What Is The New Sign Saying "TEST" In The Median Near Safeway?



Blog readers have sent email asking what the new sign is for that appeared a few weeks ago in the middle of NE 45th Street near Safeway.

We learned it is part of Children's Hospital's Livable Streets Initiative., required by the City of Seattle as part of the mitigation of the Major Institution Master Plan, in which Children's is required to contribute nearly $4 million on transportation improvements in NE Seattle.

Traffic on Montlake Boulevard as well as Montlake Bridge opening status will be shown on the new Dynamic Messaging Sign.

Paulo Nunes-Ueno, Director of  Transportation and Sustainability at the Hospital told us that the sign called, a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) , installed on NE 45^th Street west of Union Bay Place, is part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), which can be installed quickly and  "improves the flow of traffic without the expense and disruption of expanding roadways through technologies and operations strategies."
 

On Page 19 of the the Livable Street Initiative the project is detailed under the heading “Making Traffic Flow More Efficiently” and says that travel times using information from traffic cameras and pavement sensors will be shown on the new sign and also posted on the City of Seattle Travelers’ Information Map, an online traffic map that the City runs. 

 

"The improved traveler information will help reduce congestion by allowing drivers to avoid traffic jams and openings of the Montlake Bridge", the report says.

In addition to the new sign, new traffic detectors along NE 45^th and Montlake Boulevard. have also been installed to also help with the traffic reporting posted onto the sign.

 

"When operational these pieces will work together to help drivers choose the best route by displaying both travel time and Montalke bridge status on the Dynamic Message Sign and on-line," Paolo told us.
 

Here is the timeline the Seattle Department of Transportation has provided to the Hospital moving towards getting into the production mode with the sign:

 

• Week of May 6^th: sign will start posting messages about Montlake Bridge Status
• Week of May 6^t:  any incident or planned construction messages (such as the SR520 closure ) could be posted
• Early June: travel time posted as well as on The Traveler Information Map, including congestion indicators on the map.

Paolo told us that until next week when the sign becomes operational, drivers will continue for now to see the sign go through a variety of tests including: ‘a “burn test” for the sign, where the same message is posted without interruption for a certain period of time.
 

"We think this project will make driving on NE 45^th Street and Montlake a little less stressful and a little more predictable," Paolo added.

Reader Asks Neighbors To Clear Leaves From Slippery Sidewalks

A reader sent us this email about slippery sidewalks covered with leaves:

It would be great if you could remind neighbors to clean the leaves and debris off their city sidewalks. The leaves have become slippery and then when frost is added it is downright dangerous, especially for us oldsters.  

Thanks, Laurelhurst walker

Here are applicable Seattle City Codes pertaining to residents keeping sidewalks in front of their home clear:

SMC 10.52.030 Duties of owners and occupants.

A. It is the duty of the owner of the property and of any occupant of the property wherein or whereon any such nuisance exists to abate the nuisance by destroying, removing or trimming vegetation, and removing or destroying any health, safety or fire hazard.

B. In addition to duties the owner or occupant may have to abate nuisances, the owner or occupant of property shall:

1. Remove vegetation in or on an abutting sidewalk;

2. Destroy, remove or trim vegetation or parts thereof on the property, and which are also overhanging any sidewalk within eight (8) feet measured vertically from any point on the sidewalk;

3. Destroy, remove or trim vegetation or any parts thereof on the property or on adjacent planting strips, which encroaches on or overhangs the traveled portion of the street or alley within fourteen (14) feet measured vertically from any point on the street or alley;

4. Remove vegetation constituting a safety hazard found on adjacent planting strips or alleys;

5. Remove vegetation constituting a fire hazard found on adjacent planting strips or alleys;

6. Remove vegetation constituting a health hazard found on adjacent planting strips or alleys.
 

SMC 15.48.010 Snow and ice removal.

It is the responsibility of the owner or occupant of private property to remove snow and ice on the sidewalks abutting his or her property in a timely manner and, if practical, prevent its becoming or remaining in an icy, ridged, uneven or humped condition or in a condition which is potentially hazardous to users of the public sidewalks.
 

SMC 15.72.010 Notice to clear or clean sidewalk.

Whenever, in the judgment of the Director of Transportation, the condition of any sidewalk, or any portion thereof, in the City is such as to render the same unfit or unsafe for purposes of public travel, or require clearing, cleaning, repair or renewal, said official is authorized, empowered and directed to serve upon the owner of the property immediately abutting upon the sidewalk, a notice advising such owner of the condition thereof and instructing him/her to clear, clean, repair or renew the same.

Reader Reminds Neighborhood Of City's 72 Hour Parking Policy

We received this email from a Blog reader on 42nd Avenue NE:

We are having quite a problem on our street, which has parking on only one side of the street. No one wants to call the city.  

However, vehicles are being left on the street for extended periods of time, often forcing a person to park a long way from his/her home.  This makes one uncomfortable because of car prowls in the area, and is certainly a problems when unloading the car.  It is greatly appreciated when those who have access from an alley park in the back.

Here is the City of Seattle 72-Hour On-Street Parking Ordinance from the Department of Transportation website: 

• Regardless of whether or not there is any sign posted, the City's Traffic Code does not allow a vehicle to be parked on a city street for longer than 72 hours.
• Although some people may not use their vehicles on a regular basis (and therefore leave them parked on the street), the vehicles must still be moved every 72 hours and comply with all posted signs, including the ones announcing temporary parking restrictions that may go into effect after 24 hours.
•  The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) prohibits vehicles over 80 inches (such as RVs, tractor trailers, and larger trucks) from parking on most city streets (any street except those adjacent to Manufacturing or Industrial zoning) between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. (SMC 11.72.440).
• Use the non-emergency number (206-625-5011) to report violations as the Seattle Police Department routinely enforces these ordinances.
• Street cleaning, construction activity, special events or other unusual circumstances may require that the street be cleared of parked vehicles. Official signs (easels) will be posted announcing the temporary change to parking restrictions with the dates and times when no parking is allowed (see Temporary No Parking Zones).

New Traffic Cameras in NE Seattle

If you haven't noticed, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) installed several new traffic cameras in the last few months. These "real time views" are  available on the Internet to help drivers know where traffic congestion and collisions are as well as to monitor road conditions.

SDOT has installed 38 new cameras throughout the city and plans to install a few more by the end of this month. WSDOT will also add 6 new traffic cameras.

Here is the complete list.

The views from the SDOT traffic cameras and WSDOT cameras located in Seattle, are available on the Travelers Map on SDOT’s website. The Travelers site not only shows congestion on major arterial streets and state highways, but also gives  information on special events and construction that will have a big impact on traffic.

SDOT traffic engineers use the information from the cameras to help with identifing locations where changes can be made to improve traffic flow.

The new cameras in the NE Seattle area are:


· 15th Avenue NE and NE 75th Street

· 25th Avenue NE and NE 65th Street

· Roosevelt Way NE and NE 75th Street