West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
(The seven size/shape options that represent the nine alternatives)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Nine possible sizes and shapes for Fauntleroy’s new ferry dock were shown by Washington State Ferries when it convened the project’s Community Advisory Group last night for the first time since Septtember 2022.
Since then, WSF has extended the timeline for the project by two years. And ferry-system leaders said they expect to have to ask the State Legislature for more money, no matter which option is chosen.
In addition to reviewing the nine possibilities, group members also picked up on some new factors in the discussion. For example, they noted that WSF managers brought Captain’s Park into it for the first time – that’s the tall-tree-dotted lookout spot atop the embankment immediately across lower Fauntleroy Way from the dock entrance. After a followup question from advisory-group member Judy Pickens of Fauntleroy, WSF’s David Sowers said that if it were determined that Fauntleroy Way needed an extra lane for smoother traffic flow, they’d have to cut into the bluff. “Not something we want to do but something our consultant brought up.” Pickens warned it would surface a multitude of issues, including archaelogical considerations.
But let’s get back to those alternatives. First, here’s what they ruled out in the first two levels of screening possibilities:
And here are the basics for the two concepts they settled on:
Note that slide says “same size.” Reviewing the nine options, advisory-group member Frank Immel of Fauntleroy observed that the first three are described instead as “similar size,” and would be at least 18 feet wider than the current dock. Design-team manager Edd Thomas attributed that to “design standards” including lane width on the dock, plus the addition of bike lanes and a motorcycle staging lane. So, starting with the “similar size” Alternative A and its two ticketing variations, here are the options – note that 124 cars is something of a magic number because that’s the capacity of the Issaquah-class ferries serving the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route:
‘
(See color renderings in the full slide deck.) Here are characteristics that all those options have in common:
This meeting wasn’t to settle on one of them – in fact, the Community Advisory Group members were also asked for feedback on the proposed criteria that WSF staff will udr to screen them. But they did have questions. One that came up multiple times was whether the dock can remain somehow partly in service during construction, or whether all boats will have to be diverted. Sowers said that hadn’t been decided yet. Was overhead passenger loading under consideration? They still need to “study” it. What about a second slip? Sowers said that can’t be “completely ruled out” but it would cost at least $40 million more than they have in the budget – a budget that they expect will ultimately be inadequate anyway, requiring a request to the Legislature for more money just to build the basics.
Another question – why are two “A” options the only ones that might incorporate either Good To Go or “advanced” ticketing, which had been discussed extensively at previous meetings as possible ways to speed up loading and avoid backups on Fauntleroy Way? The reply was that they only considered using them to get more “bang for the buck” if the smallest size was chosen.
And in addition to the question mentioned earlier about Captain’s Park, concerns also surfaced about Cove Park. WSF had previously scrapped the idea of over-land dock widening, particularly because of possible effects on that beloved, community-stewarded beach immediately north of the dock. Yes, there’s likely to be “some effects,” WSF’s environmental lead Marsha Tolon acknowledged. She also spoke to another environmental factor – how the project could affect eelgrass in the cove.
The online meeting (Friday morning update: see the video here) wrapped up after two hours; WSF promised to bring the group together again after a much-shorter time, “early next year.” After that, they’d likely have community meetings. A preferred alternative is to be chosen by 2025, with construction starting by 2027.
FEEDBACK: If you have something to tell the WSF project team, FauntleroyTermProj@wsdot.wa.gov is the email address to use.
Both of these are near Admiral (where business trick-or-treating kicks off Hallo-weekend tomorrow afternoon!):
The photo above is from Nichol, whose display is at 2752 38th SW. The photo below is from Wyatt, who has a message, too:
Hi, community! We are slowly but surely catching up to all of your amazing displays, and before long, our block will be in full spook to welcome all of you Trick-or-treaters to our annual Halloween spectacular! Come by for some new items, ideas, and humorous twists! I want to note that my display doesn’t and never will have an age limit for trick-or-treating. I love putting together an experience for all to enjoy, and believe that everyone should have some hot chocolate for Halloween!
Wyatt is at 40th/Charlestown. See everyplace we’ve featured by scrolling through our Halloween coverage archive; for the dozens of events coming up between now and the big night, see our West Seattle Halloween Guide!
8:06 PM: Police have 35th SW blocked at SW Dakota (map) for cleanup after a crash. We don’t know much about the crash – apparently no major injuries, as SFD has already closed out its one-engine no-medic-unit response. But the SDOT incident team was called because of a fuel/oil spill “running down” 35th southward, so that has to be cleaned up before they can reopen the street.
8:42 PM: Officers just told dispatch that the street has reopened.
6:52 PM: Before sunset, we passed Seattle Public Utilities crews working on Delridge Way, just south of Louisa Boren STEM K-8. We checked the SPU water-outage map, and no problems – nor planned work – were listed. But now after a tip from Sam, who is without water in the Sylvan Way area, we’ve checked again, and SPU has an outage listed, affecting at least 59 customers – as shown on the map, and apparently a bit beyond.
UPDATE: Per the SPU map, service was restored at 7:21 pm.
As we’ve noted before, HomeStreet Bank in The Junction chooses a local business/organization to spotlight each month. This month, it’s West Seattle Runner (which, like HomeStreet, is a WSB sponsor), and proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell stopped by Wednesday for a prize drawing – branch visitors are invited to enter each month. (With Tim and Lori above is HomeStreet’s Joyce Leslie.) This month’s winner gets a pair of shoes of her choice from WSR (which is at 2743 California SW in Admiral; HomeStreet is at 4022 SW Alaska in The Junction).
(Photos by Tom Trulin. Above, students locate, identify, and measure lichen on a tree in upper Fauntleroy Creek)
By Judy Pickens
Special to West Seattle Blog
Students have been conducting water-quality research in Fauntleroy Creek since 2002 and this year was no exception. Fourth graders sampled two sites Tuesday to check abundance and diversity of aquatic insects as indicators of water quality. At the same time, a second group of fourth graders, also from Louise Boren STEM K-8, piloted another “real science” study by examining lichen as indicators of air quality.
(Shannon Ninburg demonstrates the importance of recording data as students examine gravel samples from upper Fauntleroy Creek)
Volunteer educator Shannon Ninburg engaged about 30 students in following established protocol to collect and examine substrate samples from the upper and lower creek. They then identified all the macroinvertebrates they found, including the stonefly, mayfly, and other larva that are a major food source for juvenile coho salmon during their year in the creek.
Lindsey Conrad reviews lichen growth forms before students head out to find examples)
Simultaneously, volunteer botanist Lindsey Conrad led another 20 students in examining lichen they found at upper and lower sites near the creek. “Our priority this first year was to refine methodology,” she said. “We want the protocol we use going forward to provide worthwhile data while exposing young students to the excitement of doing hands-on research.”
As has happened every year, students found macroinvertebrates at both sites, though abundance and diversity differed. “Despite the fact that pollution is common in urban waterways, the students found that Fauntleroy Creek supports species that must have clean water to survive,” said Shannon.
Lichen teams found several growth forms at both sites and traced samples to establish baseline sizes. “We’re now assessing how to improve the methodology,” Lindsey said. “Our goal is that the findings of student scientists year after year will reveal what lichen have to tell us about air pollution.”
The Fauntleroy Watershed Council will share study findings and conclusion with specialists who track water and air quality in this region.
2:29 PM: Thanks to Lynn Hall for that photo of the Olympics this morning, seen in their fall/winter coat (of snow) for the first time this season. Here in the lowlands, colder weather is approaching, and the National Weather Service has issued two alerts: a Frost Advisory for midnight tonight until 9 am Friday, a Freeze Watch for late Friday night through Saturday morning. The NWS explains: “For the Frost Advisory, temperatures as low as 34 will result in frost formation. For the Freeze Watch, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 (are) possible.”
P.S. Also remember that the cold weather means West Seattle’s volunteer-and-donation-powered emergency shelter is opening – we’ll be checking back to see what’s still on the wish list.
3:51 PM: One more great view of the snowy Olympics, this one sent by David Hutchinson:
Last night’s Sound Transit open house at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, the agency’s first in-person West Seattle meeting in many months, was largely a kickoff for a new round of feedback – which you can provide via this survey if you weren’t there to put sticky dots and/or notes on easel displays.
Though the final routing (alignment) of the $4 billion West Seattle Link Extension won’t be settled until after the final Environmental Impact Statement, its four planned stations – The Junction, Avalon, Delridge, and SODO – have ST-“preferred” locations on which the design discussion is focusing.
The feedback ST sought last night, and is seeking via the survey, focuses on possible projects near, and leading to/from, the stations, as well as the potential mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) that’s likely to be built on station-adjacent sites that are used for construction staging. Regarding the station siting, here is the main graphic for The Junction’s station:
For Avalon (which, it should be noted, is still under consideration for removal from the plan to save money):
For Delridge:
We’ve requested the PDF version of all the meeting displays from Sound Transit and expect to have that later thi afternoon, plus it’s supposed to be added to the project website. Also note: We’re only focusing on the line as it crosses the Duwamish River and heads into West Seattle, but SODO is considered part of the West Seattle Link Extension too, so you’ll see that in the full package. In this round of feedback, the Delridge has the largest number of potential “projects” proposed, and the survey will take you through each one (you can choose to give feedback on one specific station, or all four). It’s open until December 20th.
Aside from an in-person version of the survey, last night’s gathering did include a few remarks from the stage, but rather than presenting project information, it was mostly an introduction of who and what was in the room. Nonetheless, we recorded video just in case. The first speaker is Jason Hampton, ST’s current point person for this project; the graphics projected onto the stage screen were images of ST stations elsewhere in the city:
As speakers noted, there was a significant city presence at the event too, since that’s who would lead the many potential transportation projects connecting to the stations. There was also a pitch for the draft Seattle Transportation Plan (feedback on that continues through Tuesday, October 31). Once the survey’s over, ST promised to return to West Seattle “early next year.” The timeline for the project continues to estimate the West Seattle extension will open in late 2032.
ADDED OCTOBER 30: We’ve also published this separately but for the record, the meeting graphics as shown on easels and tables are here.
(WSB/WCN photos)
10:49 AM: Thanks for the tip. A worker on the vacant site north of the former Bizarro restaurant, on the west side of 16th SW in downtown White Center, found what’s described to us as an unexploded grenade this morning. The King County Sheriff’s Office called out its bomb squad (officially the Bomb Disposal Unit), which is there now. The street is still open and the stay-out zone isn’t affecting any open businesses, as that’s the side of the street that has yet to fully recover from fires.
We’re told this is a very old grenade, possibly World War II-era.
11:31 AM: If you’re in the area and noting a helicopter, our story seems to have attracted the shared TV helicopter. We’ll be checking back at the scene on the ground in a bit.
11:36 AM: Thanks to the nearby business owner who just texted to say the grenade has been safely removed from the site and the Bomb Disposal Unit deputies are packing up to leave.
6:19 PM: We followed up with KCSO, whose spokesperson Sgt. Eric White tells us the grenade was “eventually turned over to Joint Base Lewis McChord/JBLM EOD people. BDU was not able to discern if the item was a functioning grenade or not. Due to this, precautions were taken and it was treated as a functioning grenade.”
(Thanks to everyone who sent Wednesday rainbow photos! This one is from James Tilley)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE CONTINUES: Until 6 pm, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) is open – go in to see the work displayed by community members in its annual Southwest Artist Showcase.
PEGASUS POP-UP: Pegasus Book Exchange is celebrating its “40th-ish” anniversary with a pop-up at California/Oregon – storytime at 11 am, book and merch sales 11 am-6 pm.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to find out where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room and wine bar open 1-6 pm on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus (6000 16th SW).
MONSTER DASH PACKET PICKUP: If you’ve already registered for Saturday’s West Seattle Monster Dash – or want to register in person – stop by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) 3-6 pm. (Or register here!)
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Paparepas will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
OPEN HOUSE: Summit Atlas charter middle/high school (35th/Roxbury) invites prospective families to an open house tonight, 5:30-8 pm.
GRIEF & TEA: Dealing with loss? Get support – and tea – at this event, 6 pm at My NecessiTea (3237 California SW).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW) at (corrected time) 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
BLUES NIGHT: 7 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
THURSDAY THROWDOWN: All-vinyl DJ night at Revelry Room (4547 California SW, alley entrance), 8-11 pm.
We publish daily lists as reminders, but you can look ahead any time, to any day, by visiting our calendar!
(Awaiting the Great Pumpkin on 34th near Barton – photo by Mark Watters)
The big Hallo-weekend is almost here, with trick-or-treat events, carnivals, haunted houses, spooky shows, even a run through the forest and paddling on the Sound! We don’t want you to miss out on any of it, and that’s why we’ve been updating our West Seattle Halloween Guide, where you’ll find a list of more than three dozen Halloween/Dia de Muertos options unfolding over the next six days. (And if we’re missing something, please let us know so we can add it! Thank you!)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, October 26th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high near 50. Sunrise today is at 7:44 am; sunset, 6:02 pm.
ROAD WORK ENDS
Thanks to DC for the tip. SDOT confirms that the Delridge repaving work north of Genesee is complete, so all lanes have reopened..
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
| 43 COMMENTS