The Daily Journal of Commerce has the scoop on proposed changes for South-End neighborhoods the City is considering when light rail opens. SDOT wants want your comments:

The Seattle Department of Transportation wants public comments on transportation improvements it is planning for southeast Seattle when light-rail service begins next year.
SDOT wants to make it safer and more pleasant to get around in these growing neighborhoods, and to improve access to light-rail stations.
Between Rainier Beach and Columbia City, SDOT recommends that Rainier Avenue South be converted to three lanes from four lanes.
On Beacon Hill, SDOT wants to extend the median on Beacon Avenue South through the business district and add pedestrian crosswalks. It also wants to build a public plaza between the Beacon Hill Station and El Centro de la Raza.
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In Rainier Beach, SDOT recommends providing a safe bicycle route from the Othello light-rail station to Renton Avenue South. SDOT also wants to make the Rainier Beach business district more pedestrian-friendly.

In Mount Baker, SDOT recommends improving two high-collision intersections and reconfiguring the intersection at Rainier Avenue South and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South.

In Columbia City, it wants to improve South Alaska Street to the light-rail station. SDOT also would make three pedestrian crossings on Rainier Avenue South safer.
SDOT would also add bike routes at both ends of Rainier Valley and connect the Chief Sealth Trail across Interstate 5.

To read the plan and to make comments … Comments must be received at SDOT by May 31 at 5 p.m … can also be emailed to Tony.Mazzella@Seattle.gov.

The neighborhood already looks completely different on MLK than it did before, and I’m really excited about what light rail is going to down there.