West Seattle, Washington
26 Wednesday
The Seattle Transportation Levy includes money for some of the many areas around the city that need sidewalks. Just a drop in the bucket – SDOT says 11,000 blocks around the city are sidewalk-less, while the levy has funding for 350 blocks of new sidewalks/walkways. 10 of those blocks will be in North Delridge, according to SDOT. A commitment’s already been made for the long-promised SW Brandon sidewalk as an “anticipated initial (levy) project.” Where else does North Delridge most need sidewalks? SDOT has just announced a walk-and-talk event to give community members a chance to talk about it:
Want to see new safe places to walk in the Delridge neighborhood? Please join us for a neighborhood walk and share with us where you would like to see new walkways and/or sidewalks.
Date: Wednesday March 19th, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Gather at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW) and then walk the neighborhood with us!Kids are welcome! Rain or shine.
Here’s the official flyer for the event.
From Dave at Our Lady of Guadalupe, which had to close the block of SW Myrtle east of 35th around the clock for a week-plus after windstorm damage destabilized their flagpole:
The pole is down, the street is open, thank you to our neighbors for your patience.
OLG plans to eventually replace the flagpole.
(WSB photo, looking southwestward toward school and flagpole from 34th/Myrtle)
In our windstorm coverage last Tuesday, we mentioned that Our Lady of Guadalupe School had closed SW Myrtle between 34th and 35th – usually just a school-hours closure – because the stability of its flagpole was in question. The street has remained closed, and taped off, since then, while OLG determined whether the flagpole had to come down. Tonight, we checked back in, and the answer is “yes.” Dave from OLG tells WSB, “The pole needs to be taken down and we think that will occur on Thursday or Friday, and we will open the road at that point.” He says the flagpole eventually will be replaced.
After a tip, we went over late today and confirmed that the “School Street” signage on 45th Avenue SW in front of Madison Middle School has been damaged, a little over a month after the weekday street closure was implemented. Our photographer reports the signs are in pieces on both ends of the block, a little too deliberate-appearing to blame on, say, yesterday’s wind. We’re checking with SDOT about plans to replace it.
Since this’ll start before we publish tomorrow morning’s daily event list, we’re mentioning it tonight: 9:30 am tomorrow (Tuesday, February 18), the City Council’s Transportation Committee – chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka – takes on two big topics: Transit safety – with a multi-agency/department roundtable – and the transportation levy’s spending plan for this year. We reported toplines of the latter here, after a media briefing last month. You can see the presentations for both, and get information on how to comment to the committee if you want to, via the agenda. The meeting will be viewable on Seattle Channel.
(Reader photo from November 1, 2024, crash)
After another round of crashes in early January near the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – by the welcome sign, sculptures, and pullout – we asked SDOT what they were doing to evaluate the site and potentially take action. Comment discussion has centered on whether a pavement change is a factor, and/or whether speed is the major problem, and/or possibly certain vehicle types. SDOT’s first reply was that they were looking into it. We followed up again, and this afternoon received this update:
Our pavement engineers and Vision Zero team met recently to discuss this issue.
This year we plan to add safety enhancements to encourage drivers to approach the curve at a safer speed. We are currently considering various treatments such as warning signs, raised pavement markings, and/or reflective markings.
If the pattern continues after those safety enhancements have been made, we are looking into the feasibility of two possible methods to increase the traction of the pavement in this area either by grinding down the top layer of pavement or adding a high-friction surface treatment. We’re considering the pros and cons of each option to determine if either one makes sense in this area. Either option would need to be scheduled at some point a little further out in the future after considering resources, crew availability, weather, and traffic impacts for drivers.
We don’t have stats on how many crashes have happened along that stretch – even our archives show crashes that aren’t reflected on the SDOT collision-info map.
1:15 PM: If you’ve been tracking national news, you have likely heard about the many orders and policy directives issued by the new federal administration. One today also has the potential for many city-level effects, so we’re checking on those. It’s an order from the federal Office of Management and Budget director, “paus(ing)” grants/funding. (See the memo here; Eastside U.S. House Rep. Suzan DelBene is circulating this analysis of potentially affected programs.)
Given the possibility for effects on city programs such as public safety and transportation, we asked whether any statement is forthcoming from Mayor Harrell. Not so far, responded spokesperson Callie Craighead, but here’s what she told us:
The City is analyzing the memo to understand the potential impacts of this action given its broad and vague language. We are actively working with City departments to evaluate any potential immediate effects.
Strong constitutional protections exist that limit the federal government’s ability to coerce cities by conditioning funds. We will continue to assess actions that impact Seattle’s access to federal funding that supports all of our residents and respond appropriately.
Checking WSB archives, we have 79 references to federal-grant funding for projects on which we’ve reported – most recently including the Spokane Street Viaduct repaving and Hiawatha Community Center renovations (a project that’s not yet complete). There are also school (we’re checking with the district) and medical programs potentially affected, among others. We’ll continue following up.
4:27 PM: The spending-pause order was supposed to take effect at 2 pm our time but a federal judge has put it on hold until next Monday afternoon (February 3).
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The AP reports the order has been rescinded.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: But NBC says the White House spokesperson contends the freeze hasn’t.
(Reader photo from crash and fire January 3)
After multiple crashes (including this one and this one) weekend before last toward the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – near the pullout by the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign and remaining “Walking on Logs” sculptures – we asked SDOT if they’re looking into that particular spot.
(January 5 photo from commenter SeaKev)
Though neither crash resulted in serious injuries, among other things, they had other effects – such as, both led to callouts for SDOT responders to come reset the jersey barriers that the crashes had knocked out of place, which required blocking traffic for a time. Meantime, here’s what SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson told WSB:
Thank you for bringing this pattern to our attention … we’re still working on this question for you. Our pavement engineers and Vision Zero team are looking into this location to better understand the history and current conditions and consider potential next steps.
Some commenters have wondered whether a change in pavement types at that spot is a factor in these crashes – or whether it’s just a speed problem – or maybe a risk faced by certain types of vehicles. Even a quick search of our archives shows crashes at that spot for years. (Side notes – the number of crashes in our archives outstrips what’s shown on the SDOT collision data map, if you’re looking for hard data. And the bridge has had at least one other focused trouble spot before.) We’ll continue checking back to see what SDOT eventually deduces.
As of Saturday afternoon, signage was already out for the new “School Street” partial closure of 45th Avenue SW in front of Madison Middle School, which officially starts tomorrow and will be in effect 7 am-5 pm on weekdays per SDOT. We checked it out after a tip from a nearby resident; this sign on the northbound side of the street at SW Spokane is matched by one in the distance at the start of the southbound side at SW Hinds. Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr. reminded the school community in this email on Thursday. As the SDOT program page and the signage both note, the “closure” exception includes drivers who live on the street and drivers making deliveries on the street. Other “School Streets” around the city include SW Dakota in front of Genesee Hill Elementary.
In an end-of-week email addressed to “Highland Park Neighbors” (with blind CCs including us), the city’s Unified Care Team says it will “resolve” three South Delridge encampment areas in the next month:
Based on the availability of resources, UCT is scheduled to resolve the following locations by mid-February:
*SW Barton St from 15th Ave SW to 17th Ave SW
*SW Barton St to 18th Ave SW to Delridge Way SW
*SW Cambridge St from 15th Ave SW to 16th Ave SW
The email goes on to tell recipients:
We appreciate your patience in the lead up to the resolution of these sites. The City’s contracted outreach partners will be actively engaging at the sites to make offers of shelter and provide connections to services. Due to the region’s limited shelter availability, these connections can take some time, but our goal is to prevent the displacement of high-needs individuals into other parts of the neighborhood or repopulation of these sites.
UCT has been and will continue to provide regular site cleanings to the above sites as well as other areas in Highland Park in hopes of mitigating public impact by removing trash, debris, and dangerous objects like propane tanks. Our teams regularly work in this area, conducting site inspections and continually evaluating sites for resolution as site conditions change and resources become available.
Seattle’s Parking Enforcement Officers (PEOs) are working to address the recent service requests reporting lived-in or abandoned vehicles as well as conducting proactive enforcement of any non-compliant vehicles in the area. City parking ordinances require vehicles to move at least one block face every 72-hours to be considered compliant. UCT works to keep lived-in vehicles moving and in compliance, however we understand that this can be frustrating as vehicles may remain in your neighborhood even if they are moving regularly. If you have submitted a customer service request for an abandoned vehicle that was closed as a duplicate request, please know PEOs will still be addressing the location in your request.
Please note that parking violation and ordinances apply to all vehicles equally – they do not differentiate between lived in and non-lived-in vehicles. However, under Washington state and federal law, there are extra protections extended to persons living in vehicles to protect their privacy interest. Because of that and absent extraordinary circumstances, a law enforcement officer may not enter an occupied/lived-in vehicle without an approved warrant. An occupied, non-compliant vehicle cannot be safely moved without this process occurring.
The Highland Park area will continue to be frequently inspected and reassessed for resolution and trash mitigation services based on the level of activity observed. If you observe new or worsening encampments, please report it using the Customer Service Bureau’s Unauthorized Encampment service request form or submit a service request using the City’s Find It, Fix It mobile app. As always, dangerous or criminal activity should be reported to 9-1-1 including drug use, theft, and trespassing.
Community groups who are interested in potentially activating a public space or public right-of-way in your neighborhood can contact UCT’s community liaison Tom Van Bronkhorst (tom.vanbronkhorst@seattle.gov) to discuss how the City may be able to support you and your neighbors in options for restoring a frequently encamped space for public use.
This arrived too late in the day/week for followup but next week we’ll also be asking the UCT about the status of the 8th/9th/Henderson area, which despite a recent city operation continues to be the area that people most often mention to us.
As we first reported last month, 45th SW in front of Madison Middle School will become a “School Street” – closed to through traffic – 7 am-5 pm on school days starting Monday (January 13). Today, Madison principal Dr. Robert Gary Jr. sent the following reminder to Madison families, several of whom forwarded it to us with the suggestion that the wider community be reminded too:
Dear Madison Parents, and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you all well in the New Year. I am writing to you today to share more about the safety street closure on 45th Avenue SW between Hinds and Spokane that will begin next week. This street closure will reduce the likelihood of accidents and encourage alternative forms of transportation. As a school principal, the safety and well-being of our students are always my top priority, and I believe this closure will help foster a safer, healthier, and more sustainable environment for everyone in our community.
Traffic congestion around school zones is a major concern, particularly during the busy drop-off and pick-up times. Unfortunately, this heavy traffic can increase the likelihood of accidents, particularly involving pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. By temporarily closing off certain streets during peak hours, we can reduce congestion and provide a safer, less stressful space for our students to walk, bike, or scooter to and from school. There have been too many “near misses” in crosswalks, illegal U-turns, and high-speed drivers around the school in recent months and we are grateful to the City of Seattle for taking this proactive step with us.
Additionally, we hope this will encourage families to explore alternative forms of transportation. Walking, biking, public transit, or carpooling can not only reduce traffic but also promote physical activity and environmental responsibility. These options offer great benefits to both the health of our students and the overall well-being of our community. Please remember we have the covered bicycle and scooter parking off the North parking lot for student and staff use. If driving is the only option for you, we encourage dropping students off at least one block from the school to alleviate congestion during this transition on neighboring streets. Any students or families needing ADA accessibility can be accommodated in the safety zone.
This safety street closure is not just about reducing risk; it’s about fostering a culture of safety, wellness, and sustainability. By taking proactive steps now, we can create a safer and more positive school environment for our children and set an example for other communities to follow.
I understand that change can sometimes be challenging, but I truly believe this is an important step toward a safer future for our students. I encourage you to support this initiative, and I am available to answer any questions or discuss any concerns you may have.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to making our school and community a better place.
Here’s the official SDOT flyer about the change. When we asked SDOT last month about the process for approving School Streets, they replied, “School Streets are requested by schools and reviewed and approved by SDOT as long as they meet the criteria (more detail on the criteria on the webpage).
(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).
Just got word of this, also happening tonight – here’s the announcement sent to us by the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention:
Did you know 1 in 5 adults in King County say a firearm is kept in or around their home and about a third of firearm owners with kids and half of firearm owners without kids don’t store their firearms locked up?
Locking up firearms saves lives and protects communities. Using a gun lockbox can prevent unauthorized access, reduce the risk of accidental shootings, and prevent theft or misuse. On December 5, 2024, the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention will hand out FREE handgun lockboxes at the Junction Shop Late Pop-Up Market at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW). Lockboxes will be available from 5-9 pm at Jet City Labs while supplies last.
Have concerns about public safety in King County? The King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention invites you to share your thoughts through an anonymously in a short survey HERE. The survey takes seven minutes or less to complete, and your responses will remain confidential.
We’re told they will have 75 of the Snapsafe lockboxes to give out.
(WSB photo, Tuesday morning)
On Tuesday we reported on city crews at 9th/Henderson for an encampment “remediation.” Unified Care Team spokesperson Callie Craighead said the city’s tally of results would be available today. Here’s what she told us:
The Unified Care Team conducted an RV remediation at 9th SW and SW Henderson yesterday morning. There were 3 RVs at the location, and 2 moved voluntarily from the area prior to start of remediation. Our teams towed the one remaining RV and removed almost 2,200 pounds of debris from the site. Offers of shelter were made but none were accepted at that time.
I wanted to note that the 2 RVs that moved voluntarily moved several blocks away, so constituents may feel like the situation was not taken care of. UCT parking enforcement works to keep vehicles in compliance with the City’s 72-hour parking regulations and they will be closely monitoring this area.
Saturday (November 30) is the last day to answer this year’s Seattle Public Safety Survey. Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite says this was the representation from West Seattle neighborhoods as of midweek:
Alaska Junction – 103
Alki – 97
North Admiral – 92
Fauntleroy – 80
Roxhill/Westwood/Arbor Heights – 69
High Point – 56
Morgan – 55
Highland Park – 52
North Delridge – 48
South Delridge – 38
Pigeon Point – 11
(Not all West Seattle neighborhoods are represented because back when they came up with Micro-Community Policing Plans, those were the neighborhoods that had active community council. But you can reply to the survey no matter where you live in WS – just go here. Results – which are anonymous – eventually will be provided to the Seattle Police Department, though Seattle University administers the survey.
(Constellation Park section of Alki Point Healthy Street, February)
Months after the city installed much-discussed permanent changes on the Alki Point “Healthy Street”— Beach Drive and Alki Avenue’s respective west-of-63rd SW stretches – SDOT is wondering what you think. They;ve sent out a survey solicitation – here’s the heart of it:
Since 2020 SDOT has been partnering with Seattle Parks and Recreation and the community to improve safety and access for people who walk, bike, and roll while enjoying Alki Point. Throughout the past four years SDOT has evaluated the temporary Healthy Street, made adjustments and heard the community call for permanent changes. This year we began the construction on the first phase of permanent improvements including:
-A shared-use path along Beach Drive SW for people walking, biking, and rolling
-Three designated public parking areas
-Speed cushions to slow down vehicles
-A vehicle turnaround at the end of the Alki trailAs a regional destination park and marine reserve habitat, Alki Point serves people enjoying many popular outdoor activities like kayaking and paddle boarding, whale watching, exploring the low tides, and taking in views of sunsets and the mountains. We understand the unique nature of Alki Point and are seeking your feedback on this survey to better understand how the changes are working so far and inform our next steps.
Go here to answer the survey. It’s open until December 2.
If you haven’t yet responded to the annual Seattle Public Safety Survey, you have until the end of the month. This is the 10th annual survey, which is administered by Seattle University, with results provided (anonymously) to Seattle Police “to help them better understand your neighborhood’s safety and security concerns … (then) community-police dialogues will be held in May-August 2025 to provide opportunity for police-community engagement about the results.” These are part of SPD’s Micro-Community Policing Plan program, but you can participate whether your neighborhood has an MCPP or not – just answer the survey by November 30. It’s available in Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Korean, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese, all via this link.
P.S. Here are the results of last year’s survey.
(WSB file photo – West Seattle’s newest ballot box, at Morgan Junction Park)
In light of the ballot-dropbox arson attack in Southwest Washington, a commenter asked how dropboxes are protected here. We took that question to Halei Watkins, spokesperson for King County Elections:
The news out of Southwest Washington about the fire at their drop box has been so sad. It’s heartbreaking to see those ballots burnt and the box damaged.
I am glad to report we have not seen similar attempts on our drop boxes here in King County. So far, it’s been smooth sailing out at drop boxes in our neck of the woods.
Every official ballot drop box here in King County is emptied at least once a day, including on weekends. Now that we’re so close to Election Day, our pick-ups become more frequent so we’ll have eyes on the boxes even more frequently. Our ballot collection teams go out in teams of two and fully inspect each box. Those folks can take photos and enter notes and are trained to report anything suspicious to both supervisors and law enforcement.
Our drop boxes are equipped with fire stops to help put out anything that could cause burning. They’re constructed of quarter-inch thick steel and bolted into concrete, have no pry points, multiple locking mechanisms, and are equipped with tamper evident seals. On Election Day, we’ll have both staff and security out at drop boxes across the county to answer questions for voters and be on hand in case a need arises.
We work closely with law enforcement, from our local police departments to the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners are on high alert for anything suspicious when it comes to voting, whether that’s potential intimidation or some other concerning action at a drop box or Vote Center.
If a voter ever feels intimidated at a drop box, or ever encounters something that looks suspicious or out of place, they should call 911. We train our staff, at the advice of law enforcement, to call 911 immediately if there is something suspicious or potentially dangerous in any way. Staff and voter safety are our top priority.
Dropboxes will be open until exactly 8 pm on Election Night, Tuesday, November 5; West Seattle has four – here’s where to find them.
(Graphic from seattle.gov)
Tomorrow night brings the first of two City Council public hearings devoted entirely to the budget proposal for the next two years. (Read it in its entirety, or department by department, as linked here.) You can speak to the council either in person at City Hall or remotely. The hearing starts at 5 pm. If you’re going to City Hall, child care is available starting at 4:30 pm (RSVP via email, leg_operations@seattle.gov). That’s also when signups start for the commenter list. At City Hall, the signup sheet is inside Council Chambers upstairs; remotely, follow these instructions.
We reported some West Seattle-specific budget points in this late-September story. One additional point of note: SDOT‘s budget proposal includes speeding-ticket cameras for 19 more school zones around the city, and while the locations aren’t listed in the budget document, SDOT has released the list. Two of the new camera zones are in our area – West Seattle High School and Alki Elementary. SDOT says the new cameras around the city would “be implemented in two phases in 2025” – WSHS is in Phase 1, and Alki Elementary (which is being rebuilt and expanded, opening in fall 2026) is in Phase 2. The camera zone for WSHS is described as California SW between SW Hanford and SW Stevens; the camera zone for Alki is described as SW Admiral Way between 60th SW and 57th SW. The budget item actually is for revenue rather than spending – the document says funding for camera installation is already in this year’s budget; projected ticketrevenue is more than $4 million next year, $10 million the year after that.
West Seattle already has five school zones with camera enforcement – Delridge Way for Boren STEM K-8, Fauntleroy Way for Gatewood Elementary and for Fairmount Park Elementary, 35th SW for Our Lady of Guadalupe, SW Roxbury for Holy Family.
Back to Wednesday’s budget hearing – you can comment on a specific item or a general issue/concern, up to you. The second hearing is November 12th, but by that point, the council is just a week away from key almost-final votes, so you have more potential impact now. You can also send email comments any time, as explained here.
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.
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