SAFETY: New crosswalk at 45th and Charlestown

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Fiona Preedy for the photo and tip: That new crosswalk is in place at 45th SW and SW Charlestown. Safety at that intersection was one of the concerns voiced by the community committee convened to review a zoning “departure” required for 4 portables to be added to nearby Madison Middle School. Those portables recently arrived – thanks to Luckie for this photo, taken as they were being assembled last week:

We first reported on the portable plan back in January; they have been added to handle growing enrollment at Madison. The zoning departure required for their installation on the northeast side of the campus involved removing six offstreet parking spaces. The first day of school is September 5th – four weeks from tomorrow.

Calires August 7, 2018 (1:55 pm)

Even with the crosswalk, pedestrians need to use extreme caution crossing at that intersection. Cars fly through there, especially in the summer evenings with people using Charlestown to get to and from Alki.

TS August 7, 2018 (2:35 pm)

I’ve tried to get police to enforce speeding on Charlestown for 13 years. I’ve come to the conclusion that people speed everywhere and police can’t be everywhere.
- KM August 8, 2018 (1:02 pm)
  
  I agree. It’s infuriating and we need to do something about safety on our streets. I would say that Calires’s experience will only marginally improve, and that’s really a bummer.

MJ August 7, 2018 (2:55 pm)

Marked cross walks can reduce safety by giving pedestrians a false sense of security, paint does not stop cars. The old adage still applies see and be seen before crossing any street!

Jort August 7, 2018 (4:29 pm)

How is you always seem to blame the victims of road violence for their own deaths and injuries? That’s pretty low.
TreeHouse August 7, 2018 (5:53 pm)

MJ – I’m a little shocked by your victim blaming comment. I am grateful you are not part of SDOT because you have made it very clear you prioritize freeways in our community over pedestrian and cyclist safety. I hope one day you re-educate yourself on modern traffic engineering.
- The King August 7, 2018 (6:20 pm)
  
  All I see is MJ saying be careful, that’s all. No “victim” blaming at all. Five year USDOT studies have shown marked crosswalks to be more dangerous than unmarked. Could it be that the warm grip of complacency settles in when you have given the trust of your safety to painted lines on the ground?
  - Mike August 8, 2018 (6:54 am)
    
    Agreed, MJ is just pointing out what is common sense and so many seem to lack. Look both ways before crossing. Problem with slapping a crosswalk right there is as a car is going up that hill and cresting over, they won’t see anyone at that crosswalk until they’re almost AT the crosswalk. It’s not the fault of a driver that the city lacks the ability to do simple math and physics when analyzing angles of approach for a crosswalk. There’s a reason there’s no left turn from 45th onto Charlestown there, you can’t see oncoming traffic and can easily be t-boned taking a left turn to go down the hill. I’m sure JORT will chime in now to blame ‘car culture’ for the laws of physics.
WSneigbor August 8, 2018 (10:45 am)

For those criticizing MJ, this is exactly the excuse that SDOT / KC have used for years as to why they don’t add crosswalks to SW Roxbury street between 15th and 8th, so don’t blame MJ for reciting the same. Hopefully SDOT is seeing the light, maybe now some other streets will get the crosswalks that are sorely needed (I’ve had to play frogger on Roxbury for the past 17 years and still want a darn crosswalk!).

wsea August 7, 2018 (3:12 pm)

Even at a slow speed, the crosswalk is dangerous. The hill is soooo steep that by the time you crest the top you only have a few feet to stop for someone in the crosswalk. I told my kids to stay away and go up a block. The only improvement would be to add lights pointing down the hill when someone is in the crosswalk.

Lindsey August 8, 2018 (9:12 am)

I live on the steep part of the Charlestown hill and I completely agree. This crosswalk is on the “pre-drop” one block up from the big steep drop, which is even more dangerous as pedestrians cannot see the cars that are racing up the hill from the point where this crosses. This also means that the cars approaching cannot see that there is even a crosswalk there, nor the pedestrians in it. Drivers are constantly blowing through the stop signs at 47th & Charlestown, especially traveling east, because some of them need speed to get up the incline without issue. You’d be surprised at how many cars cannot make it up that hill, not even counting the rainy days. I wish they would put in a pedestrian flashing sign (like the one at Genesee & California I think) that is activated by a person crossing and perhaps has a signal further down the hill for driver visibility.

Plf August 7, 2018 (3:13 pm)

Yep, speeding is rampant on this street, watch cars zoom by becoming ever so slightly airborne going down the hill, once a person is hit they will come up with enforcement strategies

GWS August 7, 2018 (3:28 pm)

Probably not. I’ve lived there for 18 years now and have seen the aftermath of some pretty horrible crashes. Usually at night and always due to speeding as a contributing factor. I doubt anything concrete will be done to improve the situation as long as SW Charlestown is an arterial.

Me August 7, 2018 (3:26 pm)

Ya you need a blinking.Light and speed bumps

they August 7, 2018 (3:35 pm)

Interesting, In the mid 70’s that whole north side was full of portables, Than at one point they were removed.

Jort August 7, 2018 (4:28 pm)

To be clear, this is a new PAINTED crosswalk. It’s always been a regular crosswalk, just like every other intersection of two streets in this entire city.Fun fact that pretty much no driver in Seattle knows: if somebody is at an unsignaled street corner (any street corner) and attempts to cross the street (any street), the driver is required by law under ALL circumstances to yield. Not lurch forward to intimidate the pedestrian, not speed up to get by faster, it means YIELD.And that goes for every un-signaled intersection in the entire city.

WSB August 7, 2018 (4:34 pm)

I’m a driver and I know it. I’m the driver who stops for someone waiting to cross at an unpainted crosswalk and then madly waves to try to get the attention of the oblivious drivers NOT stopping in the opposite direction (I wish at those times that cars were equipped with school-bus-style STOP bars) until finally after half a dozen or so people zoom by, someone notices the patient pedestrian, and me.
- Jort August 8, 2018 (9:04 am)
  
  Thank you, WSB. As a pedestrian, I am grateful for drivers like you.
- KM August 8, 2018 (1:05 pm)
  
  “I wish at those times that cars were equipped with school-bus-style STOP bars”Me too! It would help at the people who honk at me for stopping for a pedestrian, and it would work MUCH better than me flashing my lights at oncoming traffic to stop as well. Maybe there’s an add-on kit somewhere we can add to our car.
- DN August 8, 2018 (2:30 pm)
  
  I had this exact experience yesterday when a driver on the opposite side of the street saw me, and stopped to let me cross (at a marked crosswalk with flags) but we both waited as 15 cars on my side sped past without even looking.
uncle loco August 7, 2018 (5:35 pm)

What you say is true, but it doesn’t mean people should disregard the basic laws of physics.
Kathy August 8, 2018 (10:15 am)

Why is it, I wonder, that so many drivers have difficulty remembering that pedestrians have the right of way in unmarked intersections? I have been threatened with death and yelled at by young drivers a few times when I tried to cross Admiral Way at 62nd Ave SW. I usually scurry out of the way while yelling back “read your driver’s manual”. It can’t have been too long since these young people had to take a driver’s test. The rampant disregard for this law points to a failure of state driver education. Perhaps (not victim blaming) the presence of painted crosswalks reinforces the impression to drivers that this is where pedestrians belong, not at unmarked intersections. How hard would it be for the state to require an online refresher course before renewing driver’s licenses? It could save some lives.

dsa August 7, 2018 (5:13 pm)

Why isn’t the painted crosswalk on the crest of the hill where pedestrians are more likely to be seen? It seems to me they painted the wrong side of the intersection.

MJ August 7, 2018 (6:10 pm)

Jort/TreeHouseYou two are out of line. I blamed no one in my comment earlier. The fact is paint does not stop cars, making eye contact is the best way to ensure safety for all. This was taught to my generation in elementary school! MJ

Jort August 7, 2018 (10:50 pm)

MJ, perhaps your old-fashioned “eye contact” method of road safety is a contributing factor to why auotmobiles are one of the leading causes of unintended death and injury in the United States, something we are outpacing other developed nations with. I certainly hope our roads aren’t being designed with a “eye contact factor” equation…Walking is not inherently dangerous, and the responsibility for preventing road deaths and injuries rests solely upon those who have the capability to kill and injure others: automobile drivers. Everything else is victim blaming from automobile enthusiasts who want to slither away from their personal responsibility to drive safely.MY generation was taught to take personal responsibility for their actions. When will car drivers start taking personal responsibility for their own actions rather than always trying to blame their deadly mistakes on the most vulnerable road users?
- newnative August 8, 2018 (12:29 pm)
  
  I attempt to make eye contact with drivers and it only makes me more angry because many if not most wave as they cut me off. Sometimes they abruptly stop in the middle of the intersection and wave me on impatiently, when I’m waiting on the corner. Making eye contact is actually the worst thing because it seems to trigger aggression with drivers. I generally try to cross in lighted crosswalks and that’s where drivers behave as if they have the right of way.
  - KM August 8, 2018 (1:52 pm)
    
    I’ve had this experience too, driving, walking and biking :-( Road rage/entitlement serious and so dangerous.

TS August 7, 2018 (7:34 pm)

I wish blinking lights helped at crosswalks. I’ve noticed with the light activated crossing at California and Dakota, drivers not stop when lights are flashing and people are waiting to cross. I’ve seen cars go through with people in the crosswalk and the lights flashing.

MJ August 8, 2018 (8:42 am)

JortGo ahead and rely on others for your safety, I personally will stick to eye contact to ensure my safety, and frankly believe it is not out of fashion at all. Be and be seen are basic safety actions.Mark