many years? At the end of all of this WS will be a great place to live in 15-20 years-when all the nightmere traffic is finished. My life as been changed forever due to the horrible traffic I face everyday– twice a day. The City should be ashamed of themselves.

  • Buster-the-Body-crab February 16, 2012 (1:26 pm)

    “rapidride” typical government misinformation.

    Just another oil company funded ripoff since they stole the monorail to west seattle.

    “rapidride” has all the ingrediants big oil loves.
    A) it burns oil.
    B) its a rip off
    C) its made to happen by bribing cheap politicians
    D) it gets people around slower than walking or bycicles.

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