Seven West Seattle stairway projects planned for this year and next

That’s the stairway between 37th and 38th SW at SW Findlay, recently renovated. It’s one of seven stairway projects in West Seattle scheduled for 2023-2024, according to SDOT‘s Greg Funk. We checked in with him after reader Desiree emailed to report that she’d spotted a notice for one of the upcoming projects, for Bonair at Halleck (here’s the notice). Funk says work should start in mid-to-late summer because right now they’re “in the process of getting a power pole moved before we can start. Other West Seattle stairway projects ahead for 2023-2024:

California Dr SW-SW Cambridge (40% completed)

SW Hudson St-40th Ave SW (Rail upgrade only. Estimated start Nov-Dec)

50th Ave SW And SW Admiral Way (2024; notice)

21st Ave SW & SW Dakota St (2024; notice)

SW Roxbury and Marine View Dr SW (2024; notice)

The stairway-maintenance webpage – which Funk says will be updated with these projects soon – notes that the city has more than 500 stairways in all.

Johanna arellano April 11, 2023 (6:30 pm)

Can you share the total number of staircases in West Seattle? Bonus if you also know if there is a map that shows all of them

WSB April 11, 2023 (6:55 pm)

I don’t have the total handy. But here’s a map:
https://faculty.washington.edu/smott/SeattleStairs.html

eastvashon April 11, 2023 (7:46 pm)

The new pours are nice, but the fact these are easily a foot narrower with the supplied handrails is a big detractor. The lack of maintenance on the side vegetation makes these unpleasant very quickly.

Question Authority April 11, 2023 (9:01 pm)

All the metal handrail fabrication and onsite placement is done by the SDOT Bridge Maintenance Mechanics crew. This workload takes them away from performing bridge maintenance and upkeep, brilliant.

Reed April 12, 2023 (8:39 am)

Remember that transportation also includes pedestrians; whiny car drivers have to share.

Longshoelaces April 12, 2023 (6:01 am)

This is lovely to hear! These stairways connect our neighbors and our neighborhoods. I recognize there are a LOT of these stairways across the city and that scheduling maintenance on all of them is a challenge.

lunartransit April 13, 2023 (9:05 am)

This particular stairway has an unexpected community art treat!

wetone April 12, 2023 (10:44 am)

Boy if they plan on 7 stairway projects their going to need to hire some more skilled help…..don’t think this group has completed the build or rebuild of 7 stairway projects in a years time for awhile …….. This group is very diversified and is responsible for many types of projects throughout city. Sadly many of the long time skilled tradespeople left this group as it was run into the ground over last 6 years. This team has different management now and will hopefully be successful with new goals ;)

Myles carey April 12, 2023 (2:54 pm)

This has always bugged me Hudson and 38th SWI’m not certain but this looks like a public stairs with a private property sign on a gate to it. Anyone familiar with these stairs ?- Myles

CAM April 12, 2023 (11:32 pm)

The railings on that staircase are attached to the building and I doubt the city would do that. So it would appear to have been renovated most recently by the building if not originally built by them. I have also thought it was odd though given that most multi unit buildings that incorporate an exterior staircase like that which is essentially a pass through between two ROWs without entering the property/secure building (say between two linked buildings or on the side of a building like the Aura) leave that staircase accessible to the public.
Derek April 13, 2023 (10:51 am)

This is illegal. Report to Find it Fix it and have them remove the gate and sign. https://faculty.washington.edu/smott/SeattleStairs.html

Chuck April 12, 2023 (4:25 pm)

I talked to some construction workers today at Brandon and 23rd Ave SW, doing site prep for a new city stairway on the Brandon right of way. They said it’s going to have bicycle gutters. I wonder if they’re making the developer of the new adjacent houses pay for it.

WestSeattleBadTakes April 13, 2023 (11:24 am)

They are, see page 12 on this published decision PDF.

Regarding SW Brandon Street, the Seattle Department of Transportation is requiring the developer to install a stairway within the SW Brandon Street right-of-way (shown on sheet 18 of the plan set). This stairway will provide a pedestrian connection between 21st Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW where currently none exists. This will improve the pedestrian mobility in the neighborhood. Currently, the closest pedestrian links to areas east of the site are over 1⁄4 mile to the north and south of the site. Therefore, per the overview policies in SMC 25.05.665.D, the existing City Codes and regulations to mitigate impacts public services and facilities are presumed to be sufficient and additional mitigation is not warranted under SMC 25.05.675.O.

Source: Record Number: 001900-19PN

KBear April 12, 2023 (5:25 pm)

I think that one is actually on private property, although it would be nice to have a public staircase there. No doubt many people would be confused without the sign. Public stairs are usually more in the center of the right-of-way.

wetone April 13, 2023 (8:52 am)

As to stairway in picture, stairway map shows a city stairway at that location I believe. It also shows power lines which is usually city property. Seen a few times where property owner will try blocking off public right of way such as this, could or could not be the case here. One could use the “Find it Fix it App” or maybe contact SDOT’s Greg Funk (mentioned it story)

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