FOLLOWUP: Next phase of Alki Point Healthy Street construction starts ‘as soon as Monday’

| Transportation | West Seattle news

3:01 PM: Two and a half weeks ago, SDOT announced it was about to start work on some of the permanent features of the Alki Point Healthy Street (Alki Avenue SW and Beach Drive SW between 63rd SW and Alki Point) project. We haven’t been back yet for a look at that work, primarily described as added speed humps, but today, SDOT sent an update – the next phase of construction starts “as soon as Monday.”

As soon as Monday, May 13, crews will begin the next phase of construction on the permanent treatments for the Alki Point Healthy Street. This work will include:

-A 10-foot-wide shared walking/rolling space
-Three ADA parking spaces
-Stop controls at intersecting streets
-Pavement markings, parking signs, and striping the public parking lot

Unauthorized on-street parking located within 20 feet of intersections will be removed for new installation.

The project page elaborates on the zone numbers shown in the map above.

ADDED 6 PM: David Hutchinson sent this photo of the lines for the new path, roughed out:

Constellation May 10, 2024 (4:00 pm)

Can’t wait to visit there again after the improvements at Constellation Park on Alki Point, Seattle.

onion May 10, 2024 (5:43 pm)

At a time when budgets for critical city services are on the chopping block, why is this project moving forward? I can think of umpteen sidewalk and street repairs that ought to rank higher than this.

Jenna S May 10, 2024 (5:51 pm)

YES! This is just in time for summer! So happy for these improvements! Hopefully SDOT will complete the street by finishing the last block on Beach DR SW between 64th and 63rd and the intersection at 63rd very soon. This is the main gateway to the healthy street and can be a choke point.

George May 10, 2024 (5:53 pm)

This is such great news. I have been watching the progress the past week or two. I knew this was coming soon. It looks like the changes will provide great access for the many walkers, cyclists, families, skaters… and reduce the cars. I walk it almost daily.

Beachcombover May 10, 2024 (6:03 pm)

This is great! Good for the environment. Less cars = less pollution in the Puget Sound + less noise + healthier habitat for sea life and seabirds.

Orca watcher May 10, 2024 (6:20 pm)

I’m so excited about the Healthy Street project. I took my kids to Alki for a bike ride every weekend. Can’t wait to use designated safe path. I feel much safer that my kid does not have to bike next to cars. I hope they can continue the healthy street on Beach Drive to 63rd.

ltd May 10, 2024 (6:43 pm)

What a waste of money. Unneeded and unnecessary. SOOO many other things we should be spending our dollars on rather than making more private the front yards of these wealthy landowners.

I live around here May 10, 2024 (11:38 pm)

How many billions of dollars do you really think are being torched on this terrible boondoggle? A little asphalt, a few man hours and some paint, in an effort to maintain and – what? – improve? – the quality of life of the people of Seattle. Users of this street include people from across the city. This shoreline is a treasure. Let us enjoy it.

MMM May 10, 2024 (6:44 pm)

So great to have Constellation Park permanently and SAFELY accessible to people who walk, roll and bike! Great for people and for the marine environment!

Kyle May 10, 2024 (7:55 pm)

This is bad for equity. Will reduce access for folks from less affluent areas who aren’t within walking or biking distance to visit this beautiful public park.

LTD May 10, 2024 (8:23 pm)

How disappointing that this is how we are choosing to spend our dollars. So many other things would be a better use of this funding. No doubt the wealthy land owners at Alki Point are celebrating.

1994 May 10, 2024 (9:22 pm)

Too bad the SDOT didn’t use the bicycle Sunday concept they use over on Lake Washington Blvd where the road is closed on designated Sundays to cars. That possibly would have been more accepted rather than these nonsense Healthy Streets.

Walker May 10, 2024 (9:56 pm)

Hooray, hooray, hooray! 🚶‍♀️🛴🏃‍♂️🚵‍♀️
My tax dollars at work. And, no, I don’t live on Beach Drive, but, at age 75, I do like to walk there, safely and unimpeded.

Not a 1%er May 11, 2024 (7:19 am)

In the comments to every article about this street, someone rails about it being the pet project of the homeowners who want a “private park in their front yard” etc etc. Is there any actual evidence that this is the case? I suppose they’ll benefit to the extent the ratio of cars to walkers/rollers goes down, but it’s hardly a “private park.” This comment keeps getting thrown around, and I’d like to know if there’s a factual basis or if it’s just mad people being mad.

VN May 11, 2024 (8:03 am)

Alki Point Healthy Street – Transportation | seattle.govFor those bikers who believe it will be safer, I recommend that you go to the SDOT website for this project. Bikers will be in the same narrow lane with vehicles. This will not be a safer option for bikers; especially those who are inexperienced (such as children).SDOT is creating a 10′ lane for only the able-bodied walkers, skateboarders and scooters. Removing all the beach side parking, which they declared they never would do in every communication up until December 2023, has put up major barriers for thousands of Seattle visitors. There are thousands of West Seattle residents who have no or minimal public transit services to come to this Marine Reserve by bus. And I personally feel it’s wrong for SDOT to take the attitude that the few homeowners across the street from Constellation Park shouldn’t have to have their view minimized by parked cars in front of a city park. This area is not just a neighborhood park but one of the few Seattle premier tidal pools and marine reserve here thousands of school children, families, and visitors come to learn about our marine environment and have for generations. For a description of these effects: Petition · Restore Public Access for All to Alki Point – United States · Change.org

LifetimeWSRez May 12, 2024 (9:13 am)

THANK YOU for the link to contribute to the petition! I contributed $50 and hope that other will take the time to support this community effort to keep our parks open to the public : and that we can park nearby . NOT some closing off of parking for elderly people / everyone to park close by or sit in the car and enjoy the sun and view for a while. I have done that for decades. Outrageous.!

Alki resident May 11, 2024 (8:32 am)

I’m so happy this is finally getting done! The car clubs have started coming back, and with it, their dangerous behavior, drinking, and pot smoking. We were Walking two nights ago around the point, and there were several modified (loud) cars racing on down the street, then coming back around again (cruising). One guy was driving fast while filming himself and almost took out a guy on a bike that he didn’t see as he raced up on him. Scary. The behavior on that road is dangerous, and for those who don’t live around the area and think it’s a waste of money, you don’t get it.

Alki resident May 11, 2024 (8:42 am)

That happens all over Seattle. So this occasional situation doesn’t call for millions of dollars wasted and our public beach taken away from drivers. This strip will not be any safer after money is spent, in fact, changing this road after more than 50 years of it being the way it is now will likely cause problems since we were all use to the way it was. You’re not going to stop pot smoking and this behavior by changing this block.
- How Math Works May 11, 2024 (9:59 am)
  
  Please explain how some paint, a few signs, and probably a pre-fab concrete curb-like barrier to separate cars from walkers/rollers will cost millions.
  - Alki resident May 11, 2024 (12:20 pm)
    
    Lol I guess you’ve not lived in Seattle very long.
- Change May 11, 2024 (12:49 pm)
  
  “The Only Constant in Life Is Change.”- Heraclitus.
  
  “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”Albert Einstein
Oldperson May 12, 2024 (9:20 am)

I am almost 80 and I want to park and sit in my car and enjoy the PUBLIC park. Why punish people that passively use that area? If you are disturbed by abusers then handle them separately and don’t harm responsible users.
- Foop May 13, 2024 (8:59 am)
  
  You will still be able to do that.

TAnderson May 11, 2024 (9:47 am)

Well the comments section certainly has a lot of supporters opining about this project. Almost seems staged. In any case, I appreciate the comment about noise, street racers, reckless and drunken drivers being driven off by the project and know that now we will have them on Harbor and Alki avenues all to ourselves. If there is budget money for this project perhaps completing the speed bumps on Alki could be squeezed in as well?

Bird May 11, 2024 (2:38 pm)

Would love to see the installation of proper speed bumps rather than speed humps, which seem designed not to actually do anything. Yes, speed bumps feel rough to drive over – that’s the entire point, that’s how they slow cars down.

Older Driver May 11, 2024 (7:07 pm)

This is ridiculous! How many people are going to be using this road 7 months out of the year when it’s pouring down rain and cold? Probably not many. But let’s take the street away from those of us that drive so we can’t come and enjoy this stretch of beach away from the hustle and bustle of Alki, which includes its wonderful sea life and winter storms! This road should go back to the way it was before the pandemic.

937 May 12, 2024 (7:46 am)

I, for one, plan on utilizing this PUBLIC roadway as it is and was intended.
- walkerws May 13, 2024 (10:02 am)
  
  It’s *intended* for shared use, so I assume you mean you intend to walk and bike on it. If you intend to abuse the road with your car, believe me that we already have a crew planning to photograph violators and send the photos and license plate info to our SPD liason.
  - 937 May 13, 2024 (4:54 pm)
    
    Yep. I will be DRIVING on it (“abusing” it – HA!)
    
    I may park and stroll as well!
    
    I stand in mortal fear of you and your army of cameras. You must not know a lot about kaw enforcement – it shows.
walkerws May 13, 2024 (10:02 am)

I’ll be on it multiple times a week year round. We live in Seattle – there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

Millie May 12, 2024 (5:02 pm)

SDOT can use any name they wish for this project “Healthy Streets” or “Vision Zero” – a boondoggle is still a boondoggle. Dollars used on this project could be used on actual “healthy” projects, e.g. sidewalks used by the elderly,
school children and families.

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