FOLLOWUP: 30-mph speed limit starts Saturday for more of Fauntleroy Way

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Four weeks ago, SDOT told us that Fauntleroy Way was likely less than a month away from the speed-limit cut first announced a year ago. And today, it’s official: SDOT crews will be out tomorrow placing signage to change the speed limit to 30 mph “for a 1.25 mile stretch of Fauntleroy Way SW between SW Alaska Street and California Avenue SW. The speed limit currently increases to 35 mph in this segment despite the presence of parks and schools adjacent to the corridor. This change will create a consistent 30 mph speed limit for the entire Fauntleroy corridor.”

As SDOT told us last month, today’s announcement reiterates that most drivers already travel “slower than existing 35 mph speed limit on this section of Fauntleroy so this should not be a significant change for people that drive this roadway often. However, the speed limit change will help reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions. This is especially true for vulnerable users like pedestrians since lower speeds significantly reduce the survivability of crashes.” In addition to new 30-mph signage, SDOT says it will deploy its Speed Watch Trailer along this stretch of Fauntleroy, which was repaved and rechannelized back in 2009.

Other West Seattle arterials, as announced last year, are in line for the 30-mph limit; SDOT told us last month that Delridge also would get a “fog line” when its turn comes up.

Mike February 5, 2016 (12:29 pm)

Great! Way overdue.

Rhonda Smith February 5, 2016 (12:46 pm)

Excellent. I wish they would do the same on Holden between 16th and Highland Parkway. Flashing lights and a digital sign posting your actual speed next to the legal speed would be nice to have.

PLS February 5, 2016 (12:47 pm)

Oh man the Vashon motorcycles will be going CRAZY.

JanS February 5, 2016 (1:55 pm)

@PLS…my comment to the bikers? TFB….

T. M. February 5, 2016 (12:47 pm)

Absolutely. 35 through that S curve always made me wonder. Parks, schools and all that high density housing make this a darn good idea.

Cynical girl February 5, 2016 (1:06 pm)

When does the cell phone users only lane open up? Even at 30 mph, there will be tons of accidents.

Matt S. February 5, 2016 (5:20 pm)

Nailed it.

Franci February 5, 2016 (2:02 pm)

Oh Please, like the bikers respect the speed limit how anyway.. :(

Joe February 5, 2016 (2:03 pm)

Now all SPD has to do is enforce it.

Franci February 5, 2016 (2:05 pm)

This is especially true for vulnerable users like pedestrians since
lower speeds significantly reduce the survivability of crashes. Shouldn’t this read significantly INCREASE the survivability of crashes? ;)

Seattlite February 5, 2016 (2:52 pm)

Everyone knows that lower speeds equal more control over your vehicle. Distracted drivers will always be dangerous no matter what the speed limits are which means driving defensively, adhering to the speed limit will hopefully keep you out of harms way.

Tim February 5, 2016 (3:27 pm)

They should drop it to 25 MPH. That would be even safer for everyone. Especially the bicyclists and bikers.

chuck jacobs February 5, 2016 (3:28 pm)

If it’s about safety, why not 25 mph? Why not 10?

AMD February 5, 2016 (3:57 pm)

There’s a thing called balance. The road exists because people have places to be. The limits exist because some people won’t exercise good judgment when trying to get to where they need to be. They start with a limit that seems like it will meet all needs based on their experience, and then adjust it as needed. If people still drive like pedestrians are a foreign concept, the speed limit will be further reduced or they’ll add more stop signs/lights/speed bumps/whatever they need to.

Steve February 5, 2016 (4:49 pm)

I’ve lived 1 block off Fauntleroy for 10 years and I can’t remember a single accident on this specific strip. Perhaps I can count on my hand. And I would doubt that those accidents had to do with speeding.

wetone February 5, 2016 (5:22 pm)

10yrs ago and prior one would see police officers almost weekly through out WS with the old radar gun actually ticketing speeders and bad drivers. Today not so, instead of holding law breakers accountable for actions city just penalizes all by lowering speed limits and reconfiguring roads. Seems all to common these days. When was the last time anyone saw police using radar gun and actually ticketing speeding or bad drivers on Fauntleroy, 35th, and Admiral ? The only place I see them now is on WSfwy and that’s rarely, especially in the morning. Funny how city has money for many things, but can’t find money for more police officers.

WSB February 5, 2016 (5:38 pm)

The city has money for police officers. Trouble recruiting them, as reported here:
https://westseattleblog.com/2016/01/help-wanted-police-staffing-and-more-west-seattle-block-watch-captains-network/

Of course, even if they filled the jobs they have, they would still need more – Capt. Davis for example said 15-20 more would be good around here.

Meantime, SPD doesn’t send wrapups of speeding enforcement any more but we did have a report a couple weeks ago of officers on Admiral Way, tweeted at us by a reader:

https://twitter.com/nicolejlange/status/689888938069065729

mok February 5, 2016 (5:35 pm)

Why don’t we just all get horses? Let’s get horses.

Elaine February 5, 2016 (5:48 pm)

Only about 1 in 25 people will go the speed limit, no matter what it is. And that poor soul will have impatient drivers right on their bumper the whole way. We need lower speed limits AND enforcement.

Westside45 February 5, 2016 (6:50 pm)

Wetone,Radar in use almost every weekday morning on Admiral, heading uphill. Lots of customers.

Westside45 February 5, 2016 (6:52 pm)

I should clarify, Radar in use on Admiral from the steel mill up.

wetone February 5, 2016 (7:33 pm)

I should of also clarified as I meant west side of Admiral. WSB not buying city’s excuse sorry…. Look what city’s offering for starting salary. One of the lowest salaries on city’s employment site. If city really wanted to hire officers they would offer competitive wage, especially for what they need to put up with in this city.

Wb February 5, 2016 (11:24 pm)

Yes, yes, bring it!

TheKing February 6, 2016 (12:09 am)

The problem seems to be drivers who are not confident in their ability to drive 35, obviously people on their phones and a few who woke up late and need to go 56 in a 30 mph zone. This is a recipe for disaster, nothing that will be solved by lowering speed limits to 30. I thought SPD would be all over the new areas with tickets flowing like a ticker tape parade, that is not the case. So business as usual.