(Images: SDOT)

Last month, we took you inside the community-driven — and sometimes intensely personal — process by which citizens are helping shape a program to allocate small grants to improve neighborhood streets and parks around Capitol Hill and the Central District. The 2018 “Your Voice, Your Choice” process is underway to finalize a roster of future projects.

The 2017, batch, meanwhile, is ready to be built and some, like a new crosswalk on E Yesler Way at 17th Ave S near the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute are already in place. The city has created a new page to help track the projects. Here’s a look at the four improvements coming to District 3 this year.

• I-5 Offramp onto Olive Way Crossing Upgrades (Cost: $75,000, Total Votes: 240) — Project Description and Goals: People traveling the I-5 freeway northbound can exit onto E Olive Way. However, due to its design, people exiting the freeway have limited visibility and must slow from a high rate of speed very quickly. These conditions make it challenging for pedestrians who are crossing the off-ramp to access downtown Seattle via Olive Way. Installing crossing beacons to alert people driving of pedestrians enhances safety. Project Solution(s): Install crossing beacons Install new ADA compliant curb ramps. Construction: anticipated October – December 2018
• 19th Ave and E Denny Way Crossing Upgrades (Cost: $83,000, Total Votes: 171) — Project Description and Goals: Many travelers use E Denny Way as a commuting route into the City and pedestrians have expressed difficultly when crossing Denny at 19th Ave. The northeast corner of the intersection has a school bus stop for students attending TOPS K-8 school. Installing a marked crosswalk and curb ramps enhances the connection to TOPS K-8 School, safety and accessibility at this intersection. Project Solution(s): Install a marked crosswalk on the north side of E Denny Way Install new curb ramps. Construction: anticipated July – September 2018
• 17th Ave S between E Yesler Way and S Jackson St Traffic Circle and Crossing Upgrade (Cost: $15,000, Total Votes: 200) — Project Description and Goals: 17th Ave S is a residential street, which experiences a high volume of traffic from pedestrians and people driving between E Yesler Way and S Jackson St. Installing a traffic circle and crossing improvements will improve traffic flow, predictability, and pedestrian safety. Project Solution(s): Install a marked crosswalk Install a traffic circle at 17th Ave S and S Washington St. Construction: anticipated July – September 2018
• Judkins Park and S Dearborn St Upgraded Connections to Judkins Park from S Dearborn St (Cost: 90,000, Total Votes: 173) — More details to come, SDOT promises!