West Seattle, Washington
14 Monday
(WSB photo, last month)
You might remember the uproar when SDOT announced in May that not only would it convert the Duwamish Head angled parking to parallel parking, it would likely add more than 100 new parallel spaces in the 1200 to 1700 blocks of Alki Avenue SW. At first SDOT attributed the proposed addition to City Councilmember Rob Saka – whose budget action last year set aside $175,000 for the angled-parking-to-parallel conversion as well as “to restore parallel-only parking to Alki Avenue SW adjacent to (the Duwamish Head) location” – but he then said he was not in favor of “restoring” that parking. SDOT proceeded with a survey and promised a final decision after that. The final decision is in today, and it’s “no additional parking.” The survey results were part of today’s announcement; SDOT says it received 882 responses, and since it wasn’t a yes/no survey, its summary does not have a count, but ultimately concludes that more people were against the parking expansion:
The West Seattle Parking Adjustments Survey results reveal a divided consensus among participants regarding the addition of parking to the water side of Alki Ave SW. A significant portion of respondents expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact and aesthetic disruption, emphasizing the need to preserve Alki’s natural beauty and pedestrian-friendliness. On the other hand, many saw the lack of parking as a hindrance to accessibility, particularly for visitors and families, which could negatively affect local businesses dependent on tourism and foot traffic. Overall, there were valid arguments on both sides, with more people opposing.
Bottom line, says SDOT, with that decision, that particular project is complete: “The proviso directing SDOT’s existing budget to implement changes is limited to parking adjustments, so nothing further is planned at this time.” (We’ll be asking them how much of the $175,000 remains, if it was supposed to go toward parking restoration too, and what it’ll go toward instead.)
(WSB photo, Tuesday)
After tips about the speed cushions that have just been installed on 16th Avenue SW in the Cloverdale/Trenton vicinity, we sent inquiries to SDOT regarding why, and regarding what else is ahead, there and anywhere else in West Seattle, for “traffic-calming.” We received a detailed reply, first about the 16th SW additions:
(About the newly installed speed cushions), those will be part of a Safe Routes to School project, and will include 3 speed cushions near Highland Park Elementary School on 16th Ave SW between SW Sullivan St and SW Henderson St.
The project also includes repainting the parking-edge line to narrow travel lanes to 11 feet on 16th Ave SW between SW Holden St and SW Henderson St. Narrowing lanes in combination with the speed cushions should slow down driver speeds and make 16th more comfortable to cross.
You can expect to see 5 more speed cushions on 16th Ave SW as part of the Vision Zero street-calming project between SW Brandon St to SW Roxbury St. That includes:
-4 new speed cushions north of SW Holly St
-1 speed cushion south of SW Othello StThat project also includes safety enhancements to improve visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians at 12 intersections on 16th Ave SW (between SW Findlay St and SW Cambridge St), as well as centerline raised pavement markers (between SW Brandon St and SW Roxbury St).
So that’s what’s ahead for 16th SW. As for the rest of West Seattle:
Additional speed cushions coming to West Seattle:
*On SW Trenton St between 35th Ave SW to Delridge Way SW.
*On 62nd, 61st and 60th Aves SW in Alki.
Some of those streets already have speed cushions, so we’re pursuing details on exact locations. Last but not least, from SDOT’s reply:
Additional Safe Routes to School projects that we expect to build this year in West Seattle include:
–Madison Middle School – push button crossing beacon (i.e., RRFB) at California/Hinds and California/Spokane and intersection daylighting (paint/post bulbs that make people crossing easier to see) to improve the Madison School Street crossings [45th SW in front of the school]
–Pathfinder K-8 – curb ramps adjacent to the school at 19th Ave SW and SW Genesee St
-West Seattle Elementary – All-way stops adjacent to the school
SDOT’s reply also mentioned one school-safety project for Concord International Elementary in South Park, “curb bulbs adjacent to the school (on 7th/Henderson and 8th/Henderson) and a separate walkway with trees on S Henderson St between 12th and 14th Ave S (currently under construction).
We have a standing request with SDOT for the construction notices on projects like all of these, typically just sent to neighbors in the immediate area but often of interest far beyond; we don’t always get them, so your collaboration is appreciated – let us know if you get a notice and/or see pre-construction markings!
If you travel 16th SW in the Cloverdale-to-Trenton vicinity, you’ll note the new speed cushions are now in place. One of them is close to the site of Sunday night’s 16th/Sullivan crash, but the installation already was planned (we’ve been trying to get official info from SDOT since a reader tip last Thursday) before that. Our photo is from a short time ago; WSB contributor Anne Higuera notes the crew was just packing up when she stopped for the photo. Our questions for SDOT include whether anywhere else in West Seattle is getting new speed cushions any time soon; we’ll add anything we find out. Meantime, if you see the telltale rectangular markings on your street, and/or get a notice, please let us know, as in most cases people need to know beyond those who live/work nearby.
(‘Live’ camera image from Fauntleroy dock)
M/V Issaquah is already moored on Vashon Island, ready to take its position as the #3 boat on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run Monday morning, as Washington State Ferries officially restores three-boat service to the “Triangle Route.” It’s been a two-boat route for almost four years, and wasn’t expected to get a third boat now, until Gov. Bob Ferguson ordered WSF to pause its hybrid-electric conversion process, keeping a boat in service that otherwise would have dropped out. WSF announced in mid-April that June 30th would be the Triangle Route restoration date. But it also cautions, “There may be times when the route will shift back to two-boat service. Thanks to feedback from a community working group, Washington State Ferries has a new, updated two-boat schedule (use the drop-down menu at the top to view the other two segments of the route). This backup schedule will be used when the route loses a vessel. More information on these unplanned service disruptions can be found in WSF’s Service Contingency Plan.” There’ll be reduced capacity for a while later this summer, too, as we reported Thursday; WSF spokesperson Justin Fujioka told WSB that “Sealth is scheduled to replace Cathlamet for about a month starting in mid-August so Cathlamet can go in for some scheduled maintenance.” (Sealth is a 90-car boat, compared to the 124-car capacity Cathlamet.) The three-boat schedule, meantime, starts in the 4 am hour Monday morning.
Six and a half years after West Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen painted karate master Chojun Miyagi on the signal box at the northwest corner of 35th/Roxbury, a driver has taken it out. The hit-run happened overnight and we have few details except that the driver took out the signal box, and that left the intersection signal in flashing mode for many hours. Our photo is from late morning; we went by again a little while ago and a replacement signal box was in place. Archived radio from overnight suggests the hit-run car might have been found nearby but we won’t be able to follow up until Monday.
(WSB photo of bridge’s topside, last night)
Earlier this week, a reader pointed out that the crudely lettered/numbered “road closed” sign at the north end of Fairmount Avenue had been amended again to show 8/28 as the projected end date of the closure. Has the Admiral Way Bridge project been delayed again? they wondered. We asked SDOT; a spokesperson confirmed their crews changed the sign, but said that’s just in what they’ve been saying for some months now, that the project will be complete “this summer”:
Yes, I can confirm that the sign is ours. The project is expected to be completed this summer. Closures under the bridge remain in place to keep everyone safe while work continues both on the bridge deck and underneath.
Right now, crews are repairing sections of cracked or broken concrete under the bridge. We’ve also started the final phase of the project by working on the bridge’s railing updates.
We understand closures can be inconvenient and appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to reinforce the bridges to better withstand the potential impacts of earthquakes.
It’s been almost exactly a year since work began (here’s our update from this date last year). It wasn’t supposed to last its long, but SDOT says adding painting to the project scope stretched the timeline.
(‘Live’ camera image from Fauntleroy dock)
In four days, Washington State Ferries plans to restore the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route to a full three-boat schedule, after years of reduced service. We asked WSF spokesperson Justin Fujioka exactly how the transition will be made. First, the boats – all three will be Issaquah class for starters, optimal for the schedule: “Issaquah is scheduled to replace Salish this weekend so Salish can go up to Port Townsend and prepare to enter service as that route’s second boat on July 4. We are planning to have that boat, plus Kittitas and Cathlamet, for most of our summer sailing season. The one exception is, Sealth is scheduled to replace Cathlamet for about a month starting in mid-August so Cathlamet can go in for some scheduled maintenance.” M/V Issaquah’s capacity – 124 cars – is almost double that of M/V Salish (which has been the “bonus boat” on the run for a while now), 64 cars. We also asked when the schedule change would take effect: “The new three-boat schedule will begin with the start of the sailing day on Monday, June 30. We will operate the entire sailing day Sunday, June 29, on the current two-boat weekend schedule, even departures after midnight.” Fujioka says that while they had some hoopla for the recent Bremerton service restoration, including a media event featuring the governor, that will NOT be happening for this restoration – WSF will just send out a reminder on Friday, including “details about the new updated backup two-boat schedule.” Comments about that schedule were requested back in April, as we reported with first word of the three-boat-service-restoration date.
(WSB photo, June 2024)
Before we get to today’s event list, we wanted to mention one of this weekend’s unique happenings: For the third consecutive summer, Outdoors for All is bringing adaptive-cycling alternatives to West Seattle. Different location this time – Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW). The event is set for 10 am-2 pm on Sunday (June 29), with options including tandem trikes, therapy trikes, recumbent bikes, and hand cycles; no RSVP needed, just show up. Here’s the event flyer.
(SDOT camera image from Sunday, via X)
4:37 PM: Among the weekend incidents we’ve been following up on today is the hours-long westbound lane closure that backed up traffic on the Spokane Street Viaduct (the official name of the east half of the West Seattle Bridge) on Sunday. It wasn’t announced in advance, and was only explained as “construction work.” So today we asked SDOT for more information, and whether any other work would follow. Here’s what we just received via email:
Crews were doing emergency repairs on the Spokane Street Viaduct to inspect and fix crash-cushion barriers damaged in an incident. It wasn’t possible to provide advance notice — but we understand the disruption this caused and appreciate the public’s patience.
There will be follow-up work needed to complete the repairs. That work will be scheduled in advance, and we will share the details publicly once we have confirmed dates.
We’ve asked for more information on the “incident” in question, as we’re not seeing anything logged in the hours before the emergency work.
5:37 PM: An SDOT spokesperson replied to that followup: “The damage was caused by a previous crash. Crews made the repairs Sunday because that was when the vendor was available, and they needed to be on site as well.” That reopens the question of why no advance alert.
11:56 AM: It’s slow going on the east half (aka the Spokane Street Viaduct) of the westbound West Seattle Bridge right now; thanks to the texters who tipped us on this:
Construction work on West Seattle Bridge blocking the WB right lane between 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/5SEOQVjDmV
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 22, 2025
That’s the closest view we have; one person who’s gone by says the work appears to involve barrier(s) at the Harbor Island exit.
1:26 PM: No ETA so far on when this will be over; the live camera shows the lane closure still in effect.
3:21 PM: No change.
4:43 PM: The lane has reopened since our last check.
(WSB file photo)
Last year, you might recall, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got $2 million included in the city budget for what was described as his “highest priority” – a plan to remove a median curb blocking left turns into the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center Preschool on Delridge Way, where he had been a parent. The plan stirred a continuing uproar; supporters of the curb nicknamed it “Curby” and mounted a “Save Curby” campaign. SDOT hadn’t set a timeline for the work to be done, last we checked. Then moments ago, a news release arrived in the inbox, declaring that Councilmember Saka and Mayor Bruce Harrell have come up with an alternative plan:
Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1) today announced a community-driven solution to address longstanding roadway safety concerns on Delridge Way SW. In response to concerns from the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center (RIFC) families, staff, and neighbors, three low-cost improvements will enhance safe access to RIFC while maintaining roadway safety for all users.
Last Fall, Councilmember Saka proposed and the Council adopted $2 million in City funding to prioritize safe, equitable access along this critical arterial — including the installation of a Metro bus stop in front of the RIFC building.
Thanks to a collaborative effort with the Mayor’s Office and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), the adopted solutions will achieve these goals at a fraction of the original budget. The solutions are estimated to cost approximately $500,000…. The three quick-build, cost-effective improvements include:
Designated Pick-Up/Drop-Off Zones: Install signage for designated pickup/drop off within a short walk of RIFC for families, including areas on Delridge Way SW and SW Willow Street. Passenger load zones can provide a safe, designated space less than 300 feet from RIFC’s entrance (to be completed this summer).
Non-Peak Parking in Bus Lane: Install signage for parking (which is already allowed) in the southbound bus lane during non-PM peak hours (except between 3-7PM) to facilitate RIFC pick-up and drop-off (to be completed this summer).
Southbound Turn-Around (Jug-Handle): A safer proposed turn-around at or near 22nd Ave SW allowing vehicles arriving from the south to head north and loop back south without obstructing traffic (to be completed by end of the year).
Councilmember Saka has an extensive explanation in this newsletter that arrived concurrently with the news release.
(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.
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