West Seattle, Washington
21 Wednesday
The report and photos were sent by Lucas:
Today at around 9am SDOT installed these 4 concrete barriers with new signage on 45th Ave SW in front of Madison Middle School. Two are located at 45th and Hinds, and two more at 45th and Spokane. One of the barriers at Spokane is offset slightly to leave room for fire hydrant access. These are part of the ongoing conversion of the school street from temporary to permanent status.
It’s been almost two years since the “School Street” changes were launched. The concept is explained here; other local schools with them include Genesee Hill Elementary and Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School.
P.S. The Madison conversion was previously mentioned back in July, when we published an SDOT list of upcoming Safe Routes to School projects.
No posters with sticky dots, no easels with butcher paper and Sharpies – just informational pamphlets and one-sheets at SDOT‘s info-table in The Junction today, six days after the recommendation for paid street parking (and other changes) was announced (WSB coverage here). The table was in the sunshine right on the 42nd/Alaska corner by QFC, not under the overhang, so you couldn’t miss it. We went by just before 1 pm, three hours into the info-session, with one hour to go. The SDOT reps told us they had talked to about 65 people (though no one stopped by during the ~10 minutes that we were there). They also say they’ve received about 100 comments so far via the online comment form (open until month’s end), and they’re sending a mailer to 4,000 residential and business addresses in the general Junction area next week. They’re also seeking to meet with businesspeople, optimally block by block, and they have a presentation scheduled with the Center for Active Living. So which way is the sentiment going? we asked, absent any visual displays we could assess. “Strong feelings both ways” was the reply. “A lot of people nervous about change, a lot of people excited, especially about the pedestrian improvements.” No other general public outreach events were planned after today’s tabling, they told us, but the project page has an email address and phone number you can use for questions, as well as the comment form.
Early heads-up for three events tomorrow (Tuesday, October 6) tackling topics you might want to talk, or ask, about:
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION PAID STREET PARKING: As part of the feedback collection after going public last Wednesday with their recommendation for paid street parking in the West Seattle Junction – as mentioned in our first coverage – SDOT plans a drop-in info session outside the Junction QFC (42nd SW and SW Alaska) 10 am-2 pm Tuesday.
LIGHT-RAIL PROPERTY ACQUISITION: Do you own or rent a house/apartment/business that’s up for Sound Transit acquisition as they prepare to build the West Seattle Link Extension light-rail line? ST plans a drop-in info session at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 5-7 pm Tuesday. (They’re also having one in SODO 12 pm-1:30 pm Wednesday, October 14.)
CITY BUDGET: City Councilmembers have had their first round of briefings on Mayor Wilson‘s budget proposals, and before they start going public with counterpropoals, they’re having a two-session public hearing: online at 1 pm, in-person at 5 pm. The agenda explains how to sign up.
(WSB photo, west side of California south of Alaska, Tuesday afternoon)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Two months after we first reported that SDOT had launched a new review of whether to charge for street parking in West Seattle’s main district, the recommendation is in and it’s different from the last two:
This time, the city is recommending paid street parking in The Junction, and a bit beyond. This map shows exactly where:
The recommendation is going public right now, with a briefing for area businesspeople. We talked in advance with SDOT reps working on the project as part of the department’s Community Access and Parking Program.
They say the review has been under way since “early this year”; they decided to “revisit The Junction” to see how “10 years of development” had affected the parking situation: “The world has changd a lot since we last studied parking.” That includes more people visiting The Junction during the day, as the increase in people working from home meant more people with flexibility to do some local shopping or dining during the day. Pickups for food delivery also have affected curbspace usage.
They looked at the parking situation on a Thursday and Saturday in late April, between 8 am and 8 pm both days, and found that “parking was very full – above 85 percent.” On the same days, they did an “intercept survey … roaming around The Junction talking to folks,” speaking with more than 500 people. In July, they announced that the city was considering paid street parking and other changes, and released reports about what they’d found, That kicked off a feedback period including multiple versions of an online survey as well as conversations with dozens of local businesspeople. We reported results of that survey earlier this month.
“This project is rooted in a lot of data,” SDOT reps say. They also note that they heard a lot about the need for “pedestrian improvements” so some are part of the recommendations. Details on those are below, but first, more about the paid parking recommendation.
As shown on the map, here’s where you would be charged, Mondays through Saturdays, 8 am to 8 pm (except for citywide “parking holidays”):
*California SW between SW Dakota and SW Edmunds
*44th SW between SW Oregon and SW Edmunds
*42nd SW between SW Oregon and SW Edmunds
*On SW Alaska, the few free city-owned spots on the north edge of the lot behind KeyBank will become paid, possibly keeping one five-minute spot for ballot-box use
*SW Genesee between California SW and 42nd SW
*SW Oregon between 42nd SW and 44th SW
*Fauntleroy Way SW between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds
*SW Edmunds between 40th SW and Fauntleroy Way SW
A few other stretches will remain free but time-limited to 8 pm rather than the current 6 pm:
*South side of SW Genesee, 44th SW to California SW
*California between SW Erskine and SW Hudson
*40th SW and 41st SW between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds
There will be loading zones – 5-, 15-, 30-minute zones – but the locations have not yet been determined; that would be done in consultation with businesses.
SDOT says there would be pay stations that will accept cards and coins, as well as a pay-by-phone option. (Signs would be largely in the same spots as current signs.) You can choose options in 15-minute increments, up to two hours (unlike the Junction’s paid private lots). If you choose less than two hours and pay by phone, you’ll have the option to add more time by phone – but only up to two hours total. Since the rates would start at $1 per hour, that means the cheapest parking would be 25 cents, for 15 minutes in the morning. Here are the rate recommendations:
8 am to 11 am – $1/hour
11 am to 8 pm – $4/hour
Here’s how that compares to other parts of the city:
Rates are assessed periodically, SDOT says, to see if they’re working toward the desired goal of always having some spots available. After reviews, they could decide to lower, or raise, rates in 50-cent increments.
So where does the money go? “To the city’s general fund,” according to SDOT, not a specific fund. There’s no specific “revenue target.” And while they note that paid parking should make enforcement easier – parking-enforcement officers will have access to vehicles’ payment status – they also note that SPD isn’t adding any new PEOs to go with this potential paid-parking launch (they’ve been reviewing Queen Anne too and are making similar recommendations.) They also expect that paid street parking would be something of a traffic-calming improvement – “less circling” if more spots are available.
Speaking of street safety – we promised information on the “pedestrian improvements” that would be part of this plan. Nothing dramatic at this point, SDOT says, though its surveys showed interest in changes such as wider sidewalks and more permanent outdoor dining. Here’s what they do plan to do, or are considering, mostly on SW Oregon:
We learned while writing this story that one planned “pedestrian improvement” – a “hardened center line” adjacent to crosswalks at California/Oregon – is being installed today:
(Photo courtesy Chris Mackay, WSJA)
Here’s the full PDF from which the pages above are taken.
So now that the recommendations are out, what next? SDOT is accepting comments here. They’re also planning to table in front of the Junction QFC (42nd SW and SW Alaska) next Tuesday (October 6), between 10 am and 2 pm. Whatever the final decision is, it would take effect early next year.
SDOT tells WSB its crews did what they set out to do during this past weekend’s West Seattle low-bridge closure – replace a gate – but there’s more to be done, according to spokesperson Mariam Ali:
Crews finished the planned work around 7 p.m. Sunday. We have more closures planned as we continue work on the center and eastern tail lock. We hope to finish the planned closures by the end of the year and will share more information as dates are scheduled.
Thanks to a nearby resident for the tip. SDOT has sent an update on the “People Street” project proposing to close part of SW Lander west of California SW to motor-vehicle traffic. After a survey and in-person events, here’s how SDOT summarized feedback:
Accompanying that graphic:
Now, we are using your feedback to create design options for the project … Later this year, we will share these design options with you and the neighborhood to gather feedback to inform the final design. We will send out dates for future events soon.
The section of street under consideration from the change is between Lafayette Elementary and the commercial building housing The Good Society and Seattle Yarn. It’s currently one-way eastbound. If you have questions or comments, the SDOT update points you to urbandesign@seattle.gov.
One week ago, reader Margaret‘s photo of a Tesla Cybercab on a test run in West Seattle generated discussion and questions. We took some of the latter to SDOT, since the department has made it clear that driverless cabs are not yet approve to operate in Seattle:
The Tesla Cybercabs seen in Seattle have steering wheels and pedals and are being driven by people to collect data and map Seattle streets. They use Level 2 driver-assistance system, which means the person in the driver’s seat is responsible for driving the vehicle.
Seattle requires a permit to test autonomous vehicles at Level 3 or higher. These Cybercabs are operating at Level 2, so Tesla does not need a City autonomous vehicle testing permit for this activity.
Companies testing autonomous vehicles must also register with the Washington State Department of Licensing.
The list on SDOT’s webpage that you referenced is the current list of known autonomous vehicle operations in Seattle and their status.
The page says two companies – Zoox and NVIDIA – have testing permits, while three others – Woven by Toyota, Tesla and Waymo – are testing in ways that don’t require permits.
(Reader photo, Thursday)
After a week of two-boat service on Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth “Triangle Route,” it’s going back to three boats tomorrow. M/V Sealth – shown above in sea trials we noted Thursday – is done with maintenance and repairs and is joining the route as the #3 vessel (M/V Kittitas is #1, M/V Kitsap is #2). But full three-boat service will just last a few weeks; WSF reminds riders that the Kittitas’s scheduled maintenance starts in early October – no specific date – and while it’s out, the Triangle Route will be on “two-boat service with a third, unscheduled vessel.”
Thanks for the tip and photo! If you noticed the state ferry M/V Sealth “spinning” in Elliott Bay this morning – it wasn’t a problem or a rescue. The Sealth has been undergoing maintenance and today it’s on sea trials, confirmed during the Washington State Ferries online community meeting that’s under way right now. If all goes well, it will return to the Triangle Route (Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth), which is on two-boat service right now until the third is available.
Thanks to Margaret for the photo and report. She snapped the pic of a Tesla Cybercab on the Admiral Way Bridge today, first spotting it on the West Seattle Bridge and following it onto the peninsula, turning away as it continued to head westbound toward Alki. Though the Cybercabs are described by Tesla as part of its Robotaxi fleet, they aren’t likely to be operating autonomously here any time soon, as it’s not yet allowed, and city policies remain under development (though test runs with human “safety drivers” on board are allowed). Cybercabs are only in operation currently in Austin, Texas.
Thanks to Daniel for the tip! SDOT confirms that installation is approaching for seven more speed bumps – technically, speed cushions – planned for Harbor Avenue, between Seacrest and the bridge – five of them east/south of Jack Block Park – along with other traffic-calming changes. Here’s the map and notice mailed to area residents:
What are the changes we’re making?
On Harbor Ave SW between California Way SW and SW Spokane St, we will install safety upgrades to calm traffic and make the street safer for people walking, rolling, and biking. These will include:
• Speed cushions (speed humps with wheel cutouts for large vehicles such as buses and emergency response vehicles)
• Narrowing vehicle lane widths and widening the parking lane to visually narrow the roadway
• Adding painted medians
• Trimming vegetation to improve visibility of street lights and signsWhen will construction happen, and how long will it take?
We are planning to install these improvements by end of 2026. We anticipate this work to be completed over a couple of weekends. Please note this work is weather dependent and subject to change.How will construction impact you?
During construction, you can expect lane reductions while crews stripe the roadway and install speed cushions and painted median islands. Some driveways may be impacted temporarily and you may see some parking restrictions while the work is happening.Project funding
This project is funded by the Seattle Transportation Levy that was approved by Seattle voters in 2024.The Arterial Traffic Calming program is part of Vision Zero at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). We work on projects that help people travel at safer speeds. Street design interventions to help us reach safe speeds is one of the core elements of our Vision Zero Safe System Approach.
We reported back in February on the plan for more traffic calming in this area, as one of SDOT’s Transportation Levy projects for West Seattle
(WSB photo, Thursday)
Today, Mayor Katie Wilson signed an executive order she said was designed to speed up Vision Zero safety measures – one day after District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka held a committee briefing on his own package of transportation-safety proposals. We haven’t yet read both to see what’s different and what dovetails. But we did notice that the mayor’s order (read it here) refers very specifically to one West Seattle project: It decrees completion of a protected bicycle lane on SW Wildwood Place in Fauntleroy by the end of this year. That’s one of the safety upgrades urged by community advocates in the wake of the June death of bicycle rider Maridee Bonadea. Another one was installed just yesterday, permanent no-parking zones along the south side of Wildwood, where Ms. Bonadea died. The mayor’s executive order doesn’t mention any other specific West Seattle projects but does mention citywide plans to step up various types of street-safety measures, including lighting, signal, and signage upgrades.
Two followups on safety measures discussed at last week’s Fauntleroy bicycling-safety forum (WSB coverage here), spurred by the death of Maridee Bonadea on SW Wildwood Place in June:
NO-PARKING ZONE: As we reported, the temporary no-parking signs went up on the south side of Wildwood – where Ms. Bonadea died – the day after the forum. We asked SDOT when the permanent signage would be installed, and today they tell us it’s happening tomorrow:
We can confirm that on Thursday, SDOT plans to make the temporary no-parking restrictions on the south side of SW Wildwood Place permanent. The work will include permanent no-parking signs and interim paint hatching with plastic delineators.
We are continuing to evaluate a potential all-way STOP at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Wildwood Place, including additional data and operational considerations. We’re also continuing work on other safety improvements in the area and expect to have more information to share soon.
TRUCK SAFETY: Also discussed at the forum: Side guards for trucks. Legislation to require them on trucks used by city contractors is under development, according to a slide in this deck prepared for tomorrow morning’s meeting of the City Council Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee, which is chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka. The committee also is scheduled to discuss a package of other transportation-safety legislation Saka is proposing, according to this announcement.
EARLY SATURDAY: Traffic reminder – the northbound First Avenue South Bridge is now closed for the weekend, both the driving lanes and foot/bike path. Here again is the original announcement, noting it’ll close next weekend too:
All northbound State Route 99 lanes will close across the First Avenue South Bridge in Seattle from 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, and again from 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, for maintenance.
The following ramps will also close for the duration of the closure:
-The First Avenue South on-ramp to northbound State Route 509.
-The Occidental Avenue South on-ramp to northbound SR 509.
-The South Holden Street on-ramp to northbound SR 99.
-Northbound SR 99 off-ramp to South Michigan Street.
-Northbound SR 509/SR 99 traffic will exit at South Cloverdale Street and follow a signed detour during the weekend closures.Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will make bridge deck repairs during the weekend closure.
WSDOT has been repairing and replacing deck panels since finding cracks last winter. As always, we’ll check on this Sunday so we can report if it reopens early. Your tips are always appreciated too at 206-293-6302, text or voice.
LATE SUNDAY: WSDOT says it’s reopened, a bit ahead of schedule.
Early alert: If you have questions and/or concerns about Washington State Ferries, they’ve just announced the date for their next online systemwide community meetings:
As its busiest summer since 2019 comes to a close, Washington State Ferries is inviting the public to two virtual community meetings on Thursday, Sept. 10. Agency leaders will recap peak-season travel, share what’s ahead and take live questions from the public.
The meetings will also include updates on new hybrid-electric vessels, expanded on-board Wi-Fi, terminal construction and more. Most of each meeting will be reserved for questions from the audience.
WSF online community meetings information
When: 11 a.m. (register here) and 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 (register here)
Where: Online via Zoom
Prior registration is required for these virtual meetings. Each meeting will cover the same material and is designed to give participants the option to join the meeting that best fits their schedule. Participants will be able to ask questions and anyone can also provide comments ahead of time via email – wsfcomms@wsdot.wa.gov
After the meetings, video recordings will be available online on WSF’s community participation page.
(WSB photos)
By Torin Record-Sand
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
More than forty people came to small section of SW Lander Street west of California SW last night – between local businesses The Good Society and Seattle Yarn, and neighboring Lafayette Elementary – for an SDOT-convened “community design charrette.”
It offered a preview of what the street might look like in the near future, as the purpose of the gathering was for city officials to get feedback about their plans to close the street to vehicle traffic and turn it into a “People Street” within a year.
SDOT closed the small section of SW Lander for the evening, bringing together city reps and associated consultants and designers with community members to talk in-person about the best way to implement changes, and what they might like to see from the project.
The project is a part of the city’s People Streets and Public Spaces Capital Program, which seeks to transform various streets across the city into miniature public parks. Traffic is blocked off, and the designated area is transformed with various architectural improvements and amenities to encourage community gathering and engagement. This site, on SW Lander, is one of two in West Seattle that are currently part of the program; we’ve previously covered the other proposed project, on 18th Avenue SW, between Delridge Way and Southwest Barton (which also had a recent meeting). The city says its goal is to transform SW Lander into public space offering cleaner air as well as an overall sense of safety and security for students.
The meetings for both sites aimed at a very preliminary stage of the process, akin loosely to ‘brainstorming’ with the community in a more free-form atmosphere. No concrete designs were presented; instead, community members were asked to write sticky notes on poster boards asking for feedback on things such as desired features, and put stickers on stock photo ‘mood boards’ representing which features or visuals they would find the most appealing.
The feedback will be used by the city as an initial step before they begin a more formal design processs. Beyond the feedback process, other light activities were available for attendees as well, such as over-sized street board games and coloring books for kids; refreshments were also available, featuring fruit empanadas from the Salvadorean Bakery in White Center.
Despite the festival atmosphere, the project proposal did not come without controversy. In addition to what was provided by the city, some community members brought some of their own boards and posters to protest the proposed project. One board offered two sign-up lists, asking attendees to pick a side: “Yes, close Lander Street” or “No street closure”. The latter choice had garnered around 10 signatures already by 15 minutes into the gathering, while the former had no signatures at all in the early going.
Another poster stapled to a local telephone pole called for neighbors to attend, framing the project as the city cutting off street access to California Avenue.
Words from attendees who spoke to us did not show much more positivity for the project either. “Well, this whole thing sucks!” said one of the attendees, an Admiral resident. “Congestion here is bad, and getting worse. Where are all the parents going to go to pick up their kids? […] The city is doing too much with too little, and too many people.”
People from local businesses and buildings in the block came to share their opinion too. Paul Cesmat, owner of the nearby Admiral Station apartments, came, also delivering a letter to city representatives from the owner of Financial Designs Insurance (in the same block) in absentia. Both of them expressed that the city’s plan would be negligent at best, actively harmful at worst – making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and commercial block, and increasing traffic congestion for the school: “In my 49 years here, there has never, ever, been an incident with a kid,” Cesmat said. He also expressed frustration with the city’s communication strategy. “There was no real mail notification to the neighbors; just some stuff stapled on the poles.” he said. “Neighbors had to communicate with each other to encourage turnout.”
According to SDOT, there will be more chances for the community to provide feedback through the design process, though dates are yet to be announced. The formal design process will begin this fall, with finalization of a plan expected next winter (early 2027).
Last week, when SDOT announced the completion of the repaving project in the bus-layover zone on SW Barton alongside Roxhill Park, we learned that Metro wasn’t planning to return buses to their original routes until the spring “service change” next year – even though the Barton completion was announced weeks before the fall “service change” at the end of this month. We asked Metro if that was really true – that a five-month project would be done for seven months by the time it could be put to its intended use – and they said yes, as we reported last Friday. Then today, Metro spokesperson Al Sanders sent an update, saying the buses will likely return to Barton “within a matter of weeks” after all:
The final decision on when the stops will reopen is up to Bus Operations. Bus Operations has said that when they are notified by SDOT’s project team that the work is fully completed, preparations will begin on returning to those stops and ending the reroute.
There is no exact time, but it will likely be within a matter of weeks, depending on the information we receive from SDOT. While it might appear to the public the project is “done” and service can be restored, we want to ensure that our buses are not interfering with any final work that SDOT must complete in their construction zone.
Starting with last spring’s “service change,” the buses that used Barton were rerouted to Trenton because of the repaving work.
(SDOT traffic camera image in aftermath of Sept. 14, 2024 crash)
In our coverage last week of three consecutive evenings’ low-bridge breakdowns, we noted that SDOT expected to have to close that bridge for repairs. They’ve just announced the dates – but note that only the driving lanes will be closed:
We will close the Spokane Swing Bridge (also known as the Low Bridge) to replace the barrier gate at the bridge’s west side. During this time, people will not be able to drive across the bridge. However, people will still be able to walk, bike, or roll across as we do our work.
When?
Between 7 am Saturday (August 22) and 4 am Monday (August 24)
Why?
As a result of the September 2024 vehicle collision, the entire barrier gate system has been having issues. We will be replacing the barrier gate at the west side of the bridge. We hope to replace the east side barrier gate in the coming months, as we work with the railroad companies to coordinate a time for the work. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks.
This bridge is a crucial link across the West Duwamish Waterway, especially for people walking, rolling, and biking. Thanks to the entire West Seattle community and Low Bridge travelers for being patient.
(SDOT photo)
4:31 PM THURSDAY: As we noted yesterday, Metro‘s next “service change” is coming up in late August – a time when adjustments are made to bus routes. But even though the SW Barton repaving work is done – early – in the bus layover zone by Roxhill Park, SDOT says buses won’t be using it for another seven months, longer than it was under construction. From the latest SDOT update:
Because construction finished earlier than planned, King County Metro (KCM) was not able to approve the bus service switch in time for the Fall Bus Service Change (which begins August 29). Metro plans to resume permanent bus service and reopen the layover zone in March 2027, restoring the previous stops on SW Barton.
We’re doublechecking that with Metro, which had told us earlier this week that no date was set for restoring bus service to Barton, yet.
ADDED 2:15 PM FRIDAY: We asked Metro spokesperson Al Sanders to explain. Here’s his reply:
King County Metro is very pleased the construction project on SW Barton St was completed in such a timely manner.
While SDOT has finished the project ahead of schedule, Metro’s preparation for the August 29 service change was underway as the work at the location was taking place.
Metro prepares its printed timetables and signage well in advance of each service change period. At the time these materials were finalized for the upcoming service change, the completion date for road construction on SW Barton St was not yet known.
The routes impacted by the construction project were kept on their current locations and stops to avoid the risk of planning service on a roadway that was not yet complete and to ensure customer-facing information remained accurate.
Returning now to the routes used prior to the construction project would require numerous rider alerts to explain detour information. This type of temporary signage could potentially create more confusion and is difficult to maintain during fall and winter weather.
Right now, riders know what to expect. Significant changes right before the service change would be disruptive and confusing. Making the change in March allows the best and most consistent customer information. Metro will send notification well in advance of the service change next March to our riders.
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: Twice a year, Metro has a major “service change” that usually affects dozens of routes. The next one has been announced for August 29, and while the announcement was headlined, “King County Metro announces major service expansion across King County,” West Seattle is going largely without additions/changes this time, with one exception: Route 987 to Haller Lake, paid for by Lakeside School, will now be going to Westwood Village instead of 12th/Cloverdale in South Park. Metro tells us that while the school funds this route, the public can ride it.
We also asked Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer about a projected date for returning bus service to SW Barton by Roxhill Park/WWV, since the repaving project is mostly done, and the buses’ reroute was done in connection with the previous service change last spring. He replied:
Routes are still rerouted off of SW Barton Street, and we do not yet have an official return date for Metro service to SW Barton Street, but are working closely with our partners at SDOT. We are not planning for a return to SW Barton at the fall 2026 service change.
If you’re interested in the routes elsewhere that are changing as of August 29, you can find route-by-route info here.
ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: We’ll publish a detailed story about this later, but SDOT now says that though the construction is over, the buses won’t move back until Metro’s March 2027 service change.
Ian and Nora from SDOT are at the KeyBank corner right now with information about Admiral’s planned Lander Pedestrian Street project. This is for the stretch of Lander between Good Society and Lafayette Elementary. The project is still in the very early stage – not even in the official design stage yet – but SDOT is trying to get word out about it, and this is part of the second phase of public events (here’s the flyer). Next one is Wednesday, August 12, 4:30 to 6:30 at the future project site – a “community design charrette.” We asked the SDOT team if the Good Society’s longtime “streatery” is staying, and they said yes. There’s general info about projects like this on this page of the SDOT website. P.S. If you don’t find them at the corner, they might be moving into a booth at the Farmers’ Market, they told us a short time ago.
(SDOT camera screenshot during Wednesday night closure)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 3:53 PM: After two breakdowns in two days, SDOT says they know what went wrong with the West Seattle “low bridge” (aka the Spokane Street Swing Bridge) and are making plans to fix it. We inquired yesterday about the Wednesday evening trouble, and added on an inquiry about last night before receiving this response from SDOT covering both:
This week, there have been two unexpected closures of the West Seattle Low Bridge (also known as the Spokane St Swing Bridge) due to mechanical issues with the vehicle gate on the western side of the bridge. The gates did not respond to remote commands from the control tower.
We have plans to replace these gates and are working to schedule the installation. This work will likely require the bridge to be closed to motor vehicles and will take place during the weekend. We will announce the dates of construction once they are determined.
The low bridge has gone through a variety of maintenance and repair work in recent years, most recently during a May closure.
UPDATE, 5:51 PM: Just heard via police radio that it’s down for a THIRD straight night, though bicycles and pedestrians are being let through, vehicle gatesare down.
9:59 PM: According to @sdottraffic, it was back in operation as of shortly after 7 pm.
That map is from an SDOT announcement this afternoon that the department has finalized the design of the much-discussed Highland Park Way hill lane-conversion project and could start construction early next year. To describe the final design, SDOT offers these overview points:
Updated Design Highlights
-The curb will not be shifted along the full downhill section
-Semi-permanent concrete barriers will be used instead of a full curb shift to allow flexibility during emergencies
-Improved bike and pedestrian connections throughout the corridor
-New lane layout that maintains traffic flow, slows vehicle speeds, and reduces congestion near W Marginal Way SWFeatures That Remain from Previous Design
-One downhill lane removed beginning at SW Holden St
-Wider, repaved shared-use path with upgraded lighting
The SDOT map above shows the final design for the northeast end of the project zone, the intersection with West Marginal Way SW, which SDOT says now includes:
-Protected bike lane extends all the way to the intersection
-Downhill lane expands to three lanes (left-turn lane and two through-lanes)
-Center median removed to fit the new lane configuration
-One westbound left turn lane removed on W Marginal Way SW
Other sections of the project are detailed, each with a map, on this webpage – here’s one of them, in an area that had been the subject of much discussion, where a residential street meets the downhill lanes:
SW Othello St Area
-Widened shared-use path
-Downhill protected bike lane with jersey barrier opening and bike pavement markings at intersection
-Single downhill travel lane
-Advanced warning signs for intersection
-No centerline markings to indicate turning movements
SDOT says construction will “begin as soon as February 2027.” The idea of removing a driving lane to install a bicycle lane dates back six years, though at the time it was proposed for the uphill side; it was eventually shelved, but resurfaced in a proposal for federal funding in 2022.
| 22 COMMENTS