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Have a question about our current work at the Seattle Department of Transportation? We’re ready to get you an answer! Post your question in the comments section here and we’ll post a response in real time (or close to it) during our normal business hours. Just remember to be courteous and keep the language clean. We’ll review questions before they post to be sure they meet our blog use policy, but won’t edit them.
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With the Beacon Hill library at Beacon Av S and S Forest St and the Light Rail station a block north at S McClellan St, there is considerable pedestrian traffic at the marked crosswalk at Beacon Av S and S Forest St.
Within the last year, SDOT reconfigured the intersection and remarked the crosswalk, but I find the Beacon Av S crossing is still difficult as many motorists do not stop for pedestrians.
Would SDOT consider putting a pedestrian-activated traffic light at that intersection?
Also, I find that when I am driving south on Beacon Av S towards S Forest St, it is difficult to see pedestrians at the crosswalk on the west side of Beacon if there is a car parked at the “No Parking South of Here” sign. Visibility would be improved if the sign were moved one car length north.
Thanks!
Thank you for your question Mathew. One of our traffic signal engineers went to the site on November 20 to do an initial assessment for possible installation of a traffic signal. She found that the pedestrian volume was not high enough to warrant a new signal and the distance to the next nearest signal (at Beacon and McClellan) was too close to allow us to install a signal at Beacon and Forest.
The City of Seattle must follow federal guidelines when conducting a signal warrant study. In this case, because the signal at McClellan is less than 300 feet from Forest Street, we would not be able to install a second signal at Forest Street.
This and every intersection in Seattle, unless specifically signed otherwise, is a legal crossing whether marked or unmarked. We will inform SPD’s Traffic Enforcement section of the need for increased enforcement at this location, to remind drivers to comply with the law. Our Arterial Operations section is investigating your concerns regarding signage at this location. We will email you to provide you a contact.
My question refers to the corner of 8th Ave SW and SW Roxbury St, 98106. When metro buses try to make right turns from Roxbury onto 8th they have to drive over the sidewalk if there are other vehicles stopped at the light. Many residents in the community have expressed concern over this safety issue. I’ve seen other intersections where the stop line has been moved farther back to give space for buses to turn. What is the procedure to have this done for this particular intersection? Is this under SDOT’s jurisdiction or WADOT?
Thank you.
Thanks for visiting the blog Bao. This intersection is owned and maintained by King County. You can contact their customer service department by visiting their comment website here. They should be able to provide further assistance for this location.
The light at 15th Ave and E Madison Street takes a long enough time to change to “walk” that I frequently see people give up on it and jaywalk across the busy 4-lane street.
How long on average should it take for a light to change after a pedestrian pressed the walk?
Thanks!
Thank you for writing into the SDOT Blog Sandy. There is no set time for a signal to change once a pedestrian hits the pedestrian signal push button. Each intersection is different according to its location in the city. Signals are operated according to programmed plans and those plans change according to the time of day. During peak hour traffic, greater emphasis is often given to vehicle movements in order to move heavier traffic volumes and reduce congestion. This may result in longer wait times for pedestrians. Conversely, wait times may be shorter for pedestrians during off peak hours. Another factor that may influence the amount of time pedestrians wait after hitting the push button is the timing between nearby signals. Signals that are in close proximity to one another are often coordinated to maximize efficiency.
At the E Madison St and 15th Ave location, the maximum wait times for the pedestrian signal are as follows:
6am – 10am: 100 seconds
10am – 3pm: 80 seconds
3pm – 8pm: 100 seconds
8pm – 6am: 65 seconds
Just to be clear, these are the maximum wait times but most of the time, a pedestrian’s wait time will be much shorter. SDOT’s Signal Operations group can evaluate this particular intersection to ensure that it is functioning properly. Signals can be reached via phone at (206) 684-ROAD or by e-mail at traffic.signals@seattle.gov.
SDOT
What are the procedures and plans in place to clear a bridge of obstructing river debris, say like the Oxbow bridge on the Duwamish River? Also, when and how is the decision made to go in with heavy equipment to clear the bridge?
Thanks
Thanks for your question, Neal. Here’s our response in a few parts:
Seattle owns three bridges that can be effected by floating debris in the Duwamish River, the Spokane Street Swing Bridge (West Duwamish Waterway), the Spokane Street crossing of the East Duwamish Waterway and the pedestrian only fishing pier that also crosses the East Duwamish Waterway just north of Spokane Street. (King County owns the Oxbow Bridge over the Duwamish). We routinely check for debris trapped in and around bridges after significant high river flow events along with annual inspections that would note any debris. If debris is found removal is scheduled.
Howard Hanson Dam Planning – We have been working with the Corps of Engineers and the State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to set in-place procedures for performing debris removal on and emergency basis.
Normal Debris Removal – We follow best management practice when performing debris removal. In general, this includes permitting from regulatory agencies and removal without placing equipment within the river banks. In some cases the woody debris can be left along the river bank as habitat enhancement. Other times it is removed using a crane and disposed.