Join us for the next West Seattle Greenways meeting, this Sunday, April 22, 3pm at Pearls Coffee and Tea (4800 Delridge Way SW).

Last meeting we heard from Tom Rasmussen, chair of the city council transportation committee, who answered our questions and gave us ideas about how to best advocate for safe routes through our neighborhoods. He encouraged us with the information that this summer is the perfect window to influence the city’s next budget, which will be approved by the mayor this fall. He assured us that transportation planners in the city are prioritizing greenways and seeking input from those who know their neighborhoods best.

Stu Hennessey and Jake Vanderplas, the founders of West Seattle Greenways, have been working with other advocates throughout the city to come up with a master plan for greenways in Seattle, led by local groups like ours who know their neighborhoods best. This Sunday, we will begin the process of mapping out potential routes to connect neighborhoods in West Seattle. If you have any ideas about how greenways can best serve West Seattle Neighborhoods, we’d love to see you there!

What is a greenway? It is a non-arterial street that the city designates as a safe route for pedestrians, bicycles, and other non-automobile traffic. Greenways are not generally closed to automobile traffic, but improvements are made which encourage drivers to slow down, making the streets safer for all users. An important component of a greenway is the improvement of arterial crossings to encourage safety for everybody. There is also an environmental component, helping to modify street design with improvements like bioswales and soft surfaces which better absorb storm water runoff and keep our Puget Sound clean. West Seattle Greenways has been advocating for greenway treatment on 26th Ave SW near Longfellow Creek, and 21st Ave SW near Puget Creek. Our goal is to link all of West Seattle with these safe routes, and to encourage safe, healthy, and active neighborhoods throughout our city.