After two years of discussions regarding potential improvements to Lake Washington Boulevard, the city has decided to table the second half of its planned safety measures for the roadway this year.
This decision comes after notable input from Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office regarding the $400,000 safety plan, which was initially supported by the City Council and included a grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board.
Lake Washington Boulevard is a winding road that lacks shoulders, which creates a shared space for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians who cross to access the waterside path.
Data has shown that the median driver fosters concern, as speeds average 10 miles per hour over the designated limit.
Seattle’s transportation department has classified the road as having a ‘very high collision rate,’ with around 100 crashes recorded between 2015 and 2022.
The initial plan included the installation of 24 speed cushions and a redesign of an intersection to minimize interactions between vehicles.
While the first 12 speed cushions were successfully installed last year, the remaining safety measures were scheduled for execution in 2025.
However, as of this summer, the city has opted to indefinitely table the installation of the remaining speed cushions and changes to the hazardous intersection.
Since the decision was made, at least one cyclist has been struck by a vehicle in that very section of the road where safety measures were originally proposed.
Bradley Hawkins, who was cycling back from a camping trip when he was hit in mid-August, expressed that the situation has become increasingly perilous.
The addition of fog lines has led drivers to mistakenly believe there is a bike lane, causing them to drive at even higher speeds than usual.
Hawkins recounted the terrifying moment before his collision, stating, ‘I realized that [the driver] was not changing lanes’ to safely pass him.
Following the accident, Hawkins was thrown from his bicycle and sustained injuries, leading to an overnight stay in Harborview Emergency Room.
Terry Holme, a longtime Mount Baker resident and participant in the task force that recommended traffic calming measures, shared his dismay at the city’s reversal.
‘It’s disheartening that they have diverted from what was a consensus,’ he remarked, speaking to the commitment to increasing safety that the task force had advocated.
The first speed cushions were seen as a positive step forward by some community members, including Erin Duff, who often walks along the boulevard with her baby and pets.
‘I wish we could do a little bit more and have it be more pedestrian-friendly and just safer,’ Duff said, recognizing the inherent dangers of crossing the street daily.
She, like others, expressed a dual concern for both pedestrian safety and driver compliance on the roadway, noting that drivers tend to behave aggressively when she adheres to the speed limit.
Such sentiments align with findings from over two years of public outreach and surveys conducted by the city, where most residents signaled a preference for enhanced safety measures along the boulevard.
Typically, in Seattle neighborhoods, the installation of speed cushions occurs without much pushback.
Speed cushions are designed as low-profile barriers that are less intrusive than traditional speed bumps, featuring cutouts that permit emergency vehicles to navigate without hindrance.
In 2024, the city managed to launch speed cushions on nine different arterial roads, and similar installations are proposed for 2025 and 2026 as part of Seattle’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eradicating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Nevertheless, opposition from local residents has emerged specifically against the planned speed cushions on Lake Washington Boulevard.
Shelley Morrison, from the opposition group, argued that multiple speed cushions create additional hazards, as cyclists may inadvertently swerve to avoid them, leading to dangerous situations with passing vehicles.
Contradicting Morrison’s concerns, traffic experts have cited numerous studies indicating that speed cushions generally enhance street safety by effectively reducing vehicle speeds.
Morrison’s group further raised objections about discomfort caused by speed cushions, potential risks of vehicle damage, and fears that drivers might simply reroute through alternative streets, resulting in increased congestion elsewhere.
In response to the community’s mixed feedback, the city has stated its intention to collect further data on the situation.
There is a possibility that the notion of installing speed cushions could be revisited in the future, as part of an undefined third phase of safety enhancements for Lake Washington Boulevard.
A spokesperson from the Parks Department affirmed the commitment to fostering open dialogue to ensure that future decisions adequately reflect the diverse needs of all stakeholders involved.
image source from：kuow
