posted 02/20/10 10:58 AM | updated 02/20/10 11:00 AM
Views: 2737 | Comments : 11 | News, etc.

Olive Way getting crosswalk, pedestrian island in prep for increased light rail construction traffic

By jseattle
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One of the biggest concerns expressed by community members at January's Sound Transit light rail construction update meeting was about the lack of progress on pedestrian safety measures.

Neighbor Scott provides this picture and reports that work on at least one element of the pedestrian safety improvements is underway:

Construction underway this morning on Olive Way at Boylston Ave for the crosswalk. Note that there is going to be an island in the middle so that traffic will get reduced to one lane in each direction. This change ought to be interesting and, hopefully, not too annoying for me and my fellow residents that live right above it.

According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, work crews will construct a pedestrian median crossing island with marked crosswalks and curb ramps at the intersection of E Olive Way and the east leg of Boylston Ave E. The median island will provide safe crossing in the center of the street to shorten the crossing time of E. Olive Way.


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Sound Transit was also working with the city on adding a curb bulb on E. Denny Way at Boylston but canned that plan due to costs.

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Howell & Broadway
I'm curious about the little street of Howell at Broadway (in between Bonney Watson and their parking lot)? This week I was walking south on Broadway to cut into Cal Anderson at Howell. They're still doing improvements on the Howell sidewalk at Nagle Pl - which is kind of irritating given that this is now the pedestrian route into the park from Broadway. But a huge cement truck was on Howell coming from Nagle onto Broadway. He hesitantly stopped for me at the crosswalk and was enough into it that it made me worry he'd still lurch forward and smoosh me. Is this just a temporary route they'll be using or should we expect to have to have to battle these big trucks at this intersection/park entrance too?
Comment by Stacy
February 20, 2010
RE: Howell & Broadway
We'll check in to see what we can find out. Here's a number to keep around: Sound Transit construction hotline (888) 298-2395

You can call the number 24hrs/day and will reportedly reach somebody to take your info or answer questions. We haven't tried it out yet so let us know if anybody puts it to use.
Comment by jseattle
February 20, 2010
Wow
It's good to see that something I (and probably many others) suggested to SDOT through that streets improvement website posted on here sometime back is actually happening.

Thank god. It may be safe to cross Olive now.
Comment by oiseau
February 20, 2010
RE: Wow
My other suggestions, not so much though.
Comment by oiseau
February 20, 2010
no more 2 lanes on Olive from 7a-9a and 4p-6p?
I guess this means no more 2 lane traffic heading to/from downtown during rush hour?
Comment by crap bag
February 20, 2010
RE: no more 2 lanes on Olive from 7a-9a and 4p-6p?
Yep, you're right on that. It corresponds with parking changes SDOT is doing in the area as well.
Comment by Mike
February 21, 2010
Closing bus stops.
I've enjoyed having the crosswalk over the last few days, but I didn't realize it was going to cause the removal of the two bus stops at that location. I know other stops aren't really that far away, but it still sucks, as those are the two stops I use the most in the city.
Comment by scoville
February 24, 2010
Ped safety efforts
Hi, SDOT here. We wanted to share the good news that we will start constructing a curb bulb on E. Denny Way at Boylston late March. If you’d like to read a flier on efforts to keep pedestrians safe during light rail construction on Capitol Hill visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/cp_caphill.htm and click on the link in the first paragraph.
Comment by Allie
February 24, 2010
RE: Ped safety efforts
Allie, that's great news! thanks
Sounds like the article needs updating :)
Comment by archie
March 01, 2010
What's a curb bulb?
I have no idea what that means. (but I can't help but picture a giant, spherical corner curb sprouting a giant tulip...)
Comment by Sam
March 01, 2010
RE: What's a curb bulb?
Here's what I found via Google:

As defined in the Right-of-Way Improvements Manual (ROWIM), “curb bulb” is a radial extension of a sidewalk at a corner or mid-block location used to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians, provide access to transit, and expand the landscape/furniture and/or walkable zone. Curb bulbs are a technique used to promote traffic calming.

In addition, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) provides the following description of curb bulbs, also referred to as curb extensions: “[They] extend the sidewalk or curb line out into the parking lane, which reduces the effective street width. Curb extensions significantly improve pedestrian crossings by reducing the pedestrian crossing distance, visually and physically narrowing the roadway, improving the ability of pedestrians and motorists to see each other, and reducing the time that pedestrians are in the street.”
Comment by M.O.
March 01, 2010