In December, a crowded meeting drew over a hundred attendees at the Mount Baker Rowing Center, focusing on the future of Lake Washington Boulevard. Seattle Parks and Recreation had begun implementing basic traffic calming measures along the scenic route, aiming to slow vehicle traffic and create a safer environment for pedestrians.
These initial improvements included the installation of 12 speed cushions, new marked pedestrian crossings, and other upgrades. A second phase of enhancements was projected for 2025, but skepticism regarding the city’s commitment has heightened.
Concerns were sparked even before the December meeting, as rumors circulated that the city might reconsider further developments. High-ranking officials from city departments, including Venu Nemani, Chief Safety Officer at the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), attended the gathering but didn’t provide concrete steps forward, leaving attendees feeling uncertain about the project’s future.
Now, six months later, advocates fear their worries have materialized: the anticipated second phase of traffic calming measures remains unimplemented despite being funded by a state grant via the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB). Silence from Seattle Parks and Recreation has added to the frustration, with their project website stagnant since December. A Parks spokesperson previously assured that updates on meeting summaries and timelines would be available by early 2025.
In late June, The Urbanist sought clarity from Parks, but received a vague response promising a press release and web update by mid-July. Traffic safety advocates are now pressing for answers, highlighting the project’s incomplete status.
“The project was left half completed, with another round of construction expected in February that we’re still waiting for. The funds are allocated, the design is approved, but where are the rest of the speed humps and stop signs?” reads a recent action alert from Seattle Neighborhood Greenways. They argue that while the first phase significantly reduced dangerous speeding, it has failed to address issues beyond the designated project area.
Advocacy for an all-way stop sign at Mount Baker Beach—a feature originally in the plan—has been reignited. This element was removed after discussions between project opponents and Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office. Coexist Lake Washington, a group opposing traffic calming measures, contends that adding a stop sign “seeks to solve a problem that doesn’t exist,” despite complaints from local residents about vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians at the intersection.
Recent incidents have raised alarm among safety advocates. Following near-collisions and an injury caused by a hit-and-run near Stan Sayres Park, advocates physically blocked entrances during a recent Bicycle Weekend to draw attention to insufficient enforcement of street closures.
“Tell Mayor Harrell: Finish the Damn Road!” read flyers distributed by protesters.
The initial consensus for traffic calming on Lake Washington Boulevard came from a community task force engaging in thorough discussions about the roadway’s future. While members could not reach a unanimous decision on repurposing a travel lane for pedestrian and bicycle access or categorizing the corridor as a non-arterial street, there was notable support for adding traffic calming elements, including those from Coexist Lake Washington. Data indicates many drivers exceed the 25 mph speed limit, showcasing the necessity for calming measures.
Terry Holme, a resident of Mount Baker and task force member, expressed disappointment over the city’s inaction. He remarked, “If there ever was a tempest in the teapot, this is it, and probably the number one disturbing thing is that we’re spending month after month with a less safe boulevard than it was planned to be.”
“We’ve been disappointed not only by the delays but also by the lack of adherence to task force recommendations,” Holme added.
He noted that Coexist Lake Washington has consistently pushed for diluting traffic calming initiatives, even after previously opposing broader changes. They have also sought to eliminate a necessary redesign for the S Orcas Street intersection.
“The group perspective, in part, was that we were respectful of not getting everything we wanted from the task force recommendation,” Holme explained. “We have accepted the task force as being the next step, and we’ve honored that, but the opposition has not.”
As community members grow increasingly restless, many await a response from the City of Seattle concerning the status of the second phase of traffic calming improvements. Until the Harrell Administration decides to address the growing concerns, it appears they have chosen to side with those opposing further changes.
image source from：theurbanist
