(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 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.

(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.

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.

(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.

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.”