Comments

1. Leonard Piha

   March 31, 2016

   I would like the Board to address traffic safety concerns around construction sites. I have found the corner at 5th Ave and Marion St to be a very challenging intersection for both cars and bikes. As a part time bike commuter I am more nervous at this intersection than anywhere else in my 8 mile ride into town.
   The two major construction sites on both sides of Marion shifts traffic from lane to lane on 5th Ave three times between Spring Street and Columbia Street. The first lane change redirects the left lane to merge to the center lane just south of Spring Street, and is well managed with traffic cones and a large sign. The next lane change is at the intersection of Marion Street and 5th Ave. where the two construction sites are on the opposite sides of Marion Street, the first on the east side of 5th and the second on the west side of 5th. It is this intersection that is not managed well.
   There is a small sign at the second construction site that is placed too low for drivers to see it before the lane shift begins, it also does not redirect both lanes of traffic to shift to the left. The result is that, instead of both lanes of traffic shifting to the left, the right lane of traffic ends, requiring drivers in the right lane to merge with the second lane of traffic in the middle of the intersection, a maneuver that normally could result in a traffic violation.
   There is a Seattle Police Officer on site to assist with traffic control, but the only time I have seen him do anything related to traffic control is when a truck is entering or exiting the fenced in area, the rest of the time he is just watching the construction. I would think that his job would include directing the flow of traffic thru an intersection where a multi lane lane change is required, just 100 feet from where he is standing .

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