FOLLOWUP: Next step in campaigning for a ‘Walkable Admiral’

| Transportation | West Seattle news

We first told you six months ago about Stu Hennessey‘s quest for a more “walkable Admiral” (District). He is a business owner in Admiral, proprietor of Alki Bike and Board, and walks the talk, not only on human-powered transportation, but also on other sustainability issues. Making Admiral more walkable would require some city changes, and Hennessey has launched a yard-sign campaign to get community support for them:

The QR code on the sign takes you to this page, which spells out the three proposals he introduced back in January:

Admiral and California All-Walk intersection. The biggest safety concern for pedestrians crossing the streets is the right turn on red. Is it wise to have cars and pedestrians using the same crossing?

Mid-block raised crossings between Lander and Admiral near the Safeway entrance at Menchie’s yogurt and between Admiral and College St. Specifically crossing to the Admiral Theatre. These crossings would eliminate one parking space and have a bulb out to the lane edge with flashing crossing signs.

Permanent closure for SW Lander St. between California Ave and 44th SW. This is an often-ignored one-way and daytime-temporarily-closed street that could be used for an emergency gathering point for Lafayette School, auto-free pickup of students, and a potential event space such as a farmers’ market.

The page also suggests emailing three city contacts – SDOT (684-road@seattle.gov), Councilmember Rob Saka (rob.saka@seattle.gov), and Economic Development director Markham McIntyre (markham.mcintyre@seattle.gov)- to voice your support for a more walkable Admiral. Hennessey has a few spare yard signs for Admiral businesses, and flyers for posting in windows – stop by his shop (2606 California SW) to ask about those.

Morgan July 25, 2024 (9:58 pm)

This campaign should focus on public works and SDOT…not edev director. I like most of these proposals don’t get me wrong, but to approach traffic calming and safety it as a political yard sign pressure campaign is incorrect. By all means ask councilmember to bring appropriate staff to town halls…not just bomb emails. Has a traffic safety engineer reviewed these ideas? Is there a capital plan where these can fit? All way walk is very sensible, and bulb outs maybe if placed into queue when crews already mobilized. Raised intersection here may be problematic near school…give false sense of safety to pedestrians where cars may likely still be speeding. Let’s keep workshopping these…with transportation staff on hand.

Darren July 25, 2024 (10:53 pm)

I am all for safety improvements but I don’t think the walk all ways with walk at Alaska & California is a good idea for Admiral. That is, unless it’s enforced.Alaska and California has vehicles turning right on red despite signs on every corner. People still turn left when it’s prohibited between 7am and 7 pm. And vehicles especially buses run red lights. Pedestrians often still cross when they don’t have the walk light. I think making these changes at Admiral and California may make it less safe.I have asked for enforcement occasionally over more than a decade at Alaska and California and I’ve never seen it. There’ are violations by all modes of transportation with almost every cycle.