In November, Ballard Landmark residents Betty Kent and Ned Skavlen were collecting signatures supporting improvements to what they said was a dangerous crosswalk connecting the Landmark with the Canal Station Condos across Leary Avenue.

In about a month, the Seattle Department of Transportation will be adding new signage and paint to alert drivers to the crosswalk between 20th Avenue Northwest and Market Street and by May will have installed overhead crosswalk lights, said Richard Sheridan, spokesperson for the department.

"They are doing far more than we were even thinking of asking," Skavlen said. "An overhead light – that was really the dessert on the whole situation."

Skavlen said he thought it would take a big push in his meeting with the city for crosswalk improvements and expected to come away with a can of crossing flags on either side of the crosswalk.

But, the the situation was resolved in 10 to 15 minutes, he said.

Skavlen wasn't the only one surprised with the city's handling of their request.

"I honestly thought that I was going to get the political two-step," said Landmark Executive Director Peter Brookes.

He said he wanted to specially thank the city's civil engineer on the project, Cynthia Robertson, who was fantastic.

In addition to new signage and warnings, the Department of Transportation will be looking at possibly realigning the crosswalk due to conflicts with a streetlight and tree pit and installing curb ramps.

The department will be removing parking from the west side of Leary Avenue and the Metro bus layover on the east side to aid pedestrian visibility.

In November, Kent and Skavlen told the Ballard News-Tribune that a number of Ballard Landmark residents had nearly been hit attempting to cross Leary. They had collected more than 300 signatures for their petition for crossing improvements.

When the Ballard Landmark and Canal Station Condos were completed opposite each other on Leary, they brought nearly 400 residential units and a handful of commercial spaces to the area.

The Department of Transportation also assessed conditions at the nearby crossing at 20th Avenue and Leary Avenue. Sheridan said they will be making improvements to that crossing as well.

Mark Durall, general manager of the Olympic Athletic Club on the southwest side of that intersection, said improvements are necessary because there is a high volume of pedestrians and vehicles, including many senior citizens visiting the club.