SDOT:West Seattle Bridge community engagement helps shape the program

SDOT:West Seattle Bridge community engagement helps shape the program

Thu, 11/18/2021

information from Seattle Department of Transportation

by Ethan Bancroft on November 18, 2021

    Earlier this year, we held 10 focus groups and more than 60 one-on-one conversations with community members from West Seattle and the greater Duwamish Valley.

    These discussions with residents and businesses in West Seattle, South Park, and Georgetown have been summarized in a “What We Heard: West Seattle Bridge Program Community and Business Outreach Summary.” This report highlights the themes we have heard and lays out what we have done to address communities’ concerns, as well as our next steps.

    The full report is now available online in English, Español, af Soomaali, 繁體中文, 한국어, ភាសាខ្មែរ, Oromiffa, and Tiếng Việt.

    What we heard and next steps:

    1) Community members say West Seattle feels like an island

    What we’re doing about it: We’re working fast to restore traffic by mid-2022; addressing safety concerns for people walking and biking; evaluating signage gaps for detour routes; and more.

    2) Businesses report a loss of customers and increased expense of doing business 

    What we are doing about it: Restaurants and retail businesses have been provided conditional access to the Spokane St Swing Bridge (“low bridge”).

    3) Community supports expanding access to the Spokane St Swing Bridge (“low bridge”), particularly for emergency medical staff & patients

    What we are doing about it: We’ve expanded access to the low bridge for on-call medical workers and patients seeking life-saving treatment.

    4) Residents call for increased transparency and low-tech communication

    What we are doing about it: We’ve launched a multi-language voicemail phone line; are continuing to host public open houses with language interpreters; are developing more visuals to reflect changes and updates; and increasing printed outreach methods to include flyers, posters, and direct mail.

    5) Improved mobility and safety measures could help reconnect West Seattle to the broader Seattle community

    What we are doing about it: We’ve implemented over 280 improvements along detour routes; we are continuing to have discussions with community and make improvements as we are able.

    Keep in Touch

    We are continuously working to keep you informed, stay connected, and learn more.

    Read our outreach summary report in 8 languages:

    Robinson Papers
    West Seattle Herald