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:
Queen Anne and Magnolia, please take a look at the results of Stone Way’s road diet.
There was no effect on traffic volume, yet there was a strong reduction in accidents and injuries and speeding decreased. Not only that, but bike traffic is now a full 15% of rush-hour trips.
The 15th Ave coallition is on the wrong side of this issue, and I request the QACC to reconsider their position.
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?
Tweet
50 responses so far ↓
1 vanderleun // May 25, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Excuse me, but try to approach the adding on of comments with just a smidgen of balance. You remember “balance,” don’t you?
“Still, many in the neighborhood do support the change. Here are a few comments from readers who are in support of the plan:”
And others do not. Kindly leave it to readers to pick their own cherries. That’s Journalism 101. You should not have to be reminded.
Example:
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taxpaying workingperson // May 12, 2010 at 8:49 pm
1. Bicyclists along Nickerson and Dexter routinely drift out of their bike lanes, usually for zero reason other than to deliberately impede motor vehicles. Often, they ride 2 or 3 abreast in the car lanes. So, with only car lane, those of us who need to drive to work will be really fucked when bicyclists self-righteously decide to make their “point”.
2. If bicyclists want more of the road, they should be required to have their bikes registered with license plates, and be pulled over for traffic infractions (including driving too slow) and have the exact same penalties as if they were in their cars (oops, sorry….Subaru Legacy with Kerry/Edwards stickers) on their way to Whole Foods.
3. The mayor is a fool. Weaning Seattle off fossil fuels? Really? Uh huh. And how are all those people who can’t afford to live in Seattle but need to commute in here for work supposed to get to their jobs? Spend 4 or 5 hours a day on a bus to the light rail to another bus or two? Nonsense. Some of us work at low paying jobs and require our cars and delivery trucks to get into town conveniently so that clueless Seattle liberals in day-glo biking gear can have their shade-grown espresso lattes.
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2 Thea // May 25, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Dear vanderleun,
I’m sorry that you viewed this story as unbalanced. If you read the whole piece, you can see that I also include comments from readers who disagree with the proposed changes.
Thanks for reading.
3 Liz // May 25, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I take W. Nickerson from North QA to I-5 every weekday. I got a speeding ticket on W. Nickerson about a year ago, and since then I religiously do the speed limit. Haven’t seen a cop on Nickerson since then, either. Seems to me that if people are speeding on Nickerson then there should be more citations issued.
4 Matt the Engineer // May 26, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Stone Way is yet another beautiful example for how well road diets work. We’re not removing capacity on these roads, we’re matching the road size to the capacity of other bottlenecks (for Nickerson that would be entrances to 15th, Fremont, 3rd, and Westlake).
Seattle’s first road diet success was N 45th (right next to Stone Way). That was back in the early 70′s. I wonder if N 45th was anywhere near as nice of a place to walk and shop before its road diet. Remind me again why Nickerson businesses are against this?
Here‘s a great study of road diets from 1999. Notice car-pedestrian accidents went down in every case.
5 Matt the Engineer // May 26, 2010 at 1:21 pm
(sorry, clicked “Submit” too early) and that traffic volumes increased in almost every case. The QACC was wrong to write a letter against the Nickerson road diet. Nickerson is a dangerous road, and SDOT’s plan will make it safer without impacting traffic.
6 Laverne Henderson // May 27, 2010 at 3:02 am
Haha I am honestly the first comment to this awesome post!
7 LL // May 27, 2010 at 12:05 pm
How can we help oppose this? Is there somewhere to voice our opinion? It will be a terrible mess for those of us that use Nickerson.
8 Boldy // May 29, 2010 at 10:30 am
,
Boldy
9 Amy Campos // May 29, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Hehe I’m really the first comment to this great read.
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