Information from Seattle Department of Transportation

By Ethan Bancroft 

We have completed 59 of the 70 Reconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan projects from 2020-2022. We have completed 51 of the 64 Home Zone project elements. And we have completed 275 traffic mitigation projects since March 2020.

Overview

Reconnect West Seattle was developed in response to the unexpected closure of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge in March of 2020, which dramatically impacted West Seattle and nearby Duwamish Valley communities. Through Reconnect West Seattle, we have been working towards a vision to restore travel across the Duwamish to similar levels seen before the bridge closure and, at the same time, reduce the effects of increased detour traffic in the Duwamish Valley neighborhoods. Reconnect West Seattle Home Zones focus on pedestrian and safety improvements in the neighborhoods of South Park, Georgetown, and Highland Park.

Each quarter (January-March, April-June, July-September, and October-November), we share a “mini-report” letting you know what we’ve done recently to help advance the Reconnect West Seattle goals, as well as a preview of what you can expect to see next.

Quarterly Report Contents

We recommend you take a look at these sections of our latest quarterly report (Q2, 2022):

• Pages 5-9: Work recently completed
• Pages 10-12: Preview of upcoming projects
• Page 13: Mobility Action Plan update
• Pages 14-18: Tracking our goals
• Pages 22-36: List of projects and their current status
• Please note: Within the appendix, the neighborhood-wide Home Zone projects are not shown as “complete” until all individual improvements within the Home Zones are complete. That means these projects are still listed as “in construction” at this time.

Recent Highlights

So far, we’ve completed 59 of the total 70 Reconnect West Seattle Implementation Plan projects. We’re currently building five 2022 Implementation Plan projects, two of which include work by our partners at Seattle City Light to upgrade and add pedestrian-scaled lighting in South Park. We’re also continuing to work on the design of the sidewalk repair on Dallas Ave S, between 10th Ave S and 12th Ave S.

In the past three months, we made improvements in various areas including installing a new rectangular rapid flashing beacon at 17th Ave SW and SW Henderson St, creating a walkway on Sylvan Way SW, and upgrading the intersection at 14th Ave S and S Cloverdale St.

To date, we’ve completed 51 safety and mobility improvements throughout Home Zone neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are South Park, Georgetown, and Highland Park, whose residents have been experiencing the heavy traffic impacts from the West Seattle Bridge detour route. Some of the improvements include pedestrian crossing enhancements, creating natural stormwater drains to help with on-street drainage and delineate the right of way better, and building Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible curb ramps for people walking and rolling.

Specifically in the Home Zone neighborhoods in Quarter 2, 2022, we installed a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at the intersection of Dumar Way SW and SW Orchard St, repaired Duwamish Trail pavement and trail connections, installed precast concrete curbs and speed cushions on SW Webster St, and fulfilled our commitment to plant 100 trees per neighborhood.

We are on track to complete the remaining projects identified by community members in the months leading up to and following the West Seattle Bridge reopening. We will also continue to provide progress updates and work directly with community members through 2022.