More new school-zone traffic calming: All-way stop at 49th/Spokane

| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks for the texted tips and photo. SDOT has installed more school-zone traffic calming, this time adding an all-way stop at 49th SW and SW Spokane, near the former Schmitz Park Elementary (currently in its second of three years as temporary home to Alki Elementary). Tipsters thought we’d want to let you know, as this might take some people by surprise. We found it mentioned as a “current project” on the same SDOT webpage where we found a mention of the speed cushions installed last week on California SW near Gatewood Elementary. The mention says simply, “Install all way stops near Schmitz Park – SPS interim site (expected in 2024 or 2025).” We’ll check again with SDOT on any others with imminent installation.

Mike September 12, 2024 (8:03 pm)

Spokane crossing/stop was needed, but they should’ve put orange flags up with it and additional signage before about it. People who didn’t expect it are slamming on brakes and some just blow through it still.

Bbron September 13, 2024 (12:15 pm)

you may feel safe crossing, but I think the main idea here was for children to also feel safe. there’s more people with valid concerns to consider.
- CarDriver September 13, 2024 (1:58 pm)
  
  How many pedestrians have been hit at that intersection? If true “safety for pedestrians” was paramount wouldn’t the demand be that EVERY intersection would have a stop sign or stop light?
  - Jason September 13, 2024 (2:48 pm)
    
    Cardriver, Why do we need numbers at each individual intersection rather than intersections as a whole Seattle-wide or even nationwide? It is bad data practice to rely on hyperspecific samples in order to skirt safety precautions. This sounds like bad faith. And yes, I am fine with these at every intersection, before you ask. I am tired of cars around here nearly killing me. Put them everywhere.
  - Bbron September 13, 2024 (2:49 pm)
    
    should a pedestrian (and in this area likely a child) have to be hit before something is done? i like my infrastructure changes to be proactive than reactionary so folks don’t get killed or injured. we don’t have an infinite amount of resources, that’s why, in this case, attention is paid to an area that has a significant more amount of children around. and, sure, in an ideal world where pedestrian safety is seen as more important than moving car effectively, we’d have intersections that reflect that. i don’t understand how these are points to bring up to bemoan the addition of 2 stop signs near a school…
    - CarDriver September 13, 2024 (3:51 pm)
      
      Bbron. Reading your, and others comments highlight the “we don’t need actual facts and data” but instead we need to “invent scary tragedies” If you, and others are convinced you and everyone else on foot or bike will be run over by every car and truck on the road the second you leave your home then indeed West Seattle is this dystopia you’re inventing. By the way. Myself and 4 other siblings crossed that intersection for 6 years of going too/from Madison and WSHS. We never got hit, or came close to being hit. Never heard of anyone else getting hit either.
    - Bbron September 13, 2024 (6:18 pm)
      
      @CarDriver I’ve been hit 2 times and almost hit another 4 times by cars. every time in a crosswalk. majority on clear days with great visibility. countless times I’ve been aware enough to avoid a situation where I shouldn’t have to have to avoid getting hit, e.g. walking on a sidewalk and crossing a driveway. please don’t come at me thinking I’m unrealistic about the danger cars pose. plug your ears and close your eyes all you want, but the fact of the matter is if you walk or bike enough in any city you’ll eventually experience either almost being hit or actually getting hit. don’t know when you were walking this street, but it’s also a fact cars have gotten worst over time being bigger (more deadly) and with worst sight lines. even moreso since the pandemic seems to have brought the worst car driving behavior out of drivers for some reason. but yet again, why all this effort and bemoaning for 2 stop signs?
    - Bbron September 13, 2024 (6:39 pm)
      
      also you’re more than able to look up the data yourself, and yes this intersection has had many collisions over the years including with cyclists. Google “SDOT all collision” and that should lead you to a map of the data at a URL that starts with https://data-seattlecitygis.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/SeattleCityGIS (a direct link doesn’t end up working when pasted here)
  - bill September 13, 2024 (9:31 pm)
    
    Cardriver: Insisting on data proving an intersection is dangerous amounts to requiring a pedestrian body count before action is taken.

Disagree September 12, 2024 (9:04 pm)

I disagree with this new stop since it’s already well marked and it’s not used much. I cross there occasionally and never felt unsafe. The big gripe though is the new signs are obscured by trees in both directions. I had to lock up the brakes the first time I went through.

Sam September 13, 2024 (11:03 am)

If you had to lock up your brakes on a 25mph street, then you were speeding. Just like everybody else. Hence traffic calming.

star 55 September 12, 2024 (10:03 pm)

I think there should be “traffic change” signs in the area. Heading south the tree needs trimming, you can barely see the sign.

Green gurl September 13, 2024 (7:11 am)

You cannot see the stop signs and for all of us who live in the area, it has been a bus route and straight through street for so many years that we surely deserve some reminders for safety sake. Someone nearly t-boned my husband’s car. Come on SDOT!! If any street really needs a four way stop, it is one block to the east of there on Spokane. It is a dangerous unmarked intersection that has had many accidents and near misses.

Brian September 13, 2024 (8:18 am)

Truly wild stuff that adding a stop sign to an existing intersection has people demanding additional signage to notify them of the change or bright orange flags to let them know to look. Instead, how about you pay attention while driving and stop treating your car like it’s a big Power Wheels.

Person September 13, 2024 (11:57 am)

Well I’ve never seen a stop sign installed without warning on an arterial. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a stop sign on an arterial like this.No one is arguing that it isn’t needed or even welcome, but notice of changes in traffic signage is the norm for a reason.
- Bbron September 13, 2024 (12:14 pm)
  
  there’s plenty of stop signs on arterials. as one nearby example: 47th and Charlestown with Charlestown being the arterial. also, the posted intersection has a crosswalk; if drivers were paying attention and being responsible, they’d already be slowing/aware to confirm whether there’s pedestrians which would reveal to them a stop sign to abide by.
  - Mike September 13, 2024 (11:22 pm)
    
    You do realize they painted the crosswalk after putting the stop sign up, right? It’s been an uncontrolled crossing area for decades with no signage before. SMH it’s the main crossing for kids walking to Schmitz Park Elementary.
    - Bbron September 14, 2024 (6:00 am)
      
      go to Google maps and see for yourself the state of the intersection on Sept 2018: there are 2 stop signs for Spokane St and a painted crosswalk (with signs pointing it) that goes across 49th. you’re on the internet right now- you can use it to verify something before you end up posting a provably wrong comment.
      
      and even if it was true that the crosswalk was added with the new stop signs… that’s an even greater visible! a driver that frequents the intersection would have even less of an excuse to be surprised by the change. i don’t understand the goal to coddle drivers in this circumstance. there is a base level of competency that all drivers need to be able to adhere to or they shouldn’t be driving. a big, glaringly obvious change like this one should in no way be surprising.

M September 15, 2024 (7:45 am)

It’s about time! Now West Seattle needs to do away with uncontrolled intersections. Because why were they ever a thing? It only confuses people when there’s no signage.

Sorry, comment time is over.