District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared this update via her constituent newsletter

On July 15 Robert Mason was the victim of the hit and run near the Spokane Street Bridge while he rode his bicycle. He is the thirteenth person to die from a collision on Seattle streets in 2022.

I’ve heard from constituents with questions about what the City does after fatal crashes, and about potential road safety changes in that location.

After fatal crashes, SDOT evaluates sites from an engineering perspective to see whether there are short term and longer-term safety improvements to be made. This is in addition to the Seattle Police Department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Squad’s work on crash reconstruction and criminal investigation.

SDOT proposed safety improvements this last week, specifically, a project which would redesign the street layout of 4th Ave S near S Holgate St. The proposal includes creating a new median island to reduce conflicts and exposure and reduce the speed limit on 4th Ave S from 30 mph to 25 mph. There have been 7 fatalities within a quarter-mile radius of 4th Ave S & S Holgate St in the past 2.5 years, including Gan Hao Li who was killed while riding a bike in May 2022.

Residents of District 1 must pass through SODO to get to Downtown. Projects designed to enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians include the East Marginal Way Project to enhance safety between West Seattle to Downtown; the Georgetown to South Park Connection, and the Georgetown to Downtownproject.