SEATTLE — The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will begin installing speed bumps on Alki, Harbor and 56th Avenue in West Seattle Monday, July 29.
These speed bumps are part of a plan to address public safety concerns of residents living in Alki.
After the shooting death of a 22-year-old in June, Alki residents demanded action. Councilmember Rob Saka held a public safety meeting. He, along with Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr, and other City of Seattle departments attended the meeting. They agreed it would take a multi-agency approach to address public safety concerns in Alki.
The speed bumps are SDOT's contribution.
Many of the people who attended the public safety meeting welcome the speed bumps. SDOT received public input that helped them decide on this route.
"We've had the mix of speed and gun violence, " said Charlotte Starck, Alki Community Council president. "We're in high summer season right now and we need it to be safer."
Luis Garca Soto lives and works along Alki Beach.
"In the afternoon or morning, you don't see much but at night, a little more craziness is going on," Garca Soto said. "Having the speed bumps, I think, is a great idea."
However, not everyone thinks speed bumps will solve the public safety concerns.
"I get a general sense that my neighbors do not feel the way I feel about this issue. I think they're excited about these speed bumps," Adam Ludwig said. "It will have nothing to do with street racing. They'll just race over a shorter distance."
As for last month's deadly shooting, Ludwig said it's a sign of bigger issues in society.
"This is a dangerous world we live in and there's a lot of guns. What happened there, happened, but it could happen on any block, anywhere," he said. "How about just putting your money into a promotional campaign to discuss youth violence, finding resources to deal with that."
SDOT said speed bump construction should last between two to three days. Along with the planned speed bumps, Seattle police have increased patrols during the evening hours and Seattle Parks closes Alki Beach an hour earlier during the summer months.