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City adding crosswalk at Capitol Hill intersection where fatal collision occurred

The headline above is not entirely accurate. The intersection where Max Richards was struck and killed by a driver at Belmont and Bellevue in September was already a “crosswalk,” a crossing where it is legal and should be safe to cross the street on this sloping hillside below Broadway. The Seattle Department of Transportation is now adding a painted crosswalk and curb buffer to make the area safer.

We have asked SDOT for more information about the markings and why this configuration of elements was chosen. UPDATE: SDOT says the marked “ladder style” crosswalk and the curb area markings will be the extent of this update to the streetscape where the collision occurred. Signage including the iconic “walking person” will be added to help drivers be aware.

SDOT’s Matt Beaulieu tells CHS an assessment of the area’s need for a crosswalk was already underway before Richards’s death. A second analysis began in the wake of the tragedy to look at other possible changes for the street. Beaulieu said that the count of pedestrians who cross at the intersection met the threshold for crosswalk installation and the volume and speed of drivers in the area was sampled “to determine what else would be appropriate.” At this point, Beaulieu said the new markings and signs will be the extent of the additions. Expect the work to be completed later this month provided enough dry days for the paint job. 

CHS reported on the September death of Richards after he was struck in the street while walking his dog near his Capitol Hill home. As the city pledged to study the area for possible safety improvements, a community memorial and walk called for safer streets and remembered the 79-year-old professor of English literature. “To feel that the community is concerned is very special,” Marilyn Black, Richards’ wife, said about the outpouring of support.

We are checking with SDOT to find out if the new crosswalk paint will be accompanied by any crossing flashing signals or other changes planned for the intersection. The curb buffers have been used successfully in other areas of the Hill like 12th Ave to give pedestrians a protected, marked area and shorten crossing distances.

Police say the investigation of the pedestrian fatality remains an open case.

Thanks once more to @donghochang for sharing updates on Seattle street and sidewalk changes.

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adamjk
7 years ago

They should put a stop sign. I’ve had very scary situations in a car and walking at that intersection. People driving downhill go extremely fast and they will often try to pass left-turning cars at easily over 45mph.

RWK
RWK
7 years ago
Reply to  adamjk

I have both walked and driven through that intersection hundreds of times over the years. I have never had a “scary situation.”

kat
kat
7 years ago
Reply to  adamjk

That whole stretch of Belmont sucks. I walk or run from Capitol Hill to crew every day (usually a 2x a day round trip) – this intersection is awful. I come to a full and deliberate stop here and at the Lakeview intersection and still have had some hairy situations when cars come FLYING down that hill. Maybe your experience is less statistically strong, Bob.

Ben Ford
Ben Ford
7 years ago

SDOT should consider studying safety improvements just up the road, at the intersection of Belmont and Roy, as well. The slight right turn from westbound Roy onto Belmont is basically a blind curve down a fairly steep grade, creating a visibility hazard for crossing pedestrians and cars alike. I would like to see the entire intersection controlled with stop signs and painted cross walks, at the least.

Eli
Eli
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben Ford

You want them to actually solve known danger spots *before* members of our community are needlessly killed?

RWK
RWK
7 years ago
Reply to  Ben Ford

I agree. This is a much more dangerous intersection than Bellevue/Belmont.

Gordon
7 years ago

Get involved with the Central Seattle Greenways, the community group that organized and made this happen at http://seattlegreenways.org/neighborhoods/central-seattle/

Rob
Rob
7 years ago

This article makes a good point — by law, all intersections are considered “crosswalks,” whether or not they are marked crosswalks. Cars are required to yield to pedestrians at every intersection.
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/pedrcw.htm

However, it seems like many drivers either don’t know about this law or just don’t care. I’ve nearly been run down many times. I’ve even had several road-rage incidents where drivers have honked, swore at me, or even accelerated towards me while I’m crossing the street (like they’re playing a game of “chicken”).

Why isn’t the Seattle Police Department doing more to enforce this law? They had a few sting operations five ago, after a City Hall employee was struck and killed by a car in an unmarked crosswalk. However, they don’t seem to be doing this now. Perhaps CHS could investigate this further.

http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/?s=crosswalk+

l
l
7 years ago

A marked crosswalk doesn’t make people stop. There should be a traffic signal that is operated by pedestrians trying to cross.

poncho
poncho
7 years ago
Reply to  l

Agreed but those cost a minimum of $40,000, so adding those to every intersection in the city isn’t going to happen. They need to educate and enforce the existing traffic laws and stop handing out drivers licenses blindly to clueless incompetent drivers like they are Halloween candy.

Whichever
Whichever
7 years ago
Reply to  l

You are right, they don’t make people stop – but for people that are unaware that every intersection is basically a legal crosswalk, a painted crosswalk removes any doubt. Additionally, a painted crosswalk provides the driver information that they can predict that pedestrians are likely to cross there. Predictability is key to safety when on foot, or on a bike, etc.

I wonder what the criteria is for painted crosswalks? Minor @ Seneca is a high volume crosswalk I use every weekday and people haul ass down Seneca all the time.

l
l
7 years ago
Reply to  l

I live near a painted cross walk with a blinking light. People still don’t stop because it’s on the downhill side and they are driving at least 10mph over the limit. Some drivers begrudgingly reduce their speed but basically try to bully you out of the way quickly with the tons or armor surrounding them as they barrel downhill with cell phone in hand.

citycat
citycat
7 years ago

I have “commuted” as a pedestrian for several years, and some of the scariest close calls have been in marked crosswalks with a light. Based on my experience, it is the drivers who are turning, making a left or even a right turn, who seem to forget to check for pedestrians. I had one unnerving close call in a crosswalk when I lived on Capitol Hill 10 years ago but the CD has been far worse, especially the major intersections on MLK..

le.gai.savant
le.gai.savant
7 years ago

I’ve seen studies that show marking crosswalks doesn’t actually reduce accidents, and on high traffic streets might actually increase them. However, I have not seen this studied for raised crosswalks, so perhaps that’s a potential solution. Also some places they have lighted crosswalks that flash when the pedestrian pushes a button, or even pedestrian controlled stoplights.

I agree with other commenters that Belmont / Roy is pretty dangerous due to many cars driving too fast and poor visibility. Where parking is allowed the road is very narrow, also causing safety issues. An added stop sign might help. Or, maybe having some speed monitoring by police would cause drivers to think twice and generate some revenue for the city.

wayoutwest
wayoutwest
7 years ago

What citycat said – it’s the combination of turning that makes crossing so dangerous at this intersection.
I cross here every day and it is very busy during rush hour so you have to make sure you see that all cars are stopped.