Right now, 35th Ave SW is not safe for anyone. It's not safe for elders walking home with groceries, it's not safe for kids biking across the street to school, it's not safe for people walking to the bus stop, and it's not safe for people driving along or across this busy and dangerous street. 35th Ave SW has a long history of serious injuries and fatalities. 

It does not have to be this way. One promising solution that has proven effective and positive around Seattle would be to re-stripe the roadway. Re-striping the road would make it safer for everyone. Including a center turn lane would allow drivers to safely wait to make turns. Through-traffic lanes in each direction would no longer need to stop for vehicles turning left. People walking and biking would be safer when crossing the road and waiting for the bus. While safety is of paramount importance, professional studies have shown that Seattle's re-striping projects have not had a negative impact on the flow of traffic. 

The Seattle Department of Transportation with support from the Mayor and City Council has the power to make rapid improvements as they did in the case of the NE 75th St tragedy. The people of West Seattle deserve the same kind of rapid safety improvements, and the family of James St. Clair deserves something positive to come from this terrible tragedy. The niece of James St. Clair said "I hope and pray that my uncle's death was not in vain...this that happened to my uncle will help make those changes that need to desperately be brought to this neighborhood." Learn more about this recent tragedy from the West Seattle Blog's two pieces on the memorial walk and community meeting or the KOMO TV video. 

West Seattle cannot wait any longer - we need safe streets now! We the undersigned ask the Mayor, City Council, and Seattle Department of Transportation to fund and construct rapid improvements as they did in the case of the NE 75th St tragedy. Thank you,