By Gwen Davis
The West Seattle Transportation Coalition (WSTC) held its monthly meeting last night, featuring SDOT's chief of staff Genesee Adkins, and engineer Summer Jawson.
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Update on Move Seattle levy
Adkins gave board members updates on the Move Seattle levy. Approved by voters in November 2015, the 9-year, $930 million levy provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain streets and bridges and invest in affordable travel options for a growing city. The levy provides roughly 30 percent of the city's transportation budget.
Adkins said SDOT recently hired a consultant to audit the levy. SDOT's proceeding levy -- Bridging the Gap -- included faulty planning assumptions, and projects ended up costing more than anticipated. Therefore, this time around, a consultant to audit the levy was deemed warranted.
Currently, 23 of the levy's programs are on track, but eight items need more planning work, including new sidewalk construction, multimodal corridors. This is partly because federal funding that SDOT was relying on, hasn't come through thanks to the Trump Administration.
SDOT aims to be open about the levy-related challenges it's facing, Adkins said.
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Update on West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway
Jawson discussed the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway, which is ahead of schedule. Seattle Neighborhood Greenways are residential streets generally one off of main arterials with low volumes of cars going slowly enough so that people who walk or ride bicycles feel safe and comfortable. Construction on the south end starts this summer.
Currently, SDOT is still receiving input and comments from residents, and hopes to be able to present feedback to the community by August.
Various other projects were briefly discussed. SDOT public relations supervisor, Norm Mah, told Westside Seattle that the agency is looking for ways to improve the Street End Park just adjacent to Salty's on Harbor Ave. Right now, the space is deeply pitted.
"We are aware of the conditions and SDOT is currently studying potential improvements," Mah said.
The next WSTC meetings take place every fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Neighborhood House High Point. Note that the coalition takes off in August.
To view live coverage of this meeting, as well as updated diagrams of the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway, visit our West Seattle Herald Facebook page.
