Seattle Times Bumper to Bumper Column: Q&A | Waiting for Seattle Street Improvements | How to Negotiate Trolley Traffic

By Charles E. Brown, Seattle Times

Oct. 29–Q: “Whatever happened to the mayor’s effort to improve Seattle streets?” asks Seattle resident Wes Byers. His question is a reference to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels’ long-standing pledge to make the city’s streets a City Hall priority.

Byers has been eyeing street surfaces and repaving projects around town. His conclusion is that a number of streets are rougher than they ought to be, and getting worse as a result of numerous new construction projects.

Denny Way looks pretty decent to him. But Byers says he’s been watching and waiting for improvements downtown along Second Avenue between Denny Way and Jackson Street, and Fourth Avenue between Denny Way and Yesler Way, and even North 105th Street from Greenwood Avenue North to North Northgate Way.

“I drive these streets frequently when going to the International District or out to Northgate Mall,” he said. “What can we expect?”

A: As a result of a $365 million levy approved by voters last November for transportation maintenance and improvements, Seattle’s Department of Transportation has a full schedule of paving projects, according to transportation-department spokeswoman Marybeth Turner.

There’s been resurfacing work this year on Denny Way, Dexter Avenue North and Mercer Street, all north of the downtown core, as well as on Stone Way North at the north end of Lake Union, and several streets in the South Lake Union area. The city also tackled heavily traveled arterials in the University District and in West Seattle, she said.

Paving projects scheduled for next year include parts of Boren Avenue, Madison Street, Fifth Avenue through downtown to Denny Way, Elliott Avenue West and First Avenue South.

As it stands now, paving work on Second and Fourth is scheduled about three years from now, but work could start sooner, she said, depending on the fate of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Paving for other downtown streets also is scheduled then.

If you’d like to check out the transportation department’s current paving schedule, it’s posted online at www.seattle.gov/transportation/streetmaintenance.htm#btg.

Q: Getting around in Seattle’s Cascade neighborhood, just south of South Lake Union, has been a bit more of a challenge over the past several months because of the boom in construction projects and temporary street closures, increased growth and activity in the area, and preparations for the Seattle Streetcar, South Lake Union Line.

The way Doug Sharp sees it, Republican, Harrison, Thomas and John streets in the neighborhood have become de facto east-west crossings because Mercer Street and Denny Way are often full of traffic. The four streets cross Westlake Avenue North, which has been converted from one-way into a two-way street, and also Terry Avenue North, just west of Westlake, and soon to be part of the 1.3-mile South Lake Union route of the Seattle streetcar between downtown and the lake, and also Fairview Avenue North, which is near the streetcars’ maintenance base.

Around Westlake and in the Cascade neighborhood, fencing around construction sites and large construction trucks double-parked in streets have made for unsafe vehicle and pedestrian conditions, says Sharp, a Phinney Ridge resident whose travels regularly take him into the Cascade neighborhood. He figures folks who drive in Cascade may need a crash course on rights-of-way and trolleys. Any advice?

He also wants to know if there’s any chance the city will restripe Republican, Harrison, Thomas and John streets right at Fairview and add traffic signs at those intersections so that it’s easier for traffic to know how to maneuver.

A: It’s been more than a half-century since a streetcar has operated north of downtown, in the Denny Triangle and South Lake Union areas. The new streetcar is poised to start test runs, before starting regular service in December.

Before that, however, Seattle’s transportation department plans to conduct an education campaign — door-todoor contact with area businesses and residents, information posted in public places, and a neighborhood mailing — to prepare the public.

The streetcars will be on tracks, of course, and run in a traffic lane. They’ll also be stopping in traffic for passengers. “It’s just like any other vehicle,” said Josh Stepherson, the transportation department’s streetcar liaison. “Even though they’re on rails, streetcars don’t necessarily get priority over vehicles. They are equal.”

Transportation-department spokeswoman Turner says there are a few simple rules to keep in mind along the streetcar route:

–Streetcars are rather quiet, so it makes sense to stay alert and always stop, look and listen for streetcars before crossing their tracks.

–Maintain a safe distance away from streetcars.

–Don’t bicycle, walk, park or play on tracks.

–Motorcycles and bikes should cross tracks at a 90-degree angle.

–When parking, vehicles must be in a designated parking area, between the solid white line and curb. The designated area is about eight feet wide, so vehicles should have no trouble parking out of the path of streetcars. Signs are posted, and vehicles that block the streetcar are subject to being ticketed and towed.

The city’s street-use and traffic-management offices approve permits for any construction that takes place on public streets, “so that’s how we’re able to manage the construction,” said Turner.

She also says the department will look at the alignment of streets and the traffic lanes crossing Fairview at those intersections.

Q: In recent weeks, downtown Seattle resident Albert Berger has noticed the Broad Street exit from the southbound lanes of Aurora Avenue North has been closed, and it appears there’s some construction equipment in the road blocking the exit. What gives?

A: A private contractor has been issued a street-use permit from Seattle’s transportation department for major utility work resulting in the closure of the Broad Street exit, says transportation-department spokeswoman Turner.

It’s part of a nearby development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation building near Seattle Center. Traffic is being diverted to the Denny Way exit.

The transportation department required the contractor to open the Broad Street ramp for detouring traffic when the Alaskan Way Viaduct was closed for a weekend inspection.

According to the current schedule, the contractor is supposed to finish the work in mid-January.

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