SEATTLE -- A debate is brewing in West Seattle over converting a major thoroughfare from four lanes to two lanes.
The Seattle Department of Transportation believes the project, which includes a lower speed limit, will help keep people safe. A good number of drivers say the road diet will cause traffic headaches.
A road diet conversion has already happened on 35th Avenue SW, south of SW Holly Street. The change has created one lane in either direction and a center dual-purpose turn lane. Soon, the same configuration could become a reality on 35th north of Holly, toward SW Alaska Street.
Neighborhood advocate Robert Neel is all for safety but has been critical of the city’s approach since the road diet started last year. He recently created two opposing online petitions concerning the road diet to gauge neighborhood feedback.
Petition: Extend the 35th Avenue SW road diet
Petition: Remove the 3tth Avenue SW road diet
His petitions, on Change.org, ask people to support expanding the road diet or to encourage the city to revert to the way things were before. Neel has pushed his petitions to a neighborhood blog and has posted them on social media.
So far, a majority of his respondents say reducing lanes will simply cause more traffic issues. City transportation officials say the change has already produced safety benefits and safety is a top priority.
“We would like to potentially see things like pedestrian walkways with flashing lights in the pavement ... and maybe even someday-- pedestrian overpasses," said Neel. "All those things that cost money, and SDOT’s reply was 'paint is very cheap.'"
City of Seattle public outreach for phase two of the 35th Avenue SW road diet is set to start in the next few days.
