Although the Seattle Department of Transportation hoped to paint new crosswalks today on Roosevelt Way Northeast at Northeast 90th, 92nd and 97th streets, the rainy weather did not work in its favor.
However, SDOT’s Brian Dougherty says we’re still on track to have the crosswalks added by the end of the year — unless it rains nonstop through December. Let’s hope, for more reasons than new crosswalks, that’s not the case!
By “the new lane painting” I mean the shifted lane lines for accommodating the new bike lanes, which start and end and merge all in a few blocks.
It is true: the painted crosswalks are dangerous because pedestrians think they are somewhat protected, but motorists are not always going to stop for them or notice them until it’s too late. The new lane painting makes it even more difficult to watch out for pedestrians while trying to navigate the new markings and watch out for bicyclists.
The pedestrian stop light at Cloud City is one of the best things that ever happened to Maple Leaf.
Some form of enforcement is needed on Roosevelt these days. The flashing yellow school zone lights between 82nd and 86th are all but ignored in the afternoon. Stopping for pedestrians almost requires an act of courage when there is an impatient driver sitting on your tail.
Speeding on 15th is normally worse than on Roosevelt; it’s just that 15th is blocked off for the bridge project until April so this year isn’t “normal.”
Speeds on 15th tend to be higher because there are no stoplights between Lake City Way and Northgate; at the same time, there is no sidewalk at all north of ca. 95th, so there is a huge safety issue for pedestrians on 15th as well. Roosevelt has kerbed sidewalks all the way to Northgate, by contrast.
This is not to say that Roosevelt couldn’t benefit from a radar speed sign, as well, but I believe 15th got the sign through community involvement. That means if people who live by Roosevelt want one, you need to get organized and start pestering the city for one (or apply for a city grant). It’s not as though the city has ever descended as an angel upon a neighborhood bestowing unsolicited gifts of traffic mitigation.
As for crosswalks, every little bit helps. It will be safer to cross on Roosevelt, but pedestrians will need to be assertive and cautious at the same time. We’ll have to start pestering the city for red lights there now, too.
These painted cross walks are a waste of city money. Traffic on Roosevelt, especially during rush hour, won’t stop for pedestrians unless we are at 95th or the cross street by Cloud City where there are RED STOP LIGHTS, to actually stop traffic!! Metro buses are almost the worst offenders. While I’m on my soap box, why is that solar speed limit sign on 15th (which has no through traffic)!? It needs to be moved to Roosevelt. Thanks…