VIDEO: What else SDOT has planned for SW Barton by Westwood Village

One week ago, we showed you the concrete curb extension that’s been added on the westbound side of SW Barton alongside Westwood Village, where a driver hit and killed a pedestrian three months ago, in an area where neighborhood advocates have been pleading for safety improvements for years. But that’s not all SDOT is planning in the area, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition was told at its meeting last week. The briefing by Brad Topol, who’s currently leading SDOT’s Vision Zero efforts, was a followup to his WSTC appearance last July. Here’s what he brought to show what’s in the works:

(Here’s a PDF version if you can’t read it via Scribd above.) Also, we recorded him on video:

You’ll note in the renderings that a flashing beacon is now planned for the area as part of the conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line; that’s something that Topol had said in July was not in the plan.

Also discussed: Sightline effects of Metro buses parked along Roxhill Park, along eastbound SW Barton. SDOT plans curb paint and, if needed, signage to keep buses from parking where they impede visibility.

Regarding the curb extension, Topol drew some concern about the lane-narrowing pushing bicycles into the center of the traffic lane. He said this area is in the Bicycle Master Plan and could see a protected bike lane in the future. WSTC pressed further on design inconsistencies between this and, for example, Avalon. Topol’s predecessor Jim Curtin, also in attendance, jumped up to say that Avalon is being readied for protected bike lanes now, while Barton is only a possibility fo the future.

Continuing, Topol said 26th/Barton has work on the way to address its “high collision” status as well as Neighborhood Street Fund. “Leading pedestrian interval” signal timing was installed last week – only required a change in software programming. (LPI gives pedestrians a head-start over cars that might be turning into their path.)

One more question from WSTC for SDOT: How do you involve the Westwood Village property owner/management in these decisions? Short answer: They don’t even know who those are, let alone have interaction with them. But WSTC members observed that transportation flow outside the shopping center shouldn’t be considered as if it’s not related to the flow within/through the center.

Craig October 2, 2019 (8:24 pm)

This is wonderful that something is finally being done at this location. On one hand it is good to hear that Brad Topol is thinking of the Bicycle Master Plan but I struggle with the fact these installations were designed without apparent consideration for the BMP. Why build it twice?

DRW October 2, 2019 (10:05 pm)

Rapid Flashing Beacon! Yes.

JRR October 2, 2019 (10:05 pm)

So very, very needed and necessary for people who walk and use the bus as their primary mode of transportation. It’s been disappointing to see the area referred to a transit center without these kinds of safety updates.

MrB October 3, 2019 (8:58 am)

Metro Buses have destroyed the pavement on that section of Barton.

West Seattle Hipster October 3, 2019 (9:43 am)

Thanks for pointing that out, those panels definitely need to be replaced.
ER October 3, 2019 (3:33 pm)

Agree. They have sank due to the weight of the buses parking during layover and I see it on other streets as wellThey also use 30th from Roxbury as a shortcut so they can get a longer break. Sent a complaint in and was told it would stop, but it keeps continuing.
momosmom October 4, 2019 (12:04 pm)

And destroyed 26th Ave. SW too. You can see where they patched some areas with asphalt but that is sinking so what is worse, big cracks in the road or sink holes?

Jim P. October 3, 2019 (12:02 pm)

I’m a bit surprised they are not involving the shopping center’s management even peripherally, as a courtesy if nothing else. Not exactly hard to find them.I’d really like to see Westwood improve pedestrian access to the center from Barton as it is risky trying to get in on that side without having to walk all the way up to Rite-Aid.A lot of cars come in and out of the entry on Barton like they were trying to qualify for Le Mans.

AMD October 3, 2019 (3:53 pm)

Much of the parking lot adjacent to the bus layover is owned by Target, not Madison Marquette (Target owns their property and chunks of parking lot in front and behind their building). I can tell you right off Target doesn’t care and doesn’t want to be involved. I’d be surprised if the shopping center’s management did either since they have no control or responsibility for Barton St.

coffeedude October 3, 2019 (5:16 pm)

The Rapid Flashing crossing at 25th and Barton will not fix the main problem there, it needs a 4 way stop, like there was once during some construction. When that 4 way stop was in place it was so much easier to navigate that intersection.

CC October 4, 2019 (12:33 pm)

Agreeeed. I never thought I’d miss an extra stop sign, but that made that intersection much less stressful.

Daddy1 October 3, 2019 (9:32 pm)

Our family is no longer shopping at WestHoodVilliage. Never safe for parking, Bad stores and Qfc has gone totally downhill. We were told that the one bathroom was a ” luxury” and it will soon be gone. I’m sorry really? Our kids need a bathroom! and the Bus Area wow thats pure genius. Let’s block all the cars from passing and getting to Mcdonalds even is like WW3 ! WOW We wonder why the stores are closing !!

JRR October 4, 2019 (7:49 am)

The stores are closing because Madison Marquette has failed to update the car-centered strip mall for the realities of high density city life.

anonyme October 4, 2019 (10:12 am)

JRR, both your comments are spot on. The design of Westwood is awful, very pedestrian and ADA unfriendly. Recently, someone suggested that the whole thing be redeveloped into a live/work/shop kind of multi-storied ‘village’. This sounds like an excellent idea – along with enhanced security, of course. This might also attract some decent businesses back to the area.

JRR October 4, 2019 (11:37 am)

I have personally written them letters encouraging this. It’s a design for another time. Also, Longfellow Creek is under it.

anonyme October 4, 2019 (4:09 pm)

Yes, the entire area was a wetland at one time. Daystar Retirement Village is practically floating. It would be incredible if some forward-thinking developer could daylight the creek and build a village around it. So many possibilities with that scenario, both environmental and commercial. Those two ends seldom meet – but they could. A win-win. Unfortunately, the water situation is complicated; the Roxhill bog (coincidentally?) went dry at the same time SDOT made the Barton St. revisions for the Metro layover areas, and street outlets from the bog were blocked. Who knows where the water went? Nice idea, though.

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