Reader comment - pedestrian safety in Wedgwood

Here's a good follow-up comment left by 'Puppieson87th' on our post about the condition of NE 87th.

Puppieson87th said...
I use 87th from 35th eastward, and it's hazardous without sidewalks now, especially as cars swerve to avoid the sink holes. It's difficult to understand that the City has approved such density without making appropriate plans to address potential safety hazards. It's difficult as it is to cross 35th at 87th to catch to bus or visit any of the businesses on the north side of the street. When the condo building is completed it will be much worse. Someone will no doubt be hit by a car racing up from Lake City in a hurry to get to work on dark rainy morning. The up side is that fatal pedestrian/car accidents often result in the installation of traffic lights. Any volunteers?

Visualize Wedgwood traffic with 576 more vehicular trips a day.

So...I went down to the DPD last week and a 'Correction notice dated 5/29/07' stated that the completed condo/retail project in Wedgwood would result in 576 more vehicle trips a day.

To help you visualize what the trips will look like, here are a couple of videos of what traffic in Wedgwood looked like during our Halloween festivities. The video shows traffic along 35th Ave NE in front of the proposed condo development. In the first video you'll see the intersection of 35th Ave NE and NE 86th Street which will be the intersection that vehicles entering/leaving the building will use.

Want a crossing light at 35th Ave NE and NE 80th? Now is the time to vote!

Last month Chris wrote an article advocating a crosswalk for the busy 35th Ave NE and NE 80th St intersection. Well, the city is considering this project as one of its many Bridging the Gap projects and are giving you, the public, the opportunity to vote on which ones they should complete.

The sad thing is that there isn't enough money to build all of the many important projects (including 8 here in Wedgwood), but the good news is that some of them will get completed this year.

So, if you'd like to vote (and the crosswalk project is #2007-429), you can check out the list at: http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf/survey_north.htm

The details of this project are here at: http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/btgnsfcrf/pubs%5Csurvey_north%5C2007_429.pdf

You can then submit your votes online at:
http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey.zgi?p=WEB226WKAXBCF9

Photo of the 35th Ave NE and NE 80th St intersection

Need For Pedestrian crosswalk on 35th NE and 80th or at 35th NE and 77th

Ed note: Today's post was written by Chris P. of Wedgwood

In May there was a serious accident at 35th and 80th as I was crossing the street. A car stopped to let me cross and he was hit from behind by another car. It was during the morning rush time traffic when the flow of cars was heavy and the speed of traffic seemed fast. The motorist who stopped for me was hit from behind, he veered across the yellow line and ended up on the opposite side of the street and up on the sidewalk. 911 was called and he was taken to the hospital and was in apparent pain and discomfort with neck and upper body injuries. I was pretty shaken by the event. I cross there most mornings for my walk/jog. There is a great need for a safe pedestrian crossing between 85th and 75th. The most likely spot would be either at 80th and 35th or 77th and 35th. Have you ever tried crossing the street to get to the post office?

I notified the traffic department and requested a pedestrian sign and or crosswalk be installed at either 80th or 77th. 77th is also a busy spot since the post office is right there. It is curious that there are no crosswalks between 75th and 85th. There are numerous crosswalks between 65th and 75th including a relatively new one at 73rd and 35th the site of Starbucks, hmmmm. How did that come about? I have had several conversations with people from the traffic division of the transportation department to follow up on my written request. A site visit was done at around 10:30 AM and it was decided to put a no parking sign at the intersection. That is not a solution for crossing safely at the intersection. I was told that there was a sight line issue due to parked cars. As a regular pedestrian and driver at that intersection I have never had difficulty seeing on coming traffic at that location. There is not a sight line problem but a pedestrian safety problem that will not be remedied by a no parking sign. With the development happening along 35th NE and the future condo complex that is being planned, we need to make sure pedestrians are safe and encouraged to walk with ease and enjoyment throughout the neighborhood.

Chris P (Wedgwood)

Photo taken around 7pm (after rush hour traffic is over) looking south on 35th Ave NE towards NE 80th





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How will NE 87th hold up with more traffic?

I've been meaning to post this photo for awhile. It's a photo looking east down NE 87th St during a rainstorm. As you can see, no sidewalks and potholes in the road collect alot of water. Now, imagine the additional traffic from this proposed condo building down this already poor quality road. Anyway, when we talk about infrastructure improvements, this is just one example of where we want the city to invest.