Sawant Aide Tours Central Seattle Greenways
- Feb. 1, 2015
click map for full project description
At long last, construction has started on Phase 1 of the North/South Central Area greenway! That's the greenway that travels roughly parallel to 23rd and 24th Ave from Rainier Ave S to E. Roanoke St. Central Seattle Greenways identified and began advocating for this project in 2012.
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) hopes to complete the entire length of the greenway by the end of 2015, but the first phase, from E John St. to S Jackson St, should be essentially complete within a couple of months. Once Phase 1 is completed, SDOT will finish designing and begin constructing Phases 2 (from S Jackson St to Rainier Ave S) and 3 (E John St to E Roanoke St).
Unfortunately for us, the most exciting element of the Phase 1 portion of the greenway won't be included initially. For efficiency's sake, the new pedestrian/bike signal at 23rd Ave E & E Columbia St will be put into place later this year when SDOT crews are doing the street construction portion of the 23rd Avenue repaving project. Until then, greenway users will be temporarily detoured to E Cherry St to cross 23rd Ave E safely.
Meanwhile, Central Seattle Greenways leaders recently had the opportunity to meet with Ted Virdone, Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant's legislative aide, to share our plans for future improvements in the central neighborhoods.
We gathered on a chilly, drizzly January morning, but our conversation was warm and lively as we discussed street safety needs, progress, and setbacks in the local neighborhoods and throughout the city. Then we took the last sips of our coffee, donned helmets and raingear, and headed out to experience the roads we'd discussed.
Tour of healthy safe streets in Central Seattle Greenways
With the help of Madison Greenways, we started the ride with a tour of the newly completed McGilvra Greenway, which provided inspiration as we discussed the planned greenways and protected bike lanes on the route we rode. Ted bikes to work, and is very familiar with the challenges people on bicycles face in our city. He was enthusiastic about improving Seattle's streets.
We look forward to working with Councilmember Sawant's office in the future.
The best way to receive updates or get involved with our Central Seattle Greenways community group is to join our Google Group. Our community group works on projects on Broadway, First Hill, Yesler Terrace, Atlantic, Leschi, south half of Madrona and south half of Mann.Welcome!
You can also follow us online:
- Facebook: CentralSeattleGreenways
- Twitter: CSGreenways
- Website: www.
centralseattlegreenways.com