WEST MARGINAL WAY: New proposed design for bike lane, as decision looms

SDOT has reiterated that it expects to make a decision by month’s end – “in Q2” is how they’ve phrased it – on whether to build a two-way protected bicycle lane in an almost-half-mile section of the outer southbound lane of West Marginal Way, not far north of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse. When this was reiterated at last week’s meeting of the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force, what wasn’t mentioned was that the department had recently presented a new design for the lane. We learned about this while watching this week’s meeting of the Seattle Freight Advisory Board (SFAB), which opposes the plan. The new design was presented on June 4th, when SFAB and Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board members talked about West Marginal Way with SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe. After hearing about it, we asked SDOT for the meeting slides. Here is the updated design:

This one has more about the jersey barrier:

The full slide deck from the June 4th discussion restates SDOT’s contentions about the proposal, including that it will have a “negligible” effect on other vehicles’ travel times, noting that other sections of WMW north of the Longhouse have one southbound lane already. For more backstory on the proposal, see our coverage of the February online meeting about the plan, which – in a nod to the vigorous support/opposition it’s inspired – began with a “moment of meditation and reflection.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Regarding the decision timetable, here’s what an SDOT spokesperson told us this week: “We recognize that there (are) two weeks left in Quarter 2. We are working toward a thoughtful and broadly informed decision on this complex project. We hope to be able to inform community of that decision soon.”

73 Replies to "WEST MARGINAL WAY: New proposed design for bike lane, as decision looms"

  • Allan June 17, 2021 (12:31 pm)

    As usual Sam Zimbabwe and the Seattle DOT are actively working to remove lanes for vehicle traffic.  Nothing you say or do will slow their zeal, they already made up their minds what they want to do. Traditionally transportation engineers were guided by trying to move traffic as efficiently as possible, but now they do the opposite:  guided by an extremist ideology they are actually working to slow everything down and remove vehicles from the roadway.  As usual the Seattle voters (now mostly out-of-state transplants who already aided the ruin of the places they left) sheepishly go along with this folly.  And we wonder why Seattle is such a mess.

    • D-Ridge June 17, 2021 (1:15 pm)

      The road goes from one lane, to two, back to one. That does nothing for overall road capacity, so why not just have this stretch be one lane until it turns to two after the longhouse?

    • Tom June 17, 2021 (1:31 pm)

      I grew up in West Seattle and have lived here most of my life, with the exception of 6 years in Boston for grad school/work, and I support this, so you can blame some of us locals as well.

    • Kram June 17, 2021 (2:07 pm)

      I’m a born and raised local and I support this. They are not removing a through lane, it goes back down to one lane anyway as many on here have mentioned. This is a exactly the type of design we need to be seeing on dangerous old busy roadways like this. 

      • Allan June 17, 2021 (8:18 pm)

        This project absolutely reduces lane capacity on a major thoroughfare already overutilized by SDOT’s bridge failure… to say otherwise is a lie.  The road surface SF is reduced, it is a mathematical fact.  And by SDOT’s own admission this is not designed to improve traffic flow, they admit it will be worsened.  Just look at the “stated project goals”:Project benefits• Increased safety and predictability of all users• Encourages speeds closer to posted speed limits (“read: reduces velocity of traffic flow”)• Improves sight lines and visibility at driveways• Improved comfort and mobility for people biking and walking (“read: drivers can suffer more”)Some users may claim to actually support this, but do not be fooled:  we will get this whether we want it or not.  This is not being determined democratically.  Out of state Sam Zimbabwe and his team of out of state extremists at SDOT are imposing this upon us. It is going to drive jobs out of West Seattle as the corridor becomes unusable for Alaska Marine Lines and other businesses.  SDOT’s goal is to persecute people who drive cars.   It is a poke in the eye on top of the indignity of the bridge malfeasance.  

        • Gull June 17, 2021 (8:56 pm)

          This is demonstrating the ol’ saying that ‘it’s not what you look at, it’s what you see,’ because the project benefits you shared sound like positive things to me.

          Hope the road changes are only a brief period of adjustment, and not a hardship for drivers.

        • bill June 18, 2021 (12:10 am)

          So Allan, in fewer words: You oppose safety. You support breaking the law. You like intimidating weaker people. 

        • Zipper Merge June 18, 2021 (7:45 am)

          There is a primary fault with Allan’s argument that,
          The road surface SF is reduced, it is a mathematical fact.”  

          True to math, the road surface is reduced, but does that mean less traffic flow as implied? 
          In this scenario, the increased road surface only makes a difference in traffic jam capacity, i.e. the number of vehicles idling stationary on the roadway.  

          As traffic flows and shifts from one lane to two lanes and then back to one lane, traffic flow actually reduces because of lane changes and poor merging.
          Road rage due to merging and an increase in accidents may also result from the two lane section.

        • Jort June 18, 2021 (9:40 am)

          “This is not being determined democratically.” That’s right, Allan, because we don’t decide safety measures democratically. If we did, nearly half our population would be dead from people speeding, because everybody thinks “it’s OK if I  do it” with speeding. Sometimes people are wrong. When it comes to driving safety, most people are wrong. Sounds like you are too. 

    • Gull June 17, 2021 (4:07 pm)

      Traffic is a major issue in Seattle. It benefits car traffic for more users to take other modes of transportation, including biking.

      Improved infrastructure is necessary to support this reality and have traffic flow more efficiently and safely.

      These improvements which recognize the needs of all travelers isn’t about inconveniencing you or forcing an extreme ideology. It’s the reality of the future that with our population, growth, and traffic issues, many will need to switch from driving to other modes.

      Light rail (or the gondola!), possibly more water taxis, bus improvements, and more bike infrastructure are needed asap.

      • Seal June 18, 2021 (3:33 pm)

        This proposal would worsen our infrastructure.  Why do this now when so many people use this road to get in and out of west Seattle?  

        • Gull June 18, 2021 (11:53 pm)

          Car drivers assume this worsens their infrastructure, but it actually might improve traffic flow. I get it, driving in traffic is stressful. More people who can need to start biking asap and help ease car traffic.

    • Gull June 17, 2021 (8:41 pm)

      Can understand some frustration when seeing work that appears more beneficial to other modes of transportation, while sitting in traffic. Some cyclists are likely frustrated too, that safer bikeways have been needed for many years in some areas and yet to be planned or built (Georgetown area for one).

      Traffic is an issue in Seattle. Hope drivers will come to see that it benefits car traffic for more users to take other modes of transportation, including biking, and improving the roads for multi modes in places is necessary to support this.

  • nwpolitico June 17, 2021 (12:32 pm)

    Does this new design have anything to do with the after-hours construction on that part of W Marginal Way the past several days? Additionally, crews closed the sidewalk earlier this month to work on something in the parking lot pictured in the jersey barrier example.

    • WSB June 17, 2021 (1:10 pm)

      So that’s been going on for multiple days? I’ll ask. We happened onto it last night, some welding/cutting action on a steel plate in the street, but didn’t know it was a multi-day operation as no one had mentioned it until you.

      • nwpolitico June 17, 2021 (2:18 pm)

        Yes, that’s correct. The specific operation you mentioned has been going on for at least a few days, and the construction in that parking lot for Braseth Construction/on the sidewalk was going on for at least a few days prior to the steel plate business in the street.

    • Delridge June 17, 2021 (2:18 pm)

      I personally bike in this corridor and this is a welcome improvement that I fully support. It’s nice to see your tax dollars go towards something useful every once in a while. Also, I have seen them doing evening work like 2 or 3 nights so far this week on WMW in the center lane a few blocks from the PBL photo shown above. Not sure what they’re doing but they were deep in the ground; heard lots of cutting/sawing with power tools…I figured it was related to water pipes or drainage but, I have no expertise in construction so, who’s to say?

      • Allan June 17, 2021 (8:21 pm)

        Do you think it might be selfish to undermine the utility a major traffic and freight arterial so you can have more pleasant bike rides?   What about all the people who work there loading barges and such?  Should they be forced to Everett or Tacoma to benefit your convenience?

        • Delridge June 17, 2021 (11:26 pm)

          Allan, I think you’re confusing the word “pleasant” and “safety”. Bikes, don’t belong on a sidewalk. They belong on the road and on greenways and paths that are more suitable for this mode of travel, where it is safer. Sounds like the once inconvenienced here, is you and a few other disgruntled individuals that seek to treat WMW and other roads as your personal NASCAR track. The reality of it is this, this change is gonna happen whether you want it to or not. You’ll complain now, but you’ll get used to it like you get used to all the other changes we’ve had to deal with in our time in Seattle. This corridor has been used by cyclists before Covid, during, and will continue after. You should be grateful that there are people who choose to ride their bike out of here. Every single cyclist on the road is one less car that you have to deal with in traffic. Like I said, complain or don’t, it doesn’t matter. Your tax dollars are going to pay for this project just as much as mine are. Cheers!

          • Bronson June 18, 2021 (6:57 am)

            In all the time I have spend on WMW before the bridge fiasco and stuck in traffic there since, I have yet to see once person on a bike. This is a solution in search of a problem for a population that doesn’t really exist, at least in a numerically significant sense. 

          • Delridge June 18, 2021 (10:19 am)

            Yet again, common sense and logic escapes some people. So, because you specifically don’t see a “single bike” that means the trails don’t get used? I know that I-5 has traffic during rush hour but I’m not physically there seeing it, so I guess it doesn’t exist. Yeah, makes perfect sense bud!

  • reed June 17, 2021 (1:21 pm)

    I’m glad to see that the single comment that I made (addition of jersey barriers) was incorporated in the design! Fingers crossed the project moves forward because it will 1) improve bike and pedestrian safety along the corridor; and 2) improve DRIVER safety along the corridor by eliminating the 3/4 mile drag strip that people use to jockey for position, only to get bottlenecked at Highland Park Way anyway. This would be a win for everyone who uses the road.

  • Jeff June 17, 2021 (1:34 pm)

    As long as there is the pinch point at the longhouse, this isn’t any reduction is useful car lanes and puts an end to the ridiculous fiction that a sidewalk full of driveway cuts counts as a useful bike path. 

  • bellvy June 17, 2021 (1:52 pm)

    I gave my opinion via their survey.  What is the route to give it again before they decide?  Thank  you.

    • WSB June 17, 2021 (3:46 pm)

      westseattlebridge@seattle.gov since this is lumped in with all the other detour-route projects.

      • Ws resident June 17, 2021 (9:51 pm)

        Born and raised here and I oppose this.  Living in Highland Park, West Marginal used to be our quick/easy route to Alki, Admiral, Junction, etc.  It’s horrible now with the bridge closure (which is understandable).  This is absolutely ridiculous that this is a priority at this point with such a higher volume of traffic and back-ups.  We have ridden our bikes down HP Way (on the sidewalk) and then rode on the sidewalk along West Marginal Way and it is a perfectly acceptable bike path.  It is an industrial area and there are rarely pedestrians strolling along there so no need for a stupid extra bike lane?!  I think the industrial businesses down there should have the final say but of course Seattle leaders don’t really care about them.

        • Tom June 18, 2021 (10:16 am)

          Born and raised here to, and I support it. I guess we cancel each other out.

        • D-Ridge June 19, 2021 (9:51 am)

          Not born here nor raised here, but my child is and I’m glad they’ll get to grow up with safer biking routes.

  • BJ June 17, 2021 (2:16 pm)

    Can we just fix the back-ups at Highland Park and W. Marginal FIRST.   Let’s focus on getting the bridge fixed before we focus on improved bike lanes.  Haven’t seem much use of the bike lanes on W. Margainal now, BUT traffic certainly has increased and back-ups are much longer.  SDOT do your job, thought you were supposed to monitor traffic back-ups.  Doesn’t seem like anything has changed on your part.  Surprise!

    • D-Ridge June 17, 2021 (4:15 pm)

      Besides encouraging folks to use alternative transportation or not to drive at peak times, what do you think can be done otherwise while the bridge is out?

    • Jort June 17, 2021 (4:38 pm)

      SDOT’s job is to move people safely, not to make it as easy as possible for people to drive. So, yeah, they’re trying to their job, their real job, not the impossible job that everybody’s fantasies envision. Your car commute will never, ever be easy and smooth because no city in the history of human existence has ever “solved” traffic congestion, and Seattle will not be the first. SDOT is providing options for you to have safe, alternative transportation. Utilize them. Your choice to sit in traffic is not an emergency and, no matter what, it is not a “fixable” problem. 

  • T June 17, 2021 (2:28 pm)

    Great use of that  lane to nowhere and really appreciate the jersey barriers.  I am a car driver and not a transplant and I am all for this plan.

  • WS Taxpayer June 17, 2021 (2:41 pm)

    Can’t we just wait until the bridge is fixed before any additional road diets?  Not asking for much…and I don’t think its the worst idea in the world, just please, use a bit of logic.  There is nothing wrong with waiting a bit.  

    • Jeff June 17, 2021 (3:55 pm)

      It truly isn’t a road diet for this stretch.   There is about a half mile of two lanes southbound that pinches down to one at either end.   Right now this stretch is basically only used to aggressively speed ahead of everyone in the through lane and merge back in at the last second.   This is an absolute win win, for the safety of all road users including drivers.  

  • Confused -ugh! June 17, 2021 (3:37 pm)

    If this project starts soon. No way!  More stuck in traffic. Bridge first!!! 

  • E June 17, 2021 (4:09 pm)

    Let’s wait till we fix the bridge!  Main and only focus should be the bridge! 

  • CMK June 17, 2021 (4:27 pm)

    I drive on West Marginal every day and I can count on one hand the number of bikes I see in a week on that stretch. What I do see is a lot of backups and traffic jams. They need to fix the bridges first- before worrying about bike lanes that will rarely be used. Also- bikes can still use the bike trail over the bridge, so why are we prioritizing them over all the rest of us trying to get to work? I honestly don’t know how  Zimbabwe or Marx still hold their jobs. Their performance has been a joke. And it isn’t funny. 

  • skeeter June 17, 2021 (5:13 pm)

    Safer for car drivers.  Safer for bike riders.  Safer for pedestrians (who won’t have to compete with bikes on the sidewalk.)  Slower for no one.  Let’s do this now.  

  • AF12 June 17, 2021 (5:48 pm)

    How about electric and autonomous cars?  That is,  cars are here to stay.  We are shooting ourselves in the foot by reducing the existing roadway capacity for new bike lanes and few more avid bikers.  In addition, we need our existing roads for emergency vehicles and commerce. The city needs to use our tax money to repair the existing roads and bridges and not introducing unnecessary new projects (i.e., short term solutions for long term problems)!

    • Jeff June 17, 2021 (6:25 pm)

      There is not reduction in capacity.   This stretch is single lane on either side of the proposed project.     Seriously, go check it out.  

  • taxbikers June 17, 2021 (5:54 pm)

    Yay!!  Another example of Seattle focused on the bottom 2% rather than the needs of the massive majority…. wasting money left and right at the same time.

    • Reed June 17, 2021 (8:01 pm)

      Hate to tell you but most of us who ride bikes also own houses, pay property taxes, own cars, pay tab fees, etc. etc. and subsidize your more frequent driving affliction.

  • Craig June 17, 2021 (6:43 pm)

    @ Skeeter   I fully agree.  Much safer for families as the sidewalk was not wide enough for two way bike traffic, let alone bikes and peds.   Also 100% with those that recognize that with the bike lane, the only impacted drivers will be those who will have to wait a quarter mile before putting the rest of our lives at risk while speeding towards the bottleneck at HP Way.   A win for  Duwamish Valley/ S Delridge/HPark cyclists and for motorists. 

  • Riverside June 17, 2021 (7:02 pm)

    I live on the block this will be constructed next to and this won’t make it safer for people who live, work and patronize businesses in Riverside. Since the bridge closure pulling out on to W. Marginal has gotten more dangerous. Cars heading South are accelerating faster as people are annoyed from sitting in traffic. With all the additional traffic it’s very difficult to find a break to safely pull out. When all that traffic is in one lane it will be impossible. It’s already hard to see oncoming traffic through the weeds to judge speed. Trying to look over a solid jersey barrier.. not sure how that will work. The description that it’s a half mile where bikes are on W. Marginal or the sidewalk is not true.  There is no point you have to ride on W. Marginal. The marked bike path runs down lightly traveled 16th Ave SW for a few blocks from under the bridge. It’s then one and a half blocks on the sidewalk until the crossing light and where the separated bike path picks back up. With the trade off in residents and workers safety, added lane congestion for thousand of people and the project expense compared to a bike having to ride a bumpy block and a half on a sidewalk that is separated from the road I don’t get why this is being considered. The construction the last few days on W. Marginal is installing gas lines to those three little formerly abandoned houses at Andover.  

    • Gull June 17, 2021 (9:13 pm)

      People on bikes are trying to get somewhere safely, efficiently, and timely too, just like those of you in cars.

      Cyclists aren’t simply out for a casual joy ride any more than car drivers. Often we’re trying to get to and from work or an appointment, just like you. 

      Bikes are just a different vehicle, and cyclists also need roadways to support their mode of travel.

      Seems like theres a misconception that biking is a luxury experience. True it has its benefits and most of us enjoy it, but its not easy out there on a bike, and there are many folks who have to bike because they cannot afford a car.

      • Foop June 18, 2021 (6:09 am)

        Any many people who want to bike more but don’t because of how aggressive and unfriendly cars and car infrastructure here is.

    • AlsoRiverside June 18, 2021 (1:47 pm)

      I also live on the block this will be constructed next to, and I fully support it. It will make things safer for people who live, work, and patronize businesses in Riverside. It has indeed gotten more difficult to pull out onto W Marginal since the bridge closure; it will be much easier to be let into the traffic lane when cars are going slower speeds. The jersey barrier would not be particularly tall and would make the area safer for all users 😃In its current state, the bike path is not well marked, and cyclists coming down SW Marginal Place often mistakenly ride up to the top of 17th Ave SW instead of going down 16th Ave SW. The bike path will make directions clear and allow cyclists to avoid both of those roads. Whether they choose to ride down Marginal or 16th, cyclists still have to avoid large freight vehicles, and will no longer have that dangerous obligation when the bike path is constructed. There is no trade off in safety for residents and workers of the neighborhood and no additional lane congestion – a win, win!

  • Smittytheclown June 17, 2021 (7:05 pm)

    I suggest the city spend more time expediting the bridge repair.  Good god, this is comical. 

  • Don Brubeck June 17, 2021 (8:47 pm)

    I drive a car and ride a bike frequently on this route. Using the short stretch of right lane between the north end of the Duwamish Trail up to West Marginal Place for a bike lane will make it safer to ride a bike, and safer to drive because it will prevent some of the crazy right-side high speed passing that is causing crashes. It is needed now, while the high bridge is out and more people are driving cars on this street, to help with mobility for everyone. More people crossing the Spokane St and 1st Ave S bridges by bike means less cars in the way of trucks in the traffic lanes. It will also help with safety while crossing on foot between the Duwamish Longhouse and the parks and parking on the river side of the street.

  • Dunno June 17, 2021 (8:52 pm)

    13 months and counting…this is worse than a joke!  I want to see my grandma on a scooter!  Better yet on roller skates on her electrical walker!   We need dedicated lanes for that too.

  • Olivist June 17, 2021 (9:33 pm)

    So what happened to the drop the one lane section south of where WMW passes under the bridge?  https://westseattleblog.com/2021/02/followup-bicycle-lane-more-or-less-street-parking-why-any-change-at-all-heres-a-closer-look-at-west-marginal-way-options/Despite “not having data” on either use of the 3-4 parking spaces at the longhouse or bike usage, SDOT seems to have already made its decision (possibly even before very the first meting even occurred). Sorry seattle freight advisory board. You and your businesses are a clear loser since your needs will continue post-bridge fix (assuming sdot can get that done!).   

    • Kathy June 18, 2021 (12:45 am)

      Recently a man riding a bike in a crosswalk was killed by person driving a semi truck who “didn’t see” him. I think given the balance of power on the road it’s unfair for the freight driving community to begrudge the installation of safe separated bike infrastructure. What do they have to lose? For the truck driver it may be a little time and maybe some money. For the bike rider, their life is at stake.

  • David June 17, 2021 (10:42 pm)

    It’s outrageous SDOT would proceed with this while the high bridge is still out of service. This lane capacity reduction will cause increased in travel times and decreased car volume per unit time regardless of shorter one lane segments  before & after. For the vast majority biking is not an option and most bike commuters would take the low bridge anyway. Wait until the bridge is repaired.

    • bill June 18, 2021 (12:20 am)

      David, bike commuters headed for destinations in the direction of South Park, Georgetown, and Tukwila are not going to take the low bridge.  That would be like a West Seattle driver taking 520 to go to Renton. Oh wait, we’re talking West Seattle drivers. Maybe some do.

  • Jort in 3...2...1.. June 17, 2021 (11:20 pm)

    I travel WMW at least one daily RT; I’ve yet to see more than one – maybe two – cyclists on this whole stretch and, yes, they were “recreational”…you know, the ones that have all the colorful spandex and visions of Tour de France grandeur?I don’t see this route to be one people would use with frequency (compared with, say, over the low bridge), and am mystified as to why this would be prioritized while the bridge is down.  Sorry but the numbers don’t bear this out for me based on experience and we should be doing everything we can to mitigate impact on drivers.  I know it’s a third rail, but given the bridge being down, would think removing the lane reductions would be more important.  

    • bill June 18, 2021 (12:23 am)

      Sporty-looking riding clothes are comfortable and practical, particularly if you intend to cover a long distance quickly. Apparel indicates nothing about a rider’s purpose for riding.

    • Cwit June 18, 2021 (1:38 am)

      If anecdotal observations of appearance is what we’re going by, then by the amount of sports and luxury cars I’ve seen on WMW, a good amount of automobile traffic there is “recreational.”

      • Foop June 18, 2021 (6:03 am)

        Colorful clothing is for safety. Even when (especially when) commuting I wear my brightest colors to stand out more. When I used to commute I kept most of my work stuff in the office so I didn’t have to haul a lot on my bike (a privilege, I know). How many bikes so you expect to see when going 40 mph down this mile stretch? You’re probably among it for all of a minute and a half. Are you staring at the tree covered sidewalk looking for them? I also bike it a lot without hauling gear to support local southpark businesses. It’s much easier biking there than driving and looking for parking. When I do hit this stretch, especially as the weather improves, I pass quite a few other bikes! It’s very stressful passing people on this particular stretch of sidewalk, especially as more unskilled and larger ebikes grow in popularity.

    • Delridge June 18, 2021 (8:03 pm)

      Look at you go! Giving your rude assumptions and opinions about something you don’t understand, therefore it must be bad. You can mock the clothing but it is functional for the rider and drivers that they have to encounter. For all our sakes, it’s a good thing you’re not an SDOT traffic engineer. As mentioned above, the goal here is to get people along the corridor SAFELY.  I think you’re failing to understand that safety ≠ speed. Good luck out there. 

  • Kathy June 18, 2021 (1:06 am)

    Has there ever been a traffic back up in those southbound lanes where the proposed bike lanes would be installed? I’ve never seen one. I only see cars jockeying around each other, passing on the right, driving way over the speed limit, merging back suddenly just before the Longhouse, only to get a car or two ahead of others at the Highland Park Way intersection. This project needs to be done now while the area is more unsafe for everyone due to the increased detour traffic. There is no reason to postpone it until after the WS Bridge is repaired, that’s faulty reasoning and has nothing to do with the safety issues on West Marginal Way we are experiencing now. Even Riverside residents and businesses would have an easier time getting in and out if the road were designed to slow down traffic there.

  • KM June 18, 2021 (8:12 am)

    I only drive on WMW since I don’t feel safe enough to bike without this proposed connection. This is an easy fix. Very few cars are using this .4-.5 mile of a sliver of roadway that would be converted, and the ones who do are often speeding to pass–dangerous and illegal. I know a lot of drivers are super focused on getting places as fast as possible–roadway designs shouldn’t cater to those drivers. We need to implement changes that keep all users safer on the roads. 

  • DelridgeDriver June 18, 2021 (8:37 am)

    These comments against the bike lane make me so sad. As a regular driver on West Marginal Way, I will happily give up one lane on this stretch if it helps some of my neighbors get where they are going more safely. That should be our priority.

  • J June 18, 2021 (2:02 pm)

    Why do this NOW?? Wait until the bridge is functional. Have you tried to commute to and from West Seattle?? And we’re not even back to full traffic numbers!

    • Gull June 19, 2021 (12:02 am)

      Do you ever multitask?

  • AF12 June 18, 2021 (2:09 pm)

    In the past to justify and incentivize use of bikes (i.e., by restriping  existing curb lanes, etc.) we were told it will help the overall traffic congestion; even though the total bike commuters at best is less than 4% of overall work related commutes in Seattle.  Now, it’s for safety reasons to mix avid bikers, trailer trucks and cars in a road that is classified as “Principal Arterial”.  The big question that must be asked is how the City is spending our $700,000,000 Transportation  Levy?  The answer is not to fix the WS bridge as soon as possible, but spend it on inessential project to please a vocal group!

    • reed June 18, 2021 (4:26 pm)

      If you think the bicycling group is more vocal than the nothing but cars driving group, I have a bridge to sell you.

  • Gull June 19, 2021 (12:07 am)

    It’s interesting how car drivers regularly rally against bike lanes and cyclists, when it’s really other cars and driver’s behavior that are the biggest impediments and contributors to traffic.

  • Millie June 19, 2021 (3:23 pm)

    Just one question – do they realize the West Seattle Bridge is not available?    Why can this project not be delayed until the main exit from West Seattle is available???    Personally, I’m really tired of city officials, specifically SDOT, not using some semblance of common sense.

    • AF12 June 21, 2021 (1:46 pm)

      Well said!

  • Amy Thomson June 21, 2021 (2:32 pm)

    I live off of West Marginal Way, and have to use it to go anywhere in the city.  I feel very strongly that this idea should not be implemented until AFTER the West Seattle high bridge is repaired.  First, the amount of traffic on West Marginal will be sharply reduced once the bridge is repaired, and the impact of the bike lane will not be quite so bad.  Second, it will give SDOT time to see what the actual impact of the opening of the new deepwater, high capacity port will have on West Marginal Way.  Restricting West Marginal EVEN further at this time is a Very Bad Idea!

  • KA June 21, 2021 (4:12 pm)

    Get the bridge open first. This has got to be the only city in the country systematically trying to make traffic worse. Are they trying to torture us?

    • Jort June 23, 2021 (12:51 pm)

      Nope, they just recognize, like every city in the world has to also, at some point, that there is no possible way to grow a city AND move everybody with cars. No city in the entire recorded history of human civilization has “solved” traffic congestion by building more car infrastructure, and Seattle will not be the first. You will adapt, and so will all of us, because that’s how it’s gone in cities all over the world and Seattle isn’t going to be any different. Make your mental adaptations now and either get a bike or get on the bus. Throw your car away.

      • jen June 23, 2021 (2:33 pm)

        I would say somebody else needs the mental adaption. 

Sorry, comment time is over.