TRAFFIC CALMING: Here’s what’s planned for two more school zones in West Seattle

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

While we await responses from SDOT among others regarding the status of more traffic calming on Alki in the wake of last night’s high-speed crash, we have news of what’s ahead for two more school zones. We received this information after our inquiry last week about speed humps/cushions coming to the Chief Sealth International High School/Denny International Middle School area (here’s that story). While researching that inquiry for us, SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson also found, and told us about, plans for new stop signs by Pathfinder K-8 and new speed cushions by Genesee Hill Elementary – here are maps:

These will be installed before summer’s out; SDOT says mailers have been sent to nearby residents, and they’ll see signage before installation: “Neighbors should look for ‘no parking’ signs at least 3 days before construction, which usually takes 1 day to add stop signs or 2 days to add speed cushions.” (Again, this info came in after a request days before the Alki crash, so it’s not related, and we’ll have that followup whenever the response comes in.)

Jeff July 17, 2023 (4:00 pm)

I like the thought, but wish it was full speed bumps instead of the avoidable pillows.

Lamont July 18, 2023 (9:03 am)

We need to import some Mexican Topes. Make sure that people who hit them too fast get suspension damage.

Azimuth July 17, 2023 (5:35 pm)

An all way stop seems logical at Genesee and 51st.

Molly July 17, 2023 (6:20 pm)

Agreed. They need an all ways stop and a traffic camera that auto sends tickets to speeders during school commute times. People have gone so crazy fast there that Genesee Hill School had to actually hire a crossing guard (thanks, Brad!) to help. He was out there JUMPING in front of cars to make them stop, because people were ignoring kids crossing.
Former Genesee Hill parent July 17, 2023 (11:17 pm)

I begged SDOT for a stop sign there before the school was even open, while at a school zone safety meeting at the District headquarters. The traffic engineer on the committee, scoffed at us and the proposal for a stop sign and then told this story about his dad in Philadelphia, “where there’s a stop sign on every corner”, just blows through them because they have too many. I simply replied we only asked for one and maybe your dad should lose his license to drive. They said they’d consider flashing beacons and speed humps and other traffic calming, but they “don’t like stop signs”. I left that meeting feeling like they don’t want to listen, they don’t like pragmatic solutions, instead of a stop sign that could have been up in days and cost very little, they wanted flashing lights and speed humps. This government agency is totally out of control. They don’t care about how much of our money they spend or how they spend it. The waste is insane.
- Wsmom July 18, 2023 (9:47 pm)
  
  Thank you for trying! A parent was successful in getting all the stop signs put up around Madison several years ago. It may be a case of who we know at the city. Amazing to me that a parent has to initiate stop signs on the corners of schools.

KBear July 17, 2023 (8:12 pm)

Speeding on Genesee is pretty outrageous in both directions. Some stop signs would help. I’ve never understood why 46th & Genesee isn’t an all-way stop. It’s a 5-way intersection near a school zone.

Lucie July 17, 2023 (9:53 pm)

Please vouch with SDOT that SW Genesee needs more stop signs! There is a 10+ block stretch that is an arterial road along Genesee hill elementary school with zero stop signs! Speed humps won’t do anything to slow down drivers that race up and down this hill. I don’t understand why they haven’t installed them yet along with more painted crosswalks with button activated lights for safe crossing.

TK July 17, 2023 (10:40 pm)

Finally for SW Genesee! Parents have tried literally for years to have safe pedestrian crossings for the school kids, back when it was Pathfinder in the late 1990’s. The City as I recall told us that our school zone did not have high enough priority for a cross walk flashing light, and we would “have to get in line just like everyone else”.

Del July 17, 2023 (10:54 pm)

I wish the city would place them next to the preschool/daycare centers.

Greg July 18, 2023 (6:02 am)

I would love to see something done around West Seattle High School. Namely more formal marked and lighted crosswalks on Hanford – better yet, raised crosswalks. Same thing for SW Stevens Street East of the high school. Walnut, Fairmount, and 39th have nothing to slow commuter traffic at those intersections. Between high schoolers and families walking to the park there is a lot of pedestrian traffic there.