City Council OKs money for 47th/Admiral signal, Fauntleroy ‘green boulevard’ design, 2 more school-zone speed cams

(Admiral Neighborhood Assoc. rallying at 47th/Admiral in 2011, with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen)
Money for a full traffic signal at 47th/Admiral, long sought by neighborhood leaders/advocates, won final approval from the City Council in a vote this afternoon, according to this announcement. It’s part of a spending plan for money saved from other projects; as reported here last month, the council made some changes in the original spending proposal from the mayor, who had proposed a technical study of a possible signal. The plan approved today also includes another $200,000 to continue designing the Fauntleroy Green Boulevard plan. And it includes money for added school-zone speed cameras on SW Roxbury, announced last month, near Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School.

In a related action, a proposal to formalize the policy for spending speed-camera revenue on safety improvements was referred to a council committee. And it appears there’ll be a lot of that revenue unless people start slowing down; the text of the bill notes that while it was at one point projected the existing cameras, including the one for Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary, might bring in $800,000 this year, the projection has been revised to about $5 million. The policy is scheduled to be discussed and possibly voted on by the Government Performance and Finance Committee at City Hall this Wednesday morning at 9:30 am. Meantime, we’ll be checking with SDOT about the timeline for the 47th/Admiral signal now that the money’s apparently on the way.

20 Replies to "City Council OKs money for 47th/Admiral signal, Fauntleroy 'green boulevard' design, 2 more school-zone speed cams"

  • Fire Ball July 15, 2013 (7:25 pm)

    The City of Seattle can only put the cameras for west bound traffic on Roxbury…East bound traffic is in Unincorporated King County. South of Roxbury and East on 30th Ave SW.

    • WSB July 15, 2013 (7:32 pm)

      Except for where Holy Family is – that is a pocket of city.

  • JayDee July 15, 2013 (7:25 pm)

    While I do agree that 47th and Admiral is problematic for peds, I would rather the signal be a pedestrian-moderated one (like California and Genesee) rather than a full traffic signal…unless we let the peds cross sooner than the odd car coming up SW Waite…c’mon, it’s called SW Waite street for a reason.

    The issue that triggered this is pedestrian safety, not collisions. I hate to say I agree with the current mayor on this but I do.

  • LivesInWS July 15, 2013 (8:08 pm)

    Glad to read that 47th & Admiral will finally get a signal.

  • Katy Walum July 15, 2013 (8:15 pm)

    I am thrilled with the City Council’s vote to fund a full signal at 47th and Admiral! This is a long-sought, hard-fought victory for our neighborhood, and for all those who seek safer environments for drivers and pedestrians on our streets. Thanks so much to Don Wahl of Alki Mail and Dispatch and neighborhood activist Karl de Jong, as well as others from the Admiral Neighborhood Association, who have worked hard to keep this issue alive and strong and urgent to the public and our leaders. My heart today is with the memory of Tatsuo Nakata, and with the hope that his tragic death has moved this community, at long last, to make this intersection truly safer for all.

  • JimClark July 15, 2013 (9:10 pm)

    A few years back I got a ticket from Seattle police heading east on Roxbury so I doubt the cameras will only be on the west bound lanes

  • Kgdlg July 15, 2013 (9:35 pm)

    5 mil per camera huh? Guess we will be seeing a lot more of these soon!

    • WSB July 15, 2013 (9:37 pm)

      Not per …that’s for the entire pilot program, which I believe currently involves 4 citywide. So, 1.25 million per. Don’t know if they’re all equal – have been meaning to request that data, which camera pulls in what amount. Could be $4 million for one of them and $333K for each of the other three for all I know…

  • Paranoid July 15, 2013 (10:01 pm)

    Amazing that all three in West Seattle are on main arterials with a traffic light to control traffic already. For safety the frequency of the cycles could be increased to create congestion which would slow the speed. Was there any research to see where the highest accidents are? This would be the logical place for the cameras. But these days logic is superceded by dollars. And this is easy money.

  • Karl July 15, 2013 (11:47 pm)

    On November 14, 2006, Seattle City Council aide, Matthew “Tatsuo” Nakata, aged 26, was struck and killed by a distracted driver in a marked crosswalk at the 47th Ave SW & SW Admiral Way intersection.

    Mr. Nakata’s death sparked both outrage and a call for better road and safety improvements from the heavily traveled road.

    On July 15, 2013, the Seattle City Council voted, unanimously and without debate, to approve a long-awaited full traffic light in the West Seattle Admiral neighborhood.

    Announced in Council Bill 117813 the desired full traffic signal would be located near 47th Ave SW at SW Admiral Way.

    The effort, lead by the Admiral Neighborhood Association and the Southwest District Council is the culmination of public support and concern for a dangerous traffic intersection in Seattle.

    After almost seven years of indefatigable public advocacy, we applaud the efforts of the City Council, the Mayor’s Office, concerned local community organizations, and all the neighbors for their efforts. Because of their hard work and support, funds will finally be dedicated to the completing this important public safety need.

    • WSB July 15, 2013 (11:50 pm)

      Thanks, Karl. The backstory is all linked in our story – although there’s a lot more in our archives of coverage, which do go back to that 2006 tragedy. Will recap more of it when I get the followup details on a timeline – TR

  • Karl July 16, 2013 (12:02 am)

    Thank you West Seattle Blog for your steadfast and professional coverage.

  • Ml July 16, 2013 (6:27 am)

    Glad signal is going in. I wish those of us who live on 30th Ave SW that have to take a left off Harbor Ave to 30th from Avalon at the light under the bridge could have a left turn signal. It’s very dangerous when there are two lanes to deal with and you can’t see cars from the lane closest to the curb. Almost been t boned numerous times. Also if we come down Admiral and try to take a left on to City View……is that median thing even legal to use to turn??? I’m never sure if it is or not. Also, not very safe as its quite narrow. I just wish there were safer ways for those of us on 30th and City View area to get home!

  • N.A. Neighbor July 16, 2013 (7:43 am)

    I cross that intersection at 47th and Admiral on foot and in my car often so I am thrilled to hear about this new traffic light. Generally drivers are pretty good about stopping and letting pedestrians cross, but it’s always unnerving, and in your car with traffic coming from both Waite (which DOES happen) and Admiral, it can be a game of chicken. My son, along with lots of other kids, crosses that intersection on foot often on his way home from Madison so I say “Thank you” to everyone who worked on my family’s behalf to make this happen!

  • Neighbor July 16, 2013 (8:30 am)

    I hope the man who murdered Matthew has to stop at this light every single time he drives on Admiral. I hope it stays red for a long time to let it all sink in again and again.

  • j July 16, 2013 (8:34 am)

    The City can put the camera in for E/B traffic at Roxhill. The crosswalk on the west side of 30th is in the city limits. Also, I think school zones extend 300 feet on each side of the crosswalks.

    https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?gl=US&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=115507431593583463696.00047e552443d33a0f78e

  • mrsB July 16, 2013 (10:51 am)

    Neighbor – I deeply regret that you are (presumably) a neighbor of mine.

  • j July 16, 2013 (7:35 pm)

    As stated before…. the traffic camera at Gatewood Elementary was never about the safety of children. Drivers could be warned of the impending school zone and reduced speed if the school zone sign with blinking light was moved north around the bend. Drivers could have ample time to reduce their speed from 30 to 20 or less. But, the blinking lights for child safety are tucked around the corner. Right next to the electronic police officer…I mean camera. Ready and waiting to collect $189.
    More officers, less/no cameras

  • Paranoid July 16, 2013 (9:32 pm)

    Child Safety is how the Bean Counters are selling it, and I totally agree with you, j. The media just eats it up and never questions the logic. Why no cameras at Eckstein? I do remember several times this Spring driving Roxbury and the Eastbound School Lights flashing but the Westbound were not. Odd thing about this was that it was usually aroung 9-10 in the evening. Would you be fined if you are going 21 or over even though there is nothing going on at the school?

Sorry, comment time is over.