Repaving Begins on Ballard Bridge & 15th Ave NW

Posted on by Nathan Dickey
A southbound RapidRide D bus climbs onto the Ballard Bridge. Photo: Nathan Dickey.

Starting tonight, the stationary portions of the Ballard Bridge and 15th Avenue NW from Leary to NW 57th Street will be getting a major facelift. Associated closures will have significant impacts to buses using the bridge (specifically, RapidRide D, Route 17X, and Route 994 when it operates), and people attempting to walk, roll, drive, or otherwise cross Salmon Bay.

When the project is completed in 2025, there will be a wide planted median between NW 50th and NW 54th streets replacing a southbound lane, a new signalized pedestrian crossing at NW 51st street, and new red-painted bus lanes to help RapidRide D get past a few pinch points in the area (PDF schematic of improvements, here).

SDOT’s rendering of the new pedestrian planned for NW 51st Street, planted median, and red-painted northbound bus lane.
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More Money and Oversight for Transportation Levy

Posted on by Nathan Dickey

As formally announced on Friday, previewed by The Urbanist on Thursday, and briefly reviewed on PubliCola on Saturday, Seattle City Council Transportation Committee Chair Rob Saka (District 1) is proposing an amendment to the 2024 Transportation Levy adding $100 million across several categories for a total levy amount of $1.55 billion over eight years, and adding more oversight processes. Tomorrow, the Seattle City Council’s Select Committee on the 2024 Transportation Levy will meet twice to discuss the proposed levy and this amendment: first at 9:30am, and then again at 4:30pm for a Public Hearing of the proposed Levy.

Rob Saka straying dangerously close to saying “All Modes Matter”

At its 9:30am meeting, the Committee will receive an overview of the City’s property taxing authority, (“Property Taxes 101”), hear a proposal from SDOT for a “Transportation Funding Task Force” which would spend 2025-2026 working on recommendations for improving stability and efficacy of transportation funding, and review the Transportation Levy including the proposed amendment. The 4:30pm meeting is tagged as a “Public Hearing” although public comment will be taken at both meetings.

The proposal adds funds for sidewalks, a “freight program”, EV charging, and reportedly includes language to increase oversight of Levy projects by not only the Levy Oversight Committee, but the City Council itself.

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