In-depth coverage of the improvement efforts underway on Seattle's Rainier Avenue.
Stephen Hagg reports the shocking safety statistics created by conditions on Rainier Avenue—an eight-mile stretch of which through South Seattle is the city's most dangerous thoroughfare: "In the last three years, there have been over 1,200 accidents, 600 injuries and two fatalities on Rainier."
In Spring 2015, however, the city began to reconfigure Rainier Avenue to slow down traffic and create safer conditions for pedestrians:
"The pilot project lowers the speed limit to 25 miles per hour, and takes busy Rainier from four directional lanes to two, with a center turn lane to eliminate the deadly left-hook crashes. The street now has enhanced traffic signals, longer pedestrian crossing times and more turn restrictions."
The article also presents the arguments of the opponents to the project, which say Rainier Avenue is more congested before. Hagg is writing for KCTS, which also produced the video below. A tip of the hat goes out to Tom Fucoloro of Seattle Bike Blog, who calls the video concise and clear.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research