West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
Two road reminders today: FIRST: The photo was taken this morning along 16th SW, north of South Seattle Community College, where the Brandon-to-Dawson section is now officially closed as work begins on another section of road rebuilding/repaving work. The city’s webpage for the project has a schedule of what happens and when, with work scheduled to last about two months. Go here to see the detour map. SECOND: If you have something to say to the city about the proposed Admiral Way “road diet”/”rechannelization” (here’s our report on the city’s “open house” 2 weeks ago), be sure to say it before tomorrow. As pointed out in a WSB Forums discussion, the city has set July 27th – tomorrow – as the deadline for comments – e-mail walkandbike@seattle.gov or call 206-684-7583. (The city project page also says, “These changes, as modified in response to public comments, are scheduled to take place in late summer 2010.”)
If you are following the ongoing almost-a-soap-opera-sometimes about the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s Central Waterfront Project tunnel proposal, and the City Council and Mayor’s conflicting opinions about whether amended agreements protect the city from the cost-overrun responsibility the Legislature wrote into the original bill – three things you’ll want to watch today (and of course we’ll be watching too). First, the Council gets a briefing from City Attorney Pete Holmes during its 9:30 am meeting; second, seven council members (all except Mike O’Brien and Bruce Harrell) and Holmes plan an 11:30 am news conference; third, the council’s special Alaskan Way Viaduct committee takes up the agreements at 2:30 pm. The folks at Seattle Channel tell us all of the above will be streamed live online, at www.seattlechannel.org/councillive. 10:41 AM UPDATE: The 1st discussion has just begun (apparently delayed while city legal staff put “finishing touches” on documentation). Councilmember Sally Bagshaw says the council will propose and vote on a resolution indicating their commitment to proceed, BUT will not sign the agreements till early next year, after seeing the proposals (bids) to be opened this fall. 11:45 AM: The council’s media briefing is under way now. It was noted that the council’s resolution is not subject to mayoral veto; he can decline to sign it, but it doesn’t require signature to move forward, since it’s non-binding.
A note from Jason served as a reminder – since it’s starting next week, today’s a good day to re-mention that the next round of 16th SW paving – SW Brandon to SW Dawson – is just around the corner, so to speak. Here’s our first reminder from a week ago; here’s the official project page; here’s the detour map.
As is usual this time of year and this time of the week, SDOT has gone public with its list of big events around the city. Included in this roundup, the American Legion Post 160-presented West Seattle Grand Parade, happening Saturday morning at 11 (check our coverage archive for all the newest previews, and past years’ coverage). Click ahead to see what else is happening where and when:Read More
(King County rendering of future South Park Bridge)
First – the Puget Sound Regional Council has just finalized its $15 million South Park Bridge replacement-funding pledge, bringing total commitments to $98 million of the needed $130 million, according to an announcement just sent by the county. (The recommended pledge was first reported two weeks ago.) Second – at last night’s Delridge District Council meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, City Council President Richard Conlin was asked by Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding how the city will rustle up the $15 million it recently pledged to the bridge-replacement project. Conlin replied that options included adding the money to what the city borrows, delaying some Bridging the Gap programs, or perhaps a car-tab fee of up to $20. ADDED 3:46 PM: In coverage of the PSRC vote, our partners at the Seattle Times also report that demolition of the now-out-of-service bridge’s drawspans is set to start next month.
Two transportation-funding notes out of Senator Patty Murray‘s office this afternoon: $21 million for RapidRide bus service, scheduled to officially begin in West Seattle in two years (though service increases are expected to start sooner), is now part of a bill that just made it out of a subcommittee and goes on to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. And the same bill, THUD for short (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development), now contains $3 million for the South Park Bridge replacement project; Murray says she’ll support the county’s upcoming application for the federal grant known as TIGER II, which could provide most if not all of the remaining $35+ million the bridge project needs.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: We mentioned earlier that we had assigned a reporter to ride along on Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s open-invite bike commute today. Here’s his story, with photos along the way)
Story and photos by Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Seattle Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, an eight-year West Seattleite, has invited the public to bike-commute in with him all week as part of Mayor McGinn‘s Walk-Bike-Ride initiative. He has been writing online about his experiences; this morning at 7 am, he stood at Weather Watch Park with his Univega (rain bike) waiting for traveling companions.
A low fog clung to the shoreline across the sound as a ferry horn bellowed and seagulls picked their way across the early-morning low tide along Beach Drive. A group of four cyclists rode along with Rasmussen in the slightly chilly morning he considered to be more like October weather. “I sure hope summer’s not done,” he muses.
There’s a brief moment of awkwardness as the group navigates around a trash truck and yet another as a cyclist shouts “on your left! ON YOUR LEFT… (Expletive)!” Yet these are minor annoyances as Rasmussen plays tour guide and discusses transportation issues.
(The story continues, with more photos too)Read More
West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen just wrote about Day 3 of bicycling to work (as part of the Walk/Bike/Ride Challenge) – 2 people showed up to join him (as did reporter Johnathon Fitzpatrick, a transportation bicyclist we’d assigned to cover this morning’s ride). Rasmussen writes that as they pedaled along, somebody swore at them – NOT a driver! Read about it here (and look for Johnathon’s story on WSB later). P.S. The councilmember won’t be riding tomorrow, but will on Friday, and you’re welcome again that day to join him, meeting up at 7 am at Weather Watch Park (4035 Beach Drive SW).
On Sunday, West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen issued an open invitation to you to join him bicycling to work from Beach Drive’s Weather Watch Park any morning this week (7 am) as part of the Walk/Bike/Ride Challenge. So what happened the first two mornings? Read his vividly written update here. (P.S. Rasmussen really isn’t a biker-come-lately. We have pictorial proof including this February story, when he biked up to Pigeon Point to look into the development-detour dilemma that caused consternation back then.)
The city’s new Walk/Bike/Ride campaign has issued a challenge: Spend five days commuting without cars. West Seattle resident Councilmember Tom Rasmussen plans to do it this week, and has an invitation for you:
This week several City Councilmembers and I will be participating in the “Walk Bike Ride Challenge” of Mayor McGinn. The goal is to convert two car trips per week to walking, biking or riding to shop, work or play. This is a great idea and sounds pretty easy to me.
If you would like to join me on my commute to work next week, meet me at Weather Watch Park at 4035 Beach Drive SW [map] at 7:00 a.m. [photo above shows the park & the councilmember’s bike] I will be riding my bike from that location each morning for the next five days unless something requires me to take the #37 bus instead.
I will be updating (my) blog (rasmussen.seattle.gov) with experiences from my commute trips. You can let me know by commenting (on that site) how you are participating by taking the challenge yourself. Here is where you can sign up and get more information:
Councilmember Rasmussen’s plan is particularly notable, given that he chairs the council’s Transportation Committee.
Just got word from SDOT that the next segment of repaving on 16th SW, from Brandon to Dawson (map), is set to start on July 26th. SDOT’s Marybeth Turner says that detour information will be available next week, but it’ll be “similar to (last year’s project).” (Here’s the infopage on the SDOT website.)
This weekend’s big events in West Seattle – the Alki Car Show on Saturday, the West Seattle Outdoor Movies debut Saturday night (“Mamma Mia!”), the West Seattle Garden Tour on Sunday (latter two co-sponsored by WSB – aren’t blocking streets. But elsewhere around the city, this weekend’s big events might land you in the middle of some changes. Read on for the latest list from SDOT:Read More
From last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting: FCA is continuing to pressure Metro to address concerns about the plan for the RapidRide bus stops at (and across from) the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. Last month, the group got its first look at 60-percent-complete design for the stops, which bring Fauntleroy Way down to one lane each way by the terminal, leading to traffic concerns, including big backups behind stopped buses. FCA has sent King County Executive Dow Constantine a letter describing the design as “unacceptable,” but president Bruce Butterfield said last night that nothing’s come of the letter yet. FCA’s Susan Lantz-Dey, who’s on a RapidRide advisory committee, says the next step is to start a working group with local residents, Metro, and SDOT. No date/place for meetings is set yet. The night’s other major topic: Future upgrade work at the Barton Pump Station on the north side of the ferry dock – read on for that:Read More
Just in from WSDOT:
Drivers should expect delays and detours on northbound and southbound SR 99 in SODO starting on Thursday, July 15, and ending on Friday, July 16. Crews will close all lanes to install a sign bridge over both directions of SR 99. The new sign bridge will support two electronic message boards.
Thursday, July 15 – morning of Friday, July 16
· All lanes of northbound and southbound SR 99 at S. Lander Street will be closed from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m.DETOURS
Northbound:
Trucks: East Marginal Way S., to Alaskan Way S. to S. Atlantic Street, to First Avenue S., to northbound SR 99.
General traffic: First Avenue S. at the First Avenue S. Bridge, to the northbound SR 99 on-ramp near the stadiums.Southbound:
Trucks: First Avenue S. off-ramp, to S. Royal Brougham Way, to East Marginal Way S., to southbound SR 99.
General traffic: First Avenue S. off-ramp, to southbound SR 99 at the First Avenue S. Bridge.(Addendum from WSDOT: Eastbound West Seattle Bridge offramp to northbound 99 also will be closed)
This work is part of the SR 99 Intelligent Transportation Systems project.
And remember that next Monday night, 9 pm, is the start of the up-to-six-weeks, round-the-clock closure of one lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge east of 99, between 1st and 4th Avenues, to connect the new 4th Ave. So. offramp.
In a basement meeting room at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library, it’s about as low-key as public meetings get – several SDOT employees are here at two tables with simple drawings of Admiral Way as it will look if the new “rechannelization” proposal is approved – you can see those drawings here. (If you’re missing this meeting, SDOT says another open house is likely.) There’s some spirited discussion under way as well as basic Q/A – one man is challenging an SDOT employee about why bicycles should get what he considers a lot of accommodation, resulting in what he expects will be a lot of motorized-vehicle congestion.
This plan does include bike lanes uphill and downhill, and after staring at the drawings, it’s easier to summarize what’s being proposed: For vehicles, on the “downhill” side, Admiral Way would be one lane, with the outside southeastbound lane becoming a required right turn onto SW Olga before it ends; then, a right-turn-only lane returns most of the way down the hill, channeling people to the under-bridge connector to SW Avalon Way (which WILL remain open). There is a “buffered” bike lane in both directions, downhill and uphill; the uphill bike lane is separated from vehicle traffic not only by that buffer, but also by a parking lane (for the top half of the uphill section – some parking is being removed south of City View). Vehicles have two lanes uphill. Another key point: With traffic narrowed from the current four lanes, SDOT is proposing restoring the crosswalk at SW City View (map) that was removed in 2007. No signals, though.
Cost? An estimated $75,000. How much time to restripe? About a week. Decision? Not till public comments are received, which is part of what’s going on here tonight (you can fill out a hard-copy survey), as well as via e-mail or phone (walkandbike@seattle.gov or 206-684-7583). The plan also is on the agenda at the Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, starting less than a mile away at Admiral Congregational Church, right when this one ends, at 7 pm. ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: Notes from that discussion, ahead:Read More
In case you were wondering – as of a few minutes ago, the heart of The Junction was still closed for West Seattle Summer Fest breakdown and cleanup. (The permits run till midnight, so they aren’t required to reopen before then, though most of the time they do.) About two hours ago, we were heading toward The Bridge when we spotted a festival fixture alongside us on Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle:
The West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival float was on its way back to the garage (being driven, not towed) post-festival. You’ll see it in action in the White Center Jubilee Days Parade next Sunday at 10 am and the West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 24, at 11 am. ADDED 10:48 PM: Best hairdo spotted at Summer Fest, seen late today, photographed by ToFuGuns and shared via the WSB photo pool on Flickr:
Thanks again to everyone who shared photos, video and comments!
(WSDOT’s “South Portal Design Concept” showing where the new Hwy. 99 south-end would meet the tunnel)
The South Portal Working Group, an advisory panel working with the state/city/county/port on how Highway 99 and what’s around it will flow toward West Seattle (and beyond), was offered the chance to stop meeting till fall – but its members, including West Seattle reps, said they thought there were too many important issues to discuss. So, they’re meeting again this month, and the date has just been announced: 4 pm July 28, board room at Union Station (401 S. Jackson). These meetings are open to the public. And if you have viaduct-related questions in the meantime, do note that WSDOT has a booth at West Seattle Summer Fest this weekend (#26; here’s the map).
Just in case you absolutely have to leave the peninsula this weekend – despite the lure of West Seattle Summer Fest, the Seafair Pirates’ Landing, and other events – here’s the SDOT Weekend Traffic Advisory listing where else in Seattle you’ll find crowds and closed streets – read on:Read More
With even more road construction looming – short term like this, or longer term like this – the West Seattle route of the King County Water Taxi is bound to draw even more commuters starting later this year and early next year. That is, if it does start operating year-round, as is hoped – and as was the motivation for the Seacrest Pier upgrade. The big question for months has been, will there be money, given the county budget crunch? Last night in West Seattle, King County Councilmember Jan Drago told the Southwest District Council that she’s hopeful that, along with King County Executive Dow Constantine, they’ll soon be able to say they’ve secured the money. She pointed out that the big push is to just get enough money to keep it going through winter, because, “Come spring, there will be (Alaskan Way) Viaduct mitigation money.” The Water Taxi is a focus of hers because she chairs the committee overseeing the King County Ferry District.
If the Puget Sound Regional Council‘s executive committee agrees with the action that a council subgroup just took, the money committed to a replacement South Park Bridge – eight days after the old one shut down permanently – will be up to $95 million. Read on for the announcement just in from PSRC:Read More
As first reported here in May, the city has been looking at a possible “rechannelization” for the Admiral Way southeastbound hill – and now, SDOT‘s official proposal is out, with news of an open house:
To reduce vehicle speeds and enhance safety for all roadway users, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is proposing to alter the lane configuration on SW Admiral Way between SW Olga St and the West Seattle Bridge on- and off-ramps at SW Manning St.
To brief the community on the rechannelization concept and receive public feedback, SDOT will hold an open house on Tuesday, July 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the West Seattle Library, located at 2306 42nd Ave. SW.
The improvements are designed to reduce speeds and benefit everyone who uses the street, including commuters, truck drivers, bus passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists. SDOT is proposing the following for SW Admiral Way:
* Providing two travel lanes uphill that are wider than current lanes
* Removing one travel lane downhill between SW Olga St and SW City View St
* Maintaining a through lane and a right turn lane to SW Manning St at the bottom of the hill
* Providing a six-foot wide bike lane in each direction adjacent to the curb
* Placing the parking lane between the bike lane and the travel lane on the street’s uphill side
* Striping a two to three foot buffer zone between the bike lane and travel lane on the street’s down-hill side
* Remarking a crosswalk and constructing a median island at SW City View St
* Removing under-utilized parking on the uphill side of the street between the West Seattle Bridge off ramp and SW City View St
As average speeds are in excess of posted limits, this proposal will help address the speeding problem on SW Admiral Way. It will also make the roadway more accommodating for vulnerable users like pedestrians and cyclists.
SDOT is interested in hearing from the public about these recommended changes. Comments can be submitted by e-mail to walkandbike@seattle.gov or by calling 206-684-7583. This project is part of the voter-approved Bridging the Gap transportation initiative.
The project even has its own webpage already, with graphics showing the potential alternatives (we’ll add here shortly too). If this goes through, it will be the second major “rechannelization” in West Seattle in less than a year, following a similar process on Fauntleroy Way between Morgan Junction and The Triangle.
This is part of the info on the WSB 4th of July page (see the JULY 4TH tab under the header), but in case you haven’t seen it there yet – police are NOT planning any traffic/parking changes on Alki. The only major traffic effect you’ll notice Sunday is that if you happen to be heading northbound on California SW in North Admiral during the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade (which starts at 10 am), you’ll have to stop for a while as the parade crosses from the neighborhood west of California to Hamilton Viewpoint. (9:21 am addendum: 61st SW also will be closed 12:30-3 pm Sunday between SW Stevens and Alki SW for the Alki Homestead rally/photo – we’re told that it’ll be reopened sooner if the crowd clears before 3.)
We’re learning more about the type of traffic information the city’s new technology is supposed to bring us in the future – today, thanks to a question e-mailed by Dave, who wrote, “Heading down the (Admiral Way) hill toward the bridge today, I noticed two cameras mounted behind the new reader board. I am guessing speed cameras, as there is one for each lane.” (The small cameras are hard to see in our photo – but they’re side by side on the metal overhang just past the message board.) We checked with SDOT. Nope – something else, explains Marybeth Turner:
The cameras are part of the travel time network the city of Seattle is putting together to provide the public with travel time information (how long it is taking to get to certain destinations). The West Seattle Dynamic Message Sign will be outfitted with travel time information–how long it is taking to get to SR-99 exit, First Ave South and I-5. This information will help folks to make a decision on which route to select. We anticipate this information will be available to the public at the end of September. We will also provide the travel time information on Traveler’s Information Map.
To come up with the travel-time info – cameras like these, and others, snap your license plate. Turner says, “We read a license plate from point A to point B to figure out the travel time of a segment of a road. The data is encrypted and never stored.”
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