Over 85 people came to the city’s open house to learn more about the plans to change Nickerson Street. Approximately 19,300 vehicles travel that route each day.
Many drivers in attendance tonight were frustrated with the plan to remove one lane of traffic each way. The changes will be on the corridor between the Ballard Bridge and W. Etruria Street. A number of people challenged city engineers claims that reducing the number of lanes won’t increase traffic on Nickerson. The city calls it ‘rechannelization’ and claims that it has worked on other streets. They also say that the left turn lanes will increase efficiency.
The plan includes adding a bike lane westbound and a wider travel lane for bikes eastbound with shared lane markings (sharrows). A number of bikers attended the meeting in support of the changes.
Drivers expressed frustration because they think there will be increased traffic back ups. The city believes the changes, including a center turn lane and more crosswalks, will make the street safer.
Opponent Elizabeth Campbell says “Turning Nickerson into a bicycle friendly corridor inconveniences the majority of people who use a car to carry out their activities on this important transportation corridor.”
She is also concerned that Nickerson is one of the alternatives the city expects Magnolia residents to use when the bored tunnel replaces the viaduct. Her group opposes the tunnel.
