FOLLOWUP: Neighborhood gets alerted about Alki speed-cushion plans

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

When we reported a month ago on SDOT‘s plans for speed cushions on 60th, 61st, and 62nd SW in the Alki area, the SDOT announcement was fairly vague – no locations and no timeline aside from “summer” (which still has almost six weeks to left). This week, a notice about the impending work arrived in nearby residents’ postal mailboxes, according to one reader. So we asked SDOT for the notice, since it’s of interest to more than those who live on or near the affected streets. They pointed us to this webpage, which includes the map above as well as these details of the planned locations:

60th Ave SW from SW Admiral Way to Alki Ave SW
61st Ave SW from SW Admiral Way to Alki Ave SW
62nd Ave SW from SW Admiral Way to Alki Ave SW

The same info is published here in multilingual fact-sheet format. Both online and via email, SDOT says the main warning that’ll be provided to neighbors is “no parking” signs arriving at least three days in advance in the installation spots.

walkerws August 12, 2025 (12:44 pm)

Great news! More of this!

Michael August 12, 2025 (1:02 pm)

63rd could really use speed cushions. From Alki Ave to Admiral has turned into a drag strip at all times of day. A lot of people use the bike lane and are getting in and out of their vehicles. It’s dangerous on 63rd right now.

Kathy August 12, 2025 (3:33 pm)

Yes, this! Also on Admiral Way. There are speed bumps on other arterials. It’s time for people to stop treating Admiral Way like a racetrack. People live and have been killed on this street, and yet most drivers are exceeding the speed limit.

lucy August 12, 2025 (1:14 pm)

Although I have noticed a difference in the cars speeding along Alki Ave, the motorcycles are terrorizing the entire area and the cushions do not slow them at all, they simply split them. Perhaps we could consider making Alki/Harbor Ave local access only after midnight. The beach is closed at 1030, so other than just cruising and blaring music and engines, what else is there to do?

My two cents August 12, 2025 (1:19 pm)

Just want Alki wants – their very own gated community! Look out Broadmoor.
- Alki Jack August 12, 2025 (2:58 pm)
  
  No, we just want people to comply with local laws. Obey the speed limit, required/approved exhaust systems with catalytic converters, no burning rubber. Radio’s a reasonable volume levels. All this So EVERYONE can enjoy the beach.
- Alki Deuce August 12, 2025 (3:25 pm)
  
  What do you suggest when public streets on and around Alki are nightly crime scenes, with reckless driving, speeding, driving while intoxicated, speed races, etc.? And that’s on good days when there are no shootings.
- Neighbor August 12, 2025 (3:54 pm)
  
  Lucy doesn’t speak for Alki. I live in the area and I don’t support Lucy’s idea. Please don’t mistake one misguided yet vocal person for the whole neighborhood.
Anne August 12, 2025 (3:07 pm)

What are you talking about ? While the beach is closed you can still walk along the sidewalk.So you want to turn Alki into a private community after a certain time-who is going to enforce that? Harbor Ave? There’s a 7-11 there right? Who do you consider “locals” anyway Where do you draw the line. I’ve heard this nonsensical idea before – it still makes no sense.
Neighbor August 12, 2025 (3:52 pm)

The park is closed but people can still cruise around on the roads they pay for or visit businesses in the area or visit people they know in the area or return from work or go to work or just do whatever the hell they want because it’s a free country. You want to close the roads at midnight but don’t mention when they’d reopen. That says a lot about the shallowness of your understanding of the people around you. As a resident of the area I strongly oppose the restrictions you propose. Alki has always been a destination especially in the summer. You choose to live here but that doesn’t give you exclusive rights to it.
- Maxwell House August 12, 2025 (4:54 pm)
  
  wow that’s some over-caffeinated retort. maybe think about switching to decaf for a while, yikes
  - Ja August 12, 2025 (8:13 pm)
    
    yeah, personal attacks say more about the person doing them than about their targets. If someone can’t put together a friendly disagreement, they should go have a decaf.
    - Neighbor August 13, 2025 (4:24 pm)
      
      Polite tolerance of ignorance is how we got a cheeto in the white house. Spouting bad ideas deserves to be called out. It’s the only way some people learn.
  - Neighbor August 13, 2025 (4:28 pm)
    
    Weird assumption. Not everyone requires caffeine to form complete thoughts.

Jeff Olson August 12, 2025 (3:19 pm)

Speed cushions will not solve the challenge that 62nd has. Speed is not the issue here. It is really a single lane road with two way traffic. 62nd is a narrow street with parking on both sides just leaving a single lane that is drivable. It can be entertaining if there was no anger involved. Cars weave in and out as they face each other. Keep in mind this only happens 3 months out of the year. Speed cushions will not solve car face offs.

Jeff Olson August 12, 2025 (4:30 pm)

Speed cushions is not the solution for 62nd street. This street is a single lane street with traffic coming both ways. The solution is just to make it a one way street.

Out of curiosity August 13, 2025 (2:03 pm)

100% I have been wanting to pitch a seasonal (mid May-mid September) one way signs for single lane Streets down there (62nd, 60th, 64th)for awhile. Mainly cause it also blocks up the main roads of Alki and Admiral as well with the street stand offs. Locals live and die by their alleyways cause the roads are a mess.
- 62nd Ave Resident August 13, 2025 (6:20 pm)
  
  I remember years ago when there was a study to determine if 62nd should be turned in to a one way street. They had surveyors come out in early spring when it was still very cool and overcast. They determined that there was enough room to keep it two way. It was so ridiculous and maddening that they didn’t have the common sense to come out on a beautiful warm day when it becomes truly unmanageable and stressful to witness or navigate.

62nd Ave resident August 12, 2025 (4:32 pm)

I don’t get it. I’ve lived on 62nd for over 20 years. Speeding isn’t the issue on our street. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s that there’s parking on both sides which turns the street into a one lane (even though it’s two way) road when it’s full of parked cars which is the norm during summer. For years(!) I witness groups of cars trapped in standoffs where multiple cars have to back up half a block to let someone by. This has resulted in screaming and near fights. Even people driving on the SIDEWALK and running over my neighbors landscaping and making my then 10 year old child have to jump out of the way. Why was 63rd not included for speed bumps? That avenue definitely needs help with speeding as it’s a main thru road with more room.

62nd Ave SW Resident Also August 12, 2025 (6:27 pm)

Completely agree with you and have the same exact comments as a fellow long time resident on 62nd Ave SW. Installing speed cushions makes absolutely no sense.

David August 12, 2025 (4:36 pm)

Skip 62nd (too narrow to speed) and put cushions on 63rd.

Barley August 12, 2025 (5:02 pm)

How a out just taking g care of our streets witch we already paty a fortune for road repair( potholes and utility cuts). These speed bumps are not solving the problem. Just continued a waste of taxpayer.money!

SoLongDelridge August 12, 2025 (11:23 pm)

You don’t pay enough. We’ve written a check that can’t be cashed.

JayDee August 12, 2025 (5:33 pm)

@ Kathy: Respectfully, A 25 mph speed limit is never going to be a winner on Admiral, IMHO. Not even Metro buses go down Admiral or 35th @ 25 mph…I tailed both buses in the last two days. I generally agree with 25 mph on neighborhood streets (like Alki with peds, and Genesee Hill) .

Seattlite August 12, 2025 (6:46 pm)

JAYDEE….Residential streets are 20 mph. Arterials are 25 mph. Today starting at James Madison on 45th Ave SW and ending at SW Stevens St cars were traveling up to 30-35 mph going north and south in a 20 mph residential zone. The speeders are creating dangerous streets. I was told that during the school year the speeding cars are even worse in the section I described above.

Al King August 12, 2025 (5:36 pm)

60th and 62nd are streets with parking on both sides and are basically one car each way with very few opportunities for 2 cars to pass. I have a REALLY hard time understanding SDOT’s thought process(oops-forgot they don’t have one)that speed humps were a necessity. Really baffling as 63rd is wide and could use them but is excluded.

Jeff August 12, 2025 (6:00 pm)

I agree. Well written.
60th local August 12, 2025 (10:52 pm)

As a resident on 60th for years, the high speed at which people floor it from Alki to Admiral after dark, with barely any room between the cars on either side, is frightening. 60+ mph. I didn’t ask for anything to be done about it, and I expect the speed bumps will make parking even harder, but I understand why it’s being done.

ouchmyballjoints August 12, 2025 (6:37 pm)

Just what my already failing suspension needs. How about enforcement instead of deterrence. I’ve travelled extensively up and down the west coast and this is a Seattle problem.

SoLongDelridge August 12, 2025 (11:38 pm)

It is not just a Seattle problem. A few moments of investigation would uncover that for your limited mind.
https://www.kptv.com/2025/06/30/car-crashes-into-ne-portland-building-damaging-several-businesses/
Himbo August 13, 2025 (9:46 am)

If the bumps are damaging your suspension that means you’re the problem. Drive slower and you and your car will be fine.
Neighbor August 13, 2025 (4:31 pm)

If your suspension is failing you should get it repaired instead of willfully endangering the people around you.

Concerned August 12, 2025 (8:23 pm)

Just more speed bumps to replace what should be policing, where is that money going? No repercussions, the chaos will continues :(

SoLongDelridge August 12, 2025 (11:36 pm)

“I know we got have prevented the killing of your child if we had installed speed bumps, but please know that the police arrived quickly and they will investigate it.”
Pip August 13, 2025 (9:45 am)

Unless you want to pay for a cop on every corner, 24/7, speed bumps are a much better solution. They work automatically, never take a break, and prevent speeding rather than just responding after the fact. And once they’re installed, they don’t have any ongoing costs.

Kyle August 12, 2025 (9:58 pm)

Speed humps, in my opinion are the most effective physical change for reducing speeds. They actually stop everyone from going more than 10ish mph over the limit, they don’t take away parking, they don’t take away road capacity for a growing city etc. More of these and less of these short sighted road diets in a growing city if we want to lower speeds.

foop August 12, 2025 (10:31 pm)

Speed humps are a joke. If anything – raised pedestrian crosswalks would be a huge benefit but we actually hate anyone not in a car here.

Neighbor August 13, 2025 (4:32 pm)

You mean like sidewalk level at intersections?

North Admiral Cyclist August 13, 2025 (6:16 am)

There will never be enough police resources to “enforce” our speed laws. With so many pedestrians and cyclists in West Seattle, especially Alki, we cannot let drivers continue to drive 30+ miles per hour in these areas anymore. I’m all for installing safety cameras and speed cameras on Alki and Admiral. SPD had the money for safety cameras on Alki 10 years ago, but it got stalled by a few people worried someone will record them picking their nose. Just as bad is parking enforcement. Especially “daylighting” is needed to prevent cars parked too close to crosswalks and blocking the bike paths and sidewalks. For example, there’s a giant, oversized pickup parked illegally blocking the bike path and sidewalk almost everyday on the south side of Admiral between 62nd and 63rd. I’d rather we devote “human” resources to parking enforcement, since we can use passive devices like speed humps, and tech such as speed cameras, to control speeds.

WSB August 14, 2025 (11:07 am)

To correct a bit of history you mention: No, SPD didn’t have “money for safety cameras on Alki 10 years ago.” Not the type of cameras you’re suggesting, anyway. We covered that situation – 12 years ago – extensively, starting with the first tip from someone who saw the cameras being installed with absolutely no public notice or discussion, part of a “port security grant” the city had received, but, we learned, planned for areas nowhere near port facilities. This was in a time before the profusion of people installing their own security cameras, and attitudes toward camera surveillance have certainly changed. So have city policies, so now there’s notice, and discussion, before new kinds of surveillance are installed. The discussions at the time – once the plans were brought to light – sounded a lot like what’s now in operation as the Real-Time Crime Center. Would they have made a difference? Maybe. But they weren’t going to be used for traffic violations. – TR
- North Admiral Cyclist August 14, 2025 (2:30 pm)
  
  Yes, I am all too aware of the points you make in your “history”, and remember the concern some people voiced at the time Not everyone, but certainly some did. Ultimately the naysayers did win out, and the city cancelled the cameras and took away the “mobile command center” RV that was parked on Alki at times. As someone that lived near by, I know many of us felt it was too bad the cameras did not get installed and the police presence was diminished. We still hold out hope the safety cameras and increased police presence comes back.