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View Full Version : Seattle Mayor's Final 2008 Transportation Kickoff



Catgrrl70
04-16-08, 02:29 PM
http://seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=8366&Dept=40

This is very pertinent to my neighborhood of West Seattle...in the "Master Plan" we were supposed to get minimal facilities for bicycles (some new bike lanes, some new sharrows plus LOTS of signage). According to the West Seattle map, we've got NADA. ZILCH. And the word is that...

“These transportation projects will get Seattle moving,” Nickels said. “This year, we are shifting into high gear to create a transportation system that makes it safer and easier to bike, bus, walk and drive. We ask for your patience. Once the dust settles, you will be pleased.”

RIGHT. West Seattle will be one of the most heavily affected areas due to the looming Viaduct closure and we've got no improvemets to bike infrastructure? Going off to write yet another letter to the city...

EDIT:
Here's more information...
The roadways were selected for paving this year so that critical streets will be ready when Alaskan Way Viaduct construction work begins. All four paving projects, totaling 41 lane miles, will begin this spring and conclude in late fall. The projects will feature bike-friendly grates, bike-sensitive traffic detector loops and pedestrian upgrades. Last year, the city paved 27 miles of roadway. The city used to pave between four and eight miles a year.

In addition to the paving work, SDOT crews will build 15 to 18 blocks of new sidewalk and repair many more. Last year, the city added 13 blocks of new sidewalks.

Crews will install new street signs at 1,071 intersections, compared to 1,043 intersections last year. Bicyclists will enjoy 30 new miles of bike lanes in addition to the 21 miles added last year. The city will also plant 800 street trees.

The above improvements are again, not for commuters. Beach Drive, Alki are better for recreational use - yes, it's good to have new grates, but there really aren't any to begin with...and there's no traffic signals on those routes! They already have Sharrows and/or a pretty decent bike path if you don't mind rubbernecked tourists! 1st Ave S will be partly re-paved, but not North of Spokane Street, where it's desperately needed and if you are a bicyclist you don't use it anyway b/c of the auto danger. I need to take some pictures of the decrepid bike facilities that do exist and prevent people from riding to/from downtown from SW Seattle. :mad:

unixpro
04-16-08, 08:03 PM
I just used their interactive map to check my commute and I'm in the same boat. No changes at all to any part of my route at all. Airport Way desperately needs to be resurfaced in many places, but that's not in the works. Guess we commuters aren't what the Mayor thinks of when he refers to bicyclists.

FlowerBlossom
04-16-08, 10:35 PM
They decided to do something with the viaduct? What, pray-tell?

ngateguy
04-17-08, 09:06 AM
They decided to do something with the viaduct? What, pray-tell?

They decided to make a decision by 2012. Typical Seattle planning.

Catgrrl70
04-17-08, 10:36 AM
They decided to make a decision by 2012. Typical Seattle planning.

Governor Gregoire told Seattle that if they can't figure it out, then WA state will mandate automatic teardown by 2012.

The new candidate Rossi wants a tunnel (inspite of the voters voting against this option). The mayor wants a tunnel. Most people who use the viaduct all the time want it rebuilt. Others want it torn down and improved transit and surface streets (I'm in this camp even though I live in W. Seattle).

So really, it's still not decided. :rolleyes: