Finally, city action to improve safety @ 34th & Morgan

34th & Morgan is the High Point intersection – on the way to West Seattle Elementary – where we caught this school-crossing close call on video in January:

Neighborhood leaders and pedestrian-safety advocates have been trying to get that situation improved for a long time; in the story that originally accompanied that clip, we detailed some of their concerns. Then on April 1st, we told you about Denise Sharify, who works in High Point for Neighborhood House, pleading with the City Council’s Pedestrian Safety Committee to take action; we followed up the next day. Now tonight, we just got cc’d on this letter she wrote to them:

Dear Mr. Licata, Ms. Drago, Ms Clark, Mr. Conlin and Mr. Burgess:

I was walking to High Point this afternoon and discovered that Jim Curtin of SDOT was measuring this intersection for a temporary crosswalk. New student crossing signs will also be moved to appropriate locations. Two new signs to restrict parking were installed last week and Leah, the crossing guard reported that it is making a big difference for pedestrians and drivers. In addition, Mr. Curtin informed me that the half traffic light at 35th and Raymond will be changed to a full traffic light which is desperately needed.

I cannot thank you enough for you support and your commitment to making our pedestrians safer in this neighborhood. We will invite you to a celebration after the crosswalk is painted (and when the weather is nice).

Thank you very much,
Denise Sharify

Jim Curtin is the newly reassigned SDOT “community traffic liaison” who was part of the West Seattle Community Safety Partnership briefing we covered two nights ago. (The 35th/Raymond light upgrade is mentioned in that report; that addresses some of the challenges Councilmember Nick Licata witnessed firsthand during a High Point tour with Sharify and others [WSB video coverage here].)

3 Replies to "Finally, city action to improve safety @ 34th & Morgan"

  • old timer April 18, 2008 (12:54 am)

    It looks like the squeaky wheel really can get the grease!
    Thank you very much,
    Denise Sharify and WSB.

  • WendyHJ April 18, 2008 (3:04 pm)

    Oh goodie!! I can’t wait to be able to take a left on 35th. Right now I go out on 34th and right on Morgan to get to the light to go south on 35th and that intersection isn’t much better. I see in time everything is going to work out after all! Good job!

  • The week in land use — Smarter Neighbors April 20, 2008 (10:57 am)

    […] a nice reminder that the squeaky wheel approach works – and a dangerous West Seattle school crossing will now be […]

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