West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
As previously reported, two of West Seattle’s smaller bridges are set for earthquake-resistance work soon. Bidding has just closed for one, and opened for another:
DELRIDGE PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS: We reported last month that bidding had opened for this seismic project. As of today, it’s closed. The city had listed the project budget as $5 million; the three “base bids” range from $2.3 million to $3 million. They’ll be vetted before the contract is awarded. Once a contractor is chosen, the construction schedule will be worked out; previously, SDOT has estimated the work could last up to a year.
(Admiral Way Bridges from Fairmount Avenue, via Google Maps Street View)
ADMIRAL WAY (FAIRMOUNT) BRIDGES: Bidding just opened today for this project (technically two bridges), summarized on the bidding website as follows:
The seismic retrofit of the Admiral Way Bridges includes the following general items of work: strengthening of steel column bents, new bracing at concrete pier bents, retrofit of bridge deck joints, bridge abutment retrofit, slope stabilization, strengthening with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), and steel painting.
The project also is summarized here (though obviously the construction timeline mentioned there didn’t happen; SDOT told us last spring they were aiming to complete it by the end of this year). As for cost, this 2023 presentation cited a 2020 estimate of $15 million. Bids are due February 21st.
Two things to tell you about the West Seattle low bridge (aka Spokane Street Swing Bridge):
(Latest SDOT traffic-camera image of low bridge)
TROUBLE TODAY: Just after noon, as we noted here, the low bridge malfunctioned. Traffic was flowing again before too long, but we asked SDOT about the glitch:
There was a problem with the vehicle gate not moving back into position correctly after a bridge opening for ships. The mechanics manually moved the barrier back into place … The gate was stuck because the rubber lining on the wheels that support the vehicle barrier had degraded and slipped off the rim causing the wheel mechanism to jam. Our mechanics are working to repair the wheel.
WORK AHEAD: Also this afternoon, SDOT announced that the long-planned communications-cable upgrade is about to start:
As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade and repair the (low bridge), we will be installing a new communications line which connects the bridge control tower to the bridge’s moving parts.
While this work occurs, we will temporarily close a trail spur that branches off the main West Seattle Bridge Trailway. The impact to people who bike, walk, or roll in the area will be minimal. Our project closure site will not affect the main trail over the Spokane St Bridge, or the primary bike route between West Seattle and Downtown used by most people on bikes. Instead, we will be closing a section of the trail that provides an optional loop around the foundation of the Spokane St Bridge used by some bikers.
Map of the WSB Trail, showing the usual route people take (the green dotted line). Our project closure site will close the trail (seen here with a dotted orange line and solid red line) is not part of the usual route people take to reach West Seattle or Downtown.
SDOT says this work will start as soon as Thursday, and the “trail spur” closure won’t reopen before April.
Thanks to Steve for the tip about those covered-up signs near California and Andover. SDOT confirms they’re signs for an expansion of what started as the West Seattle Junction Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ):
These signs are for a single-block expansion of Restricted Parking Zone 35 on SW Andover Street between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW. We followed our standard practice for single-block expansions as described on our website here.
Here’s what the signs will look like when uncovered:
Here’s the current RPZ map; here’s what this zone covered when launched almost five years ago. This is one of two RPZs in West Seattle; the other is in Fauntleroy,
Announced tonight by SDOT, the Roxbury/Olson crossing-improvement project is restarting and will continue into spring – here’s what they want you to know:
Construction of safety improvements for people walking or rolling at the SW Roxbury St and Olson Pl SW intersection began in May of 2023 and we are set to begin the second and final phase of construction.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE COMING MONTHS
Construction work will resume as early as this week
-Work hours are 7 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday
-East leg of SW Roxbury St will remain closed for equipment staging and safety area and is local access only
-Work includes installation of new traffic signal poles and wiring, pedestrian signals, and work on sidewalk and road panels
-Painting permanent street markings
-New security guardrail on the northeast corner of the intersection
-Expect noise from equipment backup beeping and engine soundsThis project is expected to be finalized as early as May 2024. The work during this first phase included:
-Shifting the crosswalks across SW Roxbury St so they’re better aligned
-New curb bulbs that extend the sidewalk corners for people walking on the south side of the intersection
-Construction of curb ramps for improved ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility
-Temporary crosswalks and stop bars
-Temporary barrier at the northeast corner until a permanent guardrail is installed
-Temporary push button pedestrian crossing at the east leg of SW Roxbury St
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Washington State Ferries officials spent a lot of time at midday today talking about shortages and what’s being done to alleviate them, during the first of two sessions of their systemwide winter community meeting.
Some of the information came in presentations, and some in an extensive Q&A period that comprised 60 percent of the online meeting.
Almost 200 participants were signed in by the start of the meeting, facilitated by WSF’s Hadley Rodero. When polled to ask which route they used the most, the largest group – 25 percent – cited the San Juan Islands; the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route accounted for 14 percent of the respondents.
Of the five featured speakers from WSF, chief of staff Nicole McIntosh spoke first, with system updates. She noted the impending departure of ferries head Patty Rubstello (who is staying until a successor is found, McIntosh reiterated). Here are the 2023 stats she presented, including 70 life-saving events and 530 whale sightings:
Ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels:
(Ferry passing Alki Point last Monday, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday evening (January 17-18), Washington State Ferries will host two online sessions of its next systemwide community meeting. WSF says they’ll “focus on systemwide topics like route service, ferry system electrification, and the latest from recruitment and workforce development (as well as) answering questions from participants.” The Wednesday meeting starts at 12:30 pm, the Thursday meeting at 6 pm, and registration links for both are on this WSF webpage. That’s also where you’ll find a link to send question(s) in advance. (If you’re interested in preparatory reading, the newest WSF “contingency plan” has plenty of it.)
(California/Admiral intersection – Google Maps Street View image)
Stu Hennessey has a dream – a walkable Admiral District.
It’s where he does business as the proprietor of Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor), and it’s home to an increasingly busy collection of homes and businesses, including newer apartment buildings such as Luna, Admiral Station, and Element 42, plus Lafayette Elementary, West Seattle High School, and a senior-living complex.
While The (Alaska) Junction has a “walkability score” of 98, the Admiral Junction area scores only 70, says Hennessey, who presented his ideas for fixing that to Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association gathering.
In a written version of his presentation, he asks, “Is it our fate to have so much less walkability than the Alaska Junction? Both intersections have about the same amount of daily traffic volume. Both intersections should have the same regard for pedestrian safety. There have been plenty of pedestrian or bicycle accidents along California Ave. SW from SW Stevens to SW College St. Considering the schools, assisted-living facilities, and business storefronts, this neighborhood requires the same amount or more safety improvements to raise our walkability score to the level of the Alaska Junction. The call for better walkability is a call for economic development that will serve businesses and neighbors alike.”
(California between Admiral and Lander – Google Maps Street View image)
Here are Hennessey’s three proposals – two of which would mirror what’s in place at Alaska Junctiion:
—Walk-All-Ways intersection at California/Admiral. He says, “The biggest safety concern for pedestrians crossing the streets is the right turn on red. The all-walk design would eliminate the right turn on red. Traffic-light synchronization would both keep the traffic flow from backing up and increase the mobility and safety for pedestrians with a 40-second all-walk crossing.”
—Mid-block raised crossings on California between Lander and Admiral and College and Admiral. These would serve people going to and from the Admiral Theater and Admiral Safeway.
—Permanently close SW Lander between California and 44th. Hennessey elaborates, “This is an often-ignored one-way and daytime-temporarily-closed street that could be used as an emergency gathering point for Lafayette School, auto-free pickup of students, and a potential event space such as a farmers’ market.”
So what would it take to make any or all of that happen? He hopes to engage everyone with a stake in the area – residents, businesses, schools, even law enforcement – to petition SDOT. Support could be voiced through a variety of feedback channels, he suggests, and shown via yard signs with a QR code as well as flyers in shop windows, all pointing to the petition.
How to pay for it? Hennessey has thought about that too: “Beyond the next transportation-plan levy, there is available federal funding, and matching grants.” Last year, he said, the feds made $5 billion “available for community-safety improvements. To date, $813 million has been granted to 385 community groups like ours.”
Hennessey is no stranger to community advocacy; he is a co-founder of Sustainable West Seattle and led the campaign to create Puget Ridge Edible Park. His next step toward a more-walkable Admiral District is to build a stakeholders group, and he suggested the ANA should be involved. President Joanie Jacobs said their board will discuss it, but first reaction was positive. Hennessey emphasized that the funding is out there – what will be needed to make any of this happen is widespread organized community effort. He expects to return to the ANA at its next general gathering in March with updates.
(SDOT photo – new signage for Alki Point ‘Healthy Street’)
One month ago, we reported on the new design for the permanent features of the Alki Point “Healthy Street” – Beach Drive northwest of 63rd, and Alki Avenue west of 63rd. Much ensuing discussion focused on the parking situation. This week, SDOT sent a newsletter recapping the design plans and adding the finalized parking stats for those concerned:
# of ADA parking spaces: 3
# of speed humps: 3
# of parking we’re removing (on Beach Dr SW from 3300 Beach Dr SW to 64th Ave SW): approx. 61 spaces
# of parking spaces available (on Beach Dr SW from 3300 Beach Dr SW to 64th Ave SW): approx. 48 spaces
# of parking we’re removing (Cul-de-sac area: raised crosswalk to 64th Pl SW): approx. 6
SDOT adds, “Existing public parking has also been identified in the area for possible re-striping, improved signage, or other updates to better indicate its availability for visitors.” Construction of the permanent features is expected to happen this spring.
New on the city’s bidding website, several earthquake-safety retrofit projects around the city – including the pedestrian overpass at Delridge and Oregon, between the south end of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and the east side of Delridge Playfield/Community Center. This comes one year after the decision to keep and retrofit the bridge – after community opposition to proposed removal – was announced. Scope of the project is described as follows:
Seismic retrofit project that involves retrofit of superstructure, columns, and footings through section build up and/or use of CFRP wraps, as well as separating ramps from the structure and building up a lightweight fill support for ramps, adding new expansion joints at the ramps, removing and reinstalling handrails, and modifying the ends of handrails at new expansion joints.
In 2021, SDOT estimated the retrofit cost as ~$4 million; the estimate is now up to more than $5 million. It’s already retrofitted the area’s other pedestrian overpass, the SW Andover bridge over the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. The deadline for bids on the Delridge/Oregon project is January 17. The work could last up to a year, according to this slide deck from a briefing last year.
(November photo by Gill Loring – new turn signal at 26th/Roxbury)
Questions about road work related to the RapidRide H Line, which has continued months after the bus line launched last spring? King County’s project team has held periodic online “office hours” to answer questions, and tomorrow will bring the last one: 5 pm-6 pm Thursday (December 28), via this link (meeting ID: 228 271 1759), also accessible by phone (253-215-8782). The announcement – which was in their final project newsletter – notes that “we are continuing some paving and punch list work.” If you can’t “drop in” during that hour, you can ask a question any time at rapidride@kingcounty.gov.
New Year’s Eve will be fare-free on most transit services again this year. Here’s the info from an announcement sent by King County:
King County Metro: Buses will operate on their regular Sunday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, through 3 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1. Other Metro services operating fare-free include DART, Metro Flex, Community Van, and Access service.
King County Water Taxi: The water taxi will operate fare-free on Dec. 31 but will be out of service on Jan. 1.
Sound Transit: Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 5 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, to 3 a.m. Monday., Jan. 1. The Sounder Game Train will be available for the Seahawks game and will be fare-free. Sound Transit will operate extended 1 Line rail service on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute, late-night service. The last southbound trip will leave Northgate Station for Angle Lake Station at 1:57 a.m. The last northbound train will leave Angle Lake Station for Northgate Station at 1:40 a.m. For New Year’s Eve, the T Line will run extended service every 20 minutes until the last train departure.
Seattle Streetcar: Both streetcar lines will operate fare-free on regular Sunday service hours. The South Lake Union Streetcar will operate on New Year’s Eve until 12:30 a.m. to accommodate fireworks viewing downtown.
Seattle Monorail: The monorail will collect regular fares and will operate from Westlake to the Seattle Center until 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. After the evening’s events at Seattle Center, service to Westlake will run from 12:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
For the fare-free-on-New-Year’s-Eve services, fares start up again at 3 am New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1).
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Announced today by Washington State Ferries:
ach year we host two rounds of public meetings to engage and inform those we serve. In January, we are holding two virtual community meetings to offer both midday and evening meeting options. Each meeting will focus on systemwide topics like route service, ferry-system electrification, and the latest from recruitment and workforce development. The remainder of the meetings will be devoted to answering questions from participants.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to provide written public comment during the meeting or beforehand by emailing our Communications team (WSFComms@wsdot.wa.gov).
Register to attend a virtual meeting:
Wednesday, January 17 at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 18 at 6 p.m.
Not mentioned in the announcement but sure to be a topic as well – the impending departure of WSF head Patty Rubstello.
9:07 AM: Washington State Ferries says “unscheduled necessary vessel maintenance” has the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route down to one boat until further notice, following the #2 schedule. The real-time map shows the boat having trouble is M/V Kitsap, which had problems last week too. Updates to come.
11:59 AM: WSF is moving M/V Suquamish from the Bainbridge-Seattle run so that two-boat service can resume on the Triangle Route.
Last spring, SDOT installed a protected two-way bike lane along part of West Marginal Way SW, more than two years after proposing it and eventually agreeing to delay it until the West Seattle Bridge reopened. This week, it’s released data on how the lane addition is – or isn’t – affecting traffic, and what kind of rider usage it’s drawn. Overall, SDOT says, the change has added half a second to the average travel time. It’s also added people biking, walking, and rolling on the stretch, with stats including:
SDOT was hoping to bring down vehicle speeds, with radar feedback signs and a speed limit reduction to 30 mph. Their slide deck says that in fall 2022 vehicles were averaging 37 mph at West Marginal/SW Alaska, and are now averaging just under 38 mph, but at SW Dakota, they’re down to 36.4 mph from 40.2 a year earlier. The slide deck has many other data views, including “interaction” analysis at business driveways, and there’s even more in this 26-page report. Here’s what SDOT says is yet to come on the stretch:
10:54 AM: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is down to 1 boat for now – M/V Cathlamet, on the #2 schedule – because M/V Kitsap is having trouble. It’s been stuck at Southworth but WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling tells WSB the plan is to move it to Vashon, without passengers, for troubleshooting. Until they figure out what’s wrong, they don’t know how long the route will be on 1-boat service. You can check boats’ status via Vessel Watch.
12:54 PM: WSF says the Cathlamet continues alone on the route, with “no set schedule.”
2:42 PM: WSF says it’s moving M/V Suquamish off the Bainbridge-Seattle route to replace Kitsap on the Triangle Route.
(Image from council-committee agenda, incorporating Google Maps photo)
The city is planning to give two tribes $133,000 for public art on up to 14 columns supporting part of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Neither happens to be the Duwamish Tribe, whose longhouse is about a mile south.
The project is with the Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribes, described in the plan as having “Duwamish ancestors” (the same description used during the ceremony before the bridge reopened last year).
The art project is on the agenda for tomorrow morning’s meeting of the Seattle City Council Transportation and Public Utilities Committee; documents say it’s been under discussion for a year and a half.
If you just gave the agenda a once-over, as we did, you might not have noticed – the item is #10 on a busy agenda, with no mention of art or the bridge in the item title – “AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Department of Transportation; authorizing and directing the Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation to execute interlocal agreements with the Suquamish (suq̀ʷabs) Tribe and Muckleshoot (bəqəlšuł) Tribe; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts,” until you open the slide deck linked from the agenda.
A community advocate called our attention to it. As explained in another agenda document:
This legislation would authorize the SDOT Director to execute interlocal agreements with the Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribes, funded by $133,000 in remaining funds from the Reconnect West Seattle program. Reconnect West Seattle is the nearly complete mitigation program within the larger West Seattle Bridge Safety Project (ie., the WSB repair and mitigation program). These funds have been budgeted since early in the project for such a tribal partnership … The agreements compensate the two tribes for painting art murals on the Fauntleroy Expressway columns, near the intersection of W Marginal Way SW and Chelan Ave SW which connects the West Seattle Junction with the West Seattle High Bridge. The purpose of the project is to honor the people whose homeland, hunting, and fishing territories Seattle now inhabits, and to build trust between the City and the federally recognized Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes. Under the agreement, the murals must be completed in 2024 and each tribe will be compensated up to $66,000 for their work
Federal recognition is something the Duwamish Tribe has been fighting for for decades, winning it briefly at the end of the Clinton Administration, only to have the incoming Bush Administration cancel it.
Though the documents say the art will be entirely the Muckleshoot and Suquamish tribes’ responsibility, they also say the city will have to review and approve each design and its accompanying narrative, with these parameters:
The City’s design review will focus on ensuring that the Column Murals’ colors do not mimic those used in traffic signage and that the content does not contain offensive material directed toward any group of people. The City shall retain the right to review and provide feedback on the proposed design within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the submission.
And for everyone who worries about defacement risk for public art:
The Tribe shall adhere to the recommendations provided by the City concerning the Column Murals installation to ensure optimal and long-lasting results, as well as ease of cleaning in the event of graffiti. Recommendations may include, but are not limited to, the following: installation within the dry season of 2024 (e.g. June – August); preparation of columns (e.g. power washing, priming), application of quality exterior latex paint; mural protection (e.g. MuralShield), graffiti protection (e.g. Sherwin-Williams Anti-Graffiti Coating). The City shall be responsible for obtaining and covering the cost of any necessary permits for the Column Murals. The Tribe shall be responsible for securing traffic control support from a licensed traffic control provider … The Tribe and the City shall share the responsibility of maintaining and repairing the columns and Column Murals as set forth herein.
This won’t be the first official art project on bridge columns; toward the other end of the bridge, beneath the Spokane Street Viaduct section, bar-code-inspired designs were painted on columns in a $400,000+ project more than a decade ago.. Meantime, you can comment at tomorrow’s 9:30 am committee meeting, remotely or in-person, as explained on the agenda, or just watch via the Seattle Channel.
More than a year has passed since SDOT announced that the Alki Point Healthy Street – Alki Avenue west of 63rd and Beach Drive north/west of 63rd – would be permanent. A few months later, the city said it was working on the permanent design. They’ve just unveiled finalized designs centering on four locations along the stretch, including the addition of various features including a “cul-de-sac,” a “walking and rolling” lane adjacent to part of the sidewalk, and removal of 60+ on-street parking spaces, while marking three new ADA spaces:
Location 1: Alki Ave SW & 64th Pl SW
-Paint & post cul-de-sac to give drivers an opportunity to turn around before the “street closed” sign
-“Street closed” sign on durable concrete cylinders to reduce cut-through driving on the Healthy Street
-Wayfinding pavement markings for a smooth transition from existing bike path to the Healthy Street
-Approximately 6 parking spaces removed in Cul-de-sac area – raised crosswalk to 64th Pl SWLocation 2: Alki Ave SW and Point Pl SW
-Speed humps to reduce traffic speeds
-Sharrow pavement markings to enhance wayfinding for people biking, rolling, and walking
-Stop signs at intersecting streetsLocation 3: Alki Ave SW and Beach Dr SW
-Paint and post to delineate 10’ of additional space for walking/rolling along the existing sidewalk adjacent to the beach
-Sharrow pavement markings to enhance wayfinding for people biking, rolling, and walking
-Stop signs at intersecting streets
-ADA accessible parking along Beach Dr SWLocation 4: Beach Dr SW and 64th Ave SW
-Paint and post to delineate 10’ of additional space for walking/rolling along the existing sidewalk adjacent to the beach
-Sharrow pavement markings to enhance wayfinding for people biking, rolling, and walking
-Stop signs at intersecting streets
-Approximately 61 parking spaces removed on Beach Dr SW, from 3300 Beach Dr SW to 64th Ave SW
-Approximately 46 parking spaces to remain available on Beach Dr SW, from 3300 Beach Dr SW to 64th Ave SW
The first “design update” is similar to what was proposed in “early design” – you can compare via links toward the bottom of the project page – but the other three have significant additions, including the “walking/rolling” lane and more speed humps. This is planned for installation next year. Meantime, SDOT’s update says there’s one stretch they haven’t finalized yet – Beach Drive between 63rd and 64th. This and other “Healthy Streets” around the city originally were set up during the early months of the pandemic, but many have been made permanent as reduced-vehicle-traffic streets.
A WSB reader texted:
Wondering if you might do a story on the new traffic violation cams on the high bridge – focusing on bus lane violators. I commute daily and take the 1st Ave exit right after the 99 exit and I wait until the last set of red painted lines that say BUS ONLY but I got a cautionary warning letter for this as a traffic violation . In the future the fine will be $75. Can you investigate where/ when it is legal to move over To the far right lane to exit on first?
It’s been three months since the last announcement about the new camera enforcement – when SDOT said in early September that installation was imminent. So first we asked SDOT if the camera – part of a “pilot” program also involving other locations in the city – was indeed up and running and citing. Yes: “The transit lane traffic safety camera on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge), just east of State Route 99, has been activated. The first time someone is caught in a violation, they will be mailed a warning letter. For any new violations after that, they will be mailed a $75 ticket.”
How many warnings/tickets? SDOT refused to say:
This camera is part of an ongoing pilot program intended to evaluate the effectiveness of automated traffic safety camera enforcement in transit only lanes. The draft report on the effectiveness of the program will be submitted to the State Legislature in July 2024 and will also be available publicly at that time.
To get a report sooner, the spokesperson replied, we’d have to file a public-disclosure request.
To the original texter’s question, about the exact location to avoid if you don’t want to be cited: “The entire bus lane, which begins approximately 0.5 miles west of the exit to NB SR99, is restricted to buses only. The camera is located east of the exit to NB SR99. Drivers taking the exit to NB SR99 will not be impacted by the camera.” Here’s the design-document excerpt that SDOT sent us for a similar question pre-installation, showing the enforcement zone in yellow-green:
Meantime, no hint yet of when newly authorized camera types – like “racing” – might be installed, but we’re continuing to follow up.
You might call this a followup to a followup:
(Parks graphic from June announcement of sites under consideration as off-leash areas)
During Monday night’s Seattle Parks online briefing about various West Seattle projects, there was a major update to the process of planning a second WS off-leash area – Parks said that one of the two sites between which they’re deciding, south of West Seattle Stadium, might no longer be “viable” because of the city’s push toward “electrification.” For our followup on that – published Wednesday – we learned that the city Finance and Administrative Services department is eyeing the site for charging city vehicles, including electric golf carts for the adjacent golf course. But that information came from Parks, so today we asked FAS for more details on the project. FAS spokesperson Melissa Mixon first gave us this overview, “FAS approached Parks about the location and shared it could be an ideal site for a charging site, so long as it’s not needed or used by Parks for purposes of a dog park since that project pre-dates this one. FAS is currently awaiting direction from Parks on how they would like to proceed and whether we should explore the feasibility of the West Seattle Stadium/Golf location or pursue other potential sites for a charging station.”
The backstory: “FAS is building EV charging hubs throughout the City to support the City’s rapid transition to electric vehicles in the City’s fleet. These locations will be regional so City fleet can re-fuel (electricity) when needed. The West Seattle area became the first priority region and the West Seattle Stadium/Golf could serve as an ideal location. FAS and Parks are in early conversation about this site.” Right now, Mixon said, it’s “the only West Seattle location under consideration but that could change based on Parks’ feedback regarding this site. … This site is under consideration due to its location, ease of access for City electric vehicles to enter and exit, and because it would have minimal impact on the public.”
We asked for more specifics regarding the potential facility’s scope. Mixon said it is envisioned for “6-8, Level 3 (150 KwH+) fast chargers that need approximately 10,000 square feet to accommodate ingress/egress and parking. … There are 17 fleet-using departments in the City. All departments would have access to this EV fueling station as they conduct business in the area. Seattle Parks Department would be a heavy user as they have the fourth largest fleet in the City.”
If Parks gave FAS the green light to pursue this site, “FAS would need to conduct a feasibility study and estimate costs. This process can typically take two months and a decision would not be made until both are complete.” Parks, meantime, is supposed to have a recommendation on the dog-park site within weeks; the other site that’s been under consideration for West Seattle’s second off-leash area is in Lincoln Park.
Thanks to Don Brubeck for that photo from the low bridge showing progress on part of the Terminal 5 Quiet Zone project. As previously reported, it’s a group of crossing changes meant to reduce the need for horn-blowing by trains serving the newly modernized T-5.
(Here’s an official explanation of “quiet zones.”) Don’s photo led us to check in with SDOT on project progress – here’s our questions and their answers:
What’s been completed so far?
Since beginning construction in July 2023, we have installed electrical and signal conduit, drainage and paving to support the future signalized intersection at W Marginal Way SW and Elder Bernice White Place. We have also paved a section of the access road north of the W Marginal Way SW and Elder Bernice White Place intersection. We closed Chelan Ave SW, the north leg of the former 5-way intersection to vehicular access.
What’s next?
We’re currently working on storm water work, including the installation of a storm water filter vault and moving catch basins to meet new curb alignment, and excavating trenches for signal and fiber conduit near the Chelan Ave SW/W Marginal Way SW intersection. We’re also working on the new signal at W Marginal Way SW and Elder Bernice White Place. We’ll also be working with railroad crews to install the new railroad crossing at Elder Bernice White Place.
What’s the latest projection for completion?
Completion is expected in May 2024 pending railroad crews’ installation of new crossing arms and safety equipment at railroad crossings at both Chelan Ave SW and Elder Bernice White Place.
The “Quiet Zone” work originally was supposed to be complete before the first modernized berth at T-5 was opened; that’s now been almost two years, and the second berth is almost done. Note that this doesn’t affect all train traffic in the area – some trains serve industrial facilities along the Duwamish River, not T-5, and those sections of track are not part of the project.
Following up on last month’s West Seattle station-planning event (WSB coverage here), Sound Transit reps will be guests at Thursday night’s meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition. The group usually meets on fourth Thursdays, every other month, but moved this meeting because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Chair Michael Taylor-Judd promises “an in-depth review and discussion with Sound Transit on the latest planning for light rail expansion to our side of the Duwamish.” The WSTC meeting is online, 6:30 pm Thursday (November 30), and you can attend via this link (meeting ID 885 1970 8802, passcode WSTC) – all are welcome.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Until a few years ago, Washington State Ferries service was reliable, dependable, fully filling its role as part of the state highway system.
Now, WSF sails in turbulent waters daily – with shortages of boats and workers, cancelling sailings and/or falling behind schedule. On the other side of a 15-minute rain from West Seattle, ferry-dependent Vashon Island is suffering in a big way, since the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route has been hit especially hard. It’s long been down to two boats when it’s supposed to have three, and sometimes reduced to one by vessel breakdowns or crew unavailability. Delays happen daily. There’s a shorter route – Point Defiance-Tahlequah – between south Vashon and the Tacoma area, but its one-boat baseline service is not immune to trouble.
This is affecting lives and livelihoods, say island residents – with health, business, educational, and other impacts – and a group has convened to do more than complain and despair. They’ve come up with a list of more than 50 actions that they say could help, and group reps sailed over to West Seattle on Monday to announce their recommendations in the form of a “community report.”
This isn’t just a to-do list for the ferry system. The group, Islanders for Ferry Action, says, “We stand ready to partner with any agency that will help implement the solutions we have documented in this report.” (Read it here.) Some of the recommendations are actions that could be taken by community members. Others would have to be taken on by other agencies or organizations. The islanders know it’ll be years before WSF’s fleet and workforce are back to past numbers, so they’ve worked to suggest actions they believe would make an immediate difference.
An invitation for teens and young adults:
The City of Seattle is hosting its first-ever Youth Transportation Summit on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Young people aged 14 to 24 years old are invited to participate in this free event to share their personal experiences with transportation, highlight what they’d like to see changed in the future, and discuss opportunities for climate-responsive transportation investments.
This is a free event where young people’s voices will be centered and culminate in a Youth Climate & Transportation Action Plan that will be presented to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Lunch will be provided at no cost. The summit is taking place as part of Mayor Harrell’s 2022 One Seattle Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order. You can learn more on our website or register here by November 29.
Event details:
Date and time: Saturday, December 9, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: The Westin Seattle Hotel in downtown Seattle (Floor 2)
Address: 1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Transit access: Link light rail (Westlake Station) and numerous King County Metro and Sound Transit bus routesQuestions? Please contact Katelyn.Saechao3@seattle.gov. Thank you for your interest!
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