After string of kids hit by cars, safety improvements coming to Rainier Avenue South

Safety improvements are coming to one of Seattle’s most dangerous roads — Rainier Avenue South.

The changes come after three kids were hit crossing the road at South Henderson Street and Rainier Avenue South just this year.

The Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan met with the community Saturday to discuss those safety improvements.

“To see it become so dangerous, it’s really sad,” said Leija Farr, who lives in the area.

SDOT said on average, there’s a crash every day on Rainier Avenue South. That’s double the number of crashes on Aurora Avenue, even though it has much higher traffic volume.

Although long-term safety changes are already in the works to Rainier Avenue, people in this community say they want to see improvements now.

“We’re calling on the mayor and SDOT to quickly fix this intersection before school starts,” said Gorodon Belford, of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways.

About 25 members of the community met with SDOT and Durkan Sunday afternoon at South Henderson Street and Rainier Avenue South. The most recent crash there was on Aug. 9, where two girls, ages 9 and 12, were hit by a car driving southbound.

One girl was seriously hurt, the other, critically.

“What happened was an incredible tragedy, for the children, for the family,” Durkan said.

SDOT reiterated that Rainier Avenue between South Kenny Street and South Henderson Street will be rebuilt by late next year. But they are going to start making changes now.

“With this recent uptick in accidents, I’ve asked my staff to make some short term improvements,” Said Goran Sparrman, the SDOT interim director.

Some of those improvements include repainting and widening the crosswalk.

They’ll also change the cross walk light to make it safer for pedestrians.

“Implement leading pedestrian interval, that’s where the signal for the pedestrian comes up 3 to 7 seconds earlier, so that it gives pedestrians a head start into the cross walk,” said Dongho Chang, SDOT’s chief traffic engineer.

SDOT is also looking at options to get people to slow down on Rainier Avenue South, and make crosswalks even more visible.

Durkan also acknowledged it’s not just this intersection. but that south Seattle hasn’t gotten its fair share of infrastructure dollars.

“Know that as a mayor, it breaks my heart this has to happen to any family. We are better than that as a city, and need to make sure as we grow as a city, no parts of our city are left behind,” Durkan said.

SDOT said work on the short-term safety changes will start Monday.

By Deedee Sun