West Seattle, Washington
29 Wednesday
9:21 AM: If you’ve noticed police near/inside Lincoln Park this morning – we’ve just found out what the search is about. We started looking into it after a texted tip (thank you!) about police near 47th and Othello. We were unable to get more information at the scene but just reached SPD media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson by phone; he tells WSB, that’s where a resident reported seeing someone break into a neighbor’s house. They told police they saw someone come out of the house “carrying something” and then heading into the park. Officers called for a K-9, who picked up a track and has been helping search – no word of an arrest so far, but as of just before 9 am, according to scanner traffic, they’re still searching.
3:39 PM: Just checked with SPD. No arrest in this case so far. (If you have any info – it’s 16-334518.)
A memorial service is planned next Tuesday for longtime West Seattleite Bob Gamrath. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing:
Robert Gamrath passed away peacefully on September 13, 2016, at 93 years of age.
Born in Opheim, Montana, Bob grew up on the family ranch. Bob attended Opheim High School. At age 22 Bob met Mary Trichilo while he was stationed on Treasure Island in the U.S. Navy. Mary and Bob were married in 1945, came to Seattle on their honeymoon, and ended up living in West Seattle for the rest of their lives. Mary preceded Bob in passing in 1999.
Bob was the father of Sandra, Christy, Thomas, and David Gamrath – all of Seattle. Thomas preceded him in passing in 1975. Bob’s brothers Elmo, Dwight, and Jay also preceded him in passing.
Although Bob left Montana for Seattle in 1941, Bob always held Montana near in his heart, and visited often throughout the years. After completing his apprenticeship as a machinist, Bob joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration in 1947. Bob joined Boeing in 1953 in Shop Load. Bob excelled at Boeing, steadily advancing, and reached the level of Vice President, General Manager of the Fabrication Division, with responsibilities covering Boeing’s manufacturing facilities in Auburn and Seattle, WA, Portland, OR as well as in Georgia and Canada. Bob retired from Boeing in 1988.
Bob stayed active in his retirement, including volunteering in many leadership positions, including at the Italian Club of Seattle. A handyman’s handyman, Bob was highly skilled at carpentry, electrical, plumbing, machining and other skills, and spent much time in these endeavors.
Memorial services and burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 6701 30th Ave SW, on September 20, 2016 at 10:00, with a viewing beginning one hour earlier.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:15 AM: Good morning – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
7:36 AM: From the scanner – report of a “dark-colored SUV” stalled on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge near Avalon.
8:06 AM: Haven’t heard anything further on that; nothing on cameras or from SDOT, there or elsewhere on the bridge corridor.
10:13 AM: Crash with injuries reported at 35th and Juneau. No word of the traffic effects and we might not be able to go take a look, but, be forewarned if you’re heading that way. Only one SFD unit so far, so whatever the injuries are, they’re not major enough for a medic unit.
10:48 AM: Three-car crash reported on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct just before the Western exit.
Stephanie and her husband just found those items in the attic of their White Center home, and are hoping to find a relative to give them to. The photos seem to include George Lee Hoke, born in 1921, mostly dealing with his military service. Here’s a closer look:
Stephanie says they turned up in the attic – unnoticed in previous looks around, but they’ve been doing duct work, and suddenly, there they were. If you’re a relative, or know someone who might be – let us know!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:39 PM: A driver is in custody on suspicion of hitting two parked cars on 35th SW between Roxbury and Barton. He was found after his damaged Mercedes (photo above) came to a stop on SW Trenton east of Fauntleroy. That scene was dispatched as a “car fire,” and we went there to check it out after hearing the siren while leaving the 34th District Democrats’ meeting nearby; while en route, we started getting reports about the hit-run crash, and learned at the car-fire scene that the two were related. We also talked by phone with a man who says he saw the hit-run happen and followed the driver while calling 911.
The Mercedes reportedly was at least partly on its rims, with blown-out tires, after hitting the cars (photo above) alongside northbound 35th; our photographer says one of its wheels is still at the scene (photo added below).
Police said they are investigating this as a possible case of DUI.
UPDATE, 10:17 AM THURSDAY: We’ve confirmed via police and court records that the suspect was cited – which means, in Seattle Municipal Court, charged, and so we are identifying him. 33-year-old Jesse David Lindsey was booked into King County Jail after being cited for misdemeanor hit and run and DWI. Initial bail, $1,500. State records show no felony criminal history. Lindsey is due to be arraigned this morning so we’ll update when that information is in.
UPDATE, 12:29 PM THURSDAY: Municipal Court records indicate Lindsey has been charged with a third misdemeanor, another count of hit-and-run, which brings his bail to $2,000.
UPDATE, 3:17 PM THURSDAY: The jail register and court documents now show the bail is up to $10,000. Also, the suspect is a West Seattle resident.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With 54 days until Election Day, our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, endorsed State Sen. Pramila Jayapal tonight in her run for the 7th Congressional District.
While the endorsement vote was the night’s marquee event, along with the “mini-forum” with Jayapal and opponent State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw that preceded it, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s appearance made some headlines, so we’ll recap that first:
CITY COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD: First thing – the East Duwamish Greenspace tree-cutting investigation, which has now been under way for almost six months.
(April WSB photo – south end of area where trees were cut)
Her last major update on this was three months ago. Read More
The photo and report are from West Seattle High School athletic director Trevor Leopold:
Congratulations to West Seattle High School golfer Berit Syltebo, who shot a Hole-in-One yesterday at the Jefferson Golf Course. It was the 102-yard par 3, 6th hole.
She did it during the Wildcats’ Tuesday match against Garfield. The golfers play against Roosevelt at West Seattle Golf Course tomorrow (3:30 pm).
From last night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting:
SDOT’S ADMIRAL WAY PROJECT UPDATE: SDOT’s Dawn Schellenberg and Sam Woods returned with an update, less than two weeks before the restriping of Admiral Way is set to start. Schellenberg reiterated the goals – to lower speeds, reduce collisions, make it “comfortable” for people to ride bicycles – and that the project has been a year and a half in the making. She recapped the final version of the plan, announced via e-mail in July, including where the center turn lane will be kept and where it will not. Another mailer is going out soon, she said, before pausing for Q & A.
“Why did the city spend money repainting parts of that corridor” before the current striping is set to be changed? asked ANA’s Mark Jacobs. “That seems like such a waste of money – literally within the past month they’ve been out repainting.”
More West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon:
STOLEN CAR: Morgan‘s car was stolen last night or early today – “My car was stolen from my driveway (corner of 108th and 37th Ave SW [map]): 2016 Honda Fit, Cobra Drivers seat (says COBRA on the headrest) and license-frame bracket that says Seahawks Season ticket holder. WA plates — AYZ9219.” Call 911 if you see it.
STOLEN PACKAGE: In a comment following today’s first Crime Watch report, Chelsea reported a package theft near California and Dakota [map] and included this link to images from a security camera.
CRIME-PREVENTION ADVICE: The Southwest Precinct e-mailed two “bulletins” today with general advice on what you can do to prevent/reduce burglaries and car prowls – read them as PDFs here (burglaries) and here (car prowls).
NEXT WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL MEETING: WSCPC meetings resume this month – they are your chance to come hear about crime trends from, bring neighborhood concerns to, and ask questions of, Southwest Precinct reps, as well as special guests. WSCPC president Richard Miller tells WSB that the 7 pm meeting next Tuesday (September 20th) will feature “Lisa Love, manager, Health Education, Seattle Public Schools, to discuss the topic of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in our schools.” The meeting is at the precinct (2300 SW Webster).
(Planned site of Technical Training Center)
Along with what we’ve already previewed, here’s one more event for tonight. While it is happening in South Park, Duwamish River advocates tell us this event is potentially of interest to everyone concerned about the river and its watershed. It’s a Seattle City Light community meeting tonight to talk about its planned Technical Training Center. The center, with classrooms and an outdoor training yard, would be on Hamm Creek, on the north side of SCL’s Duwamish Substation. The plan would include “wetland mitigation … with approximately 4 acres of habitats similar to historic conditions on the Lower Duwamish River,” as well as a walking trail. Tonight’s meeting is scheduled for 6:15-7:45 pm at the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Avenue S.).
If you can’t get to the meeting but are interested in commenting on the plan, SCL is taking comments through next Tuesday (September 20th) as part of its State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)-related review. Those comments can be sent to Margaret Duncan, SEPA Coordinator, at margaret.duncan@seattle.gov or by postal mail at 700 5th Avenue, Suite 3200, Seattle 98104.
(WSF photo via Twitter)
Within a few months, you’ll see the next new Washington State Ferries vessel, M/V Chimacum, out on sea trials, now that it’s been christened. That happened in a ceremony this morning at Vigor on Harbor Island. Here’s the WSF announcement:
Sunny skies and a shiny new Washington state ferry graced Vigor’s Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle today as the Washington State Department of Transportation christened Chimacum, the fleet’s third Olympic Class vessel.
In a traditional maritime ceremony, Washington State Ferries Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith broke a bottle of champagne to officially welcome the new ferry to the fleet. Gov. Jay Inslee, along with Secretary of Transportation Roger Millar and Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, spoke during the event. The Chimacum High School marching band added to the festivities.
The christening marks the Chimacum’s final stage of construction and its preparation for sea trials.
“The Washington state ferry system is among the best in the world. I am so pleased that the Chimacum is being built efficiently, on-budget and ahead of schedule,” Inslee said. “This is great for the state’s taxpayers and our maritime industry.”
“Chimacum joins a hard-working fleet that connects people and communities as part of our state’s integrated, multimodal transportation system,” Millar said. “Washington’s marine highways carry more than 24 million people every year, so it’s critical for us to replace our oldest ferries and plan for the future.”
“This represents a tremendous achievement for the men and women who have helped build this beautiful vessel,” Griffith said. “I am honored to christen our new ferry and I look forward to riding on Chimacum when she enters service next year.”
The 144-car Chimacum will begin its sea trials in early 2017 and will start carrying passengers on the Seattle/Bremerton route next spring. The Washington State Transportation Commission selected the vessel name in 2014 to honor the gathering place of the Chimacum people, which is now the present-day town of Chimacum near Port Townsend.
Chimacum is the third of four funded Olympic Class ferries that replace the aging, midcentury-era Evergreen State Class vessels. The first Olympic Class vessel, Tokitae, joined the Mukilteo/Clinton route in June 2014. The second, Samish, started service on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands route in June 2015. Suquamish, the fourth vessel in the class, is under construction at Vigor and will enter service in 2019.
Back in May, WSB’s Christopher Boffoli covered a media tour of Chimacum and the keel-laying ceremony for Suquamish – see his photos here.
Two reader reports:
BOAT AND TRAILER STOLEN: The photo and report are from Alyssa:
A family member’s boat was stolen from the corner of 14th Ave. SW and SW Elmgrove in Highland Park in the middle of the night. [map] It’s a 1966, 14 foot, white fishing boat on an army green trailer. Numbers on the side of the boat are: WN6881SJ and WA license plate # on trailer is: 7574QK. It was locked and had been moved within the last 72 hours … it has great sentimental value.
It’s been reported to SPD – call if you see it.
BICYCLE FOUND: Recognize this?
The photo’s from the finder, who says: “We found this bike in a hedge in an alley at Alki.” (Recognize it? Please comment.)
(The humble and ubiquitous Canada Goose – photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Bring your 4- to 12-month-old to High Point Library at 11:30 am for story time! (35th SW/SW Raymond)
LOCAL-BIZ LUNCHTIME MEETUP: Noon-1 pm today, it’s Local Biz meetup time at West Seattle’s coworking/event center Office Junction (WSB sponsor). Everybody welcome to drop in, even if you’re not a WSOJ member. Bring your lunch if you want to! (6040 California SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Just a few more weeks to drop in and get fresh produce midweek at the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
NEW LOCATION FOR ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Wednesday night drop-in just moved to Walt Hundley Playfields in High Point. Still 6 pm. (34th SW/SW Myrtle)
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: First general-membership meeting of the year, 7 pm at the Confucius Center on campus. (2600 SW Thistle)
MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL PTSA: First general-membership meeting of the year, 7 pm in the school library. (45th SW/SW Spokane)
Anybody else meeting tonight? **All PTSAs/PTAs** are welcome to send us meeting notices for the WSB calendar, which means they’ll also be in these daily-preview reminders! editor@westseattleblog.com
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, tonight’s 34th District Democrats meeting includes a “mini-forum” with 7th District U.S. House candidates State Sen. Pramila Jayapal and State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw. Full agenda here. (9131 California SW)
AMERICAN LEGION POST 160: 8 pm, monthly meeting at the Post 160 hall in The Triangle. (3618 SW Alaska)
MORE OF WHAT’S UP TODAY/TONIGHT … on our complete-calendar page.
If you’re thinking about going to the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) / Southwest Seattle Historical Society “HiSTORY HerSTORY OurSTORY YourSTORY” event one week from tomorrow, your RSVP is needed ASAP. Here’s the video invite from the Y’s Josh Sutton:
It’s happening 5:30-7:30 pm Thursday, September 22, at Fauntleroy Church/YMCA (9140 California SW). The details from SWSHS:
It will be a fun evening to share and hear stories about the YMCA from every era of the organization’s 94-year history in West Seattle.
The evening begins with memorabilia and story sharing and culminates when Clay Eals, executive director of SWSHS, interviews West Seattle locals Larry Pierce, Ann Adkins, Bruce Davis, and Ruthie Waid.
If you have Y memorabilia, bring it along. Light refreshments will be provided. The event is appropriate for children ages 6 and older. Free child care is available for ages 4 weeks to 12 years, with reservations required.
Please RSVP by September 15 to Maria Groen at 206-935-6000 or mgroen@seattleymca.org.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:52 AM: Good morning. One incident of note on the outbound routes right now – a vehicle fire in the right lane of northbound I-5 before the exit to I-90.
7:01 AM: WSDOT says that fire is now blocking two right lanes.
7:13 AM: Those lanes are now clear, per WSDOT.
7:54 AM: Multiple reports that Fauntleroy is backed up big time on the way to the bridge today. There are no obvious incidents – no 911 responses, nothing mentioned by SDOT.
7:57 AM: If you’re thinking about an alternative to Delridge Way, avoid 25th SW in the SW Findlay vicinity – scanner just had a dispatch of police to help a semitruck driver who reports being stuck at that intersection.
8:13 AM: SDOT has nothing to explain the Fauntleroy backup – theorizing the bridge jam overall might be residual effect of earlier NB I-5 incidents. Meantime, do avoid Findlay west of Delridge – SPD, per scanner, is now blocking off Findlay there because of the stuck truck at 25th SW.
8:32 AM: Just went through 25th/Findlay to check on the truck situation – all clear.
8:37 AM: However, heading westbound on Genesee, we note the eastbound (Delridge-bound) traffic is way backed up, almost all the way to the bottom of the hill. And now – Avalon backup almost to 35th. Fauntleroy still looking thick, but flowing with the green light. (If you are going WESTBOUND on Fauntleroy, a double-trailer construction truck is blocking one of the lanes turning toward The Whittaker, just past Trader Joe’s.)
9:10 AM NOTE – THANK YOU! Now that the heart of the commute is over … just a word of thanks to everyone sharing information, whether via comments, via texting/calling 206-293-6302 (provided you’re not driving! thanks to all the bus riders who help out this way), or (if not urgent) editor@westseattleblog.com … we really appreciate it and so do your neighbors who benefit from the info shared here.
9:25 AM: If you’re headed east on the surface, east of the low bridge, note that a crash is blocking 6th S./S. Spokane, per SDOT Twitter and scanner. A semitruck is involved and SPD is looking to dispatch Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
9:47 AM: That one’s down to just one lane of blocking. But now, an incident on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge … someone has been spotted walking on the bridge, with a gas can. So perhaps there’s a stalled vehicle out there somewhere.
From tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting:
BURGLARIES UP: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith brought a crime update. Burglaries are on the rise in Fauntleroy, he said. In August, there was one a week, and while that might not sound like much, it’s an uptick they’re taking seriously. If you see anything unusual/suspicious happening, he stressed – there or anywhere else – call 911. Car prowls, meantime, are down slightly, and “crimes against persons” have dropped by more than half.
ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE PROJECT: As reported here, SDOT has completed the work, long requested by community members, first described at last xx’s FCA meeting. FCA’s Marty Westerman said the final product is about 90 percent of what the group and other community members suggested; questions remain about the layout of the parking spaces alongside the commercial building in the heart of the triangle, and he’ll be contacting SDOT point person Jim Curtin for a walkthrough. Otherwise, Westerman said the transition seemed to have gone smoothly.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION ISSUES: Information is still being gathered regarding who’s parking in the neighborhoods; the most recent survey was done after school started, to see if parking usage is affected by the number of West Seattleites who go to school on Vashon. Findings will be presented next month … FCA’s ferry-issues point person Gary Ewing said he’s been involved in discussions resulting from the huge recent backups, to “brainstorm” ideas about better traffic flows. No conclusions on that yet.
SCHOOLHOUSE CENTENNIAL: One of next year’s biggest events in Fauntleroy will be the historic schoolhouse’s centennial, with a celebration planned on Sunday, May 21, 2017, starting right after services at Fauntleroy Church, since the congregation includes many alumni from the old Fauntleroy School. The committee working on the celebration is seeking a small city grant to pay for refreshments and some other incidentals; they’re working on activities including an old-fashioned school carnival. The event will start with a ceremony and speakers, with the lineup almost set. Find out more about the centennial plans here.
The Fauntleroy Community Association meets second Tuesdays most months, 7 pm @ Fauntleroy Schoolhouse – check fauntleroy.net between meetings for updates.
That’s video from the halftime show at Husky Stadium on Saturday – featuring marching bands from around the state, including the West Seattle High School Band. Laura Martin sent the link as well as photos and this report:
West Seattle High School Band and Flag Squad participated in Husky Band Day this past Saturday! More than 1,000 high school students from across the state joined forces with the University of Washington Husky Marching Band for a halftime show in Husky Stadium during the UW/University of Idaho football game.
(WSHS Drum Majors Lindy Tongol, Neil Gromlich and Kevin Corona with our Husky Band member chaperone, 2015 Sealth grad Chris Laranang)
The all-day event included a morning rehearsal, the UW Husky Marching Band performing for the students during a pre-game lunch in the field house, and tickets to the game.
(2016 WSHS grads LaVera Sheilds and Bonnie Weglin, former WSHS Band members now in Husky Band!)
It was a fun and entertaining day. Great job, Wildcats!
If you couldn’t pick them out in the video – the WSHS band is in the lower right of this last photo:
Look for them at their own home stadium, Southwest Athletic Complex, when the WSHS football team hosts Garfield this Friday night, 7 pm.
With less than two months until Election Day, the 34th District Democrats are due to decide tomorrow night (Wednesday, September 14th) who they will endorse in the 7th Congressional District race, since the candidate they endorsed in the primary, County Council president Joe McDermott, did not make it into the top two. Before the vote, they’ll have a mini-forum with the candidates who did – State Sen. Pramila Jayapal and State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw. While the endorsement vote is only open to members, the meeting is open to everyone – 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). See the full agenda here.
Almost six months after going public with their plan to turn the former Chopstix/Ho-Win into the new New Luck Toy, its proprietors are hoping to open next month.
As we continue following up on West Seattle’s next wave of restaurants/bars, we checked in today with Chef Mark Fuller, who you know best from Ma’Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky in The Junction. He and Patric Gabre-Kidan are partners in New Luck Toy (5905 California SW), which Fuller says will get its sign this Friday – you might already have noticed the facade’s being painted this week (photo above, taken shortly before publication). They hope to open in the second week of October.
In the meantime, the basics: New Luck Toy is not a restaurant with a bar – Fuller says it “is a bar that will offer a small menu (16-20 items) of classic Chinese-American dishes. 50 seats and a private karaoke room that will accommodate up to 8 people, cozily. Hours will be 4 pm til 2 am.”
About that menu – we asked for a sneak peek and – here it is! (Chef Fuller adds the qualifier that it’s a “sample menu” that “has changed a bit but is mostly the same.”) Beverages? “Frozen drinks and cocktails on draft.”
What’s the biggest reaction they’ve had? “The feedback we have received is that people are excited to have New Luck Toy in West Seattle again.”
If you’re new around here – the New Luck Toy was an old-school Chinese restaurant in the heart of The Junction, where Talarico’s is now (and has been for a decade), about a mile north of the NEW New Luck Toy. Chef Fuller notes that the interior decor will include “a couple original artifacts from the original NLT, thanks to several people in the community who helped unearth these pieces.” (It will have a few pieces of the old Ho-Win, too.)
And if you haven’t already figured it out – New Luck Toy will be 21+.
Looking for our other recent previews/updates? WSB restaurant stories are archived here, newest to oldest.
When Mayor Murray announced the “Vision Zero” plan more than a year and a half ago, the plan (p. 14) promised to start reducing speed limits on “residential streets” to 20 mph. By last summer, the change was made on a few streets in north West Seattle. Now, it’s going citywide. One week from today, the City Council’s Transportation and Sustainability Committee will consider the proposal that was announced this afternoon:
Mayor Ed Murray and Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Mike O’Brien today unveiled a proposal to enhance safety on Seattle’s streets by changing the speed limit on all residential streets from 25 to 20 MPH and streets in the center city from 30 to 25 MPH. The proposal is part of Seattle’s Vision Zero plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on city streets by 2030.
“Having helped pass the Neighborhood Safe Streets Bill during my time in the legislature, I’m proud that Seattle will be the first city in the state of Washington to implement lower speeds on all residential streets,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “When combined with other elements of our ongoing Vision Zero work, such as redesigned roadways and data driven enforcement, lower speed limits will help make Seattle’s roads safer for all.”
Speed contributes to 25 percent of collisions citywide and 42 percent of downtown traffic fatalities every year. It is the critical factor in survivability for a crash. Pedestrians struck by vehicles traveling at 25 MPH are half as likely to die as those struck at 30 MPH.
“Studies show that lowering speed limits is one of the best ways to improve safety in our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Tim Burgess. “Reducing speeds will not only reduce accidents and fatalities but it also brings peace of mind for those who use our sidewalks, including children and our elderly neighbors. The reduction we are proposing will not restrict mobility.”
In residential areas, going down to 20 MPH brings the entire neighborhood to existing school zone speed limits, making safer routes of travel for all. Vehicle safety in Seattle has improved significantly, but not for people walking and biking. Pedestrian and bicycle collisions make up seven percent of total crashes, but nearly half of fatalities. The new speed limit will apply to 2,400 miles of non-arterial streets and help enhance safe routes to schools, transit, parks and other destinations.
“The proposal presents the opportunity that exists to balance the need for safe passage with thoughtful engineering,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “Reducing speed limits has a direct impact on safety and helps the City implement better design standards that will allow drivers, bikers, pedestrians and parents alike to breathe a little easier as we head back to school by bus, bike or single passenger vehicle.”
Downtown there has been a 20 percent increase in speed-related fatal collisions over the last four years. Signal timing has already been adjusted to the new 25 MPH speed limit and drivers are moving more efficiently through the center city. A 25 MPH speed limit fits the typical operating speed of vehicles in the downtown core today.
This change would mainly impact the off-peak hours when there are more high-end speeders and more severe collisions.
“Speed is the critical factor in crashes, and lowering speeds is essential if we want to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets,” said Seattle Department of Transportation Director Scott Kubly. “You can save a life for only an extra minute more per trip.”
This speed limit is consistent with the Washington State speed limit for city streets and Seattle is the only city in King County with an arterial speed limit over 25 MPH. Also, 25 MPH is the speed limit in the overwhelming majority of city centers nationwide including cities like New York, Portland, Phoenix, Denver and Houston.
The City Council’s Sustainability and Transportation Committee will discuss and vote on the proposal at its September 20 meeting. The legislation will then go before the full council for a vote later this month. If passed into law, the City expects to begin rolling out speed limit changes in November.
If you’re not sure whether a street near you is “residential” – check this map. If it’s not an arterial or freeway, it’s residential.
Just in from Seattle Parks:
Many Seattle Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 due to an all-staff in-service day. The majority of classes and programs will not be running.
The facilities and programs that WILL operate in our area are listed as:
West Seattle Golf Course
Also – the following “enrichment programs” at community centers:
Southwest
· Alki Community Center, School-Age Care
· Alki Community Center, Preschool
· Delridge Community Center, School-Age Care
· Delridge Community Center, Preschool
· Delridge Community Center, Rec Tech
· Hiawatha Community Center, School-Age Care
· Hiawatha Community Center, Preschool
· Hiawatha Community Center, Teen Programs
· High Point Community Center, School-Age Care
· South Park Community Center, School-Age Care
· South Park Community Center, Rec Tech
If you need to know about programs outside this area – see the full citywide list here.
Be part of a launch! The West Seattle Food Bank‘s is launching the new annual benefit “A Grand Affair” (with co-sponsors including WSB) this Friday, and the deadline for advance-priced tickets is tomorrow night:
Come and bring your friends to the West Seattle Food Bank’s first annual “A Grand Affair” fundraiser at Westland Distillery, 2931 First Ave. S. in SODO, this Friday, September 16th, 6 pm. Last two days to buy your tickets at $65 per person or $600 for a group of 10. These prices will end this Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 12 midnight. Tickets at the door will be $75 per person. You can purchase tickets here.
A Grand Affair will be a fun Roaring 20’s themed cocktail party with casino style gaming tables ($30,000 worth of chips included with your ticket), celebrity dealers and West Seattleite’s Marty Reimer & Jodi Brothers from 95.7 The Jet, Hosted wine, beer & Hors d’oeuvres, Whiskey Tasting with Westland Distillery and themed cocktails, Mary Pickford and The Daisy served by West Seattle’s Peel & Press and West 5.
Funds from A Grand Affair will be used to serve the thousands of adults, seniors and children in our community who are in need of nutritious and healthy food; diapers, baby food and accessories; books; pet food and community outreach services.
(WSB photo, Saturday night: Police investigating at Spokane/East Marginal)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Ryan Overland‘s family is struggling to make sense of the crash that killed him.
The 39-year-old man who died after a bizarre motorcycle crash Saturday night (WSB coverage here) was so experienced, they say, there must have been some factor beyond rider error. They are hoping witnesses will come forward.
Police tell us only that the investigation is ongoing. The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad spent hours at two scenes related to the crash on Saturday night: Mr. Overland was found on S. Spokane Street north of East Marginal Way. He had fallen from the elevated roadway above – the ramp from Southbound Highway 99 to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. After his fall, his riderless motorcycle continued onto the bridge and finally stopped against the median, on the shoulder of the left lane. WSB commenters described the startling scene.
His family says Mr. Overland died at 1:30 am Sunday, about six hours after the crash. He did not live in West Seattle but was headed to visit a friend who lives on Alki. That’s according to his brother Casey Knox, who tells WSB that Mr. Overland worked as a cancer-research scientist in the private sector: “He loved what he did, always trying to make a difference in the medical field.” The family is raising money for funeral expenses via GoFundMe.
Trying to find answers is even more of a challenge. Says Knox: “We have had little-to-no contact with the police, as they haven’t received too much information about the incident, other than what was present. Trying to find out information seems impossible, but, I think this will help provide closure to many of us that were close to him. We all know how great of a rider he was, very defensive and always aware of his surroundings.” Knox says his brother taught him how to ride, and they both had traveled that same route any times before.
If you have any information that might help the investigation, TCIS detectives are at 206-684-8923; you can refer to the SPD incident number, 2016-328892.
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