Traffic "Chokers" Coming to 18th

By scott
(0 votes) (report abuse)

It's the latest front in the decade-long war to slow traffic on north/south residential streets in the neighborhood. Chef Brenda Lee previously succeeded in getting a traffic circle and chicanes installed at 20th & Marion. This time the focus is on the entire stretch of 18th between the Union & Cherry.

The city has spray painted white lines in the street in the middle of each of the four blocks along that stretch, showing the locations where "chokers" will extend the eastern curb out into the street to give vehicles obstacles that will force them to slow down.

It's funded as a project of the Neighborhood Street Fund and construction is expected to start this summer. Right now the city is seeking community feedback about the preliminary placement of the chokers.  Contact SDOT's Jane Rebelowski at jane.rebelowski@seattle.gov or 206-684-0817 if you have questions or comments.

Here's the four locations:

18th Ave, near Union
18th Ave, between Spring & Marion
18th Ave between Marion & Columbia
18th Ave between Columbia & Cherry

tags: Streets, Traffic + add tags
savecancel
location: Central DistrictSeattle, Washington
posted on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 09:35 AM
last updated on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 09:35 AM
Share this post:
Permalink
Too bad they won't work bymistamatic10 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
20th Avenue normally has cars parked on both sides the entire length between Union and Marion, effectively choking the road to only single-car width, but it has no effect whatsoever on speeds. Cars still haul ass over 40mph up and down this VERY NARROW and LIMITED-SIGHT street. Doesn't faze these people in the least. The city better start to realize this is a waste of money...the only thing that slows people down are speed bumps...and several of them in a row.

Even the damn schoolbuses burn down 20th Avenue...it's utterly appalling.
Traffic Circle byBob Ross10 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
How about putting a traffic circle at 22 & Marion, people roar down that street going North & South, and heading eastward to 23rd.

Every other street to the west has one all the way up to 18th.
Cool Job byktkeller10 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
You made the Seattlest Local Blog Roundup:

http://seattlest.com/2009/03/19/neighborhood_news_and_local_
RE: Cool Job byscott10 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
We've gotten a good share of links from Seattlest over the last year or so. They're our 8th most frequent referrer over the last 30 days.

Here's the top 10 for the analytics geeks out there:
1. google.com
2. capitolhillseattle.com
3. slog.thestranger.com
4. twitter.com
5. facebook.com
6. news.google.com
7. community.livejournal.com
8. seattlest.com
9. images.google.com
10. millerparkseattle.blogspot.com
camera enforcement? byLack Thereof10 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Chokers like this have as good of an effect as anything else. Speed bumps are pointless and just turn it into a drag race corridor between the bumps. I used to do delivery work in this neighborhood and in the end, there's a large gap between the arterials at 14th and 23rd, and there's going to be a lot of traffic down these roads.

I've been traveling lately, and have seen that photo-radar speed limit enforcement has a dramatic effect, far more effective than any traditional "traffic calming" methods. Seattle seems to have accepted red-light cameras, maybe speed cameras will come next in a few of the "trouble spots"?
Add Your Comment
Name:
Email:
(will not be displayed)
Subject:
Comment: