WEST MARGINAL WAY: Here’s what SDOT told the West Seattle Transportation Coalition about collision, speed trends

Still no decision on the West Marginal Way protected bicycle lane proposal. But for those interested in this major detour route, some data that might interest you, if you didn’t get to attend last week’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting. WSTC had asked SDOT about collision and speed data for West Marginal; SDOT’s Brad Topol presented the slide deck you see above (here’s the PDF version). As of last week’s meeting, no major-injury collisions had happened on the road this year, he noted. The big trouble spot, not surprisingly, is the Highland Park Way intersection; the number of collisions in that area has tripled since the bridge closure. And while there’s been some reduction in speed along West Marginal, according to the data, people are still driving over the (reduced) speed limit. As a result, Topol said without elaboration, they’re working on “other methods” for slowing West Marginal traffic. Video of the meeting will eventually be available on WSTC’s YouTube page; WSTC expects to keep meeting through the summer, fourth (corrected) Thursdays, 6:30 pm, online, so July 22nd is the next date. (Our other story from last week’s meeting is here.)

anonyme July 2, 2021 (1:58 pm)

I can’t wait to hear what “other methods” SDOT comes up with. Handing out lollipops? Holding up signs that say “We heart speeders”? You can bet it will be anything and everything BUT enforcement.

Echo July 3, 2021 (1:14 pm)

Well I managed to get a ticket for going 52mph in a 30mph zone, and had it reduced to 34mph in a 30mph zone. So I’ve learned my lesson and never travel faster than 45mph.
But seriously though, there is zero reason for the speed limit to be 30mph – it should have remained at 40mph – but I’ve figured out that you don’t really save any time – because you will be waiting at a light on either end of Marginal regardless of how fast you go.
And honestly, if you are keeping up with traffic, and not pissing people off, you are going 45mph.

Michael July 2, 2021 (5:08 pm)

These numbers are all meaningless without controlling for the change in traffic volume. How many more cars go through there in a day compared to when we had the bridge and pre-covid? Am I missing something?

Flivver July 2, 2021 (5:30 pm)

Speeds that i see are really within range of what people were driving before the speed limit drop. I’m betting that SDOT will spend a LOT of taxpayer money to “fix” the “problems” they have decided exist. Their “fixes” will be implemented just before the high bridge reopens.

Flivver July 2, 2021 (5:33 pm)

WSB. Did SDOT give any updates on how the high bridge has handled the weather? Also, did they give any construction timetable updates??

WSB July 2, 2021 (5:40 pm)

I reported that the other day. No problems. No construction updates yet.

The Rog July 2, 2021 (5:54 pm)

3 car fender bender at the stoplight just before the chelan. Heading west bound right lane…

TrappedinAlki July 4, 2021 (8:48 am)

SDOT creates more problems than they claim to be fixing. I can see reducing speed limits through residential neighborhoods but W Marginal at 30mph is just ridiculous. 40mph is my speed or I’ll be run off the road.

mc99 July 2, 2021 (6:01 pm)

Any thoughts on red light cameras at the Highland/Marginal Way intersection. The number of people I see running the red lights there is astounding to me. Yes, it is a long/large intersection, but there are cars which are clearly running the light.

K July 2, 2021 (11:48 pm)

As of a few months ago, SDOT says they have no plans for red light cameras at that intersection when I asked. Huge bummer—the red light running is atrocious at this intersection.

JVP July 2, 2021 (6:22 pm)

I’d rather see them focusing on reducing gridlock, which will reduce that big increase in rear-end collisions. But at this point we’re (hopefully) in a glide path toward bridge reopening, so hopefully they don’t waste a bunch of money in the name of political grandstanding. Hahahahahah! Oh man, I just busted out laughing after I saw what I wrote.

Jort July 2, 2021 (11:48 pm)

Yeah, but the thing is there is no “fix” for gridlock except fewer people driving. If you’re willing to give some examples of how gridlock and traffic have been “solved” by a city, I’d be interested to hear, since it’s literally never happened in the history of human automobile driving and Seattle won’t be the first city to figure out how to do it. If you actually care about SDOT “wasting” money, you shouldn’t ask them to solve an unsolvable problem. There is no magic to fix to traffic except for fewer people driving. Maybe you should take the bus, JVP.

D-burger July 3, 2021 (1:02 am)

I will not slow down to 30 mph on a road designed for 40mph at high volume, especially when I’m being forced to detour 20+ minutes the wrong direction due to the incompetence of SDOT and the misuse of bridge maintenance funds for decades. Fight the power, people!

AdmiralSDV July 3, 2021 (7:29 am)

This is the sentiment I share.
MSW July 3, 2021 (10:17 am)

Amen!
Echo July 3, 2021 (1:16 pm)

You are not alone.
nwpolitico July 3, 2021 (3:52 pm)

“The rules don’t apply to me! Pedestrians and cyclists, get out of the way of my personal vehicle. I could take the bus and not have to detour, but I’d rather endanger others by driving alone and going much faster than the posted speed limit.”
nwpolitico July 3, 2021 (3:55 pm)

Please prioritize the safety of other pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who use the road instead of your own convenience. The rules apply to everyone.
UglyCityNamedSeattle July 11, 2021 (5:46 pm)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORzNZUeUHAMGet some education on stroads.

Peter July 3, 2021 (9:08 am)

Really, accidents are up??west marginal was a barely traveled four lane road when the west Seattle bridge was open. Now with it out and SDOT doing nothing to move traffic better. West Marginal is a parking lot at every light and it is a mess getting out of West Seattle!!If Herbold actually drove in West Seattle she would maybe focus some energy on helping move traffic!!SDOT leadership failed West Seattle!!!

My two cents … July 4, 2021 (3:37 pm)

Herbold doing anything for the 99% of the constituency which she is supposed to represent? LOL 😂.

Zoomy July 3, 2021 (9:27 am)

Maybe they should focus on fixing the bridge instead of fixing W Marginal SW. Any other developed country in the world would have it fixed by now.

Sasquatch July 3, 2021 (12:44 pm)

Amen! Sitting in traffic looking at an empty bridge with no workers for months straight is beyond ridiculous. SDOT…. The T stands for trepidation – not transportation
John July 3, 2021 (12:46 pm)

Zoomy, that is a remarkably ignorant and false claim.

simpleplan July 3, 2021 (10:30 am)

Meaningless data. As far as speeding, you can easily fix that by raising the speed limit to 45 like it should be…

namercury July 3, 2021 (11:07 am)

I hate to give SDOT a complement on anything; however, with respect to congestion management on West Marginal Way, I think SDOT is doing about as well as can be expected. Data and experience supports that changing the speed limit from 40 to 30 makes no sense. Why set a limit that almost no one obeys and data shows has essentially no positive effect. With respect to bicycle lanes; that would be just another sellout to Cascade bicycle Club. SDOT should avoid additional significant changes. SDOT is constantly guilty of inventing solutions looking for a problem.

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