District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka is moving to accelerate several long-awaited traffic safety improvements across West Seattle and South Park, utilizing the newly established District Project Fund (DPF) to bypass traditional bureaucratic delays.

The DPF was created specifically to address "smaller-scale, high-impact safety improvements" that often languish on the Seattle Department of Transportation’s (SDOT) priority list. While neighbors frequently report traffic concerns, Saka noted that "smaller projects can take years to move on because they're lower on SDOT’s priority list". The new fund aims to solve this by providing dedicated resources for community-requested items like speed humps, lighting upgrades, and safer crosswalks.

With a budget of $1 million for 2025 and another 1 million for 2026,District1 has a total of $2 million available  to jumpstart these neighborhood priorities. Saka emphasized that while these projects are smaller in scale, they "will have an outsized impact when it comes to helping to achieve our Vision Zero traffic safety goals".

"These are exactly the kinds of improvements this fund was designed to deliver," Saka said regarding the initial list of projects. He further expressed excitement about "making smart, targeted investments that improve safety and the quality of life across D1".

In a move toward legislative collaboration, Saka has also shared $200,000 of his district's allocation with citywide Councilmembers Dionne Foster and Alexis Rinck to put toward additional District 1 projects of their choosing.

The following projects have been submitted to SDOT for development, with an expected completion date of early 2027:

• Bonair Dr & SW Massachusetts St: Transformation of a complex five-legged intersection with an all-way stop, curb bulbs, and speed cushions to protect pedestrians moving between Admiral and Alki Beach.
• 18th Ave SW (SW Brandon St to SW Juneau St): Installation of two new speed cushions and the replacement of a speed hump to address excessive speeding.
• Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Brandon St: New crosswalks, flashing beacons, and pedestrian islands to improve safety for students accessing Fairmount Park Elementary.
• California Ave SW (SW Edmunds St to SW Genesee St): Upgraded midblock crossings in the Alaska Junction featuring modern flashing beacons and curb bulbs.
• SW Alaska St & 36th Ave SW: A new marked crosswalk, pedestrian island, and flashing beacons to improve access to local daycares and transit.
• 16th Ave SW (SW Graham St to SW Juneau St): Refreshed crosswalks and painted curb bulbs to assist transit riders and local residents.
• SW 100th St (35th Ave SW to California Ave SW): Implementation of eight speed cushions to calm traffic.
• Alki Ave SW (59th Ave SW to 63rd Ave SW): Speed cushions, curb bulbs, and a hardened bike lane buffer near "Restaurant Row" to slow traffic for tourists and families.

While the DPF is modest compared to major funding sources like the 2024 Transportation Levy, it serves as a critical tool for "accelerating projects that might otherwise be delayed for years — or longer!". Residents can expect to see SDOT begin the design and development phase of these projects immediately.