As a resident of West Seattle, I personally experienced the danger and inconvenience of not having a crosswalk on SW Belvidere and SW Admiral. There is about a half mile separation and 50 feet elevation on busy SW Admiral street before I can reach a crosswalk, breathing in exhaust fumes and sometimes encountering individuals under the influence. This has felt unsafe while pregnant and now with an infant and toddler in tow.

This situation is not unique to me but affects our entire neighborhood surrounding SW Admiral. Currently, there is about a one-mile distance between the two nearest crosswalks. Students walking to Lafayette Elementary and WS High School only have one direct option for reaching their school. Neighbors disembark from west-bound buses take the risk and run across this busy street because there is no clear, safe crossing point.

The absence of this crucial infrastructure not only poses safety risks to pedestrians and drivers but also hampers walkability in our community. The Department of Transportation must recognize that there is an urgent community need for installing a safe crosswalk at this junction.

We cannot wait until an accident happens before addressing this need. We call upon local authorities, including the Department of Transportation and Councilwoman Lisa Herbold to act swiftly in installing this much-needed crosswalk on SW Belvidere and SW Admiral Street in West Seattle.

Please sign this petition if you believe that pedestrian safety should be prioritized!