Home › Forums › Open Discussion › 35th AVE re-painting!!!
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September 20, 2015 at 10:23 pm #818485
freecitizenMemberI am outraged! A very small group of people decided to change the city’s lanes on 35th AVE SW and only back-handedly asked for “permission.” We do not need a “nanny-road” prescribing changes to our fundamental behavior of freedom to travel to the store and back at a decent pace. This new, underhanded scheme to interrupt everyone’s lives who travel this main roadway is intolerable. I am sorry for the accidents, as I am global wars, the interest rate and natural disasters, but preventing children from getting to school without stress of the parents and bus-drivers, disrupting travel efficiency, adding to environmental pollution is an outrageous, selfish course of action.
September 20, 2015 at 11:04 pm #828056
acemotelParticipantGet used to it. It’s happening all over the city. The new traffic philosophy is: cars/automobile travel are unsustainable, especially with the projected population increase, so therefore, make vehicular traffic as difficult and congested as possible, so people will stop using their cars. It’s a great failure of our elected officials that they did not provide us with any alternatives, i.e. rapid transit. That’s why it’s important to vote against the MoveSeattle levy (addressing the first part of the equation) and vote FOR Sound Transit (the solution).
September 20, 2015 at 11:13 pm #828057
webshafParticipantAnd did you know that now parking will be prohibited in certain areas on 35 so the buses won’t have to wait for a break in traffic to get back in? There is already a law that cars must allow buses in when they have their right signal on! Right now, the parking on the west side of 35 will be banned during some morning hours near 35/Holden…that’s the one I know about but I bet there’s more and I doubly bet there is more(OR LESS!) on its way!! This whole repainting makes me think I have to find a different route to ride my bicycle to work to avoid 35th(where cars passing me had another lane to use in the past) GRRRRRR!
September 20, 2015 at 11:37 pm #828058
BonnieParticipantI’ve driven it and I think it’s okay. I don’t really get stuck behind the buses anymore since they are pulling over and I don’t get stuck behind someone making a left hand turn. If people go the speed limit there shouldn’t be a problem. My husband got in two accidents on 35th that probably could have been prevented. At first I thought it would be awful but so far it seems to be okay. Just give it time. I remember when Delridge used to be a two lane road each way also and they switched it a long time ago. I like the turn lane in the middle.
September 20, 2015 at 11:42 pm #828059
shed22ParticipantMore info, please, freecitizen. Who is this “small group of people”? Why would they change the lanes? And what is your evidence that they “back-handedly asked for ‘permission'”?
September 20, 2015 at 11:45 pm #828060
dobroParticipantI just drove down 35th in the new lane, traveling the speed limit and had no problem at all.
“We do not need a “nanny-road” prescribing changes to our fundamental behavior of freedom to travel to the store and back at a decent pace”
You’re kidding, right?
September 21, 2015 at 12:11 am #828061
freecitizenMemberNo, I’m not kidding.
September 21, 2015 at 12:14 am #828062
WSBKeymasterHi, “freecitizen” – thanks for joining the Forum!
Just for clarification’s sake:
There was no “small group of people” involved here. This is a Seattle Department of Transportation project. And if you want ultimate accountability, it goes up to the mayor (who was in attendance at the July community meeting where the final plan was shown).
If any group of community members could have made changes on 35th, it likely would have happened years sooner. We have been covering 35th SW concerns for the entirety of the eight years we’ve been in operation as a news publication. It’s had more than 1,000 crashes in the past 10 years, and multiple rallies, community-meeting discussions, petitions – NOT even involving the same people – this story dating back to 2007 involved a community group that doesn’t even exist any more:
If you missed the many stories reported here along the way – this one is probably the best to read for backstory. It followed a discussion after a walk in memory of the fifth person killed in seven years on 35th SW:
That was more than a year and a half ago.
Three weeks later – in February of 2014 – city leaders announced the launch of a “multi-year traffic-safety corridor project” for 35th.
‘I-35’ no more? City leaders announce ‘multi-year’ 35th SW traffic-safety project
The city did not make the decision lightly. In some of our other past stories, SDOT reps – including Jim Curtin, current project manager – had been quoted as saying they were concerned 35th volume might be too heavy for rechannelizing. Here’s a story from 2011:
How to slow ‘I-35’? SDOT @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council
The “design alternatives” finally were announced back in March of this year, and because of the volume concerns, they did not include the most-traveled section of the road – which isn’t where the deaths had occurred, incidentally:
After much feedback, more meetings, even walking tours, the city then announced its plan in July – to rechannelize just to upper Morgan and then evaluate.
Here is the full slide deck if you haven’t seen it via our story or somewhere else:
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/docs/35thSW/35thSW_July2015FINAL.pdf
The work is NOT all done yet. Some repaving on the south end, plus restriping, came first. Toward the end of the slide deck, you’ll see the mentions of other things they are going to do.
As we’ve been reminding others voicing concerns, feedback can and should go to the project manager at SDOT, jim.curtin@seattle.gov – I expect to be publishing a followup early this week on where the actual work on 35th SW (and Roxbury) stands, and what’s next.
thank you
Tracy
September 21, 2015 at 12:17 am #828063
SmittyParticipant” just drove down 35th in the new lane, traveling the speed limit and had no problem at all.”
Seriously? Sunday afternoon? I am guessing that’s not what people are griping about. I could be wrong.
September 21, 2015 at 2:41 am #828064
mrseattleMemberTypical Liberal stuff.
They hate cars and want to push there mass transit system and the city isn’t going for it so they are going to do what Liberals do when they are ” Right” and that is to do whatever it takes to cram it down our throats and force us into Change.
So they are going to make traffic so horrific that we become the land of the million bicycles here in the rain and hills.
Do you really think it is an accident that they replaced a 3 lane Viaduct with a 2 lane tunnel ? and a 2 lane tunnel that will have absolutely NO chance of being expanded in a city that is predicted to Grow tremendously in the coming years
There were actually some complete lunatics that wanted to tear down the Viaduct and run 100,000 + cars through the surface streets of Seattle.
Thats is what you get when you have a 1 party system.
If you have a (D) in front of your name your going to be reelected so do whatever makes you feel good at the moment. Or Do for whatever special interest group yell’s the loudest.
I would be willing to bet that No where else in the Planet is there a city that is Growing anywhere near the rate Seattle is that is taking lanes away daily.
The Liberals running the city dont care about anything but there enlightened agenda.
The only reason possible for taking a lane away from 35th is a bike lane .
I have seen the 25 bicycles in the summer on Delridge but i have NEVER seen even 1 bike that far down 35th and certainly never on Roxbury.
Its Crazy stuff but in this out of control City Government that is what you get.
Im waiting for the Hot Air Balloon System to be the next on the Docket
September 21, 2015 at 2:44 am #828065
datamuseParticipantNice one, freecitizen. You had me going there for a minute.
September 21, 2015 at 3:40 am #828066
freecitizenMemberHey, wait a minute – I’m an Independently Liberal Conservative sometimes Democratic citizen and I am resistant to change-especially when it is illogical. BTW – I love cars, miss Holly carburetors. I don’t like it when anyone tells me what I already know, or for that matter tries to tell me “change is for my own good”, especially when we definitely are seeing potential problems from very different perspectives. I am for the environment (which this re-painting harms) and against change if it’s unnecessary – and the desired outcome can be obtained through another – less harsh measure. Don’t even get me started on re-painting Alaska street…No-one obeys the turn-only lanes and they are still adding apartments all over West Seattle. How is everybody supposed to get around in any sort of timely fashion?!! That one next.
A bike lane? In Seattle with wet weather & hills galore. I see one bike-rider every couple weeks and they are younger and usually fit. It’s a wonderful way to get around if possible, but it’s usually not possible of practical. The population is getting older and doesn’t ride bikes, some carpools, or moms with kids. Tandem?!
Datmuse – what lost you?
September 21, 2015 at 7:44 am #828067
35this35mphParticipantI have not been around this virtual “here” for awhile and I moved off of 35th about 5 years ago, but I am overjoyed to see it channelized or tamed or on a diet, etc. I only wish they would have followed it all the way to Fauntleroy. Despite its commute heavy status 35th is a largely residential street. The deaths and mayhem were not acceptable costs. Prior to this change I would see people racing and jockeying between lanes in order to break the speed limit every day. Chill out and relax. You’re going to get where you’re going and hopefully not take anyone else out in the process. I predict that the stats for accidents, injuries and deaths will justify this change in 5 years.
September 21, 2015 at 3:53 pm #828068
freecitizenMemberI just had to drive this roadway again and I will not relax. If YOU want to sit back and just “let” things happen that affect you, than that is your right. In this Democratic Republic of the United States, I have the freedom to change, or prevent change of something that I do not agree with. You can “chill out,” and go back to bed if you like.
September 21, 2015 at 4:03 pm #828069
skeeterParticipantI’m okay with the changes. I do not mind sitting in traffic a little longer if the trade-off is greater safety for people in cars, on bikes, and on foot.
September 21, 2015 at 4:14 pm #828070
JoBParticipantmrseattle..
you are so right. this is typical Seattle liberal thinking… prioritizing human safety over the right to break the law…
imagine that ;-)
September 21, 2015 at 4:36 pm #828071
freecitizenMemberNo – it’s not about human safety. It’s about control and who has it.
September 21, 2015 at 4:46 pm #828072
kellymParticipantThis morning(at 5:30 AM) I was heading north on 35th. I noticed at the flashing speed light just north of Guadalupe the speed limit sign read 30 MPH. Is that new too? Is that for a particular section or for all of 35th? Boy the city will make a fortune on speeding tickets for a while with that change.
September 21, 2015 at 5:41 pm #828073
JoBParticipantfreecitizen
as one of the citizens who fears for her safety every time she stops to allow someone to cross that street.. i beg to differ.
the bad news is that the same idiots who zip around my stopped car in the other lane will do the same in the center lane until they are stopped….
hopefully not by the body of the pedestrian i stopped for ;-(
September 21, 2015 at 6:32 pm #828074
dobroParticipantJust drove down 35th again. Monday morning this time. Drove the speed limit. No problem. No slow downs or traffic jams.
“No – it’s not about human safety. It’s about control and who has it.”
Actually, speed limits and road design have a lot to do with human safety. The “control” part is handled by elected officials and their appointed agents that you have a right to petition, contact, or even un-elect if you get enough people to rally round your concerns.
“I have the freedom to change, or prevent change of something that I do not agree with.”
Exactly right. So get busy and let us know how it turns out for you.
September 21, 2015 at 11:11 pm #828075
redblackParticipant+1, dobro. [tip of the hat.]
i’ve been having this discussion with my dad lately, and we have both observed that people seem increasingly self-entitled to some right to not be slowed down or inconvenienced – and they’ll do damned near *anything* to enforce that self-entitled right, whether it’s merely passing illegally or mowing through a crosswalk full of children and kittens.
okay, that was a little hyperbolic, but you get the point.
we heard the same chicken little BS when fauntleroy was rechannelized.
weirdly, the sun still rises and sets every day.
September 22, 2015 at 2:28 am #828076
wakefloodParticipantYes, folks will adapt, as is frequently the case, the possible exception being the 55mph back in the 70’s/80’s.
They just need time to blow off a little steam and see how things shake out.
I’m not going to predict this as an outcome but it IS a possibility, nonetheless. That being the potential metering of cars at the top of the high bridge, just enough to keep a slow but steadier roll over it. Like feeding fewer grains at a time vs dumping a handful of rice into a funnel which stops all flow.
It’s why they meter ramps and if you saw the myth busters episode on traffic, you’ll know if someone stops dead for a second, it takes a long time to get anyone moving again.
Deep breaths all y’all.
September 22, 2015 at 5:14 pm #828077
anonymeParticipantI’m not only thrilled with the re-channelization and reduced speed limit, but hope that 35th south of Roxbury will now have the speed limit reduced to 25mph, as is being proposed. There was always a 5 mph speed differential starting at Roxbury, which I’d like to see maintained. Unfortunately, the speed hotheads have been using this stretch to exercise their need to be A-holes since the changes further north…
September 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm #828078
AJPParticipantOver 1000 accidents in the last 10 years. Four people DEAD in the last eight years. This is an acceptable price to pay for the convenience of going 35 (oh more than 35, my guess is that everyone who complains about this goes at least 5+ over the speed limit) and getting there 2 minutes sooner. When people say they don’t want bike lanes, more buses, light rail, safer speeds around pedestrians, what they really are saying is that they would like all the people who use alternative modes of transportation to drive in a car, just like them. Which makes traffic even worse. And thanks Tracy for posting all that info. No one is allowed to complain who has not followed the years-long process, read the plans, attended the meetings or contacted your local representatives.
September 22, 2015 at 7:01 pm #828079
wsn00bParticipantThe last death was at 35th/Graham that seems to have really spurred the re-channelization discussion. Of course, 35th/Graham is still wide-open, 35-40mph, 4 lanes and no-crosswalk. Cars seem to gun it more there and scramble to change lanes after being restricted upto Morgan. So, as far as I can tell, as with most SDOP (Seattle Dept of Painting/Potholes) projects, even this re-channelization is pretty half-baked, C- grade work.
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