West Seattle’s next new speed humps

| Transportation | West Seattle news | Westwood

While traveling on SW Thistle between 35th and Delridge this week, we noticed three sets of markings that appeared to outline future speed humps. So we asked SDOT whether this was a continuation of the Westwood-area work that so far has included a new four-way stop at 25th/Trenton. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson says this is specifically tied to safety for Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School, and that the markings we saw on SW Thistle won’t be the only ones added – they’re planning four on Thistle as well as others on 26th, 27th, and Kenyon, as shown on this map:

That’s from Denny_ChiefSealth_TrafficCalming_Postcard (002) (2) that Bergerson says SDOT sent to residents nearby. As it notes, the ones for SW Thistle are actually speed cushions – the difference is explained as “Speed cushions are like speed humps but have breaks that allow emergency vehicles to pass through them without slowing down.” No installation timeline yet.

West Seattle Elementary Parent July 14, 2023 (11:58 am)

WS blog is there someone at SDOT we can check in on plans for speed humps on 31st between Myrtle and Holly? That is the street WS Elementary is on and they’re returning in the fall post construction. Huge safety concern about the speeding on that street for these little kids!

WSB July 14, 2023 (12:00 pm)

Search for the Safe Routes to School contact. I can put it on our list but realistically I can’t ask before Monday.
31st ave SW resident July 14, 2023 (1:49 pm)

I have reached out to the department of transportation on this with SPD and their response was that we (31st St. residences) need to get the material, time and permit costs all donated or pay for it ourselves. The average cost per speed bump is $5000.00Its completely ridiculous that they do nothing. Seattle has now become a reactive city instead of a proactive. I have lived here for over 10 years and I’m just disgusted with how they operate now.
- Adam July 15, 2023 (7:12 am)
  
  I’m on Myrtle on the south side of Walt Hundley Park and have heard over the years they cannot put jumps on Myrtle b/c it’s an emergency route? Snow route? Can’t remember exactly, but it’s a street ppl burn out on and race up and down constantly, and there’s kids coming in and out of that park day and night.

Person July 14, 2023 (12:06 pm)

Great news. I saw someone almost get hit on this street a few weeks ago by someone going at least 50mph. Lunch time and after school near a high school definitely needs speed bumps!

DRW July 14, 2023 (12:07 pm)

Need some on Henderson and 18th and 17th.

Rhonda July 14, 2023 (12:23 pm)

Looks like there’ll be more traffic on Holden and Trenton now as people avoid driving on Thistle to get from 35th SW to Delridge. Drivers in trucks & SUVs still drive fast over speed cushions like they aren’t there. But sedans and smaller cars’ suspensions take a beating even at slow speeds.

Aaron July 14, 2023 (1:45 pm)

Exactly. Big vehicles which are more likely to kill a pedestrian aren’t affected by the bumps. It’s almost like adding speed humps/bumps are a discriminatory practice against low slung fuel efficient vehicles.
Foop July 14, 2023 (2:04 pm)

I was recently riding my bike on thistle on my way home from an errand and was aggressively, and unsafely passed by a car who honked at me and flipped me off. I was riding just past the diverter going ~ 25 mph down the hill at the time. I’m fine with y’all either slowing down or leaving the road entirely and not trying to kill me for existing.
Josh July 14, 2023 (3:58 pm)

Weird, my sedan doesn’t take a beating and my SUV slows to a safe speed to cross them. More traffic on other streets equals slower speeds so a win all around.
- Rhonda July 14, 2023 (4:30 pm)
  
  It means more speeders on the other streets, especially Holden, Trenton, and Sylvan.
  - Derp July 14, 2023 (5:33 pm)
    
    Speeding on Holden is nothing new at all. Even with the speed bumps/ humps. Ever since the bridge closed, west seattleittes have become more combative on the roads. Nobody follows the rules of the road, they know there are no consequences, so I can drive however I want, mentality is getting out of control. No matter how many they install. This has to come from the people that live here. Why is it up to the city to stop what we as a neighborhood are doing ourselves. You can put up all the signs you want. Nobody will read them. Driving with your phone in your hand is it if control to. Sitting at a light. No wonder there is road rage.
  - RickB July 14, 2023 (5:42 pm)
    
    Sounds like you’re saying that because some people don’t follow the rules, we shouldn’t have any?
    - Derp July 14, 2023 (8:30 pm)
      
      Not sure how you came up with that. I guess your are assuming and that is on you, not me. I’m saying that people need to check themselves, why are you speeding, why did you run the yellow light. Why are you racing in the West Marginal 500. There are no reasons why people are doing it. Except they are in their own little world and don’t care about their neighbors.

JM July 14, 2023 (12:43 pm)

What’s the difference between a speed hump and a speed cushion?

WSB July 14, 2023 (12:59 pm)

It’s explained in the story above.
- JM July 14, 2023 (3:02 pm)
  
  Whoops, thanks! 👍🏻

Resident July 14, 2023 (12:48 pm)

Sure wish they could do something about the parents parking illegally during the school year when their picking up their kids. Block entrances, exits and blocking bus stops. It’s almost like the last don’t apply to them.

Re'al Kurious July 14, 2023 (12:58 pm)

How have we WS residents ever survived without all the Speed HUMPS all over WS? Alki Ave. looks & feels like an Olympic ski mogul… What’s next border security booths and speed radar traps on every other block. Are all these idiotic tactics due to the fact that we don’t have enough police to enforce current traffic laws ~ so ‘they‘ try other unnecessary stratagems! Curiously, why doesn’t Bellevue and Kirkland have these “City-Govt.” ill-created ideas?

JAT July 16, 2023 (6:36 pm)

FWIW I used to commute to work in Bellevue and rode over plenty of speed humps on any route other than Bellevue Way.

D July 14, 2023 (1:04 pm)

Kids fly down that street everyday during school I’m glad they are finally doing something

Arash Sarraf July 14, 2023 (1:21 pm)

Bellevue does not have speed humps all over the place, why is that? their roads are also way better maintained. their property taxes are relative to ours in West Seattle, so what gives?

Rhonda July 14, 2023 (8:11 pm)

Amen! It’s because Bellevue city leaders demand that Bellevue PD actually cite speeders instead of creating road hazards that ruin suspensions of careful drivers.

Odd son July 14, 2023 (1:26 pm)

I’ve noticed people ignore the no parking signs all along the area before the hill and down. I’ve let PEOs know but they are outnumbered.

Roger jackson July 14, 2023 (1:38 pm)

Why don’t we just put speed bumps on every Road in West Seattle and get it over with if people didn’t drive like idiots they wouldn’t be any

31st ave SW resident July 14, 2023 (1:50 pm)

I wish we could get these installed on 31st ave next to West Seattle elementary because we have Racers on our street at least once a day and its a school zone. I reached out to Department of transportation like SPD told me todo and their response was that i needed to get it Funded by a third party with donated time or pay for it myself. I wonder what they will say when a kid is hit by one of these cars when Schools starts again here next month……. I’m very disappointed in Seattle right now…..

School adjacent July 14, 2023 (2:18 pm)

We live in this area, can confirm SDOT sent postcards to let us know these were coming with plenty of advanced notice. I’m glad they prioritized this! There are two schools right here, so it’s double the benefit. Lots of students walk in this corridor as well. Other commenters mentioned speeding teens, but honestly, it’s also just as common to see folks drive slowly when dropping students off, then speed off like a bat out of hell :)

Another One July 14, 2023 (2:38 pm)

Do Holden next! I’ve been passed going uphill by people crossing the center line on a blind hill going 50+mph.

KM July 14, 2023 (3:05 pm)

Hear hear!

beaner66 July 14, 2023 (2:58 pm)

Well, dang. All of my shortcuts are disappearing. ALL of them. Like, I might have to actually think ahead and time manage better to get to work on time. What an inconvenience!!!! . Geeeeez. I am going to call Jessie!

KT July 14, 2023 (3:03 pm)

Any idea when the new turn only stop light will be activated at 26th and Roxbury?

Alex July 14, 2023 (4:14 pm)

I hope the neighboring residential streets do not see cars cutting through to avoid the speed humps. Our block has something similar and when we asked SDOT for help, they told us their new program required us to submit a request to a grant committee who would then determine (based on equity and need) if we were eligible for money to hire a consultant who would evaluate the street. If the consultant concurred there was a problem, then we would apply again for money to build the speed bumps. SDOT said the whole process takes 4 years and the block has to pay half.

Rhonda July 14, 2023 (8:15 pm)

I can tell you that here in Arbor Heights drivers in regular cars cut through bump-less streets to avoid them all day long. Us SUV and truck drivers don’t mind them but I feel bad for those with small cars.
- WestSeattleBadTakes July 15, 2023 (7:54 am)
  
  I have a small car, it is absolutely fine if you slow down.

DC July 14, 2023 (4:33 pm)

This is excellent news! People go way too fast down Thistle and often ignore the crosswalk. Didn’t know until I came to the comments here that some people are so dedicated to illegally speeding and refusing to yield to pedestrians that they’d look for alternative routes rather than slow down. All the more reason to add speed bumps on this road.

The King July 14, 2023 (6:42 pm)

For emergency vehicles, when seconds count and they’re now minutes away, we’ll see if the hoorays and cheers continue. An ambulance or fire dept has to slow down also.
- WestSeattleBadTakes July 15, 2023 (7:55 am)
  
  As opposed to being stuck in traffic? Please.

Chuck July 14, 2023 (5:08 pm)

FYI, in the Bahamas the locals call them “sleeping policeman”! 🤗

KT July 15, 2023 (5:33 am)

Hysterical!

Alki resident July 14, 2023 (5:27 pm)

Ever since SDOT genius’s installed the center islands all the way down Delridge, we’ve all had to use detours to get to our destinations. Wednesday is Delridge garbage pick up and it’s dead stopped for a very long distance because nobody can drive around the garbage trucks . We’re blocked in by the island. I literally have to go all around West Seattle just to get to my destination on specific days. So many people I’ve talked to, want those islands removed. Now another war on cars installing move speed bumps. And it’s also long overdue to get rid of those giant “street closed local use only”, signs too.

WestSeattleBadTakes July 15, 2023 (7:08 am)

Do those people live on the street? Because I do, and I don’t want them removed. Are you suggesting the people driving through should be prioritized over the people who live here?

So many people I’ve talked to, want those islands removed.

Crow July 14, 2023 (6:38 pm)

Think of the children! Think of the pedestrians!
Think of anything but unintended consequences.

A number (25) is only illegal until it is not, so I’d caution those with the mental shortcut of “you’re doing something ‘illegal’, therefore your opinion doesn’t count” as means to dismiss critics (should be an easy thing to understand, given cannabis’ journey in the state).

For many of the hills in the area, it is arguably near-impossible to keep under-25MPH without constantly holding down the brakes… Adaptive driving seems to be compensating for the lack of appropriate city engineering and street maintenance when it comes to the roads and their various routes to places of employment in the area (and no, the actual solution probably isn’t more speed humps, narrowing lanes, and lowering the speed limits to 20MPH).

Perhaps an end-state solution, for those in favor of such measures, could be residential and school areas closed to outside traffic, with permit-gated access for locals, then everyone else can be legally required to take the nearest highway or freeway? That way, the only people speeding on the streets will literally be your neighbors and you can take it up with them directly! ;)

Adam July 15, 2023 (7:20 am)

Sounds super cheap and easy to enforce
WestSeattleBadTakes July 15, 2023 (7:57 am)

This city is truly bankrupt of ideas, all because it’s citizens refuse to learn or understand anything.

SummerFest July 14, 2023 (6:49 pm)

Now do 26th Ave SW between 116th & 106th/107th—please, oh, please.

WSB July 14, 2023 (7:00 pm)

For that, you’d have to talk to King County Road Services – different jurisdiction.
Rick July 15, 2023 (7:16 am)

We could use ’em on the south end of 35th before it turns into MarineViewDrive. Quite the raceway at times.
MJ July 16, 2023 (6:13 am)

Ha! Good luck with that, 26th is a main arterial. By contrast, many people use nearby 106th as a high speed cut-through pushing the average speed to 35mph (per county data) on a 25mph residential street, with hundreds going 40+, and the county said: tough luck. The citizens there are so beat down that many believe it was built that way calling it a “overflow street” which isn’t a road classification at all, and have given up completely. The county could care less.