FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD: Two ‘Walk-and-Talks’ announced for March

| Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

6:48 PM: The Fauntleroy Boulevard project through The Triangle is suddenly a hot topic, and tonight we have word of two more chances for you to find out more about it. Along with the West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting tomorrow night (Thursday, February 23rd, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center) and the new Fauntleroy Way Neighborhood and Business Association‘s meeting a week from tonight (Wednesday, March 1st, 7:30 pm at Rudy’s Barbershop/Realfine Coffee), SDOT just announced two “Walk-and-Talk” tours along the route.

Project spokesperson Rachel McCaffrey says, “These walking tours will be an opportunity for us to share the latest design, discuss early construction planning, introduce the project team to the public, and gather feedback. We’ll include light refreshments from Fauntleroy businesses along the way.” She says it’s “the same tour on two different dates: Thursday, March 16, from 12-1:30 PM, and Saturday, March 18, from 10:30 AM-12 PM. The tours will begin outside of LA Fitness, at 3900 SW Alaska St, and end at West Seattle Brewing Co., at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW.” Also, watch your postal mail for a postcard about this (see it here) – she says it’s being sent to a “swath” of the area (we have a followup question out asking exactly where said “swath” is).

ADDED 11:57 AM: We have the reply to that: “We mailed the postcard to approximately 8,560 addresses roughly in the boundaries of SW Charlestown St, 45th Ave SW, SW Juneau, and 26th Ave SW. We’ll also announce the event via our email newsletter, which has about 300 subscribers.”

Jort Sandwich February 22, 2017 (7:15 pm)

Excellent! I am looking forward to providing feedback to the city about how much I appreciate any attempt to give space on our streets back to people on bikes and people walking.

It is time to stop thinking that the primary purpose of our streets is to get as many cars through as fast as possible. There are geographical limitations to the amount of solo vehicles that our street network can handle, and we are at the upper edges of those limitations. It’s time to start thinking different.

WSobserver February 22, 2017 (8:35 pm)

“Walk & Talk”

– In the most pedestrian dangerous area of west Seattle. I advise that they walk carefully, talk little, and keep a sharp eye out lest one or more of them are run over. And definitely not to attempt crossing the street anywhere.

I don’t go to Trader Joe’s at all as I have to cross that demonic Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection on foot. Nope, not doing it.

JayDee February 22, 2017 (9:18 pm)

By the time Walk and Talk’s are scheduled, they are telling you what they will do (see Admiral). Basically a chance for you to vent and figure out it was already decided.

Rico February 23, 2017 (6:20 am)

What a joy it will be to be stuck in the increased back-up that will be created by reducing to two lanes, both northbound and southbound between Oregon and Avalon.

Jort Sandwich February 23, 2017 (8:22 am)

Perhaps you can choose alternative transportation instead.
JVP February 23, 2017 (9:46 am)

I don’t really see how this would reduce traffic flows. There current pinch-points both ways right now 2 lanes each way. That’s not going to change. The current 3-lane section is so narrow that traffic slows ways down, especially if you’re next to a larger vehicle that’s creeping into your lane, so not much loss there.

I both drive through there and walk down to TJ’s from the west. On both fronts this looks like an improvement to me. Walking is TERRIBLE in that zone right now. And it’ll certainly look a LOT nicer. Has a 99N/Aurora vibe to it right now, pretty gross.

Rico February 23, 2017 (8:37 am)

Hey Jort, I have been trying to load up all my tools on my bicycle, they just don’t seem to fit. Perhaps you should open your mind to the possibility that the details of other peoples lives may not fit into your utopian visions for us all.

Jort Sandwich February 23, 2017 (9:35 am)

Seattle’s traffic is caused by hundreds of thousands of contractors driving their trucks full of tools around on the road.

It’s caused by too many solo, single-occupant vehicle commuters driving. Anything that encourages them to get off the road and into alternative transportation, and any way that alternative transportation becomes a better and easier choice, is a good thing.

Nobody rides the bus when it takes twice as long as driving. People definitely take the bus when it takes half as long as choosing to drive alone.

CAM February 23, 2017 (9:36 am)

Rico, while it is not possible for every single person to take mass transit, it is absolutely a fact that there are far more people who could take mass transit and choose to drive alone in their cars anyways. If you can’t make the adjustment, fine, but it’s time to start recognizing that the solution is not to take up increasing amounts of real estate for vehicles. If anything, history would tell you that if you make an accommodation for a group they will quickly outgrow the adjusted increase and develop a need for further accommodation. That isn’t sustainable.

As far as this particular stretch of road goes, I am a former resident of the area and am quite pleased to see the city doing anything to make it more pedestrian friendly. If the city could teach aggressive rush hour drivers that they have to share the road with pedestrians that would also be lovely. Multiple bus lines run near this area and people are walking and riding their bikes to and from the bus. Not to mention those who are running errands locally. There is far more pedestrian traffic than I think any drivers on this stretch realize.

Sorry, comment time is over.