West Seattle, Washington
13 Friday
(2024 WSF concept for Fauntleroy Way signalized intersection)
Though construction of the Fauntleroy ferry-dock replacement/expansion is still a few years away, one related project is more like months away – the stoplight planned for Fauntleroy Way where it intersects with the dock entrance/exit. To get ready for it, drilling is planned on Monday (June 16), and Washington State Ferries is circulating this alert today:
Washington State Ferries (WSF) will conduct geotechnical drilling to understand site conditions for a new traffic signal at the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. The traffic signal will make it easier and safer for people driving, walking, biking and rolling to get to and from the bus stops, terminal and other destinations along Fauntleroy Way Southwest and beyond.
When will the work occur?
• Monday, June 16 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.What can I expect?
• Construction noise, dust, vibrations and traffic.
• Travel and bike lane restrictions at the intersection of Fauntleroy Way SW and the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal. While crews are working, flaggers and a uniformed police officer will direct traffic through the intersection and to/from the ferry terminal. Please expect delays when traveling through the area.
• Large construction vehicles and machinery.
• Crews will use construction best practices to limit noise levels when possible.Questions or concerns?
• Email: wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov
• Call our construction hotline: 206-402-8070 (staffed 24/7 during construction)
The next full update on the project is expected during what will be the final meeting of its WSF-convened Community Advisory Group, online at 6 pm July 9 (registration link isn’t available yet but watch here when it gets closer).
12:28 PM: Thanks to Andrew for the photo! SDOT crews are working right now on the conversion of Duwamish Head diagonal parking spaces to parallel, for which District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got $175,000 written into the city budget. Nearby residents had long been asking for the removal of the diagonal spaces, as a magnet for trouble, even a murder last year. Andrew’s photo came in as we were starting to write a related story – about last Friday’s removal of signage that SDOT had placed regarding this work and the proposal to create 150 new parallel spaces on the water side of Alki Avenue a bit further west.
We asked about the sign removal as soon as another reader asked (sending the photo shown above) on Friday; SDOT acknowledged the inquiry Friday but didn’t provide this reply until today (Phase 2 is a reference to the potential parallel-space installation):
Phase 2 status is currently under review. Staff will review the input from the survey before deciding on the next steps for the project. This ensures community feedback is considered as the process moves forward. In the meantime, we intend to move forward on the conversion of the Duwamish Head angled parking spaces to parallel parking.
SDOT removed the A-frame signs along Alki Avenue SW to avoid any misunderstandings about the work planned at Duwamish Head. We collected a large volume of public input from the survey responses so far and people can continue to provide input until June 22. Afterward, we’ll share the results and how they shaped the process and any decisions.
The reply also noted that they “expect to install (the diagonal-to-parallel) changes this week,” but as Andrew’s photo shows, that’s already under way. They told us that the conversion would mean a net loss of 10 street-parking spaces in that area. Meantime, though SDOT also initially attributed “Phase 2” to Saka as well, he said he’s against adding those spaces (though his budget item, as a commenter pointed out, mentioned not only the diagonal-space conversion but also the addition of on-street spaces on Alki Avenue nearby; we mentioned that in this November reportthe survey is indeed still open.
1:57 PM: Just went through, and the crew is gone:
Nobody seemed to have caught on to the new parallel parking opportunities yet. Looks like some work remains, however, such as grinding away the old parking lines, and removing the old signage that related to the angled parking.
SDOT says the SW Barton bus-layover zone between Roxhill Park and Westwood Village won’t be repaved this year after all, and that changes the plan for this week’s meeting about it:
Our project is being postponed – rather than starting construction in Fall 2025, we will begin work in March 2026. We need to delay our work because a separate project that will affect SW Trenton St (the street that major bus reroutes will use) conflicts with our timeline. Instead of competing for street space and making buses detour on an active construction zone, our project will start later.
We will still have our public meeting but are changing its format into a drop-in session where you can come learn the most up-to-date information. So come see us at our SDOT table outside the former site of the Bed Bath & Beyond in Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton St, Suite A1, across from the Wingstop) on June 11 (Wednesday) from 5:30 – 7:00 pm. And don’t worry. We will still hold a more comprehensive public meeting before construction begins – and will let you know when that meeting is rescheduled for a date in fall 2025.
We asked about the “separate Trenton project.” The reply: More speed humps.
BACKSTORY: We first reported the Barton repaving plan after spotting the permit application in March. SDOT says the temporary replacement layover zone will be on the southwest corner of 25th/Trenton.
(WSB photos, Monday)
2:54 PM: As noted in our most-recent followups on parking changes ahead for Alki Avenue, SDOT not only reiterated the previously announced plan to convert the diagonal spaces on Duwamish Head to parallel, but introduced something new: Adding 150 parallel-parking spaces to the water side of Alki Avenue’s 1200 to 1700 blocks. The accompanying “fact sheet” said changes were being made “at the request of Councilmember Rob Saka”
And in a response to one of our followup questions, SDOT very clearly attributed the street changes to him:
(WSB question) 2. What other “engagement” is planned besides the survey and signage? Will there be a community meeting, for example?
(SDOT response, as previously published) We appreciate the community’s interest and input regarding Councilmember Rob Saka’s request to re-establish on-street parking on the waterside of Alki Avenue SW to offset some loss of parking at the Duwamish Head. We believe the current survey provides one effective way of gathering feedback from a diverse range of voices. To ensure adjacent stakeholders are aware, we are also putting up A-frame signs within the area and sending emails to community leaders. …
But in an email newsletter today, Councilmember Saka says he’s AGAINST the 150-space plan. Here’s the entirety of what he wrote:
Alki Parking Changes: I support Duwamish Head changes, but I oppose 150+ new spaces
I want to clarify my position regarding SDOT’s recently announced proposed parking changes at Alki, that was attributed to work being done by my office.
For background: During last year’s Council budget review, I supported converting diagonal to parallel parking at Duwamish Head in response to ongoing community concerns about nightly street racing and loud gatherings that have disturbed neighbors year-round. The Council appropriated $175,000 for this change. I strongly support this first aspect of the project pertaining to Duwamish Head reconfiguration only.
However, this week’s SDOT’s announcement referenced an additional out-of-scope project to add 150 new parking spaces along the waterside of Alki Avenue—which apparently was a revival of an unpopular proposal from 15+ years ago—and indicated my support for it.
To be clear: I unequivocally DO NOT support this proposal to install 150 new parking spots and I sincerely regret this confusion.
I had a productive meeting with SDOT this week where I reaffirmed my support for the Duwamish Head changes. I also expressed strong opposition to the second phase of the project to add 150 new spaces. We ultimately aligned on a shared goal of moving forward with mutual understandings and to ensure full transparency and tighter coordination in the future. I appreciate the department’s collaboration here, along with their efforts to bring to life my original intent of reconfiguring Duwamish Head parking only.
For further questions on the project details, please contact SDOT Customer Care at 206-684-ROAD (7623) or email 684-ROAD@Seattle.gov.
So – does this mean the 150 spaces are dead? Since the “productive meeting” paragraph doesn’t clearly say one way or another, we have requests out to both SDOT and Councilmember Saka (via the council communications office) asking for clarification.
4:17 PM: Here’s the reply from council spokesperson Brad Harwood:
He did not make the request, that’s the issue and the purpose for the newsletter blurb. SDOT’s announcement connecting him with the Alki spaces was in error. Internal discussions are occurring now with SDOT leadership on next steps. As for news of any cancellation, the department will make that announcement.
4:47 PM: And here’s SDOT’s response to us:
Phase 2 status is currently under review. Staff will review the input from the survey before deciding on the next steps for the project. This ensures community feedback is considered as the process moves forward. In the meantime, we intend to move forward on the conversion of the Duwamish Head angled parking spaces to parallel parking.
(WSB photos, this afternoon)
After reading our coverage of last week’s SDOT announcement about adding 150 parking spaces along Alki Avenue after the conversion of angled parking to parallel parking is done, a nearby resident asked us whether this was a “done deal.” The language on the “fact sheet” provided by SDOT last week includes this paragraph:
…Re-establishing daytime on-street parking is proposed for the west/ water side of Alki Avenue SW, between the 1200 and 1700 blocks, where the street is wide enough. This would help offset the reduced parking at Duwamish Head and meet increased parking demand during summers. Changes could be installed in the summer of 2025. …
But also this:
Additional Alki Avenue SW outreach is planned for later this summer. We’ll engage the community to address questions and take feedback before finalizing and implementing a design.
So we asked SDOT two things today: #1, is the added street parking in the 1200 to 1700 blocks a “done deal,” and #2, what kind of “additional … outreach” is planned – for example, will there be a community meeting?
Regarding “is it a done deal?” the answer wasn’t clear:
Before installing the second phase of this project, we would like to hear how people feel about the change and any specific benefits or challenges that re-establishing parking on the water side of Alki Avenue SW might bring.
Regarding “additional outreach,” SDOT says “no meetings are planned”:
We appreciate the community’s interest and input regarding Councilmember Rob Saka‘s request to re-establish on-street parking on the waterside of Alki Avenue SW to offset some loss of parking at the Duwamish Head. We believe the current survey provides one effective way of gathering feedback from a diverse range of voices.
To ensure adjacent stakeholders are aware, we are also putting up A-frame signs within the area and sending emails to community leaders. Wider promotion through outlets like your media site and Councilmember Rob Saka helps capture a wide array of Alki visitors, businesses, and residents. The survey itself ensures participants can share their thoughts conveniently and at a time that works best for them, allowing for a comprehensive collection of opinions over the next few weeks. While no meetings are planned at this time, we’ll see if the current outreach generates significant interest or if there are populations that appear not to have been reached and determine if supplemental efforts should be considered.
So if you have an opinion of the added spaces, whatever it is, the survey is apparently your main opportunity for input. Since SDOT’s replies made it clear that the added spaces, like the diagonal removal, is by request of Councilmember Saka, here’s his contact info too.
12:45 PM: As first reported here in January, SDOT plans to convert the diagonal-parking area just northwest of Don Armeni Boat Ramp into parallel parking. An update today reaffirms that the work should be complete by mid-June. But today’s update adds something new:
(Google Maps Street View image, part of the stretch where SDOT proposes adding parking)
Re-establishing daytime on-street parking is proposed for the west/water side of Alki Avenue SW, between the 1200 and 1700 blocks, where the street is wide enough. This would help offset the reduced parking at Duwamish Head and meet increased parking demand during summers. Changes could be installed in the summer of 2025.
While the diagonal-parking removal is a done deal, the Alki Avenue parking is not, SDOT says, and it’s asking your thoughts via this brief survey. Meantime, we have followup questions out to SDOT, including the number of spaces planned for removal/addition, and the updated cost (the original announcement of the diagonal-parking removal noted that District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka had gotten $175,000 for it added to the budget).
ADDED 5:05 PM: SDOT says there’ll be a net gain of 140 spaces with all of this – the 35 diagonal spaces will be replaced with 25 parallel spaces, and 150 spaces would be added to Alki Avenue. SDOT says the $175,000 originally budgeted should cover the Alki Avenue plan as well as the diagonal conversion.
We also asked about other street changes that would be made to accommodate the parking changes: First, at the soon-to-be-former diagonal area, “Wheel stops will block off the space behind the parking lane and the curb on the west side (water side).” Second, in the area between 1200 and 1700 blocks of Alki Avenue, “We will be installing 20′ no parking zones (also called daylight buffers) before and after each crosswalk to enhance visibility of pedestrians crossing at these locations. The parking lane will be established by painting a fog line on the west side (water side of Alki Ave SW). Wheel stops are not here, as these spaces will be adjacent to the curb.”
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
SDOT reps continued their series of walking tours this past Wednesday in Highland Park, with the same goal as the previous two: Identify areas where sidewalks or walkways could be built with funding from the 2024 Seattle Transportation Levy.
“We want to hear everything and anything to make this neighborhood safer and better for the community,” said Brian Dougherty, deputy director of the project development division, as the crowd gathered in Highland Park Elementary School for the walking tour. The levy, which was approved last year by voters, allows for over 250 new blocks of sidewalks around the city by 2029.
The goal of a walk-along is to give residents a chance to put the city officials in their shoes, walking them through the neighborhood and pointing out areas that need to be fixed. As with the North Delridge tour earlier this spring, the event was also briefly attended by Seattle City Council District 1 representative Rob Saka, who addressed the crowd.
“It is my honor to represent this neighborhood; this is the kind of work that changes lives and helps keep people safe” Said Saka, “There are certain communities, such as Highland Park and Arbor Heights, which are bearing the brunt of this (lack of support), but now we finally have the political support and the resources to invest in this project.”
As the group walked through Highland Park several key issues were pointed out, such as a lack of speed bumps, according to community member John Murphy. “We’ve been asking for speed bumps since 2004. My car’s been hit, and my boat’s been hit. We’ve basically given up.” He was concerned about 14th/Thistle.
Other key issues include adding a curb ramp to Cloverdale and 14th, addressing the dangerous blind turns at 7th and Cloverdale, and improving safety and security measures at Henderson and 9th.
The latter is a location that several community members including Mike York, and Kay Kirkpatrick, of HPAC and the Highland Park Improvement Club, say often sees unhoused people parking their RVs and other vehicless. Kirkpatrick and York both expressed safety concerns, and said they’d like to reduce the amount of traffic the area gets.
A final concern, one which SDOT addressed early on in the walking tour, was the issue of oversized blocks. The levy approves the construction of blocks, within a certain size limit. Any neighborhood blocks which exceed that limit will be considered as two for the purpose of construction. In Highland Park, many streets far exceed the block size standard, which is roughly 240 feet.
“Aside from a few hiccups, all of this is broadly achievable,” Dougherty said at the end of the walking tour. He said the final report should be released closer to the end of the year, and that it will address the concerns laid out by the community. Find out more about the sidewalk-building program here.
You hope it never happens – but need to be ready in case it does. Last Sunday, our calendar and event list included a Disaster Resilience Ride organized by West Seattle Bike Connections, whose Kate Wells sent a report and photos:
We had great weather, great attendance (including a couple of kids) and great speakers! Riders learned about the Seattle Emergency Hubs system, assembling a go-bag, food and water resilience, building community, and dealing with utilities.
We also stopped by the Delridge Tool Library as a possible resource after a disaster. There was interest in doing a similar ride again in the future.
To find out what else West Seattle Bike Connections is up to, go here.
Another city project is out with an update just before the holiday weekend. We first reported March 31 about the Barton repaving plan in the bus-layover zone alongside the north edge of Roxhill Park, after spotting a mention in a land-use bulletin; now SDOT is ready to have a community meeting about it – here’s the update they sent today:
We have completed designing the SW Barton St Layover Repaving project and plan to begin construction in Fall 2025!
Before then, join us for a public meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, at the former site of the Bed Bath & Beyond in Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton St, Suite A1).
We will be discussing:
-Bus detours
-Bus stop relocations
-Construction impacts to area businesses
-Answers to your questionsYou can also sign up for email updates or visit the project website where we will regularly share news of the project.
Why are we doing this work?
We’re partnering with King County Metro to repave the bus layover zone and street on SW Barton St.
The street’s concrete is old, cracked, and damaged from the heavy buses. Here’s what we’ll do:
-Replace the underlying soil with lightweight concrete
-Repave the road with stronger concreteThese improvements will:
-Reduce repair costs for SW Barton St
-Lower bus maintenance costs
-Make driving smootherDuring repaving, bus routes and layover zones will change. We’ll work with Metro to find the best new locations for bus stops and the layover area. We aim to minimize inconvenience and will provide updates on alternate arrangements. To contact our project team, email SWBartonLayover@seattle.gov.
If you live in the area, SDOT says to watch your mailbox for an information postcard next week.
(WSF photo via X)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The sight of M/V Wenatchee out on Elliott Bay today was one reason why Washington State Ferries boss Steve Nevey opened today’s online systemwide community meeting with optimism: “I’m really positive about the direction the ferry system is heading in. … We’re not just trying to get better, we are getting better.”
M/V Wenatchee is getting close to the end of its longer-than-planned hybrid-conversion work at Vigor on Harbor Island, and its return to service will help return the fleet to enough of a size that, among other things, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be able to return to a three-boat schedule June 30 (as first announced last month). “I’m really proud that almost-full service (systemwide) will be restored this summer.”
That also was partly enabled by Governor Bob Ferguson‘s order to delay the hybrid conversion of other ferries, but Nevey insisted WSF was not wavering in its commitment to electrification. A major next step, for example, is to build infrastructure so ferries will be able to recharge at terminals and run entirely on battery power; until that infrastructure is available, for example, Wenatchee will be running in hybrid mode “for a couple years,” Nevey noted.
He also showed the system “by the numbers” for this year’s first four months:
The most important numbers – like fleet size – played into remarks from the next speaker, John Vezina. Though, he warned, the system will have only 21 boats when it should have 26, service restoration will be possible:
For Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth, Vezina also said, there’ll be a few weeks this spring where it’s back to “two boats plus the ‘bonus boat’.” And what happens if unexpected circumstances bring the fleet strength down further? He showed the WSF decisionmaking matrix:
His final key point was that ferries have been added to the list of transit types aboard which various types of “unlawful transit conduct” can get you in trouble, thanks to SB 5716.
Next up from the WSF executive team was Todd Lamphere, who had the most numbers of anyone in the lineup, because it fell to him to explain how the state allocates funding to WSF and what happened in the just-concluded legislative session. Among the many notable numbers was $4 million for continued supplemental foot-ferry service provided by Metro‘s Vashon Island Water Taxi and Kitsap Transit. WSF is also now “directed” by legislators – without a dollar amount attached – to get back to exploring what it would take to provide reliable wi-fi service on ferries and in terminals. He also explained how ferry fares are decided, and during the meeting, participants got the chance to participate in two fare-related polls. (79 percent supported extending expiration time of prepurchased ticket books, from 90 days to 120 days; 65 percent supported a five percent “peak season surcharge.”
For more input into the process of setting the next round of fares, an online open house starts soon:
44 minutes into the meeting, they launched into a full hour of questions and answers (the asking was done via a Zoom feature – no live speaking by attendees). We took notes only on the ones of potential local interested, such as an early question about staffing; Beth Stowell said they’d just had four classes of 16 new employees, with two more soon, so they’re “fully staffed up with new folks for summer.” Other questions included how would WSF measure electrification success, once it’s actually happening; the answer – the amount of time the boats are running on battery power. Someone else was perturbed over people “skipping the line” if they have a medical exemption; Vezina noted there are three groups of people that can skip the line – those with medical exemptions, those on motorcycles, and those on bicycles. The medical exemption requires a note from a doctor – they don’t just take your word for it.
Got a question? A second session of the same meeting, ostensibly also featuring an hour for Q&A, starts at 6 pm Thursday; you can get the link by registering here.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route is running for the rest of today/tonight with two boats, because WSF has moved the current unscheduled “bonus boat,” M/V Salish, to the Bremerton/Seattle run. That’s to cover for the regular Bremerton boat, M/V Walla Walla, which is undergoing “urgent restroom repairs.” Walla Walla is expected to be back in service by tomorrow morning, so Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth will be getting its third boat back.
(File photo)
What used to be Bike to Work Day is now Bike Everywhere Day, and it’s coming up this Wednesday (May 14) – that’s a change too, since in past years it’s been on Fridays. One thing that isn’t changing: Morning riders are invited to stop at the west end of the path beneath the West Seattle Bridge, where West Seattle Bike Connections and friends will await you. From their announcement:
Homemade baked goods, coffee, and information on bicycling routes and planned improvements will be available, and local enthusiasts can answer questions about commuting, recreational cycling, and other biking issues. Local bike repair shops will provide simple, on-the-spot bike repairs.
That’s happening 6-9 am Wednesday. Then next Sunday (May 18), WSBC is co-sponsoring a Disaster Resilience Ride from South Delridge to demonstrate the role bicycles will have in case of catastrophe. From the announcement:
Sunday, May 18th is the 45th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption. This is an opportunity to remind ourselves to be prepared. With West Seattle Bike Connections and Seattle Emergency Hubs, we are demonstrating that day the connection between emergency hubs and the use of bicycles for navigating broken streets.
What: Disaster Resilience Ride
Where: Salvation Army, 9050 16th Ave SW
When: May 18th starting at 1 pm
Why: To show the need for bicycle response in the case of disaster that can leave roads impassable and automobiles restricted in movement as well as fuel sources.Using a network of Seattle Neighborhood Greenway bike routes, the 8-mile round-trip ride will visit several West Seattle emergency hubs and learn what their function is in case of a disaster. This is a family friendly ride.
No advance registration required for either of these events – just show up.
(WSB photo, April 23)
When we covered SDOT‘s South Delridge/Westwood walking tour last month, looking at routes where the Transportation Levy might fund new sidewalks/walkways, a plan was mentioned for a May 21 walking tour in Highland Park. Now SDOT has asked us to share the official announcement:
Building Sidewalk and Walkway Connections
Want to see new safe places to walk in the Highland Park neighborhood? Thanks to the Seattle Transportation Levy we can build at least 10 blocks of new sidewalk or walkway in Highland Park. Please join us for a neighborhood walk and share with us where you would like to see new walkways and/or sidewalks.
Date: Wednesday May 21st, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Gather at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton St) in the covered area of the playground, and then walk the neighborhood with us!
Kids are welcome!
Rain or Shine
Here’s the announcement flyer.
From the “in case you wondered too” file: Dave emailed to ask what happened to the on-street bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon, by Dumplings of Fury and its north neighbors. He used it to park on Sunday, April 27, but found the rack missing this past Sunday. Our photo from yesterday shows the bicycle marking on the street but the rack (and other infrastructure) missing; here’s what it looked like in a 2023 Google Street View image:
First we asked the West Seattle Junction Association if they were aware of the removal. They weren’t. So we then asked SDOT, which is accountable for installing and maintaining these racks; spokesperson Mariam Ali checked around and then replied to us Tuesday, “Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We didn’t remove the bike rack at the northwest corner of SW Oregon and California SW, and we’re not sure what happened to it. Our crews will install a replacement.”
However, when we took a closer look at the scene Wednesday before writing the story, we thought there had to be more to it – couldn’t have been a metal theft, as the wheel stops and bollard were gone too. So we asked SDOT about it again, wondering if they had cross-referenced all the permit filings in the area, etc. That turned out to be the key, said spokesperson Ali:
After receiving your follow-up question, I connected with another team we hadn’t checked with earlier and confirmed that the bike rack was removed as part of the construction project at 4448 California Ave SW to accommodate traffic rerouting in their traffic control plan. Once construction is complete and they’ve completed any restoration work, they’ll reinstall the bike rack at the same location.
Concurrent with that update from SDOT, WSJA told us they’d just received the same explanation. So bottom line: The bike rack on the northwest corner of California/Oregon was removed as part of the mixed-use project on the northeast corner (background is in our coverage of its groundbreaking), but will be reinstalled when construction is complete (expected next year).
(SDOT photo)
SDOT is still saying the Admiral Way Bridge seismic-strengthening work will continue into summer. But in the meantime, in case you’re wondering what crews are doing now, they offered an update today:
-Painting steel bridge components.
-Fixing sections of the bridge with cracked or broken concrete.
-Repairing corrosion damage on support structures under the bridge.
-Removing scaffolding on the north side of the bridge, and around support columns.In the coming weeks, crews will remove leftover concrete debris from recent repairs and place large rocks at the base of the bridge and along nearby slopes for added protection. They’ll also install drainage near the support columns to help manage rainwater.
SDOT says the work zone – determining which lanes are closed – could change “from time to time” on the bridge deck, but Fairmount beneath the bridge will remain fully closed until the project is complete. They say the timeline for completion stretched out because they decided to fully paint the bridge (which technically is two bridges).
For those who wondered how a walking tour starting at Westwood Village would address pedestrian safety in South Delridge, here’s how:
(Digital image from SDOT substituted Thursday for previous photo of paper map)
That was the planned route for tonight’s SDOT-coordinated tour, meant to give people a chance to suggest how/where to build “at least 10 blocks” of sidewalks and/or walkways in the area, with money from the billion-and-a-half-dollars-plus Seattle Transportation levy that voters approved last year. The longest stretch of the road, uphill on Barton toward Delridge, actually had sidewalks, but a northward turn, west of Delridge, put participants on a street that did not.
About half of the ~20 people who participated were city employees. SDOT project leaders stressed that the walking route was by no means predetermined as the future-sidewalk route. The community members who participated had some specific suggestions about making walking safer – including the small children they brought along. Participants got to experience a variety of walking conditions.
That included the Barton Place hill where an encampment sprawls across the sidewalk close to the top of the stairway down to 22nd (which has a foil-wrapped railing):
(One walker recalled a Find It Fix It Walk in the area nine years ago, and the goat deployment that followed.) The block north of there was again without sidewalks, and the participating families had a lot to say about that since that was their neighborhood. (They expressed interest in upgrading the 22nd/Trenton crossing, too.)
We left the tour on 22nd to get to HPAC‘s 6:30 meeting; it didn’t appear to be resulting in any particular to-do list- the SDOT reps promised a report would be forthcoming; whatever project area(s) they settle on, they expect to get to “10% design” before year’s end, and construction could start as soon as next year – or as late as 2029. If you have suggestions – crosswalks, lights, and other safety measures, not just sidewalk sites, you can email this team at levysidewalks@seattle.gov.
OTHER AREAS: They’ve already done a tour in North Delridge, and said tonight they’ll be announcing one for Highland Park on May 21.
Washington State Ferries says it’s expecting to restore regular three-boat service on Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth (the Triangle Route) June 30. When it does, the 2-boat schedule it’s been running these past few years will become a backup schedule – and WSF is revising it. So they’re asking for comments right now via an online open house you’ll find here, open through this Friday, April 18. (If you want to cut right to the proposed schedule changes before commenting, find them here.)
Part of the money from the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy is intended to make a dent in the huge number of blocks around the city that need sidewalks/walkways. Ten or more blocks will be built in South Delridge in the next few years, and SDOT has just announced a walking tour to get your thoughts about where:
Want to see new safe places to walk in the South Delridge neighborhood? Thanks to the Seattle Transportation Levy we can build at least 10 blocks of new sidewalk or walkway in South Delridge. Please join us for a neighborhood walk and share with us where you would like to see new walkways and/or sidewalks.
Date: Wednesday April 23rd, 2025
Time: 5:00-6:30 pm
Location: Gather at Westwood Village at vacant storefront near Daiso (used to be Lauren’s Jewelry – 2600 SW Barton St, Suite #E4) and then walk the neighborhood with us!Kids are welcome!
Rain or Shine
Here’s a flyer further explaining the plan. A similar walking tour was held last month in North Delridge.
Heads-up to expect more bicyclists on West Seattle and White Center streets tomorrow (Sunday, April 13) – Cascade Bicycle Club‘s annual Ride for Major Taylor starts on the White Center Bicycle Playground 7 am-8:30 am and will take hundreds of riders on one of two courses – either circumnavigating our peninsula via its waterfront streets (with an Alki rest stop), or (updated) a White Center/Tacoma/Vashon/West Seattle route. You can see the route maps (26 miles or 62 miles) by going here. If you’re not registered, unfortunately, it’s too late – no same-day signups, according to Cascade, which explains that the ride honors “the legacy of Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor, the Black World Cycling Champion … as a fundraiser for Cascade Bicycle Club’s education and advocacy programs, including funding for snacks at after-school Major Taylor Project Clubs as well as support for Major Taylor Project students’ participation in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic.”
(REAL ID reminder that arrived with a car-tab-renewal notice)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
With just a month left, the scramble is on for appointments to get enhanced driver licenses and other IDs that meet REAL ID requirements. Starting May 7, you’ll need identification that meets those federal standards if you want to board a domestic commercial flight or visit some federal facilities. US Passports will be accepted, as will Washington State-issued Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced IDs, as well as Tribal IDs and other documents (see the list here), but a regular driver’s license or state ID will no longer be enough.
We checked around, and found that West Seattle’s semi-new driver-licensing location at 2420 SW Dakota is booked up for the next two months worth of appointments for enhanced documents. A few other locations in the metro area have some earlier appointment dates, but still well after the deadline. The enhanced cards take a couple of weeks to process after the appointment, in any case. There are some occasional cancelled appointments that become available day-of, so if you can’t wait until summer for your updated documents, checking the site regularly may yield an earlier appointment. The Department of Licensing website allows you to check by location on availability, but does not show the West Seattle office on its default map. You have to put in your zip code to see available appointments there: dol.wa.gov/id-cards/real-id
REAL ID’s goal is to make sure all states use the same kinds of standards to confirm identity and citizenship before issuing ID cards, in much the way US passport standards work. The Act, which was a Congressional response to security concerns after 9/11, was originally planned to take effect in 2008, but that deadline has been pushed back time and again, for a total of 20 years. The most recent delays in 2021 and 2023 were blamed in part on state licensing backlogs created by the pandemic. The Transportation Security Administration is sticking with the deadline this time, but is planning a “phased enforcement approach,” giving it some flexibility if passengers arrive at the airport with a regular ID instead of an enhanced one. Just how they will handle those situations when they happen is not yet clear, but they do expect it to be an issue because so many Americans have yet to upgrade their identification to meet the standards. While US passports are another option, only a little more than half of Americans — 170 million people — have those.
Despite the standardization the act is aiming for, some states, including Washington, are putting their own mark on the IDs–literally. To denote a compliant ID, the majority of states have added a star in the upper right corner of their IDs, but some are black, others gold, and California has their star on a grizzly bear. Washington state has eschewed the star in favor of an American flag that overlaps the photo on the ID.
(SDOT photo)
SDOT has a short update on the Admiral Way Bridge seismic-strengthening project:
Here’s What Crews Are Working On:
-Concrete repairs on damaged sections of the bridge.
-Wrapping parts of the bridge in carbon fiber to make it stronger.
-Painting piers and setting up scaffolding to prepare for retrofits under the deck.Traffic Reminders
Admiral Way SW (on top of the bridge):
-Both sidewalks are open for people walking, biking, and using mobility devices.
-The work zone will change from time to time over the next several months, but we’re keeping at least one lane of Admiral Way SW open in each direction.Fairmount Ave SW Closure Reminder (below the bridge):
-Fairmount Ave SW under the bridge is closed to all travelers during construction. This closure keeps everyone safe while work happens on the bridge above, and helps our crews work efficiently.We expect to finish construction in summer 2025. The schedule could change due to weather, crew availability, or materials — we’ll keep you posted!
As reported in this previous update, the painting is a big part of why SDOT says the completion date is later than originally projected.
(WSB file photo)
Another new date for completion of the Morgan Junction EV-charging lot between Fauntleroy Way and SW Morgan, north of 42nd. This time it comes from District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who says City Light is now projecting the long-planned eight-charger lot will be open for use in April of next year – still a year away. While his newsletter – and the City Light memo it links to – describe this as an “acceleration,” it is not; the last update from City Light, just a few months ago at the Morgan Community Association‘s January 2025 meeting, said the lot was expected to be ready to go in fall of this year. And that of course was just the latest of multiple delays; we’ve been reporting on this project since its inception, and when the proposal first came to light in early 2022, SCL said construction could start as soon as fall of that year.
Back on Monday, we reported on plans to repave SW Barton between Roxhill Park and Westwood Village, 26th SW to 29th SW, because of damage done by buses. SDOT told us they planned to distribute a flyer soon to nearby homes and businesses. Today we’ve received the flyer, and if you’re in the area, SDOT says, it should be in your mail. It doesn’t appear to include any new info of note; it does say that there’ll be a temporary bus-layover spot while the work is under way this fall, and that they’ll “let you know where soon.” See the flyer here.
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