West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
The first day of school began with a joyful tradition at West Seattle Elementary – the annual “Be There Rally,” with staff – that’s Akim Finch, above, who also DJ’d – and community members lining a red carpet to greet the students with high-fives, cheers, and applause.
Among the greeters was principal Pam McCowan-Conyers, for whom this “Be There” was bittersweet, as the hug from assistant principal Richie Garcia acknowledged:
She’s retiring after this year, so this was her final “Be There” – she spoke briefly, recalling what she has learned in 15 years at WSES, as well as sharing expectations and plans for the year ahead:
But meantime, there were many high-fives to be given – among those joining the principal and her staff this morning were West Seattle’s School Board Director Gina Topp (as mentioned in McCowan-Conyers’ remarks):
According to district documents, West Seattle Elementary had an enrollment of about 350 students last year and was forecast for about the same this year.
The addition/renovations completed last year gave it a capacity of 500, which will doubtlessly be a consideration when Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announces his consolidation proposals next month.
(Foggy morning on the bay – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s our list of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can always preview the hours, days, and weeks ahead!):
TODDLER READING TIME AT THE BOOKSTORE: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SOUTHWEST POOL OPEN: In case you missed our update on Tuesday, the pool has reopened after its two-week repair/maintenance closure. You can see its schedule here. (2801 SW Thistle)
TODDLER STORY TIME AT THE LIBRARY: 3 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR SWSHS: 4-6 pm, open house at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) for people interested in volunteering with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
LEARN ABOUT UKRAINE RELIEF: The guest speaker at tonight’s Kiwanis Club of West Seattle meeting will be returning to Ukraine soon to help with relief efforts. Hear tonight at 6 what it’s really like there. Dinner meeting at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW), non-members welcome too.
BOEING FIELD NOISE STUDY OPEN HOUSE: Not in West Seattle but relevant – 6-7:30 pm, learn about future plans and studies related to the airport just over the ridge – details in our calendar listing. (KCIA Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Ave. S.)
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
ALSO AT WSR – GOT FIT INFO NIGHT: 6:30 pm at the store, come learn about the free training program Got Fit West Seattle – “free intermediate half marathon group training program for runners … for those who have run a half marathon before.” Got Fit starts this Saturday, so be there tonight to find out more.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places where you play tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
YOGA IN THE PARK: Two West Seattle teachers lead this outdoor-yoga event at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 6:30 pm – follow the link for ticket info.
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two options! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo at 7:30 pm Wednesdays, hosted by Mingo Maniac.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: The spotlight is yours! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Maria Pertik and sharing this remembrance with her community:
Maria “Dr Mo” Pertik R.N./Ph.D. had many talents, but she was a dangerous cook. She specialized in kitchen explosions and fires.
She died joyfully on 9/3/2024 with her daughter and husband by her side. Maria stayed true to her belief in herself and ability to accomplish many dreams. She travelled the world, ran two marathons, volunteered at the free clinic and national parks, wrote two books, and cared for her mother with dementia. She worked as a nature guide for children in the Seattle parks and was a medical volunteer in the Amazon Basin.
On an airplane flight, she was the only passenger to jump up to help when a man lost consciousness, and ended up saving his life. She opened her home to strangers who needed help, and recently became a loving grandmother to baby Laila.
She faced death head on, embraced the impermanence of life, and spread her light wherever she went. She made the world a better place.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 4, and almost everyone who’s not already back at school returns today, including Seattle Public Schools first- through twelfth-graders.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory alert for our area for Thursday and Friday. But first, today’s forecast is nothing unusual – sunny, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:32 am, while sunset will be at 7:42 pm.
(Tuesday’s sunset – photo sent by Nico)
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT AND OTHER ROAD WORK
*Here’s the plan for this week’s work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project. Tonight – the two left eastbound lanes will be closed 7 pm to 6 am.
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge. (One last mention – there’s a new 39th/Admiral crosswalk.)
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders (explained at that link).
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch. You’ll find no-parking zones and steel plates, plus flaggers.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Note that the “unscheduled third boat” will not be available for part of this week because it’s temporarily moving to another run.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
For thousands of local students and their families, the new school year starts tomorrow – the first day of classes at Seattle Public Schools and the independent schools that haven’t already launched 2024-2025. Here are some local SPS-related notes:
SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH: The district has promised an intensified focus on this, and the city has committed some funding for new or expanded programs. Advance announcements mention “focused intervention” for safety and security at high and middle schools including Chief Sealth and Denny – that means a variety of programs explained in the announcement, as well as – at Sealth and other “focus” high schools – police presence before/after school and during lunch “as staffing allows.” For mental health, city dollars will expand resources at school-based health centers, including seven West Seattle campuses (listed here).
NEW PRINCIPALS: Three West Seattle SPS schools start the year with new principals — Fairmount Park Elementary, where Sara Davis is now principal; Arbor Heights Elementary, where Nooria Miskell is interim principal; and Louisa Boren STEM K-8, where Kimberly Noble is now interim principal.
INTERIM SITE: Alki Elementary is holding classes at the former Schmitz Park Elementary for the second of what’s expected to be three years. Construction of the new, larger Alki has begun after the second zoning-exception appeal was rejected, as covered here in detail. Meantime, the school board voted last week to approve a 20 percent increase in the “maximum price” of the construction contract – previously $53 million, now $63 million. District documents say the added cost will be covered by the levy that is funding the project, along with federal dollars.
WSES ‘BE THERE’ RALLY: West Seattle Elementary in High Point will start the new year with this tradition on Wednesday morning, community members lining a red carpet to cheer for the students as they arrive, as they’ve been doing since 2016. They’re gathering starting at 7:15 am, at the entrance that was dedicated along with the school’s added classrooms on the first day of school last year.
What else is new? Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, staffer, parent, student, neighbor, we hope to hear from you throughout the year – 206-293-6302 (text/voice) if it’s urgent, westseattleblog@gmail.com when it’s not – thank you!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes so far today:
CAR-THEFT ATTEMPT FOLLOWUP: Late Friday night, we reported on a North Admiral incident in which a man fired his gun three times “in defense” after a reported car-theft attempt. No injuries or damage reported. One person was detained – a juvenile who was initially suspected of being one of the theft-attempt suspects. He was booked into the county juvenile detention center early Saturday. Juvenile cases move quickly, even over holiday weekends, so today we asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office what had happened in this one so far. KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney tells WSB, “The case has not been sent to us by police, and the respondent was released from detention because there was not probable cause for the arrest of this specific respondent. The investigation with police may still be ongoing, and prosecutors will review a case immediately if police send one to us.”
Also in Crime Watch, one reader report:
CAR PROWLED: From Kelly in Gatewood:
We got our car rifled through (Sunday) night in Gatewood near 39th and Southern. My fault – I think I left the car unlocked. I hardly ever do that. They opened everything and left it all out on the seats and went through the trunk. I’m not sure that they took anything. I don’t have anything valuable in there but I also can’t really remember.
Prime time for getting out on the water is nowhere near over. Alki Kayak Tours (WSB sponsor) has launched fall hours, and wants you to know about your options for tours, rentals, and classes:
September is here, but there’s still plenty of paddling to enjoy! Late summer/early fall is one of the best times to explore the Pacific Northwest waters with vibrant fall colors and increased wildlife sightings. Starting today, Alki Kayak Tours’ fall hours will be in effect (weather permitting):
Sea Kayak Tours (7 days a week by reservation)
•Alki Lighthouse Tour: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
•Elliott Bay Tour: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
•Sunset Tour: Departs 2 hours before sunsetHourly rentals by reservation, Friday through Monday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Check our calendar for available classes and lessons.
Happy fall and happy paddling with Alki Kayak Tours!
AKT is headquartered at Seacrest (1660 Harbor SW).
Just in from SDOT, this week’s plan for Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing-project lane closures, barring a change in the forecast:
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY NIGHTS, 7 PM-6 AM, AND FRIDAY NIGHT, 7 PM-10 PM (Sept. 3, 4, 5, 6):
EB Left Lanes Closure
1st Ave S Off-Ramp Open
4th Ave S Off-Ramp OpenREST OF THE WEEKEND, 10 PM FRIDAY-5 AM MONDAY (Sept. 6-9):
EB Full Closure
EB Off-Ramp to NB SR-99 OPEN.
1st Ave Off-Ramp Open
4th Ave Off-Ramp ClosedWB Inside Left Lane Closure
NB I-5 Off-Ramp to WB Spokane Viaduct Closed
Ramp to Lower Spokane St will remain open
For those who have asked “whatever happened to the plan for Panda Express at Westwood Village?”, our photo has two signs that work is finally under way at the former Pet Pros space, just north of QFC. (Plus, a reader walking by over the weekend reported seeing a handwritten sign on the inside of the door bearing the Panda Express name.)
We first reported last October that the space had been labeled as Panda Express on Westwood Village’s directory map, the only way the center’s semi-new owners have “announced” new tenants in recent years. The map spot labeled Panda Express has remained through multiple updates of the map since then, as well as a listing on the center’s leasing flyer (note page 4), but no signage or permit applications have appeared, nor have there been signs of work – until now. The chain has 72 locations in this state already, including Burien just to the south; to date they haven’t responded to inquiries, but we’re trying again.
Also back in service as of today – Southwest Pool (file photo at right). We reported last month on the plan for two weeks of repair/maintenance work, scheduled to end in time for today’s sessions, and indeed it did – we just went to the pool to check, and the noon lap swim was under way. However, for those who have asked, the long-out-of-service hot tub was not part of this work, and it’s still not fixed, nor does pool staff have a timeframe for when it will be. Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle) is the only city-owned indoor pool in West Seattle; you can see its schedule online.
The end of summer means a new start of sorts for the Seattle Public Library – SPL says it’s now restored the last of its services affected by the tech crisis resulting from a “ransomware attack.” That means you can again use the library’s public computers and SPL Lockers, plus its “Suggest a Title” is back. SPL said via X/Twitter that this “means that all of our services are back online and ready for you to use. Thank you for your patience, support and kind words this summer as we worked to restore our services.” The trouble began just before Memorial Day, and SPL services have been coming back online incrementally ever since.
(At Alki – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s the list for the rest of today/tonight, a bit later than usual because of breaking news (but you can always preview the hours, days, weeks ahead via our Event Calendar):
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Future utility rates are part of what’s on the agenda as the City Council returns to its regular meeting schedule, 2 pm in council chambers at City Hall downtown. The agenda document explains how to comment, either remotely or in person. Watch live via Seattle Channel.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
WEST SEATTLE TAE KWON DO: First September class, 6 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW).
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Seasons change, weekly run continues – all runners welcome! Meet up at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.”
TOASTMASTERS 832: Join them online at 6:30 p.m. to work on your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills! RSVP: wstoastmasters832@gmail.com. Find out more at westseattletm832.org.
MAKE POTTERY: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Planning an event? If it’s open to community members, tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:02 AM: Seattle Fire is headed to a house in the 1700 block of SW Cloverdale [vicinity map], for a report of smoke coming from the eaves. Dispatch reports the two people who were at home report they’re safely out of the house. Updates to come.
9:06 AM: Firefighters tell dispatch they are seeing smoke from the roof and front door.
9:09 AM: They’re reporting they have “water on the fire.”
9:18 AM: They’ve made enough progress that they’re going to start dismissing some of the crews.
9:21 PM: Added photos from our crew, who reports the smoke has dissipated. SFD says it’s ventilating. They’ll be investigating the fire’s cause.
9:30 PM: Our crew has confirmed no one was hurt and that the SFD investigator is on the way. (We’ll add whatever they determine, when that info is available.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB, “Investigators ruled the fire as an accidental food on stove fire that spread to cabinets.”
Bloodworks Northwest is back in West Seattle this week and tells WSB they have room for more donors to sign up. They’re running a new prize drawing, too – here’s the announcement:
Donate blood in September and October and enter to win 2 tickets to see Billie Eilish in concert (in Portland), along with a $500 gift card for travel expenses! Double entries through Sept 7! The lucky winner will be contacted Nov 3-15, and will have 24 hours to accept their prize!
This week, Bloodworks is at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) located at 4001 44th Ave SW in West Seattle. The drives will be held in the gym from 9 am to 4 pm. Please use this link to sign up! If you can’t make it this week, follow the link to see other West Seattle donation opportunities!
Appointments are required. If you need help booking your appointment, please contact the Bloodworks Northwest DONOR CARE TEAM at 800-398-7888 or e-mail schedule@bloodworksnw.org
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 3, and more local schools start the year today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clearing, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:31 am, while sunset will be at 7:44 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT AND OTHER ROAD WORK
*We should get the plan today for this week’s work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project.
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge. (One more reminder – there’s a new 39th/Admiral crosswalk.)
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders (explained at that link).
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch. You’ll find no-parking zones and steel plates, plus flaggers.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.target=”_blank”>buses will run on a Sunday schedule.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Note that the “unscheduled third boat” will not be available for part of this week because it’s temporarily moving to another run.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
10:23 PM: Southbound Highway 509 is blocked south of the 1st Avenue South Bridge right now after what was initially dispatched as a pedestrian fatality. The driver who hit them is reported to have stopped and was with police. No other details yet, but if you have to head this way from north of there, find an alternate route.
10:37 PM: Police have just told dispatch that State Patrol is taking over the scene.
11:42 PM: WSP confirms this was a driver hitting and killing a pedestrian and says the driver was not impaired. It appears traffic is still being guided off at the West Marginal exit.
9 AM TUESDAY: According to a media memo from WSP, the man who was hit and killed “was crossing SR 509 from east to west” when the driver, a 20-year-old Everett woman, hit him in the southbound center lane. She was not hurt. The road reopened after what was by WSP’s count 2 hours and 47 minutes.
4:16 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office daily list of identified/investigated decedents says the person who was killed was 42-year-old Raul J Vidaurri.
(Cover of draft plan being circulated for comment)
If Sound Transit keeps to its announced schedule, the route and station locations for West Seattle light rail will be finalized before year’s end. Other aspects of planning are proceeding before that momentous decision – including city work envisioning how the stations will change the areas around them. As part of that, SDOT has released “street concept plans” for formal feedback. In this phase of feedback, these plans are in the form of “director’s rules” that would serve as guidelines for “the design of future pedestrian, vehicle, and multimodal transportation infrastructure in the right-of-way, with stated goals of expanding public space, expressing community character and history, providing safer environments for people moving through the neighborhoods around the future light rail stations, and improving connections for people walking, biking, and taking transit.” You can see the entire document here. We’re excerpting the text that summarizes what they’re proposing – note that this is just a fraction of what’s in the document:
DELRIDGE STATION AREA STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for the Delridge Station Area includes:
• A raised intersection at SW Andover St and 26th Ave SW
• Stop signs and a narrow crossing on SW Andover St at 26th Ave SW to keep people walking and biking safe crossing SW Andover St
• A walking-, rolling-, and biking-friendly street with landscaping on 26th Ave SW north of SW Yancy St by closing the block to people driving
• A turn-around for people driving on SW Andover St near the station to allow vehicles to return to Delridge Way SW and reduce vehicle volumes at 26th Ave SW
• A design that can tie into the future upgrades to the 26th Ave SW Neighborhood Greenway south of SW Yancy StThis design incorporates the following proposed station area assumption:
• Nucor truck access will no longer be from SW Andover St and will instead be from a new signal entrance off of Delridge Way SW at SW Charlestown St
• SW Charlestown St will be transit-access only from SW Andover St
• Future neighborhood greenway improvements for people walking, rolling, and biking on 26th Ave SW south of
SW Yancy St
• The design for 26th Ave SW will be refined in coordination with Sound Transit and other restoration work done around Longfellow Creek
For the Avalon station area, the document notes, “This street concept plan does not include Fauntleroy Way SW, which has an existing project design that dedicates more space for landscaping and for people walking, rolling, and biking.7 The designs identified in this plan are compatible with a future project on Fauntleroy Way SW and align with the design intent identified in the Fauntleroy Boulevard design.” That said, here are the descriptions of two for the Avalon station area:
36TH AVENUE SW/SW GENESEE STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for the intersection of SW Genesee St and 36th Ave SW includes:
• A realignment of SW Genesee to square up the intersection with Fauntleroy Way SW
• A multi-use trail on 36th Ave SW between SW Genesee St and Fauntleroy Way SW that provides more space for people walking, rolling and biking along the neighborhood greenway
• A raised crossing across SW Genesee St at 36th Ave SW
• A plaza or landscaped space between the new alignment of SW Genesee St and Fauntleroy Way SW; could include covered seating, art, and/or a community gathering spaceSW AVALON STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for SW Avalon Way includes:
• A widened raised two-way bike lane on the north side of SW Avalon Way for people coming from the east and the west to access the light rail station
• A bike lane on the south side of SW Avalon Way for people biking east
• Expanded plaza space on the north side for people walking and rolling, and greenery that connects into the future light rail entrance of off SW Avalon Way
• A narrower street to make it safer and more comfortable for people crossing SW Avalon Way
There are two versions of the design for SW Avalon Way. The first is a near-term design that can be completed in order to provide access to the new Avalon light rail station. The second is a long-term vision of what the street could look like with additional permanent improvements. One aspect of this long-term vision would be to explore driveway consolidation and closures where appropriate.
Finally, three proposed street-concept designs for The Junction’s station area are described in the SDOT document as follows:
SW ALASKA STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for SW Alaska St includes expanded space for people walking and rolling, as well as space to gather and wait for the light rail, bus connections, or to connect between the station entrances and the commercial corridors along California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Ave SW. There are raised bike lanes and two transit-only lanes between California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW, with general purpose traffic allowed on SW Alaksa St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW and west-bound only between 42nd Ave SW and California Ave SW. This five-block corridor will also have pedestrian features such as raised crosswalks and intersections, all-way stop control, pedestrian- scale lighting, benches, and wayfinding.
There are two design concepts for the block of SW Alaska St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW. The first concept is a low- cost design that largely retains the existing curb locations. The second concept includes a “full rebuild” design that moves curb lines and has bike facility with more separation from vehicles. These concepts would need to be aligned with bus operational changes on this block, which are currently assumed to happen in conjunction with the Ballard Light Rail Extension line opening, anticipated around 2039. Because of this, the concepts for SW Alaska St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW may not be implemented within the same time frame as other concepts for SW Alaska St east of California Ave SW.
42ND AVENUE STREET CONCEPT
The street design for 42nd Ave SW will open the space in front of the station into a plaza space. This will help connect into the expanded space on SW Alaska St to gather and wait for the light rail or bus connections, and creates new pedestrian-focused space to host community events such as an expansion of the West Seattle Farmers Market. This space will have places for shaded seating, abundant landscaping, and connections for food trucks or other vendors, such as electrical hookups. South of the plaza space, 42nd Ave SW will have raised bike lanes, as buses will also be using this half-block of 42nd Ave SW to exit a layover space between 42nd Ave SW and 41st Ave SW, and between SW Alaska St and SW Edmunds St.
41ST AVENUE STREET CONCEPT
41st Ave SW will be redesigned to provide more space for people walking and rolling, and space for extended landscaping and trees. It will also allow for buses to enter the layover facility. There is a planned east/west mid-block pedestrian connection that ties in the pedestrian connection through the transit layover facility to a potential future connection to the east. One aspect of this design would be to explore driveway consolidation and closures where appropriate.
The full document also includes details on what lighting, pavement, wayfinding, and other components should look like, as well as many more renderings related to the proposals described above – including cross-sections of existing and future channelization.
HERE’S HOW TO COMMENT: This draft street-concept plan was published in tandem with an environmental checklist – specifically referring to the street-concept plan, not the light-rail project itself; you can see that notice here and the related checklist here. Comments on those and/or the street-concept plan can be emailed to Ian.Macek@seattle.gov and/or Lucien.Ong@seattle.gov. Deadline is September 12.
WHAT ELSE IS NEXT: We’re awaiting the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which ST suggested would be released “late in the third quarter” (which ends September 30). A possible timeline hint – checking the public event calendar for Alki Masonic Lodge while looking for something unrelated, we noticed a placeholder for “Sound Transit” on Tuesday, October 1. (That’s been a location of previous major meetings/open houses related to the West Seattle light-rail project.)
Thanks to Al for sending the photos! As previewed here, volunteers assisted Urban ArtWorks these past two days in decorating Lafayette Elementary‘s portable classrooms with murals.
Al says he was told more than 70 volunteers showed up over the two days of painting!
Here’s Alex Nason from Urban Art Works signing the mural.
Classes at Lafayette – and other Seattle Public Schools – start on Wednesday.
Though Wednesday is the biggest back-to-school day this week, three schools and an adjacent district return tomorrow (Tuesday, September 3): Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. According to their calendars, all three start with half-days, ending at noon.
Tomorrow is also the first day for students in the Vashon Island School District, to which hundreds of off-island students commute by ferry.
Two West Seattle schools are already back in session – Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School since last Wednesday, and Summit Atlas since August 14.
A new American flag flies over the Alki Masonic Lodge in The Junction this afternoon, after the annual retiring-of-the-flag ceremony, with assistance from VFW reps who first lowered the lodge’s old flag:
Next, they carefully folded the old flag:
Then they presented it to the lodge’s leader, Worshipful Master Delton Johnson:
As part of the ceremony, Mary Beasley spoke about the flag’s history – now 64 years for this configuration of the Stars and Stripes:
The ceremony was followed by a free community picnic lunch (as noted in our daily highlight list).
Sent by Meg:
Sad to report that my 2001 Yukon XL was stolen from in front of our house in the 10200 block of Marine View Drive SW at 2 am this morning.
The sound of the engine starting (it’s a 3/4 ton) woke me, and I went to the kitchen window to lock my other car, which I think I’d left unlocked. Didn’t notice the Yukon was missing.
If anyone sees a pewter-colored 2001 Yukon XL with body damage on the back seat passenger side door and running board, plate 924YBP, please call 911. Police report filed, 24-248543.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the updates – transient orcas are back in the area today; they’ve been headed southbound, seen off Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island [map] less than half an hour ago. Let us know if you see them off West Seattle!
8:53 AM: Thanks for the tips. SPD and SFD are arriving at the scene of what’s described as an “overturned truck” (added: on its side, according to first firefighters there) toward the west end of the westbound bridge. Updates to come.
8:59 AM: Police just told dispatch that they’re diverting traffic at the Admiral exit. They’ve also calling for a second SDOT crew because of a large fluid slick as well as jersey barriers pushed into the opposite direction of traffic (the first crew is helping divert traffic). Meantime, the truck has been described as a “late-model Ford pickup.”
9:08 AM: No word on injuries but all three originally dispatched SFD units have already cleared the scene, which indicates nothing major.
9:28 AM: Tow truck reported to have just arrived.
9:48 AM: Eastbound bridge will be briefly blocked while the jersey barrier is pushed back into place.
10:08 AM: Above is the truck involved in the crash as it was being towed off the bridge. Meantime, police have just reopened the eastbound bridge and expect to reopen the westbound side soon.
10:18 AM: Officers just told dispatch that westbound is open again too.
11:34 AM: SFD tells us the driver, a woman in her mid-40s, was assessed at the scene but didn’t need further treatment.
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