West Seattle, Washington
11 Thursday
When Sound Transit board members gather for their monthly meeting Thursday afternoon, one item on the agenda is of particular interest to those tracking the West Seattle light-rail plan: Another update on the in-development Enterprise Initiative. As we reported a month ago, this is now the name for the package of policies that ST expects will help it reshape ST3 next year, into something more affordable. That could mean changes for the West Seattle project, currently projected to cost $7 billion, far more than ST has budgeted.
At Thursday’s meeting the board will consider proposed “guiding principles” for the Enterprise Initiative, laid out in this document. It warns, “If the agency does not take proactive measures via this Enterprise Initiative, the ST3 program will become unaffordable, and we risk our ability to operate a dependable, resilient, and safe system.” Among other subsequent points, the principles charge CEO Dow Constantine with ” the goal of achieving a balanced and affordable long-range finance plan and a clear path to deliver the benefits of Sound Transit projects and services as quickly as possible.” It subsequently says. “The framework and its implementation will comply with the ST3 voter-approved ballot measure … and should plan for the following outputs: an updated System Plan, with modified capital and operating plans; an updated Long-Range Plan that looks beyond ST3; and a balanced and affordable long-range finance plan.” Then there are promises of “inclusive collaboration” and “transparent governance,” and a final section where you could read the most between the lines regarding where West Seattle fits in, as there is a reiteration of prioritizing completion of the system “spine” (which West Seattle is not on) and a nod to “fiscal integrity,” yet another indirect reminder of this project’s price tag. As of this writing, there’s also one proposed amendment, by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, primarily adding a goal of supporting future growth.
The meeting starts at 1:30 pm Thursday at ST headquarters, and you can attend in person or online, with public comment accepted both ways, as explained in the agenda document.
Another big fall event is approaching – and tonight you can preview which artists and locations you’ll be able to meet and visit during the (free!) West Seattle Art Tour on Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21. Here’s the update:
Maps and Artist Gallery are Live for the West Seattle Art Tour
The West Seattle Art Tour is pleased to announce that this year’s map and artist guide are live! Peruse the artist guide, get to know more than 50 local artists, and plan your route ahead of the September 20-21 Tour! This year’s tour information includes a printable map, an interactive online map, and artist profiles to help guests plot their own adventure across the West Seattle peninsula.
The West Seattle Art Tour is a free, self-guided tour that showcases a unique array of art created by exceptional West Seattle artists in the spaces where artists create, live, teach, and work. This year, sites will be open for two days, allowing more time for visitors to see all of the locations.
Not sure where to start planning your Tour? During the September 11 West Seattle Art Walk, Viscon Cellars is hosting the Tour’s Preview Night, where a sampling of art from every site and medium will be on display, with many of the artists on hand. Stop by Viscon Cellars (5910 California Ave SW) during the Art Walk or tasting room hours on Friday 9/12 and Saturday 9/13, enjoy the artwork, and pick up a copy of the print map.
The West Seattle Art Tour is organized by local artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk as well as community sponsorship from West Seattle Blog, Viscon Cellars, and Alki Arts.
Though school starts a week from today, SDOT‘s new California Avenue SW school-zone-speed cameras near West Seattle High School and Lafayette Elementary won’t be in operation right at the start. We’ve been asking SDOT for an update on the cameras’ status, and just got it:
We expect to activate school zone safety camera near West Seattle High School on California Ave SW in the southbound direction mid-September. The northbound camera for West Seattle High School is expected to be activated mid-October due to more complex construction methods at the location.
SDOT is also installing speed cameras on Admiral Way near Alki Elementary, but won’t be activating them until the rebuilt school at 3010 59th SW opens in fall 2026. Here’s the list of schools that already have these cameras (including five in West Seattle). We first mentioned the new cameras’ locations in city-budget coverage almost a year ago.
Several WSB readers were startled to see purse-seine fishing off West Seattle these past few days – the photo above was taken from Lincoln Park on Tuesday, and another one came in from Upper Alki today:
Purse-seine fishing uses a net to scoop up the catch, which in this case is the same fish that’s filled Lincoln Park’s north shore with people, pink salmon. According to this state Fish and Wildlife Department document, the commercial season in this part of Puget Sound is in its second of three weeks. We’ve run various photos of this type of fishing off West Seattle over the years, but they’ve historically been later in the year, like these scenes from November 2021.
(WSB photo, September 2024: WSES staffer Akim Finch welcoming students)
Again this year, the first day of school will begin with the exuberant tradition of a red-carpet welcome for students at West Seattle Elementary. You’re invited to join other community members and WSES staff for the welcome. Just be at the school’s main entrance (on the north side of the campus at 6760 34th SW) 7:15-8 am on Wednesday (September 3). It’s the first red-carpet event for Ritchie Garcia as principal; the longtime assistant principal is leading the school this year after Pamela McCowan-Conyers‘ retirement.
(WSB photo, January 2025)
One week from today, Seattle Public Schools begins the 2025-2026 school year. Even if your family doesn’t have a student or school staffer, you’ll be affected by the resumption of school-related traffic and transportation management, including school-zone speed limit and School Street closures. The Madison Middle School PTSA asked us to remind you about their School Street – 45th Avenue SW in front of the school, between SW Spokane and SW Hinds, will close to through traffic on weekdays again this school year. Several other West Seattle schools have set up School Streets; at one, Genesee Hill Elementary, SDOT has declared it to be permanent. This will be the first full year for Madison’s School Street, which was launched last January.
News today about another long-delayed city project: The Brace Point underground electrical upgrades are starting, almost six years after the originally projected start date for the project. Thanks to the area resident who shared a notice they’d received, with word that the work is under way on private property now and beginning in public right-of-way in early September. The notice also announced an online community meeting at noon tomorrow (Thursday, August 28) for information and Q&A. We last reported on the project when it went out to bid this past March but hadn’t received City Light notification that work was about to start. Its main component is replacement of underground cables that have failed repeatedly, causing multiple power outages in the neighborhood south of Fauntleroy. The information on the notices mailed to area residents, including how to register for tomorrow’s online meeting, is on the project page. (For backstory on the delays, see this 2022 WSB story.)
(Dawn earlier this week, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our list of quick reminders about what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly as featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: 10 am Wednesday walks leave from 47th/Fauntleroy (this is a last-minute reminder, so would-be walkers can set their calendars for next Wednesday morning!).
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at the bookstore. (4522 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open every day through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
ALSO AT HIGHLAND PARK PLAYGROUND: Another chance to learn to break! Beginners welcome too. Free 11 am class. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The open-every-day season is in its final week at Lincoln Park‘s outdoor, heated salt-water pool! Noon-7 pm; see the session schedule here. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WADING POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), West Seattle’s last still-open wading pool is expected to be open noon-7 pm, since the weather is expected to warm up through the day.
FREE MOVIE: All ages welcome to watch “The Wild Robot” at Southwest Library (9010 California SW), 1 pm.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: All levels welcome, 2-4:30 pm at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury).
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Fourth Wednesday brings the monthly dine-out fundraiser at The Neighborhood (6503 California SW), 3-9 pm, this time donating part of the proceeds to Alki Beach Academy.
COMMUNITY VOCAL TONING: You and your voice are invited, 5 pm at Alki Arts (6030 California SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix that broken item instead of throwing it out! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
OPEN STUDIO AT POTTERINGS: 6 pm, stop in and let your creative self be free! Our calendar listing has the sign-up link and details. (3400 Harbor SW)
CRIBBAGE TOURNAMENT: Play at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ (membership not required; 4426 California SW), 6 pm.
PIANO NIGHT AT UPWELL: Come enjoy music at Upwell Coffee (4811 California SW), 6-9 pm.
FREE ART CLASS: 6 pm, pay what you can, all levels invited to explore watercolors at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).
FREE QI-GONG CLASS: 6 pm, meet at south lot of Lincoln Park. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE URBANISM: All are welcome at the group’s weekly happy-hour meetup, 6-8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar. (4752 California SW).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RUN: An energetic way to enjoy your evening – join the weekly 6:15 pm group run with West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – all welcome.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer lineup. (7902 35th SW)
MORBIDLY CURIOUS BOOK CLUB: The club’s August meeting is tonight at 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW); this month’s book is Alua Arthur‘s “Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End.”
MUSIC BINGO: at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four West Seattle trivia locations on our Wednesday list: Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) at 7 pm … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) has Wednesday trivia at 8 pm … Quiz Night also starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and it’s an 8:30 pm start for trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW), all ages until 10 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: You can be in the spotlight – 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SALSA & BACHATA CLASS: Open-level class with BALORICO at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW), 8 pm.
Planning something that’s open to community participation/observation? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Endolyne Children’s Choir, “West Seattle’s community youth choir,” is starting a new season and welcoming new singers – here’s the invitation sent to us to share with you:
Do you know a child who loves to sing? The Endolyne Children’s Choir is kicking off our 23rd season in September and it’s not too late to register! We offer five grade-level-based choir ensembles for singers in grades K-12.
ECC is proud to be West Seattle’s community youth choir. Our mission is to make quality choral music education accessible to as many children as possible. We don’t require an audition or any previous choir experience, and we offer multiple payment tiers, including full scholarship available to anyone.
Our singers learn music theory and vocal technique, build performance skills, make friends, and have fun! Learn more here – and come sing with us!
If you don’t have a potential member in the household but you’re interested in the choir’s work, look for not only their own concerts, but appearances at community events such as The Junction’s Christmas-tree lighting and the summertime West Seattle Grand Parade.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
No more heat alerts, for now. The forecast for today is mostly cloudy, slight chance of showers, upper 70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:21 am; sunset will be at 7:58 pm.
ROAD WORK
-SDOT says Admiral Way Bridge work should mostly wrap up this week, meaning Fairmount Avenue beneath the bridge will reopen. The outside eastbound lane had work crews for a while Tuesday, but was clear by the time we went through at 6:30 pm.
-WSDOT says tunnel-texture work was wrapping up in one more closure overnight and should be over now.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro buses – On regular schedule and routes today.
Washington State Ferries – WSF has three-boat service on the Triangle Route, with M/V Kittitas, M/V Issaquah, and M/V Sealth. Vessel Watch will show you which boat is where.
Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service; summer schedule, with later runs on Friday and Saturday nights.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners at home vs. San Diego again today, day game this time – 1:10 pm.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Reopened Sunday afternoon after a day and a half of work. Here’s the view looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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