By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

With no guest speakers at this month’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting, plus a sparse turnout with potential factors including the crab-truck-crash traffic snarl and evening sunshine, the result Monday night at Southwest Library was a fast-moving mélange of mostly brief items.

Except for:

NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND: Less than two weeks remain until the application deadline for this city grant money. While on one hand WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick said it was angering to have to apply for grants to get safety improvements on city streets, on the other hand, it’s time to go with the process. She is hoping the area will generate many proposals by the deadline. Her biggest idea, “Barton Complete”: A project to address crosing safety of Barton, including the area by Roxhill Park and the “wall of buses” zone – “you have buses lining up, cars coming, people trying to cross,” and a pedestrian was hit not that long ago. She’d like to see the crosswalk at the bus stop with flashing beacons as well as crosswalks at 25th and 29th, plus slower speeds between 26th and 29th on Barton. Co-chair Eric Iwamoto brought in the even-bigger picture of safety for Chief Sealth International High School students walking in the area, including across Trenton, and using bus stops.

Another potential site for a project: The park-like triangle in South Delridge, Another attendee said that features dropped toward the end of the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway route need to be pursued. Some discussion centered on how unfortunate it is that so many worthwhile projects are placed in competition with each other.

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE: Chris Stripinis had an update on the big issue discussed last month – pavement damage and residential concerns in the Westwood area because of the huge increase in bus traffic since it became a “transit hub.” New temporary signs are up labeling 26th SW a 20 mph zone – very small signs, Stripinis pointed out. A discussion of bus speeds ensued. Stripinis also mentioned communication from Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office regarding pavement repairs in the area and the city telling Puget Sound Energy it’s up to them to make repairs happen by mid-April or else SDOT will do it and bill PSE for the costs.

ROXHILL PARK LIGHTS: Likely on track for fall, said Helmick.

ROXHILL-AREA FIND IT FIX IT WALK: One is in the early planning stages, Helmick has heard from the Department of Neighborhoods – no date yet. North Delridge hosted one last year. (Here’s what they’re all about.) Helmick noted that the multiple walking tours with various officials in the area

BOG COMMITTEE: Not represented at the meeting but a 12-page report was presented to the co-chairs. Grant-writing is what’s next, so they can “hire a consultant.”

ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH … for WWRHAH board positions – step up if you’d like to run!

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL … Wednesday, 6:30 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, will include a guest with info about the latest plans for a ~2-week Highway 99 closure once the tunneling machine starts going beneath it.

SOUND TRANSIT 3 … A reminder that it’s time for input; besides the survey you’ll find at soundtransit3.org, remember the 5:30-7:30 pm April 26th open house at West Seattle High School, and the discussion at 6:30 pm April 28th @ Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition.

DESIGN REVIEW CHANGES COMMENT DEADLINE … coming up this Friday; go here to find out more about the proposed changes and find the survey link for commenting.

CAMP LONG … Advisory Council needs new members – go here to find out how to apply.

CITY NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL TALKS BUDGETING … 11 am April 24th at City Hall.

WWRHAH meets on first Mondays, 6:15 pm, Southwest Library; watch for updates at wwrhah.org.