West Seattle, Washington
11 Friday
Received from Rachel, who has a warning for you:
The rains have returned and I wanted to send a warning about a very slick corner that has caught numerous drivers off guard when taking it too fast.
These photos are a result of making a left from SW 16th to SW Austin going too fast on a wet road. I have lived at this corner for 20 yrs and this is a yearly occurrence. Note: tree always wins and this poor tree has taken quite the beating. I also have concerns that someone standing on this corner might end up getting hit.
One car took out the walk signal and kept going. I have brought this to the city’s attention and they said since there are no police reports there is nothing they can do. Most drivers hobble off or call a tow truck and it never gets called into 911.
She’s hoping a highlight here might “help save a few from falling victim.” So consider yourself warned!
Somebody in Fauntleroy with a green laser is reported to have pointed it tonight at multiple ferries and at least one plane. That’s according to a texted report and a police-radio FYI in the past few hours. The texter reports the “bright green laser … illuminated the pilothouses of multiple state ferries on at least two separate occasions.” The police-radio FYI was relayed as an FAA request for officers to check the area near the ferry dock after a plane reported the laser. The FAA notes that this is a safety risk and federal crime.
Thanks to William for the photo of a crash scene on the east side of California/Findlay, blocking Findlay. No SFD dispatch so apparently no injuries. No other info about the circumstances but we’re publishing this in case you see the knocked-over hydrant and wonder what happened.
More city work on SW Trenton by Westwood Village today. This time, it’s speed-cushion installation. We reported last month that SDOT planned to install four sets of speed cushions on Trenton between 25th and 29th, as part of the Safe Routes to School program (with the Chief Sealth International High School/Denny International Middle School campus a block north). Crews are working today, east to west; we happened onto them as they were finishing the easternmost cushions and moving westward.
(WSB photo, looking south at 49th/Hinds)
Last Thursday, thanks to a reader tip, we reported on a new all-way-stop intersection at 49th/Spokane, near the former Schmitz Park Elementary (current temporary home to Alki Elementary), and promised to follow up with SDOT to find out if anything else is planned in the area. Today we got the reply – three intersections in all:
We’re adding all-way stops and painting all legs of the crosswalks at the following three intersections around Schmitz Park Elementary School:
50th Ave SW & SW Spokane St
49th Ave SW & SW Spokane St
49th Ave SW & SW Hinds St
We went to see if the other two had been installed yet. Short answer, no – 49th/Hinds currently has one crosswalk and east-west stop signs but not north/south; 50th/Spokane, right by the campus, is a “T” intersection that has one crosswalk. No installation date for the rest of the work was provided. This is one of the current Safe Routes to School projects, which have also included new stops and speed cushions by Gatewood Elementary.
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.
9:59 AM: Apologies that we were’t able to report this in real time – a flipped-car crash toward the top of the Admiral Way hill [map]; thanks to those who sent photos. The log shows one engine responded just before 8 am – the driver was already out, so no “rescue extrication” response was needed. No medic unit dispatched either, indicating no major injuries; we’re following up with SFD for specifics.
11:10 AM: SFD tells us its crews checked out a 3-year-old girl and 28-year-old woman, neither seriously hurt.
2:52 PM: We don’t know if this work is happening right now or already complete, but received this note from SDOT this afternoon:
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is performing construction work at the intersection of 20th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St today (Monday, September 9, 2024) which requires closing a single lane of traffic at a time throughout the day.
Crews are removing crosswalk markings on the eastern side of this intersection where there is no walk signal equipment. We have received community feedback that these markings created a confusing situation because there is no crossing signal equipment on this side of the street to trigger a red light to stop cars when people need to cross the street. People will still be able to cross SW Roxbury St using the crosswalk and walk signal equipment on the western side of this intersection.
And a reminder that by state law, every intersection is a crosswalk, whether painted or not.
3:51 PM: Given that, we asked SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson on followup, why remove the markings? (We also noted they must have been recent, because Google Street View’s most-recent image, dated 2018, doesn’t show a crosswalk on that side.) His reply:
The crosswalk markings on the eastern side of the intersection were painted by mistake by a private contractor working for King County during the construction of the RapidRide H line and does not match our approved designs for this intersection.
SDOT learned of the issue when a community member wrote to us this summer. The eastern crosswalk markings were leading to a confusing situation for people crossing the street. People need to push the crossing signal button on the western side of the street to trigger a red light to stop cars so that they can cross safely. If people wait to cross on the east side of the street, the light does not automatically change for them.
We are looking into whether other options to let people cross on either side of the street may be possible in the future, as we take the immediate step of removing the confusing crosswalk for now.
Another major event this week – the first community meeting with police at the Southwest Precinct since March (here’s our coverage of that one). Officers from the precinct have attended neighborhood-group meetings during that time, but Wednesday (September 11) will bring the first meeting to be held under the Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council banner since March. The “council” is really just whoever shows up, rather than an official organization (which it used to be, years ago). The meeting is being organized by the precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite. She says they’ll be held quarterly. This time, the guest speakers are District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka and Southwest Precinct leadership (the precinct has changed commanders since last meeting, now led by Capt. Krista Bair). All are welcome; start time is 6:30 pm Wednesday in the community room, which is right off the parking lot on the south side of the building at 2300 SW Webster.
Friends, family, and fellow riders gathered at Lincoln Park this morning to remember Steve Hulsman before a ride in his honor. Mr. Hulsman, 66, was killed last December in a collision with a driver in Arbor Heights. He was a longtime volunteer ride leader for Cascade Bicycle Club, which organized this ride as a tribute. Some who gathered were there in commemorative orange T-shirts:
They included Mr. Hulsman’s widow Rita Hulsman, one of the pre-ride speakers, who has advocated tirelessly for safety in the months since his death.
She spoke after Cascade’s Tyler Vasquez and Lee Lambert, the High Performance Cycling team’s David Longdon, and District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who talked about the Seattle Transportation Levy on the general-election ballot, which he amended to include a TBA protected bike lane to be named in Mr. Hulsman’s honor.
They’re all in our video:
Before the riders departed, they toasted Mr. Hulsman:
Participating riders had their choice of three routes this morning, 14 miles to 42 miles.
12:07 PM: Thanks for the tips. SDOT crews are installing West Seattle’s newest speed cushions today – including what are, we believe, the first ones ever built on California Avenue SW (not counting the raised crosswalks in The Junction). Above is the newly installed set on California just south of Myrtle, and below is the outline for a set just north of Myrtle:
SDOT also is installing speed cushions/humps on Myrtle west of California. This is all part of Safe Routes to School traffic calming around Gatewood Elementary – we hadn’t received a specific construction notice but found this mention nested in the “current projects” list on the SRTS website:
Speed humps and all-way stops on SW Myrtle St, SW Frontenac, and California Ave SW near Gatewood Elementary (expected in 2024 or 2025)
The all-way stops on Myrtle were already in. We’re checking with SDOT for more specifics.
12:51 PM: SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali tells WSB that these weren’t expected to be installed until early next year but the crew managed to accelerate. She sent a map of all the new speed cushions in this round:
Thanks to Mark for the photo. He and another reader mentioned the surprise appearance of a new crosswalk at 39th/Admiral [map], east of the Admiral Way Bridge seismic-strengthening project, which moved into the top-deck half-closure phase this week. Project spokesperson Dr. Matthew Howard tells us it’s temporary: “It was low-key, a quick flip and safety measure. We added these Rapid Flashing Beacons and a temporary crosswalk to the intersection as we move into the phased closures of the bridge lanes. We wanted to maintain pedestrian access throughout these times so that people could get across safely. Community supported/wanted it, and the team was able to deliver.” But “temporary” means it’ll be removed when the project’s complete; Howard adds, “I’ve broached the topic of a permanent solution, though.”
The recent cyberattacks on SEA and on the Seattle Public Library are reminders that online security is a concern for us all. This Thursday, you’re invited to learn about risks and protection, as well as fraud/scam protection, in a cybersecurity presentation by the Seattle Neighborhood Group, hosted at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor). It’s scheduled for 1-2:30 pm in Building 2 at the complex, and all are welcome – RSVP is requested but not required; corinne@villagegreenretirement.com.
RVs have parked along SW Trenton, northwest of Westwood Village, for years. We noted usually one or two earlier this year. But readers have been pointing out a larger number lately – we’ve counted five in recent weeks – and pointing out that some of the associated activity is blocking the sidewalk. With this on the route students travel to and from the center, we’ve been asked if the city plans any action. So we took the question to the mayor’s office, which convenes the multi-department Unified Care Team, in charge of encampment “resolution.” Here’s the reply we reeived from spokesperson Callie Craighead:
The Unified Care Team (UCT) is closely monitoring this site and coordinating with Parking Enforcement teams to address RVs and other lived-in vehicles that are in violation of the City’s 72-hour parking rules along SW Trenton. The UCT prioritizes encampments for resolution based on public safety data, mobility and accessibility impacts, impact on the environment, and proximity to schools and other spaces where children are present.
A resolution date for this site is pending; in the lead-up to site resolution planning, the UCT will continue coordinating with Parking Enforcement teams as well as providing ongoing trash removal and the mitigation of public health and safety hazards such as propane tanks. Residents should continue to report public safety concerns, criminal activity, or other emergency situations by calling 9-1-1 …
For non-emergency situations, other city reps have advised reporting encampments via Find It Fix It.
Street changes usually are announced with notices to nearby homes and businesses, but those don’t reach the many other people who also will be affected as they travel through or visit the area, and such is the case for the new features at 39th/Oregon, shown above. Susan emailed us Wednesday after being caught by surprise by the new paint-and-post curb bulbs. We checked in with SDOT, whose spokesperson Ethan Bergerson explained it’s part of ongoing work to “daylight” intersections:
The recently completed project painted new crosswalk markings on the eastern side of the SW Oregon St & 39th Ave SW intersection. It also included new signage indicating that this is a legal crossing, and painted curb bulbs to make it clearer to drivers where parking is not allowed near the intersection. This is called “intersection daylighting” and helps enhance safety by preventing cars from parking illegally in a way that blocks other drivers’ view of oncoming traffic and people crossing the street.
(Here’s the notice nearby homes and businesses received.) Our archives show that community members were seeking safety improvements for this intersection at least as far back as 2016.
Back on Friday, we reported on SDOT‘s announcement of impending traffic-calming additions to West Seattle streets as part of the Safe Routes to School program. Some readers wanted more specifics, especially on locations, so here’s what we’ve found out:
DENNY’S NEW CROSSWALK: SDOT’s announcement mentioned a community-designed decorative crosswalk by the entrance of Denny International Middle School. With a traffic circle right at the entrance, readers wondered, where will the new crosswalk go? The image above answers that question – across SW Kenyon on the west side of the intersection; the east side already has a conventionally painted crosswalk.
TRENTON’S NEW SPEED CUSHIONS: We asked SDOT how many speed cushions are planned for SW Trenton. We’re told they plan four sets, between 25th and 29th.
We asked one more question … is there a date for construction to start? SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson says, “We’re still working to schedule construction sometime later this year.”
More speed cushions are in the works for West Seattle, and this time they’re not at the beach. SDOT sent us a list of projects they plan to build by year’s end as part of the Safe Routes to School program, aimed at making it “easier for students to walk and bike to school.” The descriptions are from SDOT:
SW TRENTON TRAFFIC CALMING
To support Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School students, we’ll install traffic calming on SW Trenton St between 25th and 29th. It will include “speed cushions” and “paint and post” bulbs to improve the visibility of the crossing at Trenton/26th – next to Westwood Village.
Last year, SDOT installed an all-way stop at 25th/Trenton, followed by speed cushions in the CSIHS vicinity on SW Thistle.
DECORATIVE CROSSWALK AND ALL-WAY STOP AT DENNY IMS
Denny students held a design contest for a decorative Community Crosswalk in front of their school on Kenyon.
The crosswalk marks the central entrance to the school and will be installed with an all-way stop.
PERMANENT ‘SCHOOL STREET’ ON GENESEE HILL
We’re making the Genesee Hill Elementary School Street permanent. Both entrances to the School Street will feature more durable signage, painted curb bulbs, and art. Genesee Hill students designed the pavement art that crews will install on SW Dakota St to support a safe and welcoming school environment.
23RD SW WALKWAY
Connecting between Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and the newly redeveloped Delridge Wetland Park, we’re installing a walkway with a planter strip and trees on the west side of 23rd Ave SW.
SDOT’s website lists a few other Safe Routes to School plans for West Seattle but notes they’re “paused pending funding.”
6:16 PM: Some neighborhoods have Night Out block parties year after year after year. Our first stop tonight is one of them – an Arbor Heights block near Westside School (WSB sponsor).
Thanks to JoDean for again this year being the first to invite us to stop by for a photo! We’ll be making a few other stops, heading south to north as the evening goes. We welcome your Night Out party photos too – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you! And if you’re not spending the evening at your own block/building party, please be extra-careful in traveling around, with many neighborhood streets closed to traffic for the evening.
6:28 PM: Above is a photo from our second stop, the senior-living complex Village Green West Seattle (WSB sponsor) in Westwood, where it’s a parking-lot party, with live music by Rob Sturza and friends:
Plus hot dogs.
6:55 PM: Stop #3 was Eileen‘s neighborhood on one of east Highland Park’s hidden-away hillside streets. Photo above!
7:20 PM: Now we’re in Admiral, where Rosalie invited us to stop by her neighborhood’s block party east of West Seattle High School. One of the neighbors here is a beekeeper and has an educational exhibit at the party:
7:45 PM: Now we’re on Genesee Hill. We discovered two adjacent blocks were having parties – Laurie invited us to hers, but first we accidentally wandered in the other direction, so we photographed that group too.
Above, Laurie and neighbors at their very scenic dead-end overlook; below, the block north of theirs:
8:01 PM: Night Out usually collides with Election Night, and we have to head back to check out returns shortly, so our last stop is on Gatewood Hill, where Jennifer sent word of her block party, enjoying live music again this year – the band is Head Cheese, featuring the ever-popular Tom Hutyler.
Thanks to everybody who sent invitations!
ADDED 9:25 PM: Above are our neighbors in Upper Fauntleroy; their party was still going strong when we returned home, so we gathered them for a photo. We’ve also received a few from readers – first, here’s “a small but mighty group in Arbor Heights”:
Lilly the dog was among attendees at Gabe‘s party west of The Junction:
P.S. If you want to keep the community-safety vibe going, note that the Southwest Precinct is hosting its next Crime Prevention Council (a “group” basically consisting of whoever shows up) meeting on September 11, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), all welcome.
Four days until this year’s Night Out, celebrating community collaboration and safety coast-to-coast. If you’ve registered your Night Out party, Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite has swag for you, available for pickup (updated) 9:30-11:30 am and 2:30 to 4:30 pm Monday (August 5) at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). She’s at right in the photo, with Seattle U interns Rafail Markodimitrakis and Kierra Lee, as they got ready this morning.
(Added: Photo sent by Jennifer Satterwhite)
They’re offering crime-prevention info handouts and goodie bags for kids. If you didn’t get signed up by last Sunday’s deadline, but you’re still having a Night Out party, they might have some extra materials available Monday too.
Thanks for the tip! SDOT crews were out today working on some of the 10 new speed cushion/hump sets promised for the Alki/Harbor Avenue area. We found three now in place on Harbor – near Jack Block Park‘s main entrance (photo above), near Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), and near the West Bay Coffee drive-thru. We reported last Monday on the locations where the new speed humps/cushions are planned, shown on this map:
The ones now in place on Harbor are the easternmost ones shown on that map. The new Alki Avenue locations have been marked off; construction wasn’t supposed to start before tomorrow but impending rainy weather may have factored into the change of plan. The city hopes the added humps/cushions will reduce racing and other aggressive-driving problems; as per City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s Monday announcement, SDOT also is still planning some lane narrowing, and is considering whether anything can be done with the Duwamish Head angle-parking zone, which nearby residents want to see changed to reduce its appeal as a gathering spot.
Back in February, we mentioned that work was ahead for the “salmon bone bridge” across Longfellow Creek in North Delridge. Now Seattle Public Utilities has announced that work is about to begin. As explained on the project page:
The Salmon Bone Bridge was designed by renowned Seattle-based artist Lorna Jordan and was installed in 1999 as part of the Longfellow Creek Habitat Improvement Project. The bridge was designed to invoke the skeletal structure of a fish and the deck was made from recycled cedar timbers arranged in a herringbone pattern. The Bridge is also known as the Adams Fish Bridge.
Since then, the timber deck has deteriorated and has become unsafe. As a result … SPU covered the deck with plywood and an anti-slip surface, which altered the bridge’s aesthetic. This project aims to honor the artist’s original vision while improving pedestrian safety by replacing the deck with materials designed for slip resistance and long service life.
After exploring several materials for deck replacement, SPU selected Cordeck Dots decking material. This weathering steel product is a long-lasting option that will mimic the visual appearance of the original deck.
SPU will replace the deck … The restored bridge will preserve the artist’s original design, but will be more durable and accessible, and safer, while requiring less maintenance.
The work will start in early August and will close the bridge for up to three months, according to this notice that SPU says will be circulated to neighbors starting next week.
Some of the problems mentioned in our previous story are beyond individual residents’ ability to fix – but there’s one simple-yet-mighty action anyone can take: Neighborhood solidarity and collaboration. That’s what the annual Night Out block parties are about, and we’re reminding you tonight that this year’s Night Out is now two weeks away: Tuesday, August 6. You can have a “block party” in many places – schools, apartment buildings’ community rooms, condo courtyards – but if you want to sign up to close your (non-arterial) street to vehicle traffic that night, SPD has a registration link here. Registration will offer you the opportunity to have yours on the citywide Night Out map. Deadline to register for street-closure permission is this Sunday, July 28.
P.S. We’ll be out taking photos on Night Out as usual – if we’d be welcome to stop by your block party for a photo, let us know where and when, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Moments before Mayor Harrell announced at noontime today that the city is working on getting 20 spaces at the regional SCORE misdemeanor jail, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee had heard about – among other things – the inability to book many misdemeanor suspects into the King County Jail. This, despite an 18-year contract with the county costing $22 million this year alone, which led to Council President Sara Nelson exclaiming, “I want my money back!”
That was toward the end of an information-packed committee meeting with an agenda also including Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr‘s report on her first two months on the job, plus the confirmation of Amy Smith as permanent Chief of CARE (the department that includes the city’s 911 center as well as a team of crisis responders). Here’s the video:
The meeting lasted two and a half hours, starting with public comment and Chief Smith’s confirmation (which committee members voted 4-0 to recommend to the full Council, which might vote as soon as next Tuesday), until an hour and 20 minutes in. That’s when Chief Rahr began her update (see the slide deck here).
Rahr said she’s been focused on four areas – staffing, technology, accountability, and the department’s “criminal justice partners.” The first, she said, is still “a crisis” – hiring remains “behind where we’d hoped to be”:
She presented an overview of a recent overnight shift citywide to show how those numbers translate operationally (note that the Southwest Precinct, West Seattle and South Park, had six officers that shift, four below what it should have):
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