Stone Way “road diet” improved safety & traffic, similar project considered on W Nickerson St.

This week the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) released its before and after study (.pdf) of the Stone Way N. rechannelization, a reduction of driving lanes to accommodate Seattle’s growing bicycle and pedestrian network, often referred to as a “road diet.” SDOT has compiled detailed data from the Stone Way “road diet,” which was completed in April of 2008, and says the results demonstrate that Seattle’s streets can be made safer through lane reconfigurations.

The report documents the results of lane changes on Stone Way N. from 34th St. to 50th St., which include reduced speeds for motorists and fewer motor and bicycle collisions, despite the fact that the road’s capacity remained the same. Highlights from the study include:

• Motorists drive at speeds closer to the posted 30 mph limit and a decline of more than 80 percent in those traveling over 40 mph;
• Total collisions dropped 14 percent with injury collisions down 33 percent;
• Pedestrian collisions declined by 80 percent;
• Bike trips increased 35 percent but collisions per bicycle trip have declined;
• Volumes show the roadway still easily accommodates motor vehicle traffic; and
• Total traffic on parallel routes and adjacent streets to Stone Way significantly decreased.

Recently a similar rechannelization plan was proposed for W Nickerson St. in Queen Anne between Warren Ave N and 13th Ave W, which would reduce the street to one lane in each direction with a middle turn lane, and add an uphill bicycle lane.

The proposal would also add “sharrows,” or shared lane markings for bicycles to the downhill traffic lane and marked crosswalks at Jesse Ave W, Cremona St. and Dravus St.

Since the plan was first announced, many from both Queen Anne and Magnolia have vocally opposed the proposal. The Magnolia Community Council, Queen Anne Community Council and North Seattle Industrial Association joined up to form the 15th Ave W Coalition with the aim, among other things, to protect 15th Ave W as a route to I-5 and call the recent plan to eliminate a lane in each direction “unacceptable.” Still, many in the neighborhood do support the change. Here are a few comments from readers who are in support of the plan:

Matt the Engineer responded to this story:

Brent wrote,

I’m sorry, MCC, but pedestrians, bus riders, and bike riders are collectively the majority in this town. Other neighborhoods (like North Queen Anne) don’t exist to provide you freeways everywhere.

Justin Baird added,

I live along that stretch of West Nickerson St. I am overjoyed! Average speed westbound is over 45mph and eastbound approaces 50mph. In spite of the fact that while marked intersections are suggested as safer, drivers continue to be ignorant of the fact that all intersections, unless marked otherwise, are legal crosswalks. Aggravated that a pedestrian doesn’t walk 1/3 mile to cross at a light, motorists quite often speed up, honk and curse at a legally crossing pedestrian who has usually waited for the best break on traffic to cross.

Though others in the neighborhood are concerned rechannelizing Nickerson may increase traffic on other popular routes through Queen Anne, and that the city should wait until after the Viaduct work is completed to decrease lanes on this major thoroughfare.

MB wrote,

Swell. No doubt that will mean that other cut throughs across from QA from Magnolia/Ballard will be even more conjested. Hello Mercer mess on steroids.

Patrick wrote,

I’m all for bike lanes but g i dunno maybe it would have been prudent to put these in after we finish with the viaduct work. I understand McGinn wants to “wean” us off fossil fuels but interupting people’s commutes home isn’t going to help him with this request.

For more information, check SDOT’s website. What do you think? Are you for or against the rechannelization of W Nickerson St?