FOLLOWUP: November 18th deadline to comment on West Seattle Junction bus-shelter removal

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

3:59 PM: That’s the new notice that you’ll find soon in the bus shelters on the west end of the south side of SW Alaska in the Junction transit hub, just east of 44th SW – if it’s not posted already. The notice offers a more-detailed explanation of the plan to remove the two westernmost shelters on that side of the street, and invites comments, with a deadline of November 18th.

The shelter-removal plan first came to light when notices went up last weekend; as we reported on Saturday, it was the first major result of a walking tour/meeting on October 6th, following concerns about those shelters being magnets for loitering, drinking, and other illegal behavior. In our Monday followup, West Seattle Junction Association director Lora Swift detailed other steps that are being taken to try to improve safety and security in the area, and Metro promised it would “press ‘pause'” on the removal plan so there could be a formal comment process, and that’s what’s starting today.

Metro also has answered a couple remaining questions we asked earlier this week. First, about the decisionmaking process on shelter removal and who has the final say:

Metro regularly evaluates issues with Metro bus shelters and makes decisions on the installation and removal of bus shelters, as ridership and circumstances change at bus stops. The Transit Route Facilities group within the Service Development section, takes the lead on evaluating these issues and makes the decision on installation or removal of bus shelters.

We also asked if other hubs in the Metro system had had shelters removed for similar issues: “Shelters have been removed from other high ridership bus stops due to chronic security issues that are unresolvable despite Metro’s best efforts. One example, is 2nd Avenue S & S Washington Street where the Metro bus shelter was removed due to chronic misuse of the shelter.”

Meantime, if you have something to say about the prospective removal of these shelters, e-mail dale.cummings@kingcounty.gov or call 206-553-3000.

4:30 PM UPDATE: Our crew just went to The Junction to check, and verified that the new notice IS up:

Howard October 27, 2016 (6:24 pm)

The West Seattle homeless population exploded after the Great Recession. Bankers and brokers responsible were given Billions and served no jail time yet the public crys for more to be done against the homeless not for the homeless. Y’all are disgusting sheep, enjoy your Starbucks.

KT October 27, 2016 (9:03 pm)

Oh please, the people causing the problems that give rise to the possible removal of the bus shelters are not victims of the “Great Recession” or “Bankers and Brokers”. Wow.
KM October 28, 2016 (7:51 am)

Thanks Howard, I will. I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte today.

Jill October 27, 2016 (8:05 pm)

Removing bus shelters in Seattle seems like an odd solution to a problem. I rode the bus last night in the pouring rain and had to change at a stop that did not have enough shelters, so had to stand in the rain.

Kyle Smith October 27, 2016 (11:41 pm)

I’d rather stand in the rain then get stabbed or robbed. Clearly the shelters are causing problems. Just get rid of them. The C line runs every 5-10 minutes most of the time anyway. Plus don’t LEAVE anything in your car in the Junction lots people. DUH !!

AMD October 28, 2016 (8:14 am)

These aren’t the shelters for the C-Line. That’s the other half of the block.
- WSB October 28, 2016 (8:18 am)
  
  And again to clarify if you missed the previous stories … If you look at this block between California and 44th, there are four non-RapidRide shelters. The two on the west end of the block are the ones involved. Not the two in the center of the block, and not the ones for RapidRide.

Sadness October 28, 2016 (7:57 am)

Sad that the response to seeing people in need is to take away what little shelter they have and treat them like they will disappear if left in the rain and wind.

Mr Westside October 28, 2016 (9:45 am)

If you think removing the shelter is going to make a difference good luck, they will just go across the street to the other one… Removing the shelters will just make more people wet. Stupid proposal…to many scared people in an area that isn’t even bad….Keep trying to have your nirvana.

Oscar October 28, 2016 (9:45 am)

Three weeks?! Is that going to be enough time for everyone to form an opinion on this issue??

ScubaFrog October 28, 2016 (12:17 pm)

In other cities – where they don’t spend $30 Million dollars on luxury police precincts – they have police stationed at high-traffic public transportation areas (because they hire more police officers with said $30 Million + dollars).

Sadly now, many people will have to stand outside in the rain and snow, waiting for their bus.

And the criminals? Well they’ll just hide on the side of the building. Or in other nooks. You think they’ll magically go away? How naïve. And once again, the average joe will suffer.

AMD October 28, 2016 (12:57 pm)

SPD has the money to hire police. What they’re missing is qualified candidates.

SillyGoose October 28, 2016 (1:21 pm)

Typical city thinking instead of finding a solution to the problem they mask it with a band-aide and we are expected to deal with it. STOP wasting our tax dollars SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL and do something productive for once. Leave the bus shelter and get some CPT Officers there during the problem hours. If you are too afraid to stand in the shelter then get some protection, call Uber, drive but to remove a covered bus area is not the solution.

M October 28, 2016 (4:14 pm)

There is now a homeless person living in the bus shelter on Myrtle and California next Cafe Ladro and Gatewood Elementary. Is there a number to call to provide assistance to that person? It’s certainly not an appropriate place to be squatting?

WSB October 28, 2016 (4:36 pm)

I would try e-mailing Officer Wiebke first:

todd.wiebke@seattle.gov

WestCake October 28, 2016 (4:45 pm)

We’re demolishing shelters in the name of denying people shelter; inhumane at best.

Jon October 28, 2016 (9:14 pm)

Blaming an inanimate bus shelter on the actions of human beings is pretty silly. Plus, where does it stop, then? Remove all city benches? Bulldoze all parks?

Removing those shelters (which are basically glorified abandoned housing unit, especially at night) will only cause these guys to move to the other shelters or spots within a city block. Once those are gone, they’ll just go back to camping and littering in doorways. It’s not as if there’s some magic spell preventing them from getting drunk and urinating in the C-Line shelter (which they do anyway), or from setting up camp somewhere else nearby.

If you want a real solution, you’re going to need a new Mayor and City Council. People willing to accept help and treatment should be offered these things; those who refuse it — good luck; throw the book at ’em when they break laws and harm others. Otherwise, everything else proposed is just a slight of the hand distraction.

KJ November 2, 2016 (12:26 am)

Removing the shelters does seem like an odd solution to me. Maybe there’s some sort of correlation, but I think it’s highly doubtful that the shelters are the cause of the unsafe behaviour.

Sorry, comment time is over.