Design Meetings — Tank at Lowman Beach Park

[Duckitude]

I encourage all users of Lowman Beach Park and the surface street that connects the Lowman Beach Park area to the north end of Lincoln Park to show up for tonight’s meeting as noted in the WSB’s post https://westseattleblog.com/2012/03/lowman-beach-sewer-overflow-project-design-meeting-tuesday

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Bicyclists, kayakers, walkers, and runners should be aware of the current design plans which, for the most part, deter access and increase safety hazards for such users.

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[kgdlg]

I have not been involved in the design advisory group, nor have I gone to the public meetings on this. But I have to say that I don’t think there is any increase in “safety hazards” from the designs proposed. If anything, the enhancements to the site and the street will calm traffic there, making it better to run by and more pedestrian friendly. I particularly like how they are encouraging movement through the site, taking advantage of the grade to that there might be some real views from atop the structure. Very cool!

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[Duckitude]

kgdlg – as you may or may not know, I live right on the southeast corner of Lowman Beach Park and have an excellent view of the park and Beach Drive clear up to the three point intersection.

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The idea that narrowing the street and putting “bump outs of parkway into the street” will “calm” traffic has no scientific basis. No one has studied it in this neighborhood, nor has SDOT carried out any study of the dangerous traffic and constant drive-way turnarounds that take place in this section of Beach Drive.

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There is no plan to widen the sidewalks to be bicycle, runner, walker, or infant stroller friendly. People will NOT stop using the road surface for such activities and have the right to do that (in my opinion, since it is a grandfathered use). They will continue to do it until there is some better alternative.

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So-called “traffic calming” techniques do nothing to reduce the mix of traffic that occurs, but by narrowing the lanes, the chances for collisions increases exponentially, especially for bicyclists who will have to get even better at dodging doors being opened into the narrow lane.

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As for a lookout being part of the CSO design plan, I agree, cool! Hopefully, they will make it disabled-friendly, since the park itself has no real friendliness for wheelchair users. Although, I have seen some folks on mobility scooters haul out right across the lawn downhill and make it… scary.

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As you will note on my crude concept drawing linked from the WSB article noted in the first post above, I support relatively no parking on the street, a narrow street that allows only for two-way vehicle traffic, an early turn-around alternative to reduce traffic further south on the street, where no sidewalks can be built, and double wide sidewalks or larger on either side of the much narrower, vehicle-only, street.

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[kgdlg]

I did not know you lived right there, duckitude. I have experienced several streets like this – the festival street on beacon hill next to the Light Rail comes to mind (although not as heavily traveled by cars I think), and I do believe they calm traffic significantly, in my experience of them. Cars have to drive slower when bulb outs are placed in the ROW. Personally, I am a runner with a small child, so I would like to see that whole stretch between Lowman and the CSO building shut down to all traffic except folks who live there, like yourself. Now that the buildings will be razed for the CSA tank, wouldn’t this make sense? Why don’t we advocate for this???

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[Duckitude]

Hi kgdlg: That is more or less what I am trying to bring about. See my crude drawing at http://www.ronsterling.com/MurrayCSO_BeachDrive_Design_RonSterling_v2.pdf

Let the CSO folks know that is what you want. Contact info at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Construction/Seattle/MurrayCSOStorage/MeetingCalendar.aspx

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