The Spokane Street Viaduct (to the West Seattle Bridge) will be closed at times during July for continued construction work on the viaduct project.
Further information about the progress of the project is here.
23rd Ave. S. will be closed to all traffic this week between South Bayview and South College streets while spot sewer repairs are done. Crews will work from today, June 7, to Friday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Traffic will be detoured to Rainier Avenue South.
View 23rd Ave. S. Closure, 6/7/11 in a larger map
In the BHB‘s experience, this means that you should not even consider driving from Beacon Hill to Highway 99 via Sodo tomorrow after about the 5th inning. Take alternate transportation if you can, or alternate routes that keep you away from the stadium area.
Neighborhood Traffic Operations (NTO), a workgroup within the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), is hosting the event to meet with neighbors who are concerned about speeding on their residential street. NTO representatives will present a brief overview of traffic calming options (such as chicanes, traffic circles, radar speed signs, etc.), what steps a neighborhood must take to be considered for traffic calming, the criteria staff use to prioritize projects, and possible funding sources. They will also teach the proper use of radar speed guns.
If you wish to enroll your street in the traffic calming program, a representative from your street must attend this meeting or one of the other meetings (the next one is in Queen Anne in July).
You can find more information about the traffic calming program on the SDOT website.
The Beacon Hill Library is located at 2821 Beacon Ave. S.
The North Beacon Hill light rail station area RPZ opened in 2009, restricting parking within the zone to two or four hours for those without zone permits. Residents and businesses within the zone received two free two-year parking permits and one free guest permit; those permits will expire on August 31 this year. Renewal permit decals will now be $65 each (previously, additional permits were $45), and guest permits will cost $30. Households are limited to four decals. Low income permits will be available for $10. RPZs in the Rainier Beach, Columbia City, Othello, and Mount Baker station areas will also expire at various times during 2011.
If you live in one of the light rail RPZs, SDOT would like to hear from you. You can find a link to a brief survey here. You can also send comments or feedback to Allison Schwartz at 206-386-4654 or allison.schwartz@seattle.gov.
Have you noticed “hide and ride” parking in the neighborhood? Here at the BHB, we haven’t noticed commuters trying to park and ride, but we have seen a noticeable number of sports fans parking here for Sounders and Mariners games. Those events, however, are typically outside of the hours when the RPZ is enforced: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays.
I have never been the long-distance bike riding type. The spandex thing is silly, the leg shaving too high maintenance. Instead I have taken a utilitarian approach to two-wheeled self propulsion. In many instances it is just the easiest way to get around. But I have begun to notice that the more I ride the more I enjoy it just for the sake of riding a bike.  Turns out it is pretty fun.
On Sunday I rode around Mercer Island for my first time. Though the ride was about 16 miles, I was having so much fun, that it felt like 5. Big water and mountain views, few cars (except for noisy I-90), tall trees, cool air, good company. I will map it next time for those who have yet to try it. But today’s post is about something else altogether great: Pizza!
Things are abuzz on Beacon Hill about the new bar at the old ROCKiT space and the Bar del Corso Pizza spot. Pizza bar and beer bar, yum! Both these spots will be along Beacon Avenue and easily accessible by foot and bike, especially if you use the newly proposed bike boulevard along 17th/18th ave. But alas, we must wait months for this fun to start. So until then, here is a safe route to the very near and very delicious Mio Posto in Mt Baker. This spot is great for its Irwin’s Pastries and brick oven pizza! If you are looking for something a little different try this safe route to All Purpose Pizza in Leschi. They serve a Pagliacci-esque pie with a smile. After all this pizza you will need that ride to Mercer Island to clear the arteries, but don’t worry, it goes by in a flash.
Ride On.
Beacon Hill to Mio Posto/ Mt. Baker Playground (SAFE ROUTE) at EveryTrail
There may be traffic delays on Columbian Way South today near the intersection with South Spokane Street where Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be repairing the roadway. One northbound lane will be closed on Columbian Way on each side of Spokane Street, and one westbound lane will be closed on South Spokane Street approaching Columbian Way. The sidewalks will remain open, and a police officer will assist traffic. The closures are expected to be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
The two routes currently have a combined total of 137 stops south of South Jackson Street (including Route 60’s trips through Georgetown and West Seattle); 28 of these would be removed, including 20 stops on Beacon Hill. One new stop would be added, on 14th Avenue South at South Walker Street, where it would replace the current stops at South Hill and South College streets.
According to Metro, 11 percent of Route 36 and 60 riders who board south of Jackson will have to catch their buses at a different stop.
You can see an interactive map and a list of all the stop closures on Metro’s website. The page also contains a list of options for sending Metro your feedback about these changes.
Beaconians heading west from the Hill take note—The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will close the Spokane Street viaduct (formerly known as the West Seattle Freeway) overnight for three nights for work related to the Spokane Viaduct widening project.
Eastbound lanes of the viaduct will be closed from 11 p.m. tonight, February 25, until 5 a.m. on Saturday, February 26. The westbound lanes of the viaduct will be closed overnight on February 27 and 28 from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following day to remove portions of the old structure. During this closure, southbound I-5 traffic will be directed to the Forest Street exit to access surface streets. Northbound I-5 traffic and westbound traffic from Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at 6th Avenue South.
You can see more information about the project at the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project page.
Beacon BIKES is hosting Love Your BIKE!, a Valentine’s Day open house at the Beacon Hill Library, with special guest speaker, KUOW commentator, Adventure Cyclist columnist, and Beacon Hill neighbor Willie Weir. Weir will tell “Tales of Bicycle Love,” including stories of his many cycling adventures and destinations.
The evening will also include an open house discussion of the current plans and ideas to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation on the Hill, and sweet and savory Valentine treats for all.
The event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14, and is open to all, including children. The Beacon Hill Library is located at 2821 Beacon Avenue South.
For more information, contact Frederica Merrell, frmerrel@seattleschools.org.