TRAFFIC CHANGE: 45th SW in front of Madison MS to become ‘School Street’

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Looking north on 45th SW, future ‘School Street,’ in front of Madison MS)

Thanks for the tip! From the Madison Middle School PTSA newsletter comes word that 45th SW in front of the school will become an SDOT-designated “School Street“ starting in mid-February. Here’s the SDOT flyer explaining what that means:

In short, as explained by the PTSA:

Starting on Monday, January 13th, this block will be closed from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM to all through traffic, including parents dropping off children. It will remain accessible for: residential access, district provided transportation, anyone with ADA needs, local deliveries, and any non-motorized vehicles.

The PTSA is recruiting volunteers to help with the transition. Meantime, the parent who alerted us to this says, “This is great news for safety concerns.” Other “School Streets” around the city include SW Dakota in front of Genesee Hill Elementary (recently adorned with a mural – we don’t know if one will be sought for 45th; we’re awaiting followup info from SDOT).

Alki resident December 19, 2024 (5:09 pm)

This will cause backups on side streets which will actually be more dangerous. Whomever comes up with this stuff is insane. Our tax dollars go to city streets and some of us don’t approve of shutting yet another street down in West Seattle. Who voted for this?

DC December 19, 2024 (6:13 pm)

I did! I voted for this!! Love to see more students safely walking and biking and taking public transit to schools!
- c December 19, 2024 (6:22 pm)
  
  Seconding this opinion.
- MacJ December 19, 2024 (8:37 pm)
  
  I did too! My child will be attending Madison next year and we won’t be using a car to get there.
  - Kyle December 20, 2024 (3:11 pm)
    
    If the street was open to cars would you then drive? I’m assuming no and the closure is irrelevant to your habits. I don’t actually think this will change anyone’s habits, probably just tick off some neighbors who aren’t getting any infrastructure or drop off zones on the streets a block away.
walkerws December 20, 2024 (8:59 am)

I did! Every step, however small, to reduce our car-centric city planning is a great step
Samwellion December 20, 2024 (9:23 am)

Hark! Ethel! The woke administrators have opened yet another front on the Great War (on cars). Midday prunes will have to wait. Fetch me the computer for I have been called to battle once again. No child will walk safely to school while I still breathe.
my two cents December 20, 2024 (10:03 am)

@Alki resident – You are spot on! I am estimating it will take an extra 45 seconds to get home from PCC during my lunch break.
Alkistu December 21, 2024 (7:44 am)

Oh, does that mean drivers will have to drive the speed limit? I don’t know what kind of backup is going to occur on 45th but if it does it will prevent drivers from speeding through the side streets. A serious problem especially around a school.

M December 19, 2024 (5:15 pm)

Good luck to the families there and nearby neighbors. We had one at the school on our block and it just moved the chaos onto narrower streets, around the corner and still next to the school. Still a ton of cars, still wild driving and parking by parents. If you don’t couple this with traffic enforcement or somehow convince drivers to be responsible, it will not improve safety. It just moves the problem around the corner. That’s just for the people who actually followed the signage too. Residents and other drivers kept moving the signage or knocking it over on our block.

Alkistu December 19, 2024 (5:28 pm)

Good News. We are also hoping that 45th SW to SW Lander will become a Neighborhood Greenway next year. Making students arrival and leaving to school should be everyone’s vision. Same with SW Lander at Lafayette.

JustSarah December 19, 2024 (5:46 pm)

There’s some confusion about the effective date… The newsletter did say it’s effective 1/13, as you stated above, but the volunteer sign-up states it’s 1/6, and volunteer slots are for that week. We’re awaiting clarification from Madison.

Great change, though. Every time I’ve been there during the school day there are cars going way too fast down 45th.

WSB December 19, 2024 (6:03 pm)

I’m waiting to hear back from SDOT; at this point, not till tomorrow.
- JustSarah December 19, 2024 (6:18 pm)
  
  Thanks; if I get a response from Madison before then, I’ll update here.
  - WSB December 21, 2024 (1:06 am)
    
    SDOT confirmed 1/13.
- Thomas December 20, 2024 (1:36 pm)
  
  When you talk to Sdot you might ask them why the public’s had to find out this from a PTA bulletin.I live on 44th and none of us had heard anything about this plan
  - WSB December 20, 2024 (1:43 pm)
    
    Yes, that’s one of my followup questions, what kind of public engagement, if any, there was.

Why December 19, 2024 (5:47 pm)

Why not just make it a regular Healthy Street and call it Madison Healthy Street? If it’s local access only anyway during the school hours and non local access during non school hours then the people who don’t drive there regularly won’t know what it is unless they see the small signs that’s usually blocked by a car parked in front of it. Seriously who comes up with these ideas?

Lafayette Parent December 19, 2024 (6:29 pm)

Good luck and I hope it works for Madison. Hopefully they won’t have the same issue that Lafayette did with its failed school street. Lazy parents who either ignored the signs or would intentionally moved them, rather than parking a block away, prioritized a small convenience over the safety of students and parents who walk across the street. The signs are still piled in the grass and serve as a reminder of the how lazy they are and that they prioritize their convenience over the safety of children.

Plf December 19, 2024 (9:05 pm)

Traffic going down 44th Sw to Charleston is a speedway parents in Cars running late are a danger to kids that are walking to the multiple schools had one cat killed this school year parents would never drive like this on their streetsno enforcement nothing willchange till a accident happens

Thomas December 20, 2024 (5:05 am)

You’re spot on this is one of the most insane idea I’ve ever seen.. I also live on 44th by Madison and have contacted the city about the chaos that occurs daily..You’re right parents would never drive in their neighborhood like they do around all the schools. I guarantee the alleys between 44th and 45 th will be clogged daily as well as 44th.Its absolutely crazy to close 45 th all.day. I could see closing the street from 730 am till 9 am and 3 pm till 430 pm.This would accommodate the coming and going of the kids.This reminds me of the Urban village plan the city had.

Clinker December 19, 2024 (9:13 pm)

This street is perfect for it. There’s very little traffic anyway and it’s right at the top of a hill. As long as we’re doing that, we should rip up all of the pavement besides whatever the allowed rollers (delivery could use the alley) need and allow Madison students a garden patch. It’d be healthy, especially at 6/7/8 grade level sensitive kid brain development time and they could integrate it into their front courtyard.

brandon December 19, 2024 (9:39 pm)

I don’t see why it needs to be closed for those full hours. Why not just during loading and unloading times? The side streets around the school are already full of nervous drivers scurrying around. I can only foresee greater issues on the E and W side streets, and 44th. Why not just have crossing guards at the corners to control the kaos. Charlestown cross streets are more dangerous with children trying to cross. What’s next, shutting down California in from of WSHS and Lafayette? Maybe we try some basic traffic enforcement, especially on 45th from Oregon to Stevens.

Frog December 20, 2024 (7:50 am)

It’s war on cars. It doesn’t need to make sense. You might equally ask why it starts at 7:00 am when Madison does not ring the first bell until 8:50. This scheme will also be a hardship for parents who need to pick up students during the school day for medical appointments, or when students develop symptoms of illness during the day and need to be taken home, etc. The only access to the building is the front door, and you have to go to the intercom by the door to make anything happen. 45th Ave. is very quiet during the school day and the loading zone in front is totally empty. It’s no problem for anyone (except SDOT) for parents to park in the loading zone and hustle over to the intercom to ask for their students to be sent out. Of course, it’s not so different to park on Hinds or Spokane or 46th and walk around to the door, rain or shine, and it gives you a few minutes alone to think about what the city of Seattle thinks of you.
- reed December 20, 2024 (8:06 am)
  
  Frog, perhaps there would be less need for so many medical appointments in our country if more people actually walked those few extra minutes rather than demanding they park right in front of everything?
- Bbron December 20, 2024 (8:34 am)
  
  “War on cars” lol. Sure, Jan. Quite a “war” when the majority of transportation funding goes towards car infrastructure.
- walkerws December 20, 2024 (9:02 am)
  
  If it’s a war on cars, I’m ready to enlist!
- cwit December 20, 2024 (2:47 pm)
  
  Huh? You say it’s a war on cars and you say it is no problem for anyone to park in the (school bus?) loading zone in front to go get their sick kids out of school during the day. But then you say doing that is not so different from parking on Hinds, Spokane, or 46th and walking to the front entrance. So why not just do that option if it’s not so different? That’ll still be an option with the new School Street, I take it.
- Another One December 20, 2024 (3:50 pm)
  
  It totally is a war on cars! Why can’t people grasp the simple concept that cars are the ONLY legitimate mode of transportation? Walking, biking, buses–they are all inferior and should be not even be an option for anyone! If we could just tear down sidewalks, we could widen all the lanes and let more and more cars get through. With no bike lanes and no sidewalks, Delridge could be three lanes in each direction–what a dream! We could get three lanes each direction on 35th AND raise the speed limit to 65 (so I can go 75 of course). I could get to Target in 3 minutes instead of 10. I went to Arizona recently and it was amazing–nothing but black pavement as far as the eye could see. City streets that were 6-8 lanes across. Sadly I live in this stupid city that pretends to prioritize MY chosen mode of transportation–but actually spends a small fraction of our tax dollars on stupid stuff for people who bike and walk. I say, 100% of all transportation funds should be spent on CARS. NO bikes, NO walking, NO buses. Everything should be built to convenience ME and NO ONE ELSE! (yes it’s sarcasm)

ImAlwaysRight December 19, 2024 (11:11 pm)

Should just be closed during the start and end of the school day instead of 7am to 5pm which seems ridiculously long for a closed street…

Bad Idea December 19, 2024 (11:49 pm)

This is terrible news for the neighborhood. It is true that parents already speed down 44th trying to get kids to Lafayette, Madison, and WSHigh. It scares me to walk around during those arrival and dismissal times. This will make it much worse.

K December 20, 2024 (5:22 am)

I love this! Maybe doing the same at the new Alki Elementary would help with the concerns people raised about ADA access to the building.

D Martin December 20, 2024 (6:19 am)

Why do so many parents drive their kids to school nowadays? I lived just two blocks from being far enough to be able to get to ride the school bus to Denny, and I still had to walk with a trumpet, and my schools books. Never realized walking is great exercise.

Al King December 20, 2024 (8:57 am)

D Martin. I’m puzzled too. But it’s an AMAZING number of kids that get driven to/from school every day. And me too. I walked every day from the 1st day of kindergarten at Genesee Hill to the last day at WSHS.
bradley December 20, 2024 (2:31 pm)

Martin, maybe take a walk on California, or Charlestown and observe the traffic patterns and obstacles to get an idea. For younger walkers, I’m surprised there hasn’t been an accident on the crossing areas. Which is one reason I believe a better solution is traffic enforcement, rather than just a one block shut down in front of the school. It seems almost ridiculous the PTA thinks that is a better solution than the crossing options from east of California Ave and from south of Charlestown. Micro over Macro?
Another One December 20, 2024 (3:37 pm)

In some places (luckily not here), students aren’t ALLOWED to walk to school because of “safety”. My friend in Auburn lives right behind the school, like a 30 second walk, but they won’t allow her kids to walk up to the school from that side, she has to take them a full 3/4 mile around several blocks to the front. She got busted several times for it–even though she was escorting her kids so they would be safe.
Alkistu December 21, 2024 (7:52 am)

Good point, but I can see why parents would be concerned after reading some of the comments here. Building complete streets that allow for more than impatient drivers might make parents more comfortable with biking and walking to school.

Mom at school December 20, 2024 (7:31 am)

These closed streets at Madison and Genesee Hill should not be all day – ridiculous! They only need this 15 minutes at drop off and 15 minutes at pick up.

Mike December 21, 2024 (9:45 am)

Agreed – 7 am to 5 pm is ridiculous. Did they consider no parking during peak dropoff and pickup times and get crossing guards before closing the street all day? What data supports that timeline? I’m also expecting that even more parents will drive recklessly through the nearby alleys to avoid 45th and cause even more chaos on the small side streets.

West Seattle Parent December 20, 2024 (7:44 am)

I’d like to understand more about the specific problem this is trying to address. From what I’ve seen, it seems related to concerns about speeding or unsafe driving. If that’s the case, could measures like increased police presence or stricter traffic enforcement be considered instead?I also suspect that closing the street might simply shift these issues to other areas, rather than resolving them.

JAT December 20, 2024 (7:52 am)

It’s not a bad idea, it’s certainly not terrible news for the neighborhood. I’m amazed and heartened by the number of kids walking and cycling to school in the morning, the number of caregivers walking their kids home from school in the afternoon – a much higher number than when I moved to this neighborhood 20 yrs ago.Is it going to be a slight inconvenience for some motorists? Maybe. Do parents queuing up in their SUVs to drop off their kids then speeding away once their precious ones are safely deposited create a danger to others? Definitely. Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege for which you must be licensed and insured, and it comes with the responsibility of being able to understand and follow rules, laws, if you will. I think it’s sad, but alas realistic that so many here say without enforcement this is doomed to fail.I hope it succeeds and I will modify my driving to avoid that street. It’s not hard, folks.

T December 20, 2024 (8:12 am)

Good luck Madison. If your school parents/neighbors are anything like Lafayette’s, the signs will be completely ignored, and some parents will even get out of their cars and throw the signs to the side of the road to flex and show that they can park and drop off immediately in front of the school.

NOrthAdmiral December 20, 2024 (8:34 am)

I will not abide by a street closure at Lander and Lafayette, sorry. Many, many people live in the alley perpendicular to Lander and need in/out access, especially when there are early morning garbage/recycling trucks or PCC delivery trucks/semi’s. I will be safe around students and parents as always but it’s not fair to residents of the area.

walkerws December 20, 2024 (9:03 am)

“I will not abide” – what a brave boy you are
my two cents December 20, 2024 (10:07 am)

The dude abides. Did I see ANYWHERE on city provided materials that local access will be eliminated? (uhhmm no).
- cwit December 20, 2024 (2:38 pm)
  
  I think they’re reacting/responding to someone else’s comment that they hope the Lander location will become a Neighborhood Greenway next. Regardless, Northadmiral is making it clear they ARE NOT THE DUDE! :)
T December 20, 2024 (10:19 am)

Go out the south side. The argument of delivery trucks and garbage trucks restricting your access is nonsense. The behavior of drivers coming out of that alley onto Lander is atrocious. Every morning drivers blast right through the side walk and only stop and look when they get to the road.

Thomas December 20, 2024 (9:05 am)

The only reason there is a congestion probem.Is the fact that a small group of parents feel the need to chauffeur their kids to school. So the whole neighborhood pays the price! I went to Madison as well as my brothers and neighborhood kids.The difference we all walked to school. The kids that lived farther away got on a city bus .It worked for many years.

bradley December 20, 2024 (12:16 pm)

I think a few days of strong traffic enforcements on Charlestown, 45th and 44th could go a long way further that doing a 10 hour shut down of the block in front of the school. I already see plenty of parents backed up on 45th north and south, and the side streets waiting for their students each day . They are walking already (for those implying people don’t walk). All I see this doing is appeasing a group who feel the front of the school needs some clearance (is this for the bus drivers?), pushing moving traffic out further from the centric, and not address the bad driving habits that are the root of the concerns here. 4-way Stop signs have already been installed at each intersection around the school to provide a measure of safety that’s was missing for a long, long time. How much did we have to fight just to get a crosswalk installed on Charlestown and 45th? Anyone walking those side streets or live on those local blocks see these issues every morning and evening, and shutting down that block doesn’t solve those issues of speed and safety. The bubble wrap only reaches a small area.

Kyle December 20, 2024 (3:09 pm)

It’s not the worst idea, it’s also not the best. For current parents who drive their kids for safety, time, distance, etc. I doubt closing one block will change that habit. So those who walk will still walk and those who drive will still drive. I’d be more upset as a neighbor on a side street just outside the closed street where they are not upgrading any infrastructure to help facilitate drop offs better. Maybe because it’s a bit more dispersed from different directions it will be better? Otherwise designating drop off/pick up locations on the closed street would be a more comprehensive solution for everyone

Mike B December 20, 2024 (3:26 pm)

This may be a left-over part of a previous project as SW 45th Ave was slated to become a Neighborhood Greenway (NGW) this year to provide a clear, safe, official parallel biking route to California. IIRC, the city sent out flyers in the spring to people living on SW 45th Ave about this (my mother-in-law asked me about it, to my surprise, and was excited for the traffic calming since 45th is so wide), but then but all NGW projects were suddenly shelved by Mayor Harrell.Here’s a project map from May 2024 (PDF):https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDOT/Greenways/CentralNorthSouth/Lafayette_SRTS_NGW_Map.pdfTurning the clock back, SW 45th Ave corridor was identified as a NGW in 2013 as a “corridor gap”, incorporated into the Bike Master Plan in 2014, and approved by voters as part of the Levy to Move Seattle in 2015 (PDF): https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDOT/About/DocumentLibrary/BicycleMasterPlan/Seattle%20BMP%20Master%20Map.pdf

bradley December 20, 2024 (4:42 pm)

That link is broken. This might work better for the Greenway Project.https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/greenways-program/southwest

Earlyonsetbacksurgery December 20, 2024 (5:24 pm)

Well we live pretty close to the school. Definitely within walking distance but most days we drive because my daughter’s backpack weighs like three million pounds with the awful computer that SPS makes them lug around. Add a water bottle, lunch, library book, and 5 folders- I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t need back surgery at the age of 15.

bradley December 20, 2024 (6:59 pm)

Right? I hear ya. How many students are at Madison now? 1000? + ? There’s a new building on site. Portables have been used. When you look at the MMS population its no small wonder that traffic has increased base on the growth in the area (and the buildout of the school facilities). So there’s a balance of people who ARE walking, or walking from side streets to avoid the mess on 45th. And, there are some families who don’t feel comfortable without dropping off closer to the school building (while MSS has been fortunate not to have crime, it doesn’t ease some families concerns about their children). While closing the block looks and sounds like a good idea, I still question where this came from. The PTA? The School? SPS? SDOT? It seems like a problem looking for a solution from a small faction, and doesn’t really even touch the issue it might be thinking about: that the growth of the school has created a traffic issue, and this seems like a mini band aid to a bigger issue, if you just look a little further than the patch of grass in front of you. I’m worried a child gets hit crossing California or Charlestown before the front of the school. THAT is what I think is completely overlooked in this move.
k December 21, 2024 (6:49 pm)

I thought that’s why all the kids were using the packs with wheels now, instead of carrying them on their backs. They do make wheeled packs for school, if you’re worried about your kid’s back. Driving every day seems like an extreme reaction to a problem that can be solved by switching to a new bag.
- Earlyonsetbacksurgery December 26, 2024 (11:47 am)
  
  I thought of this! There’s stairs at Madison middle school. It’s multiple story building with a lot of sixth grade classes on the top floor. So the wheeled backpacks don’t work on stairs unfortunately

Pinto December 21, 2024 (4:56 pm)

I have not heard of any incidents. Was somebody hit by a car during pick up/drop off? A teacher was hit years ago at the intersection – and that is the danger zone. In front of the school kids don’t go in the street, but soon they can? seems like a trendy project. I hope it works.

Teacher December 22, 2024 (7:59 am)

As a teacher at the school I agree with many of the commentators about how they should only be during pick up and drop off. During the school day there is nobody in front. Students go between the building and the annex for PE and down to the field and that is it. Parents use the street for early dismissal because the office is right there and you have to sign your kid out. I assume you can still use the street for those purposes during the school day. But some people will take the signs literally and Parking will be an issue also so it’s going to be inconvenient for many.

Sorry, comment time is over.