Next step in city’s ‘natural drainage system’ plan for part of SW Holden

Back in October, we reported on a city plan for a new “natural drainage system” – basically stormwater-filtering landscaping – along a stretch of SW Holden in Highland Park. As we subsequently learned, the project is also meant to assist with traffic calming on what the city considers a too-wide section of the street. Seattle Public Utilities has announced the next step in the project – an on-site opportunity to talk with city reps one week from today, at 17th/Holden, 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday, March 28th. The city website says the plan is just getting to 30 percent design and is still not expected to go into construction before next year. You can review and comment on early design concepts at next week’s drop-in event, SPU says. The city has already installed “natural drainage systems” in other areas, including a section of 17th further south, between Kenyon and Henderson.

12 Replies to "Next step in city's 'natural drainage system' plan for part of SW Holden"

  • Kyle March 21, 2023 (12:49 pm)

    Make no mistake this is a road diet. That can be the only explanation for why this random block was chosen for drainage remediation. So make your voice heard on the design of the road diet.

    • WestSeattleBadTakes March 21, 2023 (2:27 pm)

      Thin it out!

    • KM March 21, 2023 (2:57 pm)

      Will do. I love it.

    • Jay March 21, 2023 (3:06 pm)

      Just submitted my comment in support of the traffic calming design, thanks!

    • D-Ridge March 22, 2023 (12:24 pm)

      Thanks for the tip, I’m going to ask them make it even narrower than planned 

      • Kyle March 22, 2023 (7:45 pm)

        Have fun waiting behind the one car turning left. 

  • Derek March 21, 2023 (1:55 pm)

    It was not “random” it’s the best location possible. 

  • Jeepney March 21, 2023 (2:11 pm)

    Strange that this relatively safe stretch of road was chosen.  There are already multiple speed bumps there that calm traffic.Odd choice.

    • Dooh March 21, 2023 (10:26 pm)

      I would disagree with the speed bumps calming this area.  I live in this stretch and people still drive 35 and the bumps don’t even slow them down. 

  • Kyle March 21, 2023 (3:03 pm)

    Drainage is much worse at many other blocks that feed into Longfellow Creek. It was chosen during a walk around with SDOT when the West Seattle Bridge was closed as an idea to narrow that stretch of road to deter use.

  • Dooh March 21, 2023 (4:10 pm)

    I hope they put left turn signal lights in ALL directions at 16th and Holden. Both east and west bound traffic need them. 

  • WSDAD March 21, 2023 (5:43 pm)

    The city installed natural drainage on our street 32nd Ave. They work well and the city keeps them cleaned and maintained every couple of weeks.

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