restripe of Avalon ??

[rico]

Well put Ken.

And Jeff H, do you take everything so literally?

I am fairly sure there was no intent to actually “punch” the politicians.

Also, Jeff H, I am sorry you have a problem with ME, because I choose to drive. Way to further the attitude problems many of us see with certain bicyclists.

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[JanS]

well, now, Ken, never dismiss a well placed cane – lol…

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[seaopgal]

I’ve lived/worked/driven in this area for 30 years and have probably turned right from eastbound Avalon to 35th once. That said, I’m sure this change will be a pain for some drivers. It’s still legal to turn right so please be patient. Traffic will reroute (there are other options) and smooth out as people get used to one through lane. The bike lane will be a big improvement for cyclists going down to Avalon (and hopefully those coming west as well despite need to turn left across traffic to 36th). Both as a driver and sometime cyclist, I’d much rather have designated lanes for bikes, and there really is no other option for traveling by bike from the Triangle/Junction/Fauntleroy to downtown and beyond.

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[Jeff H]

I learned my lesson about canes a long time ago from my grandfather. ;-)

On my run commute home today I decided to take a quick video of the traffic heading eastbound on Avalon trying to continue across 35th.

http://vimeo.com/68269155

I counted 6 cars getting through the traffic light heading eastbound on Avalon and continuing through 35th. This sucks, and I’ve contacted SDOT, requesting the light be extended in this direction.

http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/potholereport.htm

traffic.signals@seattle.gov

I’m guessing the eastbound Avalon traffic backup is being caused by the short signal length. I didn’t see any right-turning traffic onto southbound 35th for the few minutes I watched.

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[JanS]

that is a good idea, although those coming off the bridge to go up 35th will get a little pticked off having to wait longer…you know you can’t satisfy everyone, no matter how hard you try

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[Sue]

Jeff H, while I think a longer signal there would help, I think the bigger problem at this (and many Seattle interesections) is that nobody goes when the light turns green. (This is a huge problem on WB Alaska at Fauntleroy too and more of a reason why Alaska backs up than the existence of the bus lane, IMHO.) It is maddening to watch. That former right lane in front of KFC, I used to pull into that lane and continue straight when the light changed, just so I could get across without waiting several lights. I’d wait on the other side of the intersection to merge w/o cutting anyone off, or, what was usually more likely, was that nobody else would move on green and I could easily get back in before anyone else ever crossed the intersection.

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[mrhineh]

Another piece to this cluster-f is that the signal light moving northbound at 35th/Fauntleroy is very short and clogs cars into the intersection of Avalon/35th. A second element is that it is not legal to turn left turn from southbound 35th to Avalon from 3-7pm. This forces northern Junction/Admiral traffic off 35th over to Oregon, then to Avalon eastbound from Fauntleroy.

As the Triangle and Alaska Junction grows with multiple building projects, no matter which mode of transportation you choose, its going to add to the congestion. More bikes won’t speed up the traffic. More busses won’t speed up the traffic. If you multiply the numbers of these modes, they do come with their downside risks during rush hour and the Gateway to WS is not built to handle it 5-10 years down the road. These are minor tweaks that don’t look at the bigger picture. S-DOT seriously needs to step up its projections and traffic plans to meet these obvious growth trends because at this rate, its not working out for anybody. You can add 2000 new bikers to WS, but it won’t make that much of a dent in traffic reduction when you look at all those new dwellings on the planning books. Same with busses and the “bulb theory”. You can welcome the growth, but you can’t convince me that mass transit (at this rate) will solve congestion for ANY mode of transportation. I feel like S-DOT is in the same bed as Seattle Public Schools when it comes to assessing growth data.

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