Kathy July 14, 2021 (1:06 pm)
Right decision to finally complete the gap in the West Duwamish Trail for bicycle traffic. Wrong decision to drag heels on this project until after the WS Bridge is fixed. The threat to people biking is more urgent than ever now that there are more impatient speeding vehicle drivers on this short stretch of West Marginal Way. As happens far too often, SDOT bows to the wishes of pearl clutching drivers who wildly exaggerate the impact that doing this project now would have on their commutes. My sympathy for truck drivers opposition to this project diminished yesterday when a speeding semi driver gave me the finger for being in a crosswalk on Harbor Island. I judged the distance to be adequate when I entered the crosswalk. He didn’t like having to slow down, I guess.
West Marginal Way SW along the stretch where SDOT is planning a protected bike lane in one southbound lane. (Ryan Packer)
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has announced that it will hold off on constructing an on-street bike connection from the West Seattle Bridge Trail to the Duwamish River Trail on West Marginal Way SW until after the West Seattle High bridge reopens to vehicle traffic next year.
The connection was originally planned to be included in a slate of improvements that would improve conditions for all road users along West Marginal Way, including the completion of the missing sidewalk directly north of the Duwamish Tribe’s Long House, which has already been installed with asphalt (to be upgraded to concrete next year) and the installation of a pedestrian signal and crosswalk across West Marginal close to the Long House, which is set to be constructed starting in August or September.
West Marginal Way SW along the stretch where SDOT is considering installing a protected bike lane in one southbound lane. (Ryan Packer)
The Seattle Freight Advisory Board devoted a significant portion of their April meeting detailing reasons that the City should not install a protected bike lane on a short segment of West Marginal Way SW. The presentation shown to board members was not reviewed by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for accuracy, according to a department spokesperson.
While a link to the virtual meeting was available on a City website, an agenda for the meeting was not, providing no way for members of the public to even be aware that it was being discussed. The Freight Advisory Board has also not posted the minutes from one of its meetings since last last July, so who knows when the fact that it had even been talked about would be available as a matter of public record.
A few notes for today/tonight:
WEST MARGINAL WAY: An update on the proposal to replace part of one southbound traffic lane with a two-way protected bike lane is part of the plan for the 9 am
CURBSIDE SERVICE: Tuesday is one of five days a week that curbside service is available at the
DEMONSTRATION: From organizer
Black Lives Matter sign waving
Tuesday, March 16, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Thursday, March 18, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
Come build awareness that will help tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by
Blbl February 8, 2021 (9:47 pm)
Or, here’s a thought… fix the bridge.
Chels P February 8, 2021 (10:27 pm)
1- There’s no pedestrians on WMW. Just like there’s no pedestrians on any other heavily trafficked arteries in Seattle (1st Ave S/5/99/East Marginal). Why make space now?
2- Bikers can use the low bridge. Why do they need a lane on specifically WMW when that space is crucial to vehicular traffic? So frustrating.
where February 8, 2021 (10:53 pm)
Re (2): the low bridge doesn’t get you from south park to the bridge. For that, you need WMW and the missing connection under discussion.
BeingPB