With so much debate over the proposed changes to Nickerson Street, we thought we should provide a survey for our readers. As we have been reporting, the plan to put Nickerson street on a ‘road diet’ has generated passionate comments. Community groups have formed to oppose and support the change.

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced that this summer Nickerson Street will change to include one driving lane in each direction and a center two-way turn lane. The new configuration will reduce the number of car lanes and add an uphill bicycle lane. The downhill traffic lane will have shared lane markings for bicycles.  There will be marked crosswalks installed at Jesse Avenue West, Cremona Street, and Dravus Street.

Click here to take the survey and tell us what you think. Please only vote once. We know that this survey is not scientific but we think it will be interesting to see where people stand on the issue.  We will keep you posted on results.

Thai lovers in Queen Anne only have to venture as far as Nickerson St. to be in cuisine heaven. The short strip from SPU to the Fremont Bridge is now home to – count them – one, two, three Thai food spots!

Those who work, study and play on the north side of the hill have probably been to – or at least noticed – Kaosamai, the Thai food truck that hangs out at the Shell mini mart at 3 West Nickerson from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday.

They’ve been the Nickerson old-timer for a while now, and were recently joined by Thai Fusion, which opened at 15 Nickerson St. on October 23. I’ve been to both (I feel now is the time to tell you Thai is one of my all time favorite cuisines), and they’re both great. Kaosamai is affordable and delicious, especially if you’re on the go. Thai Fusion is a fancier spot to enjoy – as the name says – great fusion by candlelight.

And now there’s a new Thai rookie on the block, 1-2-3 Thai, which opened this last Saturday, November 28 at 101 Nickerson St., right next to Tully’s. I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet, but one reader is already a huge fan – she and her husband have been to the family’s two other locations in Port Townsend and Oak Harbor and can’t get enough. K. Kennell wrote,

I am vegetarian and they’ve always had plentiful selections of non meat dishes…I would recommend anyone try it…I am hungry just thinking about it.

K. Kennell also snapped a few pictures of the inside, which can be seen here.

So now Nickerson has gone from mobile Thai, to Thai heaven. Whether or not all three will be able to sustain themselves alongside the competition is another question.

The Magnolia Community Club has written a letter expressing opposition to SDOT’s proposed reconfiguration of West Nickerson Street and has shared this letter with it Queen Anne neighbors.  The Nickerson Street Project, first discussed on this blog in February, calls for a change in the configuration of the traffic lanes.  Just recently, on April 1, the Seattle Department of Transportation officially put the project on hold while additional evaluations are made.

The Magnolia Community Club has taken the opportunity to draft a official letter to the Mayor, the Seattle City Council, and the Seattle Department of Transportation.  Their letter discusses the existing congestion that occurs at Dexter and Nickerson, the use of Nickerson should a change in the viaduct or Mercer St. occur, and other issues.  For a copy of the letter, contact the Magnolia Community Council.

The Seattle Department of Transportation confirms a report in the MagnoliaVoice from last week that plans to change Nickerson Street are being reevaluated.  Here is the official word in a message from project manager Eric M. Widstrand:

“Thank you for your interest in the Nickerson Street rechannelization project.  This project is currently on hold as we evaluate how Nickerson Street would interact with the roadway network, via a systems approach, taking into account the north portal of the bored tunnel.  We are coordinating with the Alaskan Way Viaduct project team to make sure that the overall mobility of the north end is taken into consideration before making a decision about Nickerson Street.  

 Our comment period is open until April 10th to give people time to comment about the project.  Once we have received all comments we will send out a response to questions received.  For more updates or to see a copy of the plans, please visit our website at:www.seattle.gov/transportation/nickerson.htm

 The city backed off after numerous concerns were voiced by residents and the Queen Anne Community Council.  The city originally proposed changing Nickerson from two lanes to one lane in each direction and adding bike lines. 

There are big changes being planned for Nickerson Street that will affect Queen Anne residents. Seattle Department of Transportation plans to remove one lane of traffic each way in an attempt to make it safer and improve pedestrian access and bicycle usage.

The changes will be on the Nickerson Street corridor between the Ballard Bridge and W. Forentia Street.

The proposed changes will include:
• One lane of motor vehicle traffic in each direction (currently there are two)
• New two-way center turn lane
• New westbound bicycle lane and sharrow markings in a wide eastbound lane
• New pedestrian median islands at several intersections

Here is what it looks like now:

And here is what it will look like when the work is complete:
During construction you can expect lane closures, pedestrian detours and parking restrictions.  We don’t have a start date or timeline for construction. If you want to learn more, there is a project open house on  March 4th from 5pm – 7pm at Demaray Hall – Room 150 at Seattle Pacific University at 509 West Bertona Street.  That is the building with the clock tower.  You can also send comments to WalkandBike@Seattle.gov.