day : 20/11/2018 12 results

VIDEO: Light-rail displacement questions, plus 99-closure-and-beyond briefing, @ Junction Neighborhood Organization

| Neighborhoods | Transportation | West Seattle news

Our area’s two biggest transportation topics were at centerstage as the Junction Neighborhood Organization met last night. First, light rail:

SOUND TRANSIT UPDATE: Stephen Mak, the project’s West Seattle lead, provided background, including where on the timeline the project is – with planning continuing until 2022. But the most distinctive part of the briefing he led with Andrea Burnett was the Q&A, with a heavy focus on questions from people wondering if they would lose their homes to light-rail construction.

Mak also recapped how the process got to where it stands. We recorded this on video but the house lights weren’t brought down, so the graphics aren’t all that visible, so it’s mostly usable as audio – the slide deck is above.

The presentation included a quick look at the three “end-to-end alternatives” with which the third round of route review has begun (unveiled at the Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting we covered two weeks ago).

There are variables within each of these options, as Mak recapped; for example, the one that would tunnel to The Junction includes three potential tunnel locations.

And there’s the possibility of crossing the Duwamish River north of the West Seattle Bridge instead of south of it; that would include the rail bridge crossing over the West Seattle Bridge’s Delridge ramps, Mak said in response to a question.

The third end-to-end alternative, which would be elevated going into The Junction, envisions an elevated station at 41st. “I think it would be helpful for you to give (people) the elevation,” an attendee said. “Isn’t it true that it would be 140 feet?” Mak said he didn’t have that information. Does an elevated track go over houses? No, the houses would be demolished “to clear a path,” someone else responded. Another person said, “Is there a Ballard tunnel option? If Ballard gets a tunnel, West Seattle is going to want a tunnel.” Other questions included, what does ST mean by “exploring tradeoffs” in certain locations?

Also: Is there any option that would mean no one would lose their homes?

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VIDEO: Rotary Club of West Seattle gets visit from state Attorney General, looks ahead to Children’s Shopping Spree

November 20, 2018 9:31 pm

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| Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

A high-profile guest at today’s Rotary Club of West Seattle meeting – state Attorney General Bob Ferguson. And the club has another big event coming up. First, today’s visit:

Ferguson is a North Seattle resident who has been the state’s elected Attorney General since 2012 (here’s his bio). He told the West Seattle Rotarians that he had set a goal of visiting every Rotary Club in the state – more than 180 – and he has only about 40 to go. He spoke briefly and then answered questions. We recorded video:

Toplines: His office has 600+ lawyers, more than 100 of whom work on behalf of children – a major responsibility for the AG’s office. The office handles 20,000+ consumer complaints every year, many involving charity fraud. He shared anecdotes, including the story of prosecuting scammers who had bilked small businesses out of a fake $125 “fee.” The consumer-protection division pays for itself, he added, from proceeds of judgments.

Ferguson also mentioned having filed 32 lawsuits against the Trump Administration and winning 15 of them so far, 9 of which are no longer appealable, with the other 6 still in the appeal process. The lawsuit subjects range from DREAMers to “3D printed” plastic guns. Some ask him why he’s filing so many suits against the administration; Ferguson said he contends, the better question is, why does the administration so often flout the law?

First question: Who pays for those lawsuits?

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West Seattle Crime Watch: More illegal dumping

November 20, 2018 8:30 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

For the second time in less than week, we have a reader report of illegal dumping. Just texted:

Illegal dumping in alleyway between 35th Ave SW and 34th Ave SW around 6:55 pm. Heard loud roar of truck speeding off on Barton. Black bags with other debris spread down the alleyway.

The texter says it’s been reported to police.

P.S. Here’s the text of the no-dumping law, in case you’re curious.

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From the ‘in case you wondered too’ file: New crossing islands at 30th/Trenton

November 20, 2018 7:21 pm

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| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you travel on SW Trenton between Delridge Way and 35th SW, you have probably noticed those new crossing islands installed at 30th SW. It’s part of the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway, which is on 30th SW between SW Roxbury and SW Kenyon, before moving to 34th SW as it continues north. We’ve received a few questions about the islands – most recently, a reader wondering how emergency vehicles would get around them. We took that question to SDOT’s project spokesperson Adonis Ducksworth, who explained:

Your observer is correct, they will interfere with the turning movements of large vehicles. We designed them knowing that larger vehicles – specifically commercial vehicles – would have to drive over them.

To accommodate such large vehicles, the islands would have had to be designed in a manner that would not have provided as much refuge for pedestrians. So we decided on a compromise: design and locate them as originally intended for pedestrian safety, while making them mountable for the low volume of larger vehicles turning to/from 30th/Trenton. In other words, large trucks can drive over the islands. The curb is only about 4 inches off the ground versus the standard 6 inches.

The Phase 1 design (see the map here) also includes crossing islands at 30th/Thistle and 34th/Morgan.

We asked Ducksworth what’s next in the greenway project, which is in its first phase and eventually will stretch all the way to north West Seattle. He says that “almost all of the speed humps are in” for Phase 1. “We still have to put up the signs and paint the markings. That work will likely happen in the near future in 2019.”

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Haven’t made it to any of the info sessions about the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure? Another one in West Seattle next week

November 20, 2018 4:59 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | Transportation | West Seattle news

If you still have questions about the upcoming closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct – and the other looming traffic-crunch factors – but haven’t made it to any of the meetings where it’s been discussed – here’s your next chance: Monday (November 26th), Delridge Community Center (4523 Delridge Way SW), 6:30-7:30 pm. This one’s a city presentation; the announcement says, “Please join the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Department of Transportation for an information session on the upcoming permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the other upcoming challenges to our transportation system as we build a better city.” It’s one of five around the city.

P.S. We covered last night’s briefing at the Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting and our report is in the works.

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BIZNOTE: Another West Seattle corner store closing

November 20, 2018 2:57 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips. Country Deli-Grocery at 7789 Highland Park Way is closing at the end of the month. The property is for sale – both the store and the house behind it; no buyer set but the store is closing anyway. Asking price is $380,000 for the store, $780,000 if you want the house too. Highland Park Way is one of the West Seattle arterials where redevelopment is increasing, and the listing for this property says, “Rare opportunity to develop a mixed rental property – retail shop and apartments above, Neighborhood Commercial zoning (NC 1).”

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THANKSGIVING UPDATES! New info in our West Seattle Holiday Guide

November 20, 2018 12:56 pm

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| West Seattle news

T minus 2! Thanksgiving is two days away and as promised, we’ve continued adding information to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, where you’ll find seasonal events and other information spanning the busy weeks from pre-Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. For your Thanksgiving planning, we have:

-Morning workouts/run
-Coffee shops that’ll be open on the holiday
-Restaurants that’ll be open on the holiday
-Grocery stores that’ll be open on the holiday
-Free community meals
-What to do after dinner

And that’s just Thanksgiving! Lots more in the guide too – browse it here. We’re adding to it at least once a day – if you have something to add, for Thanksgiving or beyond, please e-mail us as soon as you can – westseattleblog@gmail.com.

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Car-on-side crash at 35th and Trenton

November 20, 2018 11:58 am

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

Northbound 35th SW is blocked near SW Trenton because of that crash. The driver of the car that’s on its side hit the parked car on the right, police told us at the scene. No injuries, and a tow truck has already arrived, so this should be cleared before too long.

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Remembering Joyce Coleman, 1926-2018

November 20, 2018 10:46 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are sharing this remembrance of Joyce Coleman:

R. Joyce Coleman, age 91, passed away in the presence of family on Friday, November 9, 2018, just short of her 92nd birthday. She was born November 15, 1926, in Yakima, to Delbert McClain and Blanche Oliver.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank and sons Robert and John. She is survived by her son Frank Jr., daughters-in-law Lena and Sue, grandsons Andrew and Ben, sister Marlene, brothers Bob and Don, and a great-grandson and great-granddaughter.

She was a resident of Seattle for over 78 years after moving from Yakima and lived a majority of her life in West Seattle, which she considered her home. She attended and was a member of West Side Presbyterian Church for over 65 years.

Joyce was a telephone operator prior to meeting Frank and getting married. After Frank retired, she went back to work at Seafirst Bank in the Mortgage Banking Department, and Frank drove her to work or the bus stop every day up until she retired. It was time they shared and enjoyed especially at Christmas so they could shop at Frederick and Nelsons, Nordstrom, and Macy’s.

She will be interred in a private gathering at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery, where she will join her beloved Frank. A gathering will occur after the holidays for family and friends to share and get together in her honor.

Special Thanks to the staff and nurses at Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County for their loving care and assistance in her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to this group of wonderful people and facilities.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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Dozens of reasons to go watch Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown on Friday

November 20, 2018 9:03 am

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| Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Dozens of young musicians, comprising our area’s two high-school marching bands, will be part of the 28th annual Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown this Friday. Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School (shown in WSB photos from 2017) are both in the parade lineup we obtained from a Macy’s spokesperson – see it here (PDF).

The parade starts at 9 am Friday (November 23rd) at 7th and Pine, heads west on Pine to 5th, turns south on 5th, then west on University, and heads back north on 4th to, of course, the endpoint at Macy’s. Rain or shine!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Foggy Tuesday watch

November 20, 2018 7:14 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:14 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle on this foggy Tuesday morning.

7:19 AM: Washington State Ferries says the #2 and #3 vessels on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route are “running an estimated 20 minutes behind schedule due to fog and reduced visibility.”

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WEATHER ALERT: ‘Dense fog advisory’ until noon

November 20, 2018 3:23 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Minutes ago, the National Weather Service issued a “dense fog advisory” alert for our area. It’s in effect until noon. The NWS warns, “Dense fog will result in poor driving conditions for the entire morning commute. Patchy areas of freezing fog may also lead to isolated areas of black ice on bridges and some roadways.” Read the alert in its entirety here.

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