Home › Forums › Open Discussion › 4th Avenue South exit getting worse?
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October 7, 2014 at 11:15 pm #612884
SmittyParticipantThe backup today was waaaaay out of control. It must have taken at least 10 minutes to get through the light this morning. Not sure how many “cycles” that is, but it must be a lot.
The reason? It appears that city vehicles are no longer using the entrance/exit along 4th avenue (directly across from the intersection) any more. It was chain linked this morning.
Typically, those vehicles trigger a green light for them which then allows for a LOT of cars to take a “free right” on red. No longer.
Hopefully the city will now look at the timing of the light at the Spokane street intersection to help flow.
Good luck to all!
October 8, 2014 at 1:21 am #814569
dcnParticipantI’ve noticed this for the past couple of weeks. I thought it was due to a change in the timing of the light at 4th and Spokane St, since 4th Ave S is now completely backed up from that intersection when the off-ramp light turns green. Then no one can turn right when the light is green due to the backup. If a pedestrian pushes the crossing light, that helps clear the road before the off-ramp cars get the green light. I’ve fantasized about jumping out of my car to hit that button when the backups are bad.
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I think you can write to SDOT to complain about the poor timing. I did this about 2 years ago when some change in the timing of the lights was creating similar backups at that same location. And I did get a non-committal response from them. The problem seemed to resolve itself, though, so maybe they did change the timing.
October 8, 2014 at 1:42 pm #814570
SmittyParticipantdcn, I’ll split the cost with you!
We should just pay some kid to sit there between 7-9 to hit the cross-walk button.
We may be onto something if we can get the Spokane light timing fixed too!
October 8, 2014 at 2:47 pm #814571
JoBParticipantOctober 8, 2014 at 3:18 pm #814572
savoirfaireParticipantSo if I’m understanding this correctly, the intersection would work better for all concerned if the signal were programmed to assume pedestrians needed to be taken into account? I like it!
October 8, 2014 at 3:45 pm #814573
timeslidParticipantThe light has gotten much worse. If I was conspiracy theorist, I would assume that the city is trying to keep all West Seattle residents on peninsula. Hmmm………why?
October 8, 2014 at 7:05 pm #814574
DaveBParticipantSeems to depend on the time of day. At 7-ish it’s still generally one light cycle.
October 8, 2014 at 8:39 pm #814575
clulessinwsParticipantI’ve filed tickets with the city for the last 2 years. I suggest that if anyone reading this has not filed a ticket, to please file one. Use the find it fix app or
https://seattle-p1csrprodcwi.motorolasolutions.com/ServiceRequest.mvc/SRIntake
Using the above form, I’ve filed ticket under SPD and traffic signal maintenance but they just get closed. SPD could catch a lot of northbound 4th Ave intersection blockers and motorcyclists using the shoulder all along the off ramp.
October 8, 2014 at 8:47 pm #814576
clulessinwsParticipantThe problem of turning right on to 4th at the bottom of the off ramp has been bad almost since the day the off ramp opened. As I stated above, I’ve spend a lot of time relaying my experience and sending ideas on how to make it better. It hasn’t worked in my opinion. The only change I have noticed is an electronic sign that lights up occasionally indicating no right turn on red. How is this suppossed to help when the only time we CAN turn is when it’s red?! We certainly can turn on a green because the lanes are full and the light at Spokane is red and or people are blocking the intersection. All of these observation fall on deaf ears with the city dot. So frustrating!
October 9, 2014 at 4:05 pm #814577
trickycooljParticipantDefinitely download the city app and report it every time you’re sitting at the light. I very seldom go this way to work since I work south, but will occasionally go that way to swing by Starbucks by Costco since its less busy than the West Seattle locations. When I do I usually use the middle all directions lane to go left to avoid a quick lane change after the light and found myself stuck for several cycles too until I finally figured out how badly backed up northbound was and got in the far left lane. There’s definitely something not right at that intersection.
October 10, 2014 at 1:18 am #814578
SmittyParticipantI had luck contacting them previously – in fact they responded within days saying I was right and they changed the timing on the lights at Fauntleroy/35th and Avalon/35th because it was causing lines all the way down to the bridge deck during the evening commute.
No more long lines now for the evening commute thanks to Smitty (and probably others!).
I sent an email to the same guy about this so let’s see what happens!
Smitty for transportation czar! :~)
October 10, 2014 at 6:22 pm #814579
beaglenutMemberSmitty – do not mention the 4th Avenue exit! It’s supposed to be a secret. ;)
October 10, 2014 at 6:39 pm #814580
PunnyBooBooParticipantUuuugh…this bridge/d.town commute is bananas. I have to go downtown and the average morning commute is at least an hour, sometimes as long as an hour and a half! To cross a bridge?! I sat at the light in front of Trader Joe’s one morning and watched 8 turn before we moved a car (thank you to those who block the intersection during others’ green lights..that’s awesome)!
I was hoping the 4th Ave exit might help…nope. Actually took me longer…and much worse lately.
Smitty – it is nice to hear they take complaints/concerns into consideration.
November 14, 2014 at 9:36 pm #818860
dcnParticipantOK, I’m bumping this discussion back up after sitting through 4 light cycles at 7:30 this morning trying to get onto 4th Ave S northbound from the West Seattle Bridge exit ramp. I was only 5 cars back, but I was in the left-most turn lane to go northbound. You can never turn right during a green light anymore during rush hour. Most mornings I leave early enough to be able to not wait too long–I can only imagine what it’s like at 8 am.
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Anyway, I’ve posted requests for signal timing maintenance to be done in two different places with SDOT. One to their online “Request a City Service” site: https://seattle-p1csrprodcwi.motorolasolutions.com/Home.mvc/Index
And another email to their traffic signal email at: traffic.signals@seattle.gov
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I suggest anyone else who is fed up with that exit ramp do the same. It should not be too much to ask that at least some cars be able to turn right during a green light. Instead, everyone is force to turn right on red and/or block the intersection during a green in order to go northbound on 4th Ave S.
November 14, 2014 at 11:16 pm #818861
clulessinwsParticipantI filed an online ticket 12-00089874 in March 2014. I heard from chris.faulkner@seattle.gov
and dianne.thomas@seattle.gov. They said that this was in the works, “improved striping and correct some of the signing.” Since March, I’ve filed about 5 tickets asking for help/following up on how this intersection is still a problem. I’ve filed 3 or 4 requests to have police enforce red light running and intersection blocking .. I have not heard back on any ticket I’ve filed since March and I’ve asked for responses and given my email and phone number. I’ve not seen any improvements, just the hampering I described above, and I haven’t seen police enforce laws there either. Seems like enough violations per minute to warrant some attention by SPD. I’m just being ignored.
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