A report from The Urbanist of the imminent demise of the pedestrian and cyclist crossing at NE 45th over I-5 is overstated. Ever since 2015, we’ve been working to improve the crossing for cyclists and pedestrians, including getting the project funded as part of the Levy to Move Seattle. We’ve also gotten the project voted to the top ranks through “your voice, your choice”, and as the top priority for district 4 of Seattle Greenways. Through all these community actions, SDOT has complained that working with WSDOT is too hard, so they have chosen to fritter money away on their …
Bruce Harrell on bottom up accountability in Wallingford vs decision making from downtown
This is part 2 of our 2 part series asking questions of mayoral candidates. Harrell replied, Gonzalez did not.
Wallyhood: You have a reputation as a consensus builder, but as we saw with Ed Murray that can mean offering platitudes to the public while letting downtown power brokers make all the decisions (see: HALA). As things work today, find it / fix it requests are followed through on only occasionally. Social media and email to bureaucrats in government and city council reps are replied to only during political campaigns or if you have connections to people that matter. Public comment …
Bruce Harrell on the Homeless Response Regionally and in Wallingford / Green Lake
We wrote to the Harrell and Gonzalez campaigns with a couple questions for Wallyhood. The Gonzalez campaign went silent despite multiple requests for comment. Harrell came through with flying colors though, so we’re running each answer as a post on Wallyhood.
Wallyhood: Jenny Durkan has been saying that before Covid-19, 40% of our homeless population became homeless outside Seattle, but now that number is up to 60% and climbing (note: this means that if Seattle’s population of homeless is constant, then we’ve seen a 50% increase in our homeless population strictly from people coming to Seattle). The mayor has said …
To Make Up For the I-976 Revenue Loss, Seattle Should Raise the Commercial Parking Tax on Single Occupant Parking
Traffic is not-so-great right now. Take the annual return of rainy traffic, add in work due to the “Green Lake and Wallingford Paving & Multi-Modal Improvements” project, and then layer on I-976 passage and the future can look pretty bleak. The governmental reaction to I-976 so far has simply been to throw a legal tantrum, but there is an opportunity for Seattle government to pull up their big boy pants and practice good governance.
King County taxpayers subsidized transit by 6 billion dollars in 2018 while asking nothing of single-occupant car commuters. The passage of Tim Eyman’s I-976 knocked 381 …
Keep Your Sidewalk Clear to a Height of 8 Feet (Plus: How to Rat Out Your Neighbor if They Don’t)
One of the best things about Wallingford is the walkable sidewalks we have, separated from roadways by planting strips. Unfortunately, sometimes trees or hedges or other vegetation blocks those sidewalks, especially when it’s raining outside.
Legally, sidewalks and planting strips are public land that adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining. People are required to keep their sidewalk entirely clear up to a height of 8 feet. The first-time penalty for violating that ordinance is $150. The penalty for additional violations is $500.
If you are on good terms with a neighbor and can be diplomatic and see them outside, …
Green Lake Way Redesign Goes from Back Asswards to Meh
As covered previously, SDOT was planning to throttle Green Lake Way N and waste a lot of money by putting in a bike crossing at N 52nd and Green Lake Way N, eliminating parking on the East side of the street. Pretty much everyone said “no please” so SDOT thankfully backed off.
New plans are for the 2-way cycle track around the lake to transition to two 1-way protected bike lanes at a new light going in at the Pitch and Putt (where 3 roads all named Green Lake Way intersect). The West side curb of Green Lake Way …
At Green Lake Way and N 50th, SDOT Is Planning Protected Bike Lanes That Serve Nobody
As transportation chair for the Wallingford Community Council I’ve been closely following the roadway redesigns being done as part of repaving arterials in Wallingford and Green Lake. Most changes break down into familiar cyclist vs parking battles, but one design feature stands out as a terrible idea for both cyclists and residents- the current SDOT plans for adding protected bike lanes around the 5-way intersection of Stone Way N, N 50th, and Green Lake Way N.
The intersection is rated “F” for vehicle throughput by SDOT and regularly backs up with traffic, flooding side streets and school zones with vehicles. …