Tag Archives: sidewalks

Getting Around

South Orcas sidewalk project begins Sept. 4

A new sidewalk will soon make South Orcas Street a bit friendlier to pedestrians. The sidewalk is to be built on the south side of Orcas between 28th Avenue South (near the Chief Sealth Trail and Dearborn Park School) and 32nd Avenue South and will include ADA-compliant ramps, rebuilt driveways, and improvements to vegetation along with the new concrete sidewalk.

However, there is some pain to come before the promise of better walking conditions. During the project work, starting September 4, South Orcas Street will be closed for 24 hours a day to eastbound traffic between Beacon Avenue South and 32nd Avenue South. There will be an open sidewalk on the north side of the street. Completion of the sidewalk project is scheduled for October 31.

For more information about the Orcas sidewalk project, see the project’s website. We first wrote about this project when it was announced back in September 2010.


View South Orcas Street Sidewalk Project in a larger map

Food and Drink

Bar del Corso applies for sidewalk café permit

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Bar del Corso, the Italian restaurant at 3057 Beacon Ave. S., has applied for a sidewalk café permit from the the Seattle Department of Transportation. The city will accept comments about the application through July 2. You can comment via email to annualpermits@seattle.gov or by snail mail to:

SDOT
Attn: Annual Permits
PO Box 34996
Seattle, WA 98124

If you comment, include the application number (179110), project address (3057 Beacon Ave. S.) and your contact information with your comment.

The north side of Bar del Corso, showing the sidewalk along Beacon Avenue in front of the restaurant. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Getting Around

S. Orcas to gain new sidewalks through Neighborhood Street Fund

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On Wednesday, Mayor McGinn announced eleven neighborhood projects that will be constructed through the Neighborhood Street Fund Large Project program, funded by the Bridging the Gap transportation levy. One project is of note to Beacon Hill residents: South Orcas Street from Beacon Avenue South to the Chief Sealth Trail will receive new sidewalks, lighting, and other improvements. Other changes would be made between the Trail and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, including making room for new sharrows on that part of the road.

The original project application stated that sidewalks on Orcas are currently “badly degraded or non-existent. Pedestrian access to Dearborn Elementary School is dangerous, especially when it is non-daylight hours. If the improvements are made, many will walk safely from Beacon Ave South to Lake Washington.”

See more about the Neighborhood Street Fund Large Project process here.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Getting Around edition

With luck, this weekend's closures won't cause traffic like this. Photo by Oran Viriyincy.
More closures are scheduled this weekend for Spokane Street Viaduct work. Two ramps leading to West Seattle will be closed: the northbound I-5 off-ramp leading to the West Seattle Bridge, and the ramp from Columbian Way on Beacon Hill, leading to the West Seattle Bridge.

The ramps will be closed from 10:00 pm, Friday, January 29, until 5:00 am, Monday, February 1. In case of rain, crews may reschedule some of the work for the following weekend. Additionally, remember that the existing westbound Spokane Street Viaduct off-ramp to Fourth Avenue South is now closed permanently.

Further info from SDOT here.

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The Cascade Bicycle Club is conducting a survey on bicycling in Southeast Seattle, including your thoughts on cycling safety, bike trails and routes, and riding your bike to Link Light Rail.

(Thanks to Jodie Vice on the Beacon Hill Mailing List.)

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Speaking of bike trails, the Chief Sealth Trail will be extended west of Beacon Avenue South this year. An artist is being sought by the city’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs along with SDOT to create a three-dimensional, permanent outdoor artwork “to mark the trail extension and enliven the streetscape” where the trail crosses Beacon Avenue South at South Dawson Street.

The total project budget is $50,000 and includes design, fabrication and installation costs. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 16. More information is available here.

(Thanks to Heather Dwyer.)

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The SDOT blog recently posted some photos of new sidewalk projects that were completed in 2009, including sidewalks on 37th Avenue South between South Thistle Street and South Rose Street, near Wing Luke Elementary School on South Beacon Hill.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: sidewalks, hot dogs, and cool adult beverages

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Street food finally comes to Beacon Hill with a new hot dog cart outside Beacon Pub. Photo of NYC hot dog cart by high limitzz.
Street food finally comes to Beacon Hill with a new hot dog cart outside Beacon Pub. Photo of NYC hot dog cart by high limitzz.
Willie Weir talks sidewalks in a new posting at his Yellow Tent Adventures blog. Specifically, about inverting the relationship where sidewalks yield to the street, and instead the street must rise up to sidewalk level –elevating the pedestrian, physically and metaphorically, to primary status, to match their position under the law for right-of-way. This sort of idea is being discussed and planned for the block of Lander just north of the light rail station. (By the way, there’s a great overview of various traffic calming practices hosted by the Project for Public Spaces. And Willie has posted several responses received from his challenge to our political leaders and candidates to “give it up” and go carless.)

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Michal spotted a new feature in the neighborhood: a hot dog cart!

Last night when I went to the Beacon Pub, I noticed there’s a new late night weekend dining option in Beacon Hill, right outside the Beacon Pub. Serves tacos, hot dogs, and burgers, they said they planned to be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and weekend mornings to serve breakfast items. There were a surprisingly large number of customers coming from seemingly nowhere, and not just from the pub.

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An afternoon round of chasing a little white ball around and hitting it with sticks is commonly accompanied by the consumption of a cool adult beverage. It is illegal to drink such beverages in Seattle public parks, unless there is a permit. So, is it legal to drink in a municipal golf course, such as Jefferson Park? Yes, as long as you buy the alcohol on site — Seattle 911