You may remember from way back in March that Wallyhood had a vote regarding NPSF projects. Well, the top ranked project, the RRFB at 43rd and Stone Way, is the one that’s going to get done for Wallingford! Here’s what SDOT says:
Provided this project is prioritized by the Neighborhood District Council, SDOT proposes to install a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) system with bike and pedestrian push buttons at Stone Way N and N 43rd St.
SDOT also dissed on the other projects, either because they had another process to deal with them, they were too expensive, or they didn’t think they were worthy (e.g. not enough pedestrians for a requested crosswalk at Northlake way). This includes not just our neighborhood, but Fremont and Eastlake as well, so seeing as the crossing at 43rd and Stone is the only one approved, it’s a lock to get done.
This Wednesday night at 7PM our Wallingford Community Council meets in the Good Shepherd Center. Here’s the agenda:
- 7:15 Minutes
- 7:20 Appointments:
Ried Haefer: Lake Union District Council (LUDC)
Mary Fielder: WCC Parking Chair (Mary is working to develop an RPZ in South Wallingford. This will help Mary deal more effectively with the City RPZ powers that be. Mary has agreed to establish a parking committee to deal with all of Wallingford, if the Board approves her appointment.)
Brian O’Sullivan: Empty seat City University Community Advisory Committee (City of Seattle and U of W committee.)
Jon Berkedal (Vice representative/backup) for City University Advisory Committee. I do not know how much voting goes on but I believe it will be OK for both Jon and Brian to attend the meetings. - 7:25 Norm Davis: Shoreline Status
- 7:35 Jeanne Muir Storm drain tunnel project
- 7:45 Rich Voget Program Climate Change
- 8:15 Good Of the Order
If you are curious to know what the RRFB looks like, come on up to 48th Stone, where one was installed last year. It certainly helps, but it really surprises me to see how many drivers still don’t stop even with the lights are flashing AND someone is in the crosswalk.
This RRFB system was installed on 48th because of the school traffic going up to St. Benedict, as well as for everyone crossing over Stone. Because the East/West crossing farther up at the Stone/50th/Greenlake Way intersection is such a mess (and dangerous!) this provided a safe way to get across Stone without having to go down to 45th St.
A heartfelt thanks to all of you who put in so many hours of work on this project.
I’m assuming it’s also like the one at 41st and Stone, which I had 3 cars drive right through on Sunday, on the same side of the road I was standing on, where the cars could clearly see me and my daughter in her stroller with the bright green canopy (I even made eye contact with one as they drove right through!)
What’s NPSF?
Gary- Neighborhood Park and Street Fund:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhood-park-and-street-fund
While I understand why these are popular, I’m worried that they condition drivers to expect some kind of indicator to alert them to people crossing, making non-RRFB-ed intersections less safe. Instead, we should be conditioning drivers to look for the *people* at all of the intersections. And then, y’know, to actually stop.