FOLLOWUP: 59th/Admiral safety concerns now the subject of online petition

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, October 9th, looking west from south side of 59th/Admiral)

Two weeks after our first report on Alki Elementary School parents contending that SDOT changes at 59th/Admiral made it unsafe rather than safer, they’ve launched an online petition so other concerned community members can show support.

They say they’re continuing to see near-collisions every morning, including this one last week, detailed by parent Merkys Gomez, one of the founders of the school’s Traffic Safety Task Force:

Another parent and I with our block school bus were standing on the intersection of 59th and Admiral on the south side ready to cross. Jeanne, the crossing guard, normally has us wait there until she’s standing in the middle of Admiral waving her flag for us to cross. She was about to step into the intersection. There was a line of cars on Admiral heading eastbound. A driver in a black Audi decided that he didn’t want to wait. He crossed the double-yellow line, floored it through the turning lane and across the intersection as the first car heading eastbound was getting ready to cross the intersection, and nearly missed a Metro bus heading westbound. You could hear his wheels spinning in the rain. The trajectory if he would’ve hit the bus would’ve sent the car our way. … We were all stunned, and none of us wanted to enter the intersection, not even Jeanne. We just stood. The children were clutching our arms. The crossing guard has been told that she must get a license plate number to get anything to happen. That’s impossible when we’re holding flags and kids’ hands and someone hauls across the intersection. SDOT needs to capture this data of near-misses.

Meantime, the extra stop sign recently placed in the center lane a half-block east of the intersection is gone – last seen in pieces on the planting strip. And the parents say they’re still waiting for a formal response from SDOT: “While we wait, we plan to continue our efforts to do outreach to the community regarding our proposed solution, which includes an all-way traffic signal that is pedestrian and vehicle activated. We want all users of the intersection, whether crossing Admiral on foot or turning onto Admiral from within a car, to feel safe.” They also have taken their concerns to City Councilmembers, including West Seattle/South Park’s Lisa Herbold, and citywide (but West Seattle-residing) Lorena González. SDOT said on October 11th that it will “accelerate” stop-sign relocation, painting of a crosswalk across 59th, and addition of painted curb extensions – by year’s end. The parents’ task force ultimately wants to see a full signal at this intersection, and that’s what their petition requests.

dsa October 23, 2017 (12:24 pm)

signed

Keith B October 23, 2017 (12:35 pm)

This is a bit peripheral, but certainly related as it affects traffic at 59th and Admiral: SW Charlestown and SW Orleans to Spokane St. is an arterial between 55th and 59th. At that point it ceases and mostly divides traffic north or south on 59th. To the north it’s effectively a one lane road due to narrowness and parking. To the south (also narrow and where I live) we have 1000+ vehicles a day, often traveling at 40 MPH and bypassing to Beach Drive. How is it we have an arterial that simply ends into inadequately sized roads? Much of this 59th traffic feeds into the intersection in question. 59th is broad on the south side of Admiral and a nightmare for drivers and pedestrians. There needs to be an extension of the meridian to give pedestrians a refuge.

Lack Thereof October 23, 2017 (6:48 pm)

The Orleans/Hillcrest/Spokane section you refer to is designated as a “collector arterial”; it’s not intended as a through route, but only for traffic to get in/out of that residential area to/from California. Hence the arterial designation ending at an intersection in the center of a neighborhood surrounded by 1-lane “access streets”.

It’s not uncommon for SDOT to install physical barriers to stop cut-through traffic in situations like you report, so long as the neighborhood is in agreement about the problem. They’ve done it in other parts of the city, when through-traffic volumes on local access streets are high and neighbors complain.

KBear October 23, 2017 (12:43 pm)

I saw a similar maneuver at Delridge and Andover this morning. Silver VW (I think) cut into the bus lane after the light turned yellow and passed everyone on the right, intending to run the red light. Had to slam on his brakes when he got to the intersection, because cross traffic was already proceeding on the green. Nevertheless, as soon as there was a break in traffic, he gunned it and ran the (very) red light from the right turn only lane. Funny thing is, Delridge wasn’t even that busy at the time, so it’s not as though he’d been waiting long.

Mark October 23, 2017 (1:19 pm)

The all way stop control was not warranted based on national data. Traffic volumes and street classifications were clear indicators that this location is not conducive to all way stop. Look at the extensive queues occurring on the Arterial!

Lack Thereof October 23, 2017 (6:33 pm)

Safety is more important than flow.

Linda Ball October 23, 2017 (1:48 pm)

I use this intersection often, and it’s a nightmare and it’s not getting any better. It needs a stoplight like any other busy intersection.

sb2780 October 23, 2017 (2:03 pm)

What I don’t understand is why they allow parking along the upper divided section on 59th traveling northbound toward Admiral. It basically functions as a 1 lane bridge, and most drivers are extremely inconsiderate about 1-in-1 out, forcing one lane of the traffic to wait. The people coming down from Charlestown are usually total a-holes about it.

Ken October 23, 2017 (6:33 pm)

@ SB2780 – – – Exactly!
59th Ave Resident October 23, 2017 (10:06 pm)

People park there because people live there!!

Jort October 23, 2017 (2:48 pm)

I am in 100 percent support of the parents who want an all-way stoplight installed at the intersection.

Alkidriver October 23, 2017 (3:27 pm)

As a daily user I agree it was MUCH better the way it was. This new configuration makes it MUCH worse. SDOT won’t do anything unless it’s their idea. The secret for getting this intersection fixed is to make the desk drivers at SDOT think it was their idea to make it right. GOOD LUCK!!!

AdmiralWayResident October 23, 2017 (4:03 pm)

Walking home from school today with my son and two cars came to the intersection, didn’t even come close to a complete stop and kept driving. They didn’t even check for pedestrians — and this was dismissal time! (I understand not everyone knows when school gets out — this intersection also has inadequate/improperly placed signage for being a school crossing.)

Just Wondering October 23, 2017 (4:46 pm)

I think it’s time for some motorcycle police enforcement!

Chris October 23, 2017 (4:50 pm)

We were concerned this would happen when this went in. Drivers speed like crazy on Admiral and we so often have to just get out of the way or have them in our trunk. We know for sure 45 mph since we saw the sign, perhaps more.

It was much better the way it was. Hopefully the stoplight would work, though we wonder….

Guy Olson October 23, 2017 (6:41 pm)

Ugh, I’m so tired of this petition already. The parents of students at Alki Elementary ruin the entire neighborhood during school hours. The illegal parking, the distracted driving, the double parking. It’s not the neighborhood and locals fault you can’t stop reproducing. Also, it makes the alleyways that feed onto Admiral much safer to use.

WSB October 23, 2017 (6:59 pm)

The parents behind this campaign are the ones whose kids walk, not those who drive. Meantime, regarding parking, it should be noted that Alki has perhaps one of the smallest lots of the local elementaries. It’s not really a pull-in-and-drop-off configuration. (Disclosure, we had a kid at Alki for one year, more than a decade ago, and drove him there – we were miles out of the bus zone.) – TR
- Guy Olson October 23, 2017 (10:11 pm)
  
  My point is that it is currently safer from what I’ve seen. I live on near 59th and Alki and they are lucky for what SDOT has provided. I’m sure there is other lower income neighborhoods with much worse/real problems. Get over it
alki mom October 24, 2017 (4:12 pm)

Guy Olson, you sound like a grumpy old guy who should move as far as possible from any elementary school. Speaking of School, go educate yourself about the benefits of a healthy birth rates for a country like the USA. Sounds like you do not deserve any of the wealth that future generations are going to keep creating around you

Jack October 23, 2017 (7:13 pm)

Someone should loan the crossing guard a GoPro so she can capture the plates of those dangerous drivers on video.

valvashon October 23, 2017 (7:19 pm)

If anybody witnessed the incident with the Audi driver- could it have been a very dark grey, matte finish Audi station wagon? Because that driver frequents Admiral Way SW and I almost always see (him) driving in an aggressive manner. If it’s the grey station wagon I can probably get that license plate for you- I see them all the time.

Val

Wsrez October 23, 2017 (7:29 pm)

I agree is was better before.. there was a pedestrian activated light, right? This solved the cross walk problem people are saying is there now. Why did the city want this change? How is it more safe now? Were they concerned about people being able to make left turns on to Admiral? BTW has anyone else noticed people coming down 59th the wrong way on the one way street? I’ll never get over neighbors treating each other this way, ie running stop signs, going around pedestrians in crosswalks, etc. the Alaska Junction is like the wild west.

Seattlite October 23, 2017 (10:01 pm)

SDOT has done a lot of questionable and potentially dangerous planning of WS’s roadways. The busbump at the intersection of California and Fauntleroy causes continuous backups for north bound traffic. That means cars going straight through the intersection northbound, cars that are westbound and turning right to go northbound and cars that are eastbound and turning left to go northbound are all backedup when there are one or two buses that block the one northbound lane. Also, impatient drivers go into oncoming southbound traffic to pass the buses…very scary.

Jort October 24, 2017 (12:44 pm)

I wish people understood that the purpose of the bus bulb is specifically and intentionally designed to stop cars and back up traffic, so that the bus can get ahead of the traffic.

If getting stuck behind a bus makes people so mad that they feel compelled to break the law, we should not change the bus ride for the 100+ people on board, we should take the keys away from the person violating the law.
- flimflam October 24, 2017 (5:22 pm)
  
  curious on your thoughts on the completely empty bike lane…
- KM October 24, 2017 (6:53 pm)
  
  Yo.
sam-c October 24, 2017 (4:25 pm)

I respect the buses and bus bulbs all the time, and lots of times even actually yield to buses when I’m supposed to and let them back into traffic. But sometimes sitting and stopping all of the traffic to wait for a bus gets a little maddening. Have you have been stuck behind a bus while the bus driver was using the wheelchair lift and then strapping the passenger in safely? Stuck behind a bus when someone tries to load their bike on the bike rack (for what seems like their first ever attempt) ? Stuck behind a bus when a customer gets on/ off / on again while arguing about the bus driver about who knows what? Those are just some common scenarios seen throughout the city. Who knows, you could be sitting there for 1 minute or 10!

But passing a bus by traveling the wrong way in a lane is quite crazy !
- Kathy October 24, 2017 (5:27 pm)
  
  If you had to get around by bus and wheel chair you probably would think nothing of a 10 minute delay. I suggest instead of getting mad while waiting for the bus to load, you use those minutes to contemplate what life would be like if you were confined to getting around in a wheelchair or unable to afford a car and thank your lucky stars you are privileged to be able to get around in the comfort and convenience of your own personal car.
  - sam-c October 25, 2017 (9:46 am)
    
    sure, I’ve done that before (gone without a car for a little less than 10 years).
    
    don’t make assumptions
    
    thankful every day (you don’t know what I’m thinking while I sit in my car)
    10 minutes can mean $ 20 daycare penalty, which I can’t afford.
  - sam-c October 25, 2017 (10:34 am)
    
    I was expanding on what the previous poster (SEATTLEITE) said
    and explaining why the bus bulbs can be maddening by providing example
    scenarios. (‘it can be maddening’, not, ‘I get really mad’. I’m actually a very
    patient driver and often get tailgated while driving the speed limit)
    
    Sorry if that offends you.
    
    (and I’m not privileged. we squeak by.)

Wtffff October 24, 2017 (10:49 am)

I saw a (the?) grey Audi pull into oncoming lane to pass on left of backed up traffic on northbound 35th, to reach left turn lane for Morgan. Woman was going 40 mph NB in SB lane of 35th in front of Walgreens to make a left onto Morgan?! In heavy traffic!! My jaw dropped- never seen anything like it..

Wtffff October 24, 2017 (8:55 pm)

Oops- got my directions wrong.

Car was going SB in NB lane, past Walgreens, then turned L on Morgan.

Mark October 24, 2017 (6:08 pm)

Jort

Bad design can lead to street rage, clearly not desirable. A loading bus blocking traffic is bad design.

Mark

Jort October 24, 2017 (10:28 pm)

No, it’s not. It’s great. It prioritizes the street for transit users, which is more sustainable and better for our city.

If people are launched into apoplectic rage because they have to wait for a few minutes — by design — for a bus that holds 100+ people, then they have a responsibility to hang up the keys and stop driving, because they are extremely dangerous.

Streets have prioritized single automobile drivers for a long time. That’s changing in Seattle. GOOD. If you don’t like waiting behind the bus, then get on the bus and quit complaining.

shufflerunner October 25, 2017 (5:58 am)

SDOT just changed it back to its previous configuration… While I was in the middle of the crosswalk. I ran right past the guys and they said nothing until I was in the middle of the street and almost got hit by a car.