Crews working on the electrical duct bank on Westlake Avenue N.

The infamous “Mercer Mess” is shrinking and the new Mercer Street is taking shape.  Staying right on schedule, despite the need to keep traffic flowing in the construction zone,  the Mercer Corridor Project will reach a major milestone in January.  If you drive the corridor eastbound to take the Mercer Street ramps to I-5, you have probably noticed on the left, the new, future westbound lanes of Mercer Street forming on the north side of the existing Mercer Street between Fairview Avenue and Terry Avenue,  and at Ninth Avenue.  

The project team is currently working hard to complete the remaining underground utility work along the north side of Mercer Street at Westlake Avenue in order to complete the final paving and sidewalks along the stretch of Mercer between 9th Avenue and Terry Avenue.  Underground utility work in Westlake includes undergrounding of electrical distribution, transmission and communications lines, storm drainage, and water line replacement.  This work has been particularly challenging given that crews are installing some of these underground facilities underneath the Seattle Streetcar tracks.  All of this work is in preparation for the big “Mercer switch”, which is when eastbound Mercer Street traffic will switch to the new lanes on the north and we’ll close down the south side of the street in order to begin utility installation and reconstruction of existing Mercer Street. 

If all goes as planned, the switch is expected to happen on the weekend of January 6 – January 9.  Closure hours will start Friday at 11:00 p.m. and extend through the weekend to Monday at 5:00 a.m.  We will keep you informed as more details become available.

For more information about project – the purpose, benefits, and other information, visit our website at:  www.seattle.gov/Transportation/ppmp_mercer.htm

Photo courtesy of Carfreedays

Excitement is growing in several Seattle communities regarding a safer, more comfortable place to ride a bike or walk. Called “neighborhood greenways,” these are nonarterial streets that are altered to give priority to bicyclists and pedestrians and to accommodate cars at reduced speeds.  Bicyclists and pedestrians who are not comfortable traveling on busy city streets may find greenways are just the thing to enable them to get outside to walk or bike.  For examples, we can look to Portland were many greenways are already in place (see a video).  

The Wallingford Neighborhood is about to get Seattle’s first greenway, on North 43^rd and North 44^th streets. Neighbors organized to develop the concept and propose the route, and they applied to the Neighborhood Street Fund program to fund planning and design. A greenway will also be constructed on Beacon Hill, again an idea generated by the community. In northeast Seattle, Children’s Hospital is planning and funding a greenway to enable more of their employees to bike to work. Other ideas are developing around the city.

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A lot of work went into repaving Dexter Avenue North from Fourth Avenue North to Roy Street, and the attention to detail shows.  Maybe we’re just paving nerds, but darned if it doesn’t look pretty!  Stand outs among the many improvements include two new crosswalks, dedicated transit islands at 10 of 12 bus stops and a buffered bike lane on each side of Dexter Ave N.  Here’s a trip down memory lane (all modes of travel welcome):

This complete streets project is a significant achievement in how it balanced the needs of cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles and mass transit – guided by the bicycle and pedestrian master plans.  Look for final touches of trees in the bus islands and plants in the rain garden over the next several weeks.

Flashing Beacons Emphasize the School Zone Speed Limit

SDOT has completed construction of this year’s five Safe Routes to School projects. Working closely with school staff, students and parents, this Bridging the Gap funded program helps eliminate barriers and create solutions to make walking and biking safer and more accessible.

The 2011 projects were completed at Coe Elementary, Greenlake Elementary, West Seattle Elementary, Concord Elementary and Van Asselt Elementary. At West Seattle Elementary and Coe Elementary, SDOT installed new curb ramps and flashing beacons to emphasize the school zone speed limit of 20 miles per hour. An illuminated overhead crosswalk sign was installed at NE 65th St and 1st Ave NE to improve the visibility of the busy school crosswalk near Green Lake Elementary. Sidewalks were repaired at Green Lake and Van Asselt Elementary on Beacon Hill as well. Students at Concord Elementary in South Park should enjoy the 600 feet of beautiful new sidewalks with new curb ramps at the intersections that lead directly to their school. These projects significantly improved walking routes to school and advanced the city’s goal of getting more kids to walk and bike to school.

New sidewalk and ramps at West Seattle Elementary

Another way we hope to increase the number of students that walk or bike to school is through our Mini-Grant Program. During October, International Walk to School month, SDOT is accepting applications for mini grants of up to $1,000 to fund creative activities or safety improvements to encourage more children to walk or bike to school. The activities must support the overall goal of educating and encouraging safer walking and bicycling to school. Both private and public schools, PTAs or other school-related nonprofit groups may apply. Send us your completed applications by the end of the business day on Friday, October 28th. Recipients will be announced in December.

Over the past four and a half years, the Safe Routes to School Program has made improvements at 23 schools across the city. Those schools include Concord Elementary, Olympic Hills Elementary, BF Day Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Roxhill Elementary, Dearborn Park Elementary, Sacajawea Elementary, North Beach Elementary, Cleveland High School, Blaine K-8, Kimball Elementary, Broadview Thomson Elementary, Dunlap Elementary, Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Summit K-12 School, Sanislo Elementary, Northgate Elementary, Wing Luke Elementary and Arbor Heights Elementary. Over the life of the nine-year levy, SDOT anticipates making enhancements at more than 30 schools throughout the city through this program.

There’s something almost romantic about food vendors on sidewalks, plazas and at the curb…perhaps it is because we see them in the movies on the streets of New York and in cities around the world?  Or perhaps it is because there’s the chance a one person operation can become a growing business!  Witness The Skillet that started its operations with one “slightly dented airstream trailer,” opened a hip diner on Capitol Hill and now even sells its own  “skillet products” – sauces and spreads to take home and use in your own kitchen. 

If it seems to you that there are more and more mobile food vendors popping up around Seattle, your perception is correct.    Since August 22, the Seattle Department of Transportation has received nearly a dozen sidewalk and vehicle vending permit applications.  Several more are in the process of being reviewed.   

In July, the SDOT completed months of work streamlining the rules and regulations for street- food vending.  The city of Seattle encourages street-food vending to increase public use, enjoyment, and safety of our public right-of-way.   With proper design and management, street-food vending can be a great way to encourage walking, add vitality to the street, and promote local economic development. 

As of August 22, SDOT’s  Street Use Permits department issued Client Assistance Memos (CAM) 2501 for Sidewalk and Plaza Street-Food Vending, and CAM 2507 for Curb Space Food-Vehicle Zone Vending, CAM 2508 for Stadium and Event Center Vending and CAM 2510 for Temporary Curb Space Vending.  The CAMS provide step-by-step guidance of every aspect involved such as location, permit conditions, field reviews, and public notification of application.   Do you have a food specialty that you yearn to share with the world?  Or maybe you know what the next big food trend will be? This could be your chance to grab for the brass ring!   You can learn all the details on our websites –  

SDOT Street Use Vending Permits: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/stuse_vend_apps.htm

For a comprehensive list of all the permits required please see: http://www.seattle.gov/economicdevelopment/mobilefood/#What

On Friday, September 16, cities around the globe, artists and community members independently, but simultaneously temporarily took over and transformed parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called “PARK(ing) Day.”

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Latino City Employees partnered with  Feet First to create a park to raise awareness about important issues like creating a walkable, livable, healthy city and to kick-off the Latino Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15). Latin American flags lined the space, spiking the interest of pedestrians and motorists alike. We invited people into our space where we had lawn games, chairs, music, and shared information about the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative, SDOT services, and events to celebrate the Latino and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Over fifteen street parking spaces in Seattle, from Rainier Valley to Fremont, were taken up by PARK(ing) Day participants. Feet First collaborated with several organizations and individuals, including the City of Seattle, King County Parks, and Seattle Art Museum, to sprout 16 temporary parks this year.

Crosswalk enhancements at Coe Elementary

SDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program had a busy summer in preparation for the 2011 – 2012 school year.  Safe Routes to School works to improve safety near schools by installing physical improvements along designated school walking routes.  SDOT works closely with school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to identify barriers to walking and collectively work to devise solutions. 

Coe Elementary was one of six schools to receive improvements this summer.  The top priority of the Coe community was improving conditions on 7^th Avenue W.   The existing crosswalk at 7^th and Wheeler spanned a wide arterial street where vehicles would often speed.  To improve the crossing, SDOT developed a design to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians and reduce vehicular speeds in the school zone.

The new bulb on the east side of 7th Ave W

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Update: Some finishing work remains and will be compltede within the next month to close out this important project!  Visit SDOT’s Flickr page to see construction pics!

In January 2011, SDOT began work on 15th Ave NE in the University District. The street was reconstructed between NE Pacific St and NE 50th St with new concrete pavement, and resurfaced between NE 50th St and NE 55th St with new asphalt. The project will be substantially complete September 16th – ahead of schedule and on budget! During the project, the team:

• Placed 11,093 cubic yards of base rock and concrete in the new roadway – enough material to cover a football field 5 ½ feet deep!
• Made 371 truck trips to haul away old pavement and gravel
• Installed 52 new curb ramps to improve accessibility
• Placed 6 new bus shelters
• Redistributed street lighting and installed 4 new pedestrian lights and 7 new street light poles to improve visibility along the corridor
• Installed 16 new stormwater catch basins and 49 filters to improve water quality
• Created a new northbound left turn lane at NE 42nd St
• Implemented a left turn restriction (transit only) during peak periods from northbound 15th Ave NE to westbound NE 45th St
• Rebuilt 6,500 linear feet of sidewalk
• Installed 26,913 linear feet of electrical conduit – enough conduit to wrap around the Husky Stadium track over 20 times!

Thank you to the nearby community for the support and patience as we completed this much needed improvement project!

Over the weekend a whimsical whale and fish design took shape on S Graham Street midway between 51^st Avenue S and 48^th Avenue S, not far from the Graham Hill Elementary School.  The whale represents the school’s mascot and the multi-colored fish celebrate the diversity of the school’s student body and neighborhood. 

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This weekend, August 27 and 28, S Graham Street between 51^st Avenue S and 48^th Avenue S will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day when a large whale and fish design will take shape on the street.  Dozens of volunteers, including students, parents and neighbors from the community, Graham Hill Elementary School and from the Harborview Medical Center will work together to paint the street mural.  The whale represents the Graham Hill Elementary School mascot; the different sized and multi-colored fish represent the diversity of the community and the school’s student body. 

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