PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: See what the city has scheduled for West Seattle in next 5 years

Often, city projects that seem to appear out of the blue were actually in the works for years, contained in voluminous city Master Plans. So we thought you might be interested in a plan that was presented to a City Council committee this afternoon – the Implementation Plan for the recently updated Pedestrian Master Plan. It contains lists of specific evaluations and projects planned for specific intersections and streets around the city, so we broke out what’s on the lists for West Seattle, and when (for the full citywide lists, see the document, embedded above or here in PDF):

UNSIGNALIZED CROSSINGS & CROSSING EVALUATIONS

*2019
35th Ave SW & SW Graham St – New Signal
SW Roxbury St & 32nd Ave SW – Pedestrian Refuge Island
SW Roxbury St & 28th Ave SW – Pedestrian Refuge Island
SW Roxbury St & 23rd Ave SW – Pedestrian Refuge Island
SW Roxbury St & 21st Ave SW – Pedestrian Refuge Island
35th Ave SW & SW Snoqualmie St – Evaluate for Signal
29th Ave SW & SW Barton St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
62nd Ave SW & SW Admiral Way – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
Delridge Way SW & SW Webster St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade

*2020
California Ave SW & SW Brandon St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
24th Ave SW & Delridge Way SW – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
28th Ave SW & SW Thistle St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
23rd Ave SW & Delridge Way SW – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
Delridge Way SW & SW Cambridge St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
26th Ave SW & SW Cambridge St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
8th Ave SW & SW Cambridge St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade

*2021
Olson Pl SW & SW Cambridge St – Evaluate for Signal
18th Ave SW & Delridge Way SW – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
21st Ave SW Turn Road & Delridge Way SW – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
60th Ave SW & Alki Ave SW – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
9th Ave SW & SW Cloverdale St = Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
Garlough Ave SW & SW Admiral Way – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
16th Ave SW & SW Orchard St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
48th Ave SW & SW Admiral Way – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
9th Ave SW & SW Trenton St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade

*2022
3rd Ave SW & Olson Pl SW – Evaluate for Signal
California Ave SW & SW Findlay St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
25th Ave SW & SW Barton St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
10th Ave SW & SW Henderson St – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade
51st Ave SW & SW Admiral Way – Evaluate for Crossing Upgrade

ARTERIAL SIDEWALKS

*2018
35th Ave SW between SW 100th St and SW 106th St – 6 blocks

NON-ARTERIAL SIDEWALKS

*2018
SW Orchard St between SW Myrtle St and Dumar Way SW – half-block

*2019
24th Ave SW between SW Thistle St and SW Barton St – 4 blocks

STAIRS/WALKWAYS

*2021
SW Edmunds St between Cottage Pl SW and 23rd Ave SW – stairs

*2022
SW Kenyon St between Delridge Way SW and 24th Ave SW – walkway

The implementation plan also mentions the new RapidRide corridors around the city – including the scheduled-for-2020 H Line on Delridge – as providing “potential crossing improvements and curb ramps,” and mentions Delridge, Fauntleroy, and 35th SW as “Vision Zero corridors.” No specifics on what’s next for 35th SW, which is running behind previously announced timelines for Phase 1 updates and Phase 2 plans. As for the Implementation Plan itself, SDOT says it will be updated each year. Committee members voted in favor of the resolution that formally adopts this plan, though that doesn’t mean everything in it will become reality – scheduling, funding, and other details would be separate.

ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: Seattle Channel video from today’s meeting:

18 Replies to "PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: See what the city has scheduled for West Seattle in next 5 years"

  • Maris February 6, 2018 (4:48 pm)

    Thanks for the look into the future!

    One project that should be on the list but isn’t is a pedestrian crossing on 42nd SW where the mid-block pedestrian passage comes to an end. There are many people traveling across 42nd to and from the Jefferson Sq block and have to dodge traffic to get to the mid-block passage.

    I realize 42nd is not as busy as California at that passage, but some sort of stripping would be very helpful to caution traffic that pedestrians are present.

    • KM February 6, 2018 (9:48 pm)

      Yes, this block is a mess for all modes! Lots of dodgy turns out of the JS parking lot, ton of mid block crossings, and lots of loading vehicles.

      If I recall, the new Greeway through south West Seattle to the Junction will terminate on this block, so maybe it’s slated to be improved in that project? However, 35th and Graham signal is also part of that project. TR, how do they keep track of all the areas that might already be under progress or budgeted for in different projects?

      • WSB February 6, 2018 (10:11 pm)

        I don’t know but the plan does mention some of the bigger-picture projects including the greenway, 35th, H Line, corridors … The discussion at today’s meeting (I’ll add the video, has to be up by now) did not get into specifics – it was not too much more than the equivalent of dropping the big printed report on a desk, saying a few words, and walking away after being thanked. I just wanted to break out the local projects because sometimes the timelines surprise people.

        • KM February 7, 2018 (8:24 am)

          It is surprising. Thanks for the list!

  • H February 6, 2018 (6:10 pm)

    Sometimes I forget how big Seattle really is – until I read about the amount of concrete needed for one block  of coverage. Phew!

  • Jason February 6, 2018 (10:53 pm)

    North Delridge from the playfield all the way south about two miles is a complete tragedy waiting to happen for pedestrians looking to cross. Not a single crosswalk for a good mile stretch.

  • Colette February 7, 2018 (5:01 am)

    Jefferson Square is a mess.  There is limited access (only two entries/exits); drivers get confused with the one way parking, delivery trucks park in the turn lane on 42nd, blocking visibility, along with other issues, including pedestrians darting out into traffic .  I usually avoid it and only go there for Bartell’s.  I get groceries across the street at QFC—but now that’s becoming more challenging with all the construction there.  Trader Joe’s is a bit better, but limited for choices.

    • KM February 7, 2018 (8:28 am)

      Drivers in this region really struggle with one way parking lot rows. Even if the paint is faded, the direction of the parked cars should make it obvious. It’s quite the scene in the 3 hour Junction lots too. I just don’t think people give a crap—it’s so rude.

  • Lonnie February 7, 2018 (10:11 am)

    What does “Evaluate for pedestrian crossing” mean other than more planning dollars being spent?

  • Michael G February 7, 2018 (12:15 pm)

    I totally agree with Maris, KM and Colette about pedestrians leaving and entering Jefferson Square from 42nd street. I was leaving the parking lot 3 weeks ago turning south on 42nd on a rainy night. Letting the traffic pass, I took a left onto the road when a man went down right in the front corner (driver) side of my pickup. I jumped out immediately to see if he was all right, which he said he was. He was jaywalking from the opposite side of the street to Jefferson Square. He said that he dove to avoid being hit by my truck. That’s what saved him. He was not hit. It scared the S..t out of both of us. He was lucky! 

  • Collin February 7, 2018 (1:00 pm)

    I am VERY happy to see some attention being paid to Olson Pl. SW safety enhancements as this stretch of road has a history of pedestrian deaths and plenty of car accidents to boot.

    Thanks WSB for being so informative, you are such an asset to the neighborhood. 

    • bolo February 7, 2018 (10:26 pm)

      Automobile accidents yes but pedestrian accidents there?

  • zark00 February 7, 2018 (1:24 pm)

    1st thing on the list – signal at 35th and Graham – again, nothing for 35th and Juneau.

    I do not understand why SDOT is so painfully terrible at their job.

    Collision data for 35th, going back 5 years:

    Collisions at 35th and Graham – 7 accidents, 2 involving cars with injuries, 1 involving a car hitting a ped, 4 that are property damage only.

    Collisions at 35th and Juneau – 16 accidents, 8 are injury collisions, 1 is a serious injury collision, rest are property damage. 

    Yet year after year SDOT ignore this intersection.  Why?  Are they really just this inept?  They can’t actually read their own data?  I really do not get it.

    • KM February 7, 2018 (5:47 pm)

      A pedestrian was killed at 35th and Graham in December 2013, within that 5 year period. That and the increasing density and the area, as well as the new greenway which will require singled crossings at that intersection is probably 35th and Graham is listed. This is a pedestrian focused list of projects, and as your stats point out, pedestrians appear to have a tougher time at 35th and Graham.

      I would love to see 35th and Juneau improved with a signal, heck yes! Being as that intersection’s stats don’t include pedestrian accidents/death, that might be why it’s not listed here. We’re just one area of the city, they probably have to limit their project list somehow. Hope to see it in the future for sure.

  • JRR February 7, 2018 (1:28 pm)

    I’m really happy to see some ideas being put forth for sections of the city — like South Delridge — where people don’t own cars and get around by walking and riding the bus. The pedestrian infrastructure on the edges of this city are virtually nonexistent, so getting some safe crossing on Roxbury, Delridge and Barton is absolutely vital. I hope these places are prioritized. It’s one thing to be able to cross safely after parking your car and a whole other thing to be able to safely walk a mile for a bus.

  • Scott A February 7, 2018 (4:26 pm)

    That lists of locations in that document were such a pain to try make sense of and find which ones are in my area without any geographic references like council district number.  I can see not sorting the list by district (mostly seems to be by year) but next time city – add a narrow column for district #.

    • WSB February 7, 2018 (4:28 pm)

      That’s why I pulled them all out – everything SW is in West Seattle.

  • Ash February 7, 2018 (7:32 pm)

    The 8th avesw and trenton sw needs to be evaluated WAYYYYY before 2021, this is a school zone intersection that is barely marked, also has 2 daycares across the street from each other on both corners there,  people fly down that street sooo fast and no one ever stops for people in the cross walk. During the winter its sooo scary for kids to cross the street in the am when its dark,my children and i including many others have almost been hit or wait forever to cross the street and then have to run, its rediculous 

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