West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 stolen cars – Red Explorer, blue Cavalier
February 9, 2020 3:34 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two stolen cars to watch for – call 911 if you see either one:

STOLEN RED EXPLORER: From Natalie: “My 1996 Ford Explorer Sport was stolen from in front of our house on 51st PL SW sometime between 5 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. It is red. License plate is 319 HID. The Incident # is 20-50345.”

STOLEN BLUE CAVALIER: This report is more complicated – the blue Chevrolet Cavalier was stolen in Portland, and the owner says it was taken by her son, who recently moved there from here. She says he and the vehicle were seen in the 4000 block of 39th SW around 5 pm yesterday. The car has Oregon plates 579 DLY.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Submarine in the sunshine
February 9, 2020 1:22 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Danny McMillin for the photo! Busy day on Puget Sound. After the orcas passed, this submarine was in view, southbound. (They’re not as easy to ID as most other U.S. Navy vessels, so we don’t have the ID.)

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DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: Light-rail planning process + lots of community info
February 9, 2020 11:11 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Lots of West Seattle/South Park info was shared at this month’s meeting of the District 1 Community Network. This month, D1CN met at The Kenney, with Cindi Barker from West Seattle Be Prepared/Emergency Communication Hubs as facilitator.

SPOTLIGHT TOPIC – LIGHT RAIL PLANNING: Jason Hampton from Sound Transit recapped the process to this point. Then the city’s Radcliffe Dacanay explained the “different roles” of the city and ST. They’re “co-planning stations,” for one. The city’s accountable for planning housing and businesses around stations, and issuing permits. The city’s working right now to identify early issues, among other things. So after Dacanay ran through city priorities from equity to climate action a, there was time for a few questions/comments.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Orcas off West Seattle again!
February 9, 2020 8:03 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

(Added: Photo by Jim Borrow)

8:03 AM: Ready for some Sunday whale-watching? Just got a call that southbound orcas are visible off Alki Point. Let us know if you see them!

8:39 AM: Still SB – see comments.

(Added: Photo by Robin Sinner, first posted in comment section)

10:50 AM: Thanks for all the updates! And for the visuals (adding)!

ADDED 3:37 PM: Adding more visuals.

(Thanks to Erin/Elton for sending the link to that video. Haven’t yet heard word of the orcas heading back northbound – please let us know if YOU have!)

ADDED 9:25 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for sharing some spectacular photos – here are three:

As she and others have noted, today’s visitors were transient orcas (Bigg’s Killer Whales), not the southern residents.

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9 options for your West Seattle Sunday!
February 9, 2020 6:07 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Today’s spotlight photo is a flashback – Mark sent it earlier this week, pointing out that this day last year had snow along with sun. So enjoy the snowy memories – and then go make some (snowless) new ones! Here are today’s calendar highlights:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET – WITH COOKING DEMO!: 10 am-2 pm, see what’s fresh at the vendor booths in the heart of The Junction, featuring a “Winter Comfort Food” cooking demo by Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 10 am-11 am. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

RECESS MONKEY IN CONCERT: 10:30 am at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, the Kindiependent kid-rock concert series continues with Recess Monkey. Ticket info here. (9131 California SW)

LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-1:30 pm, you are invited to visit the preschool at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)

CAMP 2ND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL: 2 pm at Arrowhead Gardens, this is the place for updates, concerns, questions related to the city-supported tiny-house encampment. (9220 2nd SW)

TAMBOR E CORDAS: 3 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sp9nsor), “a mixture of jazz, Brazilian, reggae and world music tunes.” No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)

LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: 3 pm, free concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – “Godard’s Scotch Scenes and Poulenc Sonata for Oboe, plus songs of love and more for soprano and piano.” (2306 42nd SW)

LAST CHANCE TO SEE ‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’: ArtsWest‘s comedy closes after today. 3 pm curtain. Check here for tickets. (4711 California SW)

(‘Snow Moon’ moonrise, photographed Saturday by Dan Ciske)

IMPROVE YOUR DAILY LIFE VIA IMPROV:6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse – full details in our calendar listing. (9131 California SW)

JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley, 8 pm. 21+. (4509 California SW)

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PHOTOS: Lantern Festival shines at Seattle Chinese Garden
February 8, 2020 9:49 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Meghan Jones. Above, Katie Yuen served sweet brown-sugar dumplings in ginger broth)

The rain (mostly) stopped just in time for a festival – today’s Lantern Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden. Photojournalist Meghan Jones was there for WSB. A highlight: A scavenger hunt celebrating the Year of the Rat, with children 12 and under looking around the garden to locate 12 hidden “rats”:

One young festivalgoer found a rat on the garden’s Dragon Seeker statue:

Kids who located all 12 are entered into a trophy drawing planned later this week. Meantime, if you preferred to watch and listen, you had much to enjoy as well: Sharon Chuen sang traditional Cantonese opera to guests in the garden’s Knowing the Spring Courtyard:

Also in the courtyard, Tai Chi was demonstrated by Julian Leung:

And yes, there were lanterns at the Lantern Festival – Aolani Chan helped guests of all ages make paper lanterns:

You don’t have to wait for the next festival to visit the garden – it’s open dawn to dusk daily, on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, at 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mail theft; cars prowled; packages taken; tools recovered
February 8, 2020 8:42 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three property-crime-related reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

MAIL THEFT: Mark reports, “Mail theft early am of 2-7-2020. 10000 block of 26th Avenue SW. Locking box forced open, neighbors’ mail missing also.”

CAR PROWL, PACKAGE THEFT: Christopher reports:

My immediate area was hit by a car prowler early this morning around 2am. (3200 California Ave. SW. Mid-block. Alley between Cali and 44th, Hanford and Hinds).There was an attempt on my next-door neighbor’s car with no loss or damage. And then the neighbors to the west and south both had windows broken. The thief took an odd assortment of things. Passed up tools and loose change in plain view but took an orange and white umbrella from one car and a paper registration from another.

His cameras caught multiple angles – this is the clearest:

Then:

In the process of looking through security clips I found footage of a package thief stealing two Amazon packages off my neighbor’s doorstep. That theft happened on 2/4 around 5:11 pm while it was still light so the footage is better.

Notice the person appears to go in for scoping, then emerges, then pulls up a hood and goes in again,

STOLEN TOOLS RECOVERED: Missed this on SPD Blotter Friday afternoon while we were in court – an undercover buy-back sting recovered tools stolen in a West Seattle burglary. Details are here.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Sandbags and seals @ Alki
February 8, 2020 7:29 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Seen on Alki tonight – above, the full moon rising in the distance, the reason for “king tides” that have led to a line of sandbags along the water-side edge of Statue of Liberty Plaza. Next high tide will be 12.4 feet at 5:44 am; this week’s king tides (here’s a chart) peak with a 12.9-foot high tide at 7:24 am Wednesday (February 12th). Walking a bit further east along Alki, we discovered Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers taping off part of the beach because of two harbor seals:

That’s the best we could do with two on-their-backs seals – top one, older and a bit scrawny-looking, second photo, a pup – at sunset. Remember that if you see a marine mammal on the shore, or in distress offshore, call SSMMSN at 206-905-SEAL.

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CONGRATULATIONS! RJ Sen’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor
February 8, 2020 6:56 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos)

Congratulations to RJ Sen, whose Eagle Scout Court of Honor was celebrated last night at West Side Presbyterian Church. He is a senior at West Seattle High School and has been involved with Scouting since childhood years in Singapore, joining Troop 282 after arriving here.

He’s served in leadership roles including Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, and has been accepted as an adult Assistant Scoutmaster, according to Troop 282’s Assistant Scoutmaster Don Bazemore, who shared the news of RJ’s achievement.

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TERMINAL 5: Here’s how much more pile-driving time the port is seeking
February 8, 2020 3:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

As reported here last month, the Terminal 5 modernization project is trying to make up for time lost during a two-month-plus stopdown in pile driving, blamed on a problem with timber piles breaking. As part of the catching up, as previously announced, pile-driving is planned tomorrow. Meantime, a recent briefing for port commissioners indicated a proposal for pile-driving beyond the February 15th “fish window” deadline, and now we know how much of an extension they’re seeking. Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB:

The Port of Seattle and The Northwest Seaport Alliance have requested an additional nine working days beyond February 15, 2020 to complete in-water pile driving at Terminal 5. This work will occur during the week, and not on weekends or the President’s Day holiday…. The Port, The NWSA, and their contractor have made significant progress to recover lost in-water construction time. The extension request is the minimum necessary to complete installation of piling for this construction phase. If the request is approved by federal and state agencies, the port will notify the public immediately.

If you have questions/concerns, you can email shultz.m@portseattle.org – also note that the Port is expected to have reps at the next meeting of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition, 6:30 pm February 27th at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

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UPDATE: About the police response in Seaview
February 8, 2020 1:09 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Seaview | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:09 PM: We’ve been answering many texted/emailed questions about the police response near 45th/Brandon in Seaview. Police have been trying to talk a person reportedly in crisis, possibly with access to firearms, into coming out.

2:49 PM: Just eent by again to check after about an hour without scanner access. Scene is clear – streets reopened, no police in view.

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TUESDAY: Next step toward saving Roxhill Bog
February 8, 2020 12:05 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

That Seattle Municipal Archives photo from 1961 shows some of the peat in the area of Roxhill Park – which holds the peat bog at the historic headwaters of Longfellow Creek. As community advocates have noted for years, it’s endangered – but finally there’s movement toward taking real action to save it. If you’re interested, you’re invited to a meeting Tuesday:

Roxhill Park Bog/Longfellow Creek Headwater Restoration Project
Tuesday, February 11th 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Lower Level, SW Teen Life Center, 2801 SW Thistle

In a collaborative effort of community, nonprofit organizations, county and city agencies to restore Roxhill Bog’s ecosystem and provide the community with a safe and engaging natural area for recreation and education you are invited to a stakeholder project meeting to learn about this effort, its importance to the health of Longfellow Creek, its salmon. and saving of one of the last peat fens in Seattle. Climate change and urbanization have caused Roxhill Bog to degrade to a critical tipping point if not addressed now, restoration of its natural functions may no longer be feasible.

A hydrology study being conducted by Natural Systems Design is one of the first steps to restore Roxhill Bog’s natural hydrology, enhancing its water quality, improving ecological resiliency and benefiting salmonid recovery in Longfellow Creek and the greater Green-Duwamish basin.

The goal is to revitalize this natural area so it can again contribute to the creek’s health, support one of the most diverse bird populations in the city, enhance environmental education, foster outdoor recreation, improve neighborhood health and safety.

Agenda

Overview of Roxhill Bog, its history, community, environmental & social challenges, opportunities
Connection to Longfellow Creek basin
Hydrology Study by Natural Systems Design
Discussion Breakout

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16 ways to enjoy your West Seattle Saturday!
February 8, 2020 6:07 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Western Grebe, photographed by David Hutchinson)

Welcome to the weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP CLEANUP Join co-op volunteers for an all-ages family-friendly street cleanup – meet up at Youngstown Coffee Company‘s Delridge HQ starting at 9:30 am, clean up 10 am-noon. (5214 Delridge Way SW)

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: Two today:
–Bright West Preschool, 10 am-noon (9236 35th SW)
–Community School of West Seattle, 10 am-2 pm (9450 22nd SW)

WOMEN’S PERSONAL SAFETY CLASS: 10 am-1 pm at the Southwest Precinct. Free. Looks iike there’s still room. (2300 SW Webster)

HAVE A HEART – AND A HAIRCUT – DAY: 10 am-2 pm, Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) is offering discounted haircuts and donating all proceeds to West Seattle Helpline. Call fast to see if an appointment is left! (5619 California SW)

‘WORLD DAY OF THE SICK’ MASS: 10 am in the chapel at Providence Mount St. Vincent, a special service to bless anyone struggling with illness or poverty. All welcome. (4831 35th SW)

BASKETBALL: As announced during last night’s WSHS-Chief Sealth IHS games, Madison Middle School and Denny International MS face off this morning: girls at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), boys at Denny (2601 SW Kenyon), both games at 10 am.

WRESTLING: Chief Sealth International High School is hosting the Metro League tournament today, starting at 10 am.

LANTERN FESTIVAL: 2-6 pm at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Watch, taste, create! Here’s the event flyer. (6000 16th SW)

LOVE SEAFOOD? Enjoy crab and pasta with the Lions Club of West Seattle, raising money at and in part for the Senior Center, Doors open at 5 pm. Get your ticket(s) in advance online! (4217 SW Oregon)

FAL-CON: 5:30-9:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, as previewed here, it’s not your standard PTA fundraiser – Fairmount Park Elementary is doing something very different. Check to see if tickets are still available. (9131 California SW)

REVELATION ART EVENT: 7 pm, West Seattle Christian Church hosts a faith-inspired workshop. Advance tickets are available online. (4400 42nd SW)

KLEZ KATZ @ KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm:

The Klez Katz are dedicated to the preservation and encouragement of the rich musical heritage of the Yiddish diaspora. Their repertoire encompasses freilach, bulgar, sher, terkishe, khosidl, theater music, folk songs and even the odd klezmer-influenced jazz tune, performed on tenor and soprano saxes, clarinet, flute, trombone, bass, accordion, and vocals.

Admission info is in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

EVENING LOW TIDE BEACH WALK: This weekend’s full moon means a low-low tide tonight (-2.5 feet at 10:22 pm) means it’s time to explore Constellation Park south of Alki Point with volunteer Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists, 8:30-10:30 pm. Look for the canopy. (63rd SW/Beach Drive SW)

’90S PARTY: 9 pm at Admiral Pub, “VJ Andy will be playing all your favorite ’90s music videos, so come dressed up for some ’90s fun.” 21+. (2306 California SW)

AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Caleb + Walter, Country Dave, guests, all performing live, starting at 9 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SEE ALL OUR LISTINGS … by checking out the full calendar here.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS boys triumph over Chief Sealth IHS
February 7, 2020 11:02 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

11:02 PM: In the nightcap at Wsst Seattle High School, the WSHS boys finished the regular season – their first under head coach Dan Kriley – with a 67-48 victory over Chief Sealth International High School.

ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: Details and more photos ahead:

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls defeat visiting Chief Sealth IHS
February 7, 2020 9:24 pm
|    Comments Off on BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls defeat visiting Chief Sealth IHS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

9:24 PM: We’re at West Seattle High School, where the regular basketball season is wrapping up tonight with crosstown rivals Chief Sealth International High School visiting. The girls’ varsity game has just ended with WSHS victorious, 52-20.

ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: Photos and toplines!

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35TH/ALASKA/AVALON: What’s next
February 7, 2020 7:02 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Here’s what’s happening next on the 35th/Alaska/Avalon repaving-and-more project, as announced today by SDOT:

Next week we will continue with demolition on the north half of SW Alaska St between 35th Ave SW and 36th Ave SW. Weather depending, as early as February 12 we anticipate beginning concrete pouring on 35th Ave SW and continuing onto SW Alaska St. This work will continue into the week of February 17. After completing the north side of SW Alaska St we will then move traffic to the north side and begin work on the south side of SW Alaska St as early as February 24. We anticipate work in this zone to take several weeks. Please note that this work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled. We will be sure to let you know if this work changes.

During construction, please expect left turns onto SW Alaska St from 35th Ave SW to be restricted to allow room for our crews to work safely and efficiently. Additionally, access to 36th Ave SW from SW Alaska St will remain restricted at the north end until concrete work is complete. Once complete, we will then close the south end of 36th Ave SW and SW Alaska St to demolish and rebuild the southern half of SW Alaska St.

Also noted, no work is planned February 14, 17, and 21, For a big-picture look at what’s been done and how much longer until the entire project is complete, see our report from two weeks ago.

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UPDATE: 3 to hospital after crash on West Marginal Way SW
February 7, 2020 6:45 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

{SFD photo)

6:45 PM: A collsion (updated) in the 5300 block of West Margnal Way SW has drawn a big Seattle Fire response. At least one person will have to be extricated from a car reported to be damaged from “severe impact”; at least three are hurt. Avoid the area.

7:17 PM UPDATE: SFD says three patients are being taken to the hospital, one in serious condition, two stable.

8:35 PM: SDOT and SPD say the road has reopened.

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ALKI SHOOTING: $400,000 bail set for suspect; new version of what happened
February 7, 2020 5:26 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Alki, early Sunday)

At a jailhouse-court hearing this afternoon, bail was set at $400,000 for the 21-year-old suspect in last Sunday morning’s Alki Beach shooting, and new details emerged. According to the full police narrative in the probable-cause documentation, the man found with non-gunshot injuries at the scene turned out to be the shooting suspect, and the person who showed up at a Federal Way hospital (as mentioned in our original report) was indeed a second shooting victim.

Here’s the story the narrative tells:

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VIDEO: 25 years each for Edixon Velasquez’s murderers
February 7, 2020 2:46 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Defendants in red, left and right)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:46 PM: Just ordered by King County Superior Court Judge Kristin Richardson: 25 years in prison each for Anna Kasparova and Abel Linares-Montejo in the murder of 25-year-old Edixon Velasquez outside his Westwood home in 2017, “a completely senseless act,” as prosecutor Wyman Yip described the deadly shooting. A full courtroom was there for the hour-and-a-half-long hearing, two months after the verdict that both were guilty of first-degree murder (WSB coverage here). In the emotional hearing, the judge heard from people including the victim’s longtime foster mother as well as the mothers and pastors of both defendants, who also spoke for themselves.

Defense lawyers had requested 15-year sentences, a little more than half what prosecutors asked for; neither defendant had a record. Judge Richardson noted neither expressed remorse, and while both had “terrible upbringings,” she noted, so did the victim, “and he managed to overcome that.” Still, what she ordered was at the low end of the Legislature-defined “standard range” – 20 years, plus 5 more that are required because the crime involved a gun. Kasparova is 23; Linares-Montejo is 21. Details after we get back to HQ.

ADDED 6:55 PM: Our video of the entire hearing:

Ahead, the rest of our report on how it unfolded:

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COLUMBIA STREET TRANSIT PATHWAY: Opening date announced for West Seattle buses’ new downtown corridor
February 7, 2020 1:52 pm
|      56 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

The long-awaited opening date for the Columbia Street Transit Pathway has finally been set. Here’s the announcement just in:

For 26,000 daily bus riders on 12 routes, the Seattle Squeeze is about to get a little easier with the reopening of Columbia Street from Alaskan Way to Third Avenue on February 22.

That’s when King County Metro shifts bus service to a long-planned, smoother and more reliable transit pathway with bus lanes and key traffic changes designed and supported by the City of Seattle. The new corridor will have connections between Metro buses including the RapidRide C Line, the Metro Water Taxi, and Washington State Ferries at Colman Dock.

With the Alaskan Way Viaduct out of the way, we’re putting the finishing touches on Columbia Street, transforming the street to connect buses between Alaskan Way and Third Avenue – one of the nation’s busiest busways.

Opening Feb. 22, the new bus connection will be smoother and more reliable, bypassing previous freight train delays in SODO. New bus stops also will be within a block of Washington State Ferries at Colman Dock and the Metro Water Taxi at Pier 50, and buses will now carry riders from the waterfront to the regional public transit network and Link light rail stations in the heart of Downtown Seattle.

“The Seattle Squeeze has tested the patience and endurance of commuters, and this month we reach an important turning point – putting buses on a better pathway to and from downtown Seattle,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “A new hub of connections between ferries, water taxis, buses, and light rail within a few blocks make transferring easy, and will help keep people moving. Our partners at the city and waterfront have prioritized transit, helping make progress toward defeating the climate crisis and bringing more people closer to fast and reliable Metro service.”

For years, bus riders from Burien, White Center, and West Seattle traveled swiftly to and from downtown Seattle. However, the pathway relied on the seismically vulnerable and obsolete SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct.

Since the viaduct closed, 12 bus routes have traveled on surface streets while crews demolished the viaduct and rebuilt Columbia Street for two-way bus operations. These routes – 21 express, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, and the RapidRide C Line faced delays that peaked in summer 2019, prompting Metro and Seattle to temporarily shift outbound buses to Fourth Avenue to avoid major afternoon traffic delays. The two most popular routes on this list – RapidRide C Line and route 120 – carry a combined total of about 20,000 daily riders.

“During the Seattle Squeeze, residents from all over Seattle have chosen transit to help alleviate congestion. One of the most impacted neighborhoods is West Seattle, so this opening allows the start of faster and more reliable transit commutes,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Shifting buses to Alaskan Way and Columbia Street is an exciting first step toward the new waterfront optimized for transit.”

The project was funded in part by King County Metro, with $3.5 million in improvements on Columbia Street between First and Third avenues. Columbia Street between Alaskan Way and First Avenue was rebuilt as part of the City’s Waterfront Seattle Program and included new water and sewer lines, electrical infrastructure, drainage system, and a new street and sidewalks.

If weather permits, we will begin work to create a new bus lane on Columbia Street between First and Third avenues on Monday, Feb. 10. We will need to temporarily close some westbound lanes to complete this work, and once we are done, the new bus lane will remain closed to all traffic until bus routes change on Feb. 22.

The Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects is continuing to construct a new Alaskan Way from South King Street to Bell Street. The next milestone is opening dedicated, transit-only lanes on Alaskan Way between South King Street and Columbia Street by late 2021. Alaskan Way remains open during construction, with two lanes in each direction during the day. Closures, if necessary, will occur at night and on weekends and avoid major events. When completed in 2024, the new waterfront will reconnect the city to Elliott Bay for all modes of travel.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Wind Advisory alert
February 7, 2020 1:03 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

New alert from the National Weather Service – a Wind Advisory for our area for 4 pm today through 7 am tomorrow. The advisory says forecasters expect “southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.”

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Bail set for Junction robbery suspect, much lower than requested
February 7, 2020 11:10 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Wednesday)

Just got the documents from the bail hearing for the 38-year-old woman arrested after the Wednesday shoplift-turned-robbery that injured an employee at West Seattle Optix in The Junction, hit by broken glass when she kicked out a window, trying to get away. Court documents say she has “an extensive arrest record with at least 6 (failure-to-appear warrants),” including the current one for another shoplift-turned-violent three years ago, so prosecutors requested that bail be set at $80,000. But Judge Marcine Anderson set her bail at $10,000. The court documents also reveal one thing we hadn’t heard when we covered this incident Wednesday: West Seattle Optix told police the same woman tried to steal from them last Saturday, but left after being confronted. Her next hearing is set for Monday afternoon.

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8 for your West Seattle Friday!
February 7, 2020 10:33 am
|    Comments Off on 8 for your West Seattle Friday!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sanderling, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

The weekend is in view! (And for the first time in a few days, so are distances greater than a few feet.) Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE ACUPUNCTURE: Through 3 pm, it’s “Free First Visit Friday” at Community Acupuncture Project of West Seattle. Appointment required, as explained here. (4545 44th SW)

CORNER BAR: All welcome for music, beverages, and community spirit at Highland Park Improvement Club‘s first-Friday pop-up nightlife venue, starting at 6 pm. (1116 SW Holden)

ADULT JUMP ROPE NIGHT: Join jump-rope champ Rene Bibaud for a fun workshop at West Seattle Health Club, 6:30 pm. Registration info’s in our calendar listing.

BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School hosts Chief Sealth International High School tonight, girls’ varsity at 7 pm, boys’ varsity at 8:30 pm. (3000 California SW)

GUITAR GIL: Live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)

LAST WEEKEND FOR ‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’: ArtsWest‘s comedy closes after Sunday. Tonight’s curtain is at 7:30 pm. Check here for tickets. (4711 California SW)

THE SLAGS: 9 pm at Poggie Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4717 California SW)

FOUR BANDS: Medejin, Power Strip, 2 Libras, and Black Ends, at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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