SDOT set to host Ballard Greenways Open House tonight at BHS

SDOT will host an Open House tonight to discuss the revised plans for a neighborhood greenway on NW 58th St. The Open House will be held at Ballard High School lunch room (1418 NW 65th St) from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. This is likely the final public meeting before the greenway is installed later this year. The meeting will comprise of a presentation at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Q&A session.

The project was part of the City of Seattle’s 2011 goal to install seven miles of neighborhood greenways but the project was delayed last fall due to opposition to some elements of the proposed plan.

The new plans do not include the traffic diverter and median island at 24th Ave NW which were intended to keep traffic levels at a minimum on the street. “Ballard Chamber of Commerce and owners of the “On the Park” apartment building voiced opposition to it,” wrote Seattle Bike Blog writer Tom Fucoloro. The city will install push operated flashing beacons instead.

SDOT commented on opposition from Ballard Chamber and “On the Park” in one of their fact sheets released in anticipation of tonight’s Open House:

SDOT is no longer proposing a median at 24th Avenue NW after discussing the idea with the Ballard Chamber of Commerce and Security Properties, which is the company that owns the ‘On the Park’ apartment building on the southeast corner. Access to the parking garage serving as the primary access point for over two hundred apartments would be hindered by the median island.

SDOT is now planning to install a ‘Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon’ to alert motorists to people crossing 24th Avenue NW. Push buttons will be placed both on the sidewalk and next to the curb so people walking and biking can both easily activate the beacon. This solution will improve safety for people using the greenway while not limiting access to the large apartment complex.

Further information released by SDOT about the project can be found here.

All are welcome to attend the Open House tonight. We will follow up tomorrow with a recap of the event and what SDOT’s plans are for the greenway going forward.

Click on the image above to see an enlarged map of the greenway. Map courtesy of SDOT.