What’s next for Avalon Way rechannelization/ repaving project after open house

| Luna Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

One more meeting from last night to tell you about – the open house for the SW Avalon Way rechannelization/repaving plan. No new information emerged – it was meant as a chance to comment on and ask questions about what SDOT recently revealed, the “30 percent design” version of the project.

Above center is Luna Park entrepreneur John Bennett, who is concerned about parking – while the proposal has changed from an early version that removed dozens of spaces uphill, where now a weekday 6-10 am transit lane is proposed, this one takes out a dozen spaces on the west side of Avalon, and Bennett fears The Shack coffee shop will be especially hard-hit. Councilmember Lisa Herbold has been working with SDOT to try to minimize the parking loss; above left is her legislative assistant Newell Aldrich (Herbold was at the HALA hearing a few miles away).

Also there, West Seattle Bike Connections‘ Don Brubeck (second from left above). The design incorporates protected bike lanes on what is a fairly busy route to and from the “low bridge” as well as Alki. Various concerns along the corridor included helping buses move more smoothly and dissuading drivers from using side streets. There were also requests for turn signals at the Avalon/Genesee light. Here’s an “aerial view” of what’s in the 30 percent plan, as previewed here last month:

WHAT’S NEXT: Project spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth says that after this open house for the 30 percent design, they hope to have the project up to 60 percent for another round of commenting in the fall. Construction is expected to happen next year, starting in the spring. Along with rechannelizing Avalon as shown here (PDF), the project will repave it all the way from the bridge to where it ends at Fauntleroy, along with 35th SW south of Avalon to Alaska – where reconstruction is needed due to water damage – and Alaska from 35th to 36th too. Beyond last night’s open house, here’s your chance to comment through June 24th – an online survey about the project.

Fire Ball June 7, 2018 (6:44 am)

Here comes another botched job by SDOT…rechannelization, is another word for road diet!

WSB June 7, 2018 (7:10 am)

Rechannelization has been proposed for this project for a year now.
https://westseattleblog.com/2017/05/before-tonights-open-house-avalon-paving-project-revealed-as-rechannelization-plan-too/
Jon Wright June 7, 2018 (11:19 am)

No, it is a matter of making sure the road works for all users, even the ones who aren’t driving a car. I find it disheartening that there are those who believe that private property storage (i.e., parking) is more important than keeping people safe.
Mickymse June 7, 2018 (1:52 pm)

I hate the term “road diet” for a number of reasons… but I usually here it used by opponents to refer to reducing the number of lanes for single occupant vehicles to travel on a road. Hence the “diet.” For this project, however, the road was already previously reduced to one general lane in each direction, and is moving more people in a more efficient manner. This latest rechannelization/repaving plan is about making the road operate more safely for all users.
- LarryB June 7, 2018 (6:31 pm)
  
  I don’t see how removing the turn lane makes things safer. After all, they added one to 35th, and that seems to be doing fine. I generally favor work like the road diets on 35th and also on Nickerson in North Queen Anne. This one seems really ill-conceived.

Also John June 7, 2018 (7:32 am)

Thank you Don Brubeck! I bike up Avalon everyday on my ride home from downtown. Avalon definitely needs a bike lane…. I probably saw six bikers going up Avalon yesterday around 5:15 pm. The lower bridge is recording over 1,500 bike crossings/day this time of the year.

zarkk00 June 7, 2018 (9:53 am)

total waste of money and resources.

RBH June 7, 2018 (1:15 pm)

John Bennett was terrible about parking when Metro put in Rapid Ride despite Metro bending over backwards to accommodate him. The parking lot between the Shack and Luna Park is actually not even his. It is a city street end which he pays nothing for. I was so disheartened by his tone when Rapid Ride went in that I have gone from a regular customer to someone who hasn’t been in since.

john bennett June 7, 2018 (4:46 pm)

I don’t remember SDOT “bending over backwards” for the merchants in the Luna Park Neighborhood. The merchants association worked with SDOT when the 18 parking spots on the north end of Avalon were restricted from 6 to 10 am weekdays. We negotiated 4 spots on the west side of avalon close to Spokane st. These spots will be removed along with 8 others leaving only 2 parking spaces on the west side of Avalon. In 2014 our business district had 73 parking spots…. after this project we will be reduced to 17 spots until 10 am weekdays. This, as you can imagine will be an extreme hardship to a breakfast restaurant and a coffee shop. The plans show the removal of the center turn lane. This is important as it is where delivery trucks unload. Additionally, it seems like cars taking left turns into businesses and onto side roads will back up traffic all the way to 35th. We came up with an alternative plan that would allow bus lane, parking and center turn lane, but that was shot down. All we want is a revised plan that allows us to stay in business. The fact is, that in this day and age, we depend on parking to stay in business. Maybe someday that will change, but until then we need automobile parking to survive. There has to be a way to make it work for all of us. RBH, I’m sorry you had start boycotting Luna Park because of the parking debate, but you are missing out on some delicious food! Come back in and I’ll buy you a milkshake.John BennettLuna Park Cafe
- John3 June 7, 2018 (6:32 pm)
  
  Mr Bennett, Thank you for your response.Can you clarify the parking on Orleans that RBH mentions , (how many spaces, restrictions and use) ?How many of the original 2014 73 parking spots are currently available and how many will be available after 10AM weekdays and weekends in the proposal? Has the current parking vs 2014 street parking led to a marked decrease in business?
KM June 7, 2018 (5:05 pm)

I don’t remember the Rapid Ride discussions, but the conversations so far around this aren’t convincing me to visit any time soon. Was The Shack also fighting to keep on-street parking early on in process?

Rider1 June 7, 2018 (3:26 pm)

I agree that bikes MUST have priority over cars. Businesses must realize that when safe bike routes are available their businesses will flourish with bike riders patronization.

STR June 8, 2018 (10:22 am)

I, for one, have biked more to Luna Park Cafe than I have driven (usually a post ride milkshake). And several times I’ve walked (or more like “waddled” after having eaten a Hobo) to the bus stop to head to work after breakfast. The Avalon Corridor is the gateway to West Seattle via bike/bus. I’m surprised LPC and the Shack aren’t seeing the benefit of this project. Weekday mornings for pedestrians/bikes. Save your driving for the weekend, seriously.

Seaweedtoasted June 7, 2018 (4:33 pm)

Re: the Andover/Yancy/30th/Avalon intersection. -Seems to be overlooked for improvement for such a critical juncture? -Does the new plan account for the *existing commuter bike trail *over the pedestrian bridge, down Andover and across to Yancy?! I do like the idea of an improved bike path down to Alki, but not sure how many commuters really use that route? I always used the route down Yancy, around the Steel Mill and along Delridge to head on the bike path over the lower bridge.

NW June 7, 2018 (5:53 pm)

I have always used that route swt and further I believe that Fauntleroy way sw which parallels the Fauntleroy way sw that accesses the West Seattle bridge ,West Seattle Freeway, should be used for a bike path and further west into the triangle area of West Seattle into The Junction.

LarryB June 7, 2018 (6:29 pm)

Honestly, I don’t see how this will improve safety. The turn lake takes cars out of the flow of traffic and helps reduce rear-end collisions. SDOT added one to 35th Ave SW. It has reduced accidents, although the single traffic lane in each direction produces platooning which makes turns onto and off of the street challenging. Furthermore, the only segment of Avalon that has a shot of becoming “vibrant” for pedestrians is the area where access is going to be harder – the section by The Shack and Luna Park. The rest is residential, and the only place pedestrians are likely to walk to is the bus stop.I support actions that will increase pedestrian and traffic safety, but this ain’t it. SDOT needs to go back to the drawing board. I wish I had known about the hearing.

Colby June 7, 2018 (11:06 pm)

The intersection of Manning St./Luna Park/The Shack looks like a nightmare to navigate in the rendered plans. Makes it appear to be way more unsafe than it is now. Not thought out at all.

Sorry, comment time is over.