In 2010, a group of Beacon Hill neighbors wanting safer, calmer streets gathered the community together, applied for a grant and created a traffic plan. The goal of the plan was to recommend a street network where children and adults could more safely walk or bike to local destinations. The results helped launch the 2.8 mile Beacon Hill Neighborhood Greenway, which is now ready for prime time.
Funded by Bridging the Gap, the neighborhood greenway helps people cross busy streets, discourages cut-thru traffic, helps keep speeds low and protects the residential character of the neighborhood. It stretches from the I-90 Trail to S Lucile Street and links to a light rail station, numerous schools, the Beacon Hill Library and Jefferson Park.
It includes basic greenway elements like a 20 mph speed limit, speed humps and signs to help people get to where they want to go. It also adds some great features like a new pedestrian safety island and crosswalks at S Spokane Street and Lafayette Avenue S. This improvement connects the neighborhood to Jefferson Park. Enhancements at the busy intersection of Beacon Avenue S and S Hanford Street were also made, providing pedestrian safety islands in the middle of the street to make it easier for people who move at slower pace to get across. Neighbors will continue to see improvements thanks to our Safe Routes to School Program. Next year SDOT will work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to fill the gap along 16th Avenue S in Jefferson Park. We will pave a path for people to walk and ride bikes offering a new connection to the Beacon Food Forest and for Mercer Middle School students.
Bridging the Gap has funded the installation of neighborhood greenways in Ballard, Delridge and Greenwood this year. Also being studied are additional routes in Ballard, the Delridge/Highland Park, University District, Central Area, Madison Park and Lake City.