Greenway signs sprout on 17th and 18th Avenues
New wayfinding sign on the 17th/18th Avenue South Greenway, on 17th Avenue just south of South Forest Street. Photo by Wendi.
Greenways are residential streets that are designed to be safe neighborhood connections for bicyclists and pedestrians, while still allowing automobile access using traffic calming measures. (City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw has posted a FAQ with more information about neighborhood greenways on her website.)
Seattle’s greenways have recently seen a lot of press, including articles in The Seattle Times, Publicola, Seattle Bike Blog, and The Atlantic Cities.
For more information on bicycle and pedestrian strategies on Beacon Hill, see the Beacon Hill Family Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan, a ten-year plan put together by Beacon B.I.K.E.S. and ALTA Planning + Design. (See also the appendix.)
Paint markings on the pavement and special greenway signs http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=265904600106677&set=pu.185101894853615&type=1&theater
will be installed within the next month. We will also be planting trees along 18th and 17th in order to create a “linear park” from the MTS trail to Jefferson Park.
What is the plan for the crossing at McClellan and 18th? That seems like a spot that requires a bit more than the trust that a driver will see a marking in the intersection from enough of a distance to stop. Even as a 6-foot tall man, I feel like I am invisible to drivers on McClellan when crossing outside of the 4-way stop at the 17th intersection, and even that is a crap-shoot if you get a driver who doesn’t understand what the big red STOP sign means. Anyway, is there any sort of plan to install features on McClellan to stop drivers or at least warn them of the bike route crossing; 4-way stop, raised surface, curb bulb on north side, rumble strips, speed bumps, etc?
I can’t speak to what exactly SDOT is putting in, but I do know that at this point, the scope of work is limited to signs and pavement markings. Initially it was just signs, but with some lobbying from Beacon BIKES, they agreed to add the pavement markings.
The intersection at 18th & McClellan was discussed and it is hoped that yellow warning signs will be placed on McClellan to alert drivers to the crossing bike route. I don’t believe there is any plan to control traffic travelling on McClellan. It is up to biker, walkers and drivers on 18th to be prudent and cross McClellan when it is safe.
Greater traffic claming at that intersection may be in the future, but SDOT would need to be convinced and funds would need to be available. I suspect if the route proves popular and more walkers and bikers use the crossing, then traffic calming will happen sooner.
[...] Ordinance Reforms Aurora Motel (Aurora | Seattle) Red Mill Totem House opens next week (My Ballard) Greenway signs sprout on 17th and 18th Avenues (Beacon Hill Blog) Join us for two open houses about the upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct nine-day [...]
I think pavement markings will help, but I hope SDOT is watching that intersection carefully. It’s already a well-used pedestrian intersection (pre-school & library walking route) but drivers still barely slow sometimes.
What form would the traffic calming take? Raised crosswalk? Painted crosswalk? Just getting people to park on the north side of the street would do a lot to calm traffic. It’s risky when you’re the only car, but when there’s a line of cars (go Sounders!) traffic slows by at least 5mph.
Thanks for all the hard work, Beacon BIKES folks!
[...] Beacon BIKES has been hard at work since the release of their Family Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan this summer. SDOT has installed signage for one of the plan’s proposed neighborhood greenways on 17th and 18th Avenues S, according to Beacon Hill Blog. [...]
If Prop 1 passes we would see an improvement at this intersection within a couple years, if not, it may take much longer. Right now we are just getting signs and paint.