72 Replies to "What ever happened to Phase 2 of SDOT's 35th SW Safety Project?"

• Scott March 21, 2018 (3:44 pm)

  This project is just ridiculous and should never happen.  Traffic is already bad on the single lane part of 35th. That road was made to move people North to South in West Seattle. 

  • A March 21, 2018 (4:18 pm)

    I agree with you Scott. Here’s a logical idea which is why it will never happen in this city. How about instead of intentionally making traffic worse under the guise of safety, we fix the existing roads we have and make them safer that way. 35th is turning into a joke to drive on. I am constantly dodging potholes on a daily basis. This is not only bad for our tires and suspensions on our cars, it is extremely dangerous for motorcyclists as a pothole can be deadly for them. If the city truly cared about everyone’s safety, they would not waste money on this b.s. project and instead use this money to repave/repair this severely damaged road

    • Jort March 21, 2018 (6:18 pm)

      Just your regular reminder that potholes and pavement bumps rarely kill people, but speeding cars kill thousands of people every year. 

      • A March 21, 2018 (8:34 pm)

        Tell that to someone who’s been seriously injured by crashing their motorcycle after hitting a pothole. Do you work for the city Jort? You seem to really be on board with their agenda

        • Andros March 22, 2018 (2:02 pm)

          Jort’s agenda is to never have a car in W. Seattle to downtown again.  It’s ridiculous.  

    • Scott March 22, 2018 (8:38 am)

      @A – you are correct, the road was not built to handle a single lane, that is why the road is in such bad shape.  They took traffic from two lanes and put it on one and that is why there are so many holes. 

    • SGK March 22, 2018 (8:16 pm)

      35th was that before the diet.  The diet just placed the “tire” lanes right in the potholes.

    • SGK March 22, 2018 (8:18 pm)

      I don’t think the actual diet made 35th worse.  It’s was the re-timing of the lights.  Cars are now in waves with large back-ups at certain lights.

  • Tsurly March 22, 2018 (10:55 am)

    https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/walk/Laws.htm

    Traffic signals -Pedestrians must obey traffic signals and traffic control devices unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer (RCW 46.61.050).

    Sidewalks – Drivers and bicyclists must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and in crosswalks (RCW 46.61.261).

    Pedestrians on roadways – Pedestrians must use sidewalks when they are available. If sidewalks are not available, pedestrians must walk on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic (RCW 46.61.250).

    Bolting into traffic – No pedestrian or bicycle shall suddenly leave a curb and move into traffic so that the driver can not stop (RCW 46.61.235).

    Drivers exercise due care – Every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary (RCW 46.61.245).

    Stop for pedestrians at intersections – Vehicles shall stop at intersections to allow pedestrians and bicycles to cross the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk (RCW 46.61.235). See Washington’s Crosswalk Law for more information.

    Yield to vehicles outside intersections – Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway (RCW 46.61.240).

    • Tsurly March 22, 2018 (11:13 am)

      My mistake, I intended to post this below where folks are discussing pedestrian crossing.

    • Butchered format March 22, 2018 (1:14 pm)

      Whatever got posted here destroyed your comments style sheets WSB

      • WSB March 22, 2018 (2:01 pm)

        Interesting. Will see if I can take out the formatting without changing the content. Thanks, doesn’t show in admin view, and shouldn’t have done that in the first place…

• DDR March 21, 2018 (4:05 pm)

  Doesn’t matter if the majority of us want it or not, but this will happen. The only thing I would like is for them to repave the road before they do this. All the money spent to do this, when the road is falling apart. Oh well, only something like 30% of registered voters actually vote, so this is what we get.

  • Safety First, Feels Second March 22, 2018 (7:56 pm)

    “Doesn’t matter if the majority of us want it or not, but this will happen”

    Lots of people didn’t want seat belt laws either.

• sane in west seattle March 21, 2018 (4:53 pm)

  NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  

  Leave bad enough alone.  

  Just so very stupid to extend the crawling traffic, dangerous turn lanes  and road rage to the south of the already existing “road diet”.

  This extended  “road diet” will not save lives.  The brightly lit flashing crosswalks across 35th are the one great idea.  At least drivers can see the crosswalk lights even if people insist on being invisible by wearing black at night.

  • Jort March 21, 2018 (6:20 pm)

    It is not my responsibility as a pedestrian to have a “dress code” for the convenience of drivers. It is the responsibility of car drivers to drive at a speed that is safe enough to ensure they don’t hit pedestrians. If they don’t like that then they should hang up the keys. 

    • pupsarebest March 21, 2018 (6:40 pm)

      Actually, it IS your responsibility.  Safety is a two-way street.

      • Captin March 21, 2018 (10:33 pm)

        Agreed. We have arterials for a reason. They make sense and are not intended to have pedestrian traffic crossing at grade all of the time. They are intended to be an efficient way to move vehicular traffic through a particular area.

      • Ice March 21, 2018 (11:18 pm)

        Why don’t you drive into someone at night and then when you are in court use the “they were wearing dark colors and safety is a two way street” defense.

        • Captin March 22, 2018 (2:58 pm)

          That’s what happened to my MIl and it didn’t even get to court. Seems to have worked then. She died. Walking across a street in dark clothes at night was a bad decision that resulted in a fatal accident and her losing her life. We are a lot lighter and squishier than cars and much easier to stop. You absolutely have a responsibility as a pedestrian to try and stay safe. This it’s always the vehicle’s fault stuff just doesn’t make sense. I don’t care what the laws say; as a ped I’m going to yield to a car 100% of the time unless they stop moving. I like walking and breathing.

          If we apply this road diet logic to freeways they would be two lanes with a 45mph speed limit. Or to ladders they would max out at 4 ft tall to reduce injuries from falls.

          Im all for more safety done in a practical way. What about Pedestrian overpasses when there are long distances between signalized intersections or more signalized crosswalks?

        • Mickymse March 22, 2018 (3:14 pm)

          Sadly, people get away with just such types of defense ALL OF THE TIME….

  • Safety First, Feels Second March 22, 2018 (7:57 pm)

    Road rage isn’t a concern here. If anything, this will let us cull dangerous drivers, get their licenses suspended, and get them off of the roads. Lunatics like that don’t need to be driving anywhere thank you very much.

• West Seattle Hipster March 21, 2018 (5:20 pm)

  SDOT has zero vision.

  • TreeHouse March 22, 2018 (6:47 am)

    SDOT has my kind of vision! I’m all about having a livable neighborhood where all aspects of life and decision making do not revolve around the single occupancy automobile.

• 35th Driver March 21, 2018 (5:43 pm)

  I’m looking forward to this project. 

• KT March 21, 2018 (6:02 pm)

  …”More than four years ago, the city announced a “multi-year” safety project for 35th SW”…  So, I guess there wasn’t much urgent need to make 35th “safer”.  Her in other words, I guess 35th wasn’t all that unsafe to begin with.

  • pupsarebest March 21, 2018 (6:36 pm)

    Exactly correct.

• Jort March 21, 2018 (6:14 pm)

  I’m looking forward to a safer 35th Ave SW. 

  When most people complain about road diets, they’re mostly complaining that it’s become much harder to break the law by speeding. 

  The purpose of a street isn’t to get your car through as fast as technologically possible. The purpose of a street is to allow people to move safely. 

  If wide streets and fast speeds are your things, I might recommend Florida. 

• pupsarebest March 21, 2018 (6:36 pm)

  Such insanity.

  A solution in search of a problem.

  The statistics do not indicate a need for this “safety” measure.

  • Ice March 21, 2018 (9:44 pm)

    It’s really hard to find statistics on 35th Ave, but from what I could find, there were 294 collisions, 128 injuries and 2 fatalities in three years. Also, as someone who lives in 35th, it’s extremely unpleasant to cross on foot. The crosswalks all suck and people drive way too fast. Commuting on it in the morning is horrible because everyone is swerving around like crazy to dodge the cars that are turning. Finishing the road diet would make living on 35th so much more pleasant.

  • Safety First, Feels Second March 22, 2018 (7:58 pm)

    No more deaths. 

• WSRes March 21, 2018 (7:02 pm)

  This unfinished project by SDOT has made 35th north of Morgan St less safe in my opinion. I live on 35th and the lanes north of Morgan are a speedway since they made the south end one lane. I routinely see traffic racing around cars once the lanes double up going northbound. Going south they are racing around to get in front of others before the lanes reduce to one. I say finish it or reopen the two lanes back down to Roxbury St. 

  • KM March 21, 2018 (10:37 pm)

    I agree. They need to finish the rechannelization sooner than later. Looking forward to this being complete.

• 1994 March 21, 2018 (7:13 pm)

  Remember the MOVE Seattle levy that was approved a year or 2 back? Is it moving Seattle? 

• TreeHouse March 21, 2018 (7:35 pm)

  I have been patiently waiting for this to happen! I will be very excited when they start moving this project forward. Thanks SDOT! 

• Fire Ball March 21, 2018 (7:38 pm)

  Coming down 35th from Roxbury, look up towards Webster…It’s solid tail lights all the way.  Got passed by a bicycle.

  Seattle voters said Yes to Let’s move Seattle..and SDOT has delivered it, In the WRONG direction!

  I started to head south towards Burien, traffic flows good and you can find parking when you arrive at your destination.

  • Jort March 21, 2018 (8:17 pm)

    SDOT did not promise to solve Seattle’s traffic problems with the Move Seattle levy. The reason I know this is because no city in human history has “solved” traffic congestion. 

    Transit ridership, however, is increasing! So they’re doing something right!

    • The King March 21, 2018 (9:13 pm)

      Nobody is asking for traffic problems to be solved and we sure as hell didn’t ask for the traffic problems to be made worse. Seattle isn’t the Amish community you want it to be. It’s a city now jort, deal with it. 

• Dunno March 21, 2018 (8:03 pm)

  Jort posted three times in 12 posts, do you think Jort has an agenda?

  • Alki resident March 21, 2018 (8:24 pm)

    dunno 

  • Canton March 21, 2018 (10:10 pm)

    Google jort sandwich, the original moniker. Jort explains in detail, how to be a troll. Got called out on it, and still trolling. A very arrogant way of trying to control a thread.

    • Jort March 21, 2018 (10:17 pm)

      Hi, Canton! I googled my fake name and can’t seem to find what you’re referring to. Can you help me out?

      I found a reddit post by somebody named “it is sandwich time,” but if you look a little closer, you’ll see that’s a very different name than mine. But if you want to assume we’re the same person, have fun with that! 

      I appreciate the speculation about my identity. It is very thoughtful of you. 

      • Canton March 21, 2018 (11:05 pm)

        Hello jort, nice to actually hear from you. Do you dress your dog in jean shorts? Clever moniker… Yes, your Reddit post, kinda busted you. You have the same old trolling aspects, that you describe on that post. Although your “professional” tactics are a bit lacking, you seem to have a uncanny sense of trolling any transportation issue that doesn’t fit what “you” think. We…. Aren’t, you…, one bus to work, live in the core. Not exactly representative of the community as a whole, just, YOU.

        • Jort March 23, 2018 (10:11 am)

          Good morning, Canton. I just want to clarify, since it may not have come through very clearly in my reply above, that I am not ‘it-is-sandwich-time’, the author of that reddit post. I imagine that, if you take a moment to look at the user’s post history, you’ll likely notice that we share almost nothing in common, including writing style. “It-is-sandwich-time” is not even a member of the extended Sandwich Family.  

          I would appreciate having discussions and debate about the transportation and planning topics facing our city, and not speculation about my supposed online identity. Our city’s future is important — I am not.

        • Canton March 23, 2018 (11:21 pm)

          It’s great to have an opinion, and we definitely want voices of all differing opinions, as it creates healthy debate. But, th e tactics you use are, complimentary, condescending, and arrogant, with a smile. That approach won’t win over the masses. Still respect your opinion, just at arms reach.

      • property watcher March 22, 2018 (9:20 am)

        thanks Canton

• Paul March 21, 2018 (10:01 pm)

  Here is what I sent to Jim Curtin in August, 2016.  Most of which still stands.  FYI, I do actually attempt to offer improvements toward the end.

  I was not able to attend the meeting on 35th Ave SW last evening.  I live at 36th SW and Othello – so I’m well aware of the current impacts.

  I just read the West Seattle Blog update and wanted to answer the questions on the survey.  Not knowing who to send it to – I chose you and assume you will route it correctly.

  1.  Yes, I cross 35th as a pedestrian on occasion.  The rechannelization doesn’t change or help me.  In fact, I generally have to wait longer to cross now that the rechannelization has constricted the volume to one lane in each direction.  So mainly, my frustration level has increased.  I suspect this will also lead people to take more chances when crossing since they don’t want to wait additional minutes to cross.

  2. I mainly ride the C-line so my transit riding is not impacted by the change.

  3. Maybe.  Yes speeding has decreased on 35th SW south of Morgan since there are extended backups from lights.  However, when the roadway is clear, there is no change.  What you are not measuring is the traffic volume and speeds on side streets.  At Seattle Night Out, all of my neighbors agreed there has been an increase in car volume on our side streets.  This effect was known (and IMO ignored) as it is very obvious along Delridge (which was previously rechanneled).  Those side streets are inundated with cars during morning commute – not sure how channelization made things better there.  Anyway, back to 35th, the speed reduction is due to traffic backups.  Speed could have been reduced without impacting volume or traffic but for some reason SDOT decided to not implement other measures (like reduce the speed limit, put in speed bumps, more speed signs, speed cameras).  

  4. Traffic backups are much worse than previously.  At times it will take me up to 2 to 3 minutes to go from the Myrtle Street water towers to Othello – one block.  So now I turn off at Myrtle street or even sooner and drive the side-streets.  That should never have been the intended impact.  Since rechannelization was implemented, there has been continued discussion from SDOT about how signal timing will solve everything.  This has been the answer since this project went into place.  That is not the answer – it’s a gimmick IMO.  Your latest report still talks about further signal timing changes that will make everything better.  You have a number of cars and buses you need to move along this corridor – especially at peak – and this project is failing that.  Even your data shows volume is down.  Where did the volume go?  It didn’t disappear.  You moved cars onto side streets that were once quieter.  

  Looking at Delridge and Faunteleroy – cars abuse the center turn lane – they make it a thru lane.  I see it everyday.  Full rechannelization of 35th Ave SW will create large traffic issues and perpetuate the usage of the center turn lane for full blocks or more – basically people will use it as a thru lane.  

  5. I think your 1 min and 16 sec average increase is BS.  What is it at 5pm on a weekday heading south?  As I stated I’ve waited two to three minutes to go the final block of my commute on 35th Ave SW.  You use an average which tells me you are looking at all times across a 24 hour period including 2am.  Even if it’s a 12 hour period during the day, it is still skewed.  That is not a fair nor accurate assessment of when people use the roadway.  

  I commute to SLU.  I have to endure many of these “we only increase your commute by 1 min” changes when in fact all projects increase my commute by 5 to 10 min.  All road projects should have a goal of no time increase.  Traffic sucks.  Cars will always exist.  Car numbers will increase no matter what we do with busses.  We shouldn’t ignore this and continually put the burden on commuters and force them to methods that they don’t want.  Stop assuming 2 minutes delays are OK.  Drive your project to not increase delays – that should be the stated goal.

  6. Other comments:  I can’t believe SDOT still hasn’t put proper crossing signals on 35th.  To me that is negligent.  Blinking crosswalks are the best safety measure for peds – cars see them and acknowledge them.  I also can’t believe SDOT hasn’t painted curbs red for 100 feet (or more) in each direction at an intersection.  Letting people park within 30 feet hinders views.  Extend that.  Extend the bus stop curb markings to provide ample room for a bus to pull out.  Paint the west side curb on 35th between Alaska and Providence Hospital red so buses don’t push cars across the center line.  I could keep going.  However you commute this so you know that these changes (that are relatively inexpensive) should be done and would help.  Reduce the speed limit.  Put out dummy speed cameras.  Put in speed bumps.  All of this increases the safey of 35th without constricting volume.   It would provide better sight and reduce speed.   BTW, the construction north of Alaska on 35th restricted flow at times to one lane each direction…it was horrendous.  This frustrates people causing irrational driving and exploitation of side streets.

  • Scott March 22, 2018 (8:48 am)

    Very well said. Thanks, 

• MJ March 21, 2018 (10:43 pm)

  Restripe to 5 lanes, curb lanes for parking during off peak and used for travel lanes during the peak.  35th is a Principal Arterial and a critical north south corridor, restricting this section to 3 lanes will cause significant delay and driver frustration.  The 5 lane option provides needed capacity during the peak with parking off peak.

  • Captin March 22, 2018 (3:05 pm)

    Sounds like a good plan. I live on 35th and like the idea. I knew what I was signing up for when I moved there. 

• Peter March 22, 2018 (9:40 am)

  It is long past time for the city to complete rechanneling 35th. As a frequent walker who lives just off 35th, I can attest that the rechanneled portion is much safer for pedestrians than the old section; it’s easier to see cars and be seen by them, and although traffic is unfortunately still just as fast as ever, it’s more predictable since pedestrians aren’t at as much risk from  random lane changes and unsafe passing by drivers.

• WSRes March 22, 2018 (9:57 am)

  Comparing 35th Ave to major arterials in our city is like comparing apples and oranges. Major arterials that need to support high traffic flow are typically bordered by businesses. 35th is 99% bordered by residential dwellings with A LOT of pedestrian traffic. The rechannelization was the right move by SDOT to improve safety for everyone that uses it. They need to finish it. 

• MJ March 22, 2018 (1:22 pm)

  WSRes

  The City Street classification map show 35th as a Principal Arterial that in 2010 had a average daily traffic volume of 22,700 vehicles per day.   The capacity of a 3 lane street is about 18,000 vpd.  Traffic on this section of 35th exceeds the capacity of a 3 lane street, thus as an expert I suggest that a 5 lane option be explored.  The curb lane can be parking off peak and used to serve traffic during peak times.

  • TreeHouse March 22, 2018 (5:10 pm)

    MJ – Jort did a good job of pointing numerous times that your expertise in traffic engineering  was probably back from the 80s or 90s. Like science and technology, traffic engineering has changed immensely since that time and is in no way even close to the standard used in major cities today. I am curious to what year you got your degree so I can understand how you come up with these ideas of putting a freeway through residential neighborhoods in West seattle?  I’m in no way being disrespectful, I just am trying to understand how you are coming up with these 5 lane ideas in residential neighborhoods. 

• Andros March 22, 2018 (1:50 pm)

  Can we talk with the mayor about postponing this until an actual poll of the  residences on the 35th ave corridor is taken?  It seems like the majority of opinion on this has been a resounding NO after all of the meetings and SDOT has not listened to the residences of this area at all.  I for one, will we calling the mayors office to address this issue before any further action is taken.  I felt that Jim Curtin was just a stooge driving forward an unpopular project and that this, like Fauntleroy, needs the breaks put on it.

  • Peter March 22, 2018 (3:50 pm)

    “SDOT has not listened to the residences of this area at all.”

    I have to challenge that statement on two grounds. First, not getting your way does not mean you weren’t listed to and does not mean “the residences” (sic) weren’t listened to, that’s just sour grapes. The city has to weigh data, evidence, and expert advice in addition to community input, so taking input is not the deciding factor. Second, your comment implies that “the residences” (sic) are all of one mind, which is false. Those of us who disagree with you, who support the previous safety improvement and support the expanding them, also get input, and you can’t just dismiss that because we don’t share your view.
    I for one will be contacting Lisa Herbold, Mayor Durkan, and SDOT to express mu support of further safety improvements.

  • Safety First, Feels Second March 22, 2018 (8:03 pm)

    “Can we talk with the mayor about postponing this until an actual poll of the  residences on the 35th ave corridor is taken?”

    1. No, we can’t.

    2. NINE consecutive mayors have implemented road diets.

    3. The anti-road diet Road Warriors – y’all lost. Repeatedly. For nearly 40 years!

    4. Go to court against the city, we dare you. It’s your only recourse.

    5. We are not a direct democracy.

    6. Safety First, Feels Second.

    7. We’ve beaten this horse to death. Bury it under 35th when the road diet is done.

• anonyme March 22, 2018 (2:23 pm)

  Good luck with finding someone who lives on 35th to say that this is a bad idea.  Living on an arterial is one thing; living on a freeway with speeds averaging more than 20 mph over the limit is another.  Drivers (speeders) in the latter category tend to be the ones saying “no”.  

  I fully support the project.

• JRR March 22, 2018 (3:52 pm)

  I bet all the families who live along this stretch of road are going to feel safer in their communities. Your convenient drive to downtown isn’t more important than human life.

  • Jort March 22, 2018 (4:54 pm)

    Indeed, the city’s 11 month study showed that travel times had only slightly increased, in some cases by around one minute. In other cases, travel times actually improved, especially for Metro buses.

    If one more minute on somebody’s commute has a trade-off of saving the lives of people on the street, then it’s worth it.

    Nobody is banning cars on 35th. Drivers were trusted to obey the laws and to drive safely, and they couldn’t do it and ended up making 35th one of the most unsafe roads in the city. Drivers can still use 35th, but now it’s time to slow them down, forcibly, with a road diet. 

• MJ March 22, 2018 (6:46 pm)

  Tree House

  84.  My experience is 30 + years, my old boss is the old school engineer you refer too, not me.  I’m very pragmatic and understand all modes and a balanced approach is needed.

  I have suggested, a 5 lane configuration, is very reasonable and pragmatic.  Basically my proposal is a 3 lane street with the parking lane designed to use for traffic during peak time periods!

  In the 80 and 90’s the proposal would be for 4 lane street with median divider to restrict left turns.

• Safety First, Feels Second March 22, 2018 (8:00 pm)

  Here’s my take as someone in West Seattle not as long as some of the ‘veterans’ here, but I will say right up front: any appeals to ‘how it used to be,’ are not helpful. Keep your history in your pants. America and Seattle are moving forward, and car culture has been kicked to the curb (or slow lane) where it belongs here. My commute is like a minute longer when I take 35th than it used to be. +261 minutes a year give or take. OH NO, there goes 4 hours of my life per year. 

  WORTH IT for less death and mayhem and viscera splayed across the pavement. 

  Bring it on, Mister Curtin! Huzzah!

  • Scott March 24, 2018 (8:51 pm)

    I’m calling BS on this statement. There is no way in hell peoples commutes have only grown by 1 min. Maybe at the time you go, but at peak commute time it is way longer. I can wait 1 min or more to make a left turn onto a side street. 

    Plus no one is looking at side streets and how this impacted them.

• 1994 March 22, 2018 (8:23 pm)

  The MOVE Seattle levy said the following (as can be seen on SDOT web site) but in my observation it is not helping improve the movement of people and goods. Roads are more bottle-necked than ever before.  Vehicles on roads are the most used means of transport but the SDOT seems intent on reducing road capability. One good thing is SDOT is doing some serious repaving in small areas where the road has worn out. 

  “The levy aims to take care of the basics, while also investing in the future with improvements to move more people and goods in and around a growing Seattle. An oversight committee made up of Seattle residents, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, will monitor levy expenses and revenues, review program and project priorities, and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on how to spend levy proceeds.

  Background

  In March 2015, Mayor Ed Murray introduced Move Seattle, his ten-year transportation vision that integrates our plans for transit, walking, biking, and freight. Move Seattle will help us meet current demands while working toward future needs as Seattle continues to grow. Move Seattle envisions a transportation system that contributes to a safe, interconnected, vibrant, affordable, and innovative city.”

• WSeattleite March 23, 2018 (12:17 am)

  I am a bit confused. If the endall goal is Zero car accidents, and you can identify a car and a road to almost every car accident, why have cars or roads at all?  Without these two components, the target has been met!!  Oh wait, we can’t just plug into a mainframe and be intravenously fed food whilst our bodies sit in situ, mindlessly providing energy and thought to support the Universe.  That dream which seems to be the ultimate goal for some must take a backseat to the reality that children should be fed and sent to school, and lying in a vegetative state does very little to advance progress.  Keep dreaming those of you that dream of a comatose existence, some of the rest of us need to live in today’s reality. 

  • WSB March 23, 2018 (12:34 am)

    It’s not zero car crashes.

    As defined
    https://www.seattle.gov/visionzero

    it’s zero fatalities and serious injuries.

    • WSeattlelite March 24, 2018 (12:42 am)

      Well noted WSB. Thank you. 

• East Coast Cynic March 23, 2018 (6:20 am)

  As a resident of 35th Ave SW, I’m not crazy about taking away parking south of Morgan from some of the blocks during the rush hour.  Residents with cars parked on 35th Ave SW will have to move their cars every day; but how will we be able to do that if we’re at work, or in the process of coming home from work during the rush hour?  We don’t have the time for that.  Besides, we’ll simply be taking parking from neighbors on nearby streets, e.g., 34th Ave SW, 36th Ave SW.

• PG March 23, 2018 (7:25 am)

  Thank you for this very clear response.  I agree that during peak commuting hours this has increased congestion greatly.  I also like the blinking pedestrian crosswalks.

• Stephen March 23, 2018 (11:48 am)

  It is time to get rid of the so-called road diet.  This was an ill-conceived experiment that never should have been implemented in the first place.

• MJ March 23, 2018 (5:58 pm)

  Stephen

  Street fitness projects can work very well on streets with lower daily traffic volumes, the traffic on the north section of 35th exceeds the traffic volume, thus 3 laning this street will result in significant traffic congestion and diversion of traffic onto adjacent residential streets.

  MJ

• WSeattlelite March 24, 2018 (12:53 am)

  What I do find a bit sad however, is that the end result of this plan may well reduce incidents on 35th, which as an arterial carries resultant expectations from all, and then transfer the risk to the neighborhood residential streets where the populace is less inclined to be aware of greater traffic volumes.  These are neighborhoods where kids are playing and neighbors are carrying on normal activities like walking the dog. These should be our safe zones.  Enacting change that will and has been proven to add to the traffic volume and additional safety risk on these streets makes little sense to me. People that can reason are careful to cross or be near 35th. Not nearly so with the more quiet side streets.  No doubt the data can be used to support any argument, but living on one of these side streets has taught me that an increase in traffic flow will not be good for public safety.  

Sorry, comment time is over.